Key Members of Congress Announce Plan to Spur Gifts for Haiti Relief

Four key members of Congress say they will introduce legislation that would encourage Americans to contribute cash to charities that help with “emergency aid and rebuilding efforts” in Haiti.

“The Senate-House plan would allow U.S. taxpayers to make charitable contributions to Haiti relief programs until March 1, 2010, and claim those contributions on their 2009 tax return,” said a statement from the members of Congress. “Under current law, taxpayers would have to wait until next year’s filing season to claim a tax deduction for Haiti-related contributions,” the statement said. “Today’s proposal is limited to cash contributions made specifically for Haiti disaster relief.”

One of the members of Congress, Sen. Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said that “by extending the period for charitable deductions, we make it easier for concerned citizens to contribute to the emergency efforts in Haiti.”

The legislation will be introduced by Mr. Baucus; Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee; Rep. Charles B. Rangel, the New York Democrat who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee; and Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the senior Republican on the Ways and Means Committee.

“Many relief organizations have asked for donations of cash, which save money by eliminating shipping costs to transport goods from the U.S. and allows cash to flow into local economies stimulating growth,” said a statement from the four members.

The statement said the members will encourage Congress to pass the proposal next week.

The proposal is similar to legislation passed by Congress unanimously in 2005 following the Asian tsunamis, according to the statement.