WASHINGTON -- Taxpayers who make donations for Haitian earthquake victims would be able to write off this charitable deduction when they file their 2009 taxes this spring, under a bill passed by the House Wednesday.

Under current law, donors would have to wait until they file their 2010 returns next year to take the deductions. But the newly advanced bill would allow donations made by the end of February to be deducted from 2009 returns.

The bill passed on a voice vote with no opposition. Quick Senate action is expected. A similar law was enacted in 2005 for donations to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami that happened in December 2004.

"It's a simple gesture but it will encourage giving in this challenging economy," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.

Last week's quake killed an estimated 200,000 people in Haiti, left 250,000 injured and made 1.5 million homeless, according to the European Union Commission. A powerful aftershock caused even more damage Wednesday.

"The bottom line is they need cash, they need checks," said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

The American Red Cross had raised a total of $127 million as of Tuesday evening, spokesman Roger Lowe said. Of that amount, about $24 million had come from people making $10 donations by texting the word "Haiti" to the number 90999 from their mobile phones, Lowe said.

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ClintonBushHaitiFund - Money to Haiti next day
World Food Program/Haiti 93% of $$ goes to Haiti
$10 to RedCross / Haiti effort: Text "HAITI" to 90999
UN Central Emergency response Fund
1-800-4UNICEF  1-800-RED-CROSS
Clinton Foundation/Haiti