U.S. passes bill for earlier tax deduction for Haiti donations
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The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill allowing donations for Haitian earthquake victims to be deducted from taxpayers' 2009 returns.
Donations made by the end of February to Haiti can be written off from donors' 2009 returns this spring, instead of waiting until next year to be deducted from 2010 returns under current law, according to the newly passed bill.
The House passed the bill unanimously and the Senate is also expected to give a green light soon.
The House bill gained support from the American Red Cross, which had raised a total of 127 million dollars for Haiti relief efforts as of Tuesday evening.
"The Red Cross wholeheartedly supports Congress' efforts to aid charitable giving during this time of unprecedented need for Haiti, " the non-governmental organization said in a statement.
"The outpouring of support from the American public is making it into the hands of the Haitian people, and this legislation will help us provide even more help and hope to survivors," it added.
