[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 7 (Thursday, January 21, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S105-S106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ACCELERATING THE INCOME TAX BENEFITS FOR CHARITABLE CASH CONTRIBUTIONS 
          FOR THE RELIEF OF VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI

  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4462, an act to 
accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions 
for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Haiti, received from the 
House and at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 4462) to accelerate the income tax benefits 
     for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims 
     of the earthquake in Haiti.

  Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three 
times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; 
that any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4462) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I am glad we passed the bill here now--
it already passed the House--to help all of those Americans who find 
the tragedy in Haiti so wrenching and want to help.

[[Page S106]]

Americans are trying to help in lots of ways. Some are taking orphans 
into their homes.
  I have worked, as an example, in the last several days with many 
churches and organizations, including especially the Catholic Relief 
Society, to just help in any way we possibly can. But there are other 
Americans who just want to help with financial contributions. So this 
bill enables many people--in my home State of Montana, many people have 
contacted me to say: Max, what can we do to help? And this is 
essentially an effort to help people who want to help, so they can get 
a deduction on their 2009 tax returns if that deduction is made between 
basically the date of the earthquake, January 11, and March 1. So any 
contributions made during this period will be tax-deductible on 2009 
income tax returns.
  I am happy to work on a bipartisan basis with Senator Grassley, my 
counterpart on the Finance Committee, and he and I worked to get this 
put together, as well as the two Senators from Florida--both political 
parties. They very much care about this, and I know all Senators do. 
But I give particular thanks to those Senators who have been very 
helpful to get this put together and get it passed without any rancor.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

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