04 April 2014 - The Philippine Government welcomes the recent passage of the Philippine Charitable Giving Assistance Act as this underscores the importance the US Government places on the immediate recovery of typhoon-devastated areas in the Philippines.

The bipartisan bill is intended to spur donations to charitable organizations by allowing taxpayers who donate to the relief efforts now to receive benefits on their 2013 tax returns. This is an initiative of US lawmakers aimed at encouraging the American people to continue their contributions to the relief efforts and the early stages of the long-term rebuilding process.

This law was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and was co-sponsored by 35 congressmen made up of 26 Democrats and nine Republicans. In the US Senate, it was sponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dean Heller (R-NV), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

The US House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 771 on 24 March 2014 and approved by Senate on 25 March 2014. The Senate passed its version (S 1821) on 6 March 2014. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law in the evening of 25 March 2014. END