Lending A Helping Hand To The Tsunami Victims

January 6, 2005, Americans are once again proving how unselfish they are when it comes to helping the less fortunate overcome tragedy. They are giving to private charities and relief agencies at a phenomenal clip because of the December 26 tsunami and earthquake that devastated southern Asia. In the U.S. alone, relief agencies have received well over $150 million in private donations to help victims of the tsunamis.

To encourage even more generosity, Congress is quickly putting together legislation that would allow taxpayers to claim deductions for contributions made to tsunami-relief efforts on their 2004 tax returns. Under the legislation, which I encouraged, the deduction deadline would be extended until January 31.

Normally, any donations made in 2005 could not be claimed until taxpayers filed their 2005 tax returns a year from now. This new legislative proposal, however, would allow American companies and individuals to receive their deductions now instead of waiting until next year.

There are a number of credible organizations providing relief to the tsunami victims. For a complete list of organizations, go to my Web site at www.house.gov/gordon or directly to the USAID Web site at www.usaid.gov. For information about the whereabouts and welfare of American citizens who may have been in the areas affected by the tsunami, go to the U.S. State Department's Web site at www.state.gov.

Although there are many agencies doing good work in disaster areas, some do a better job than others when doling out the dollars. Web sites that help donors vet charities include Charitywatch.org, Charitynavigator.org and Guidestar.org. And remember, contributions made to foreign organizations generally are not tax-deductible unless permitted by a tax treaty.

Governments around the world are responding in unison to this horrific tragedy, which killed more than 150,000 people when towering waves from the Indian Ocean crashed onto shore and destroyed everything in their paths. So far, the U.S. government has pledged $350 million to help victims and the affected countries in the region rebuild. Although this is a disaster of huge magnitude, it has shown that people from various societies and cultures can overcome their differences and work together as one. It's just unfortunate that something like this has to happen before we do.

We still have a lot to do here at home. For example, too many Americans are jobless, have inadequate housing and go to bed hungry at night. More needs to be done to help them, but let's not forget there are others in the world like the tsunami victims who need a helping hand.