Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 Good But Not Enough

Statement from Robert Forney, President and CEO

"In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and millions of evacuees displaced nationwide, Congress passed the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (H.R. 3768) providing additional assistance to taxpayers affected by the storm and additional tax incentives for individuals and corporations to make charitable financial and product donations.  The new legislation extends the "special rule tax deduction" beyond C-level corporations to all business taxpayers, therefore, for the first time, farmers, ranchers, small businesses, restaurants and others can reap the benefits of the tax relief.

I commend Congress for passing legislation that will enable America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network, comprised more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations, to secure and distribute tens of millions of additional meals to Hurricane Katrina evacuees, while continuing to provide food and grocery products to an estimated 23 million needy Americans this year.

I urge Congress to reconsider provisions excluded from this legislation that are critical for helping us get food into the hands of hungry Americans.  When Congress next considers tax reform, I hope that it will  expand the deduction to fair market value of the product, which will spur product donations and ultimately provide more food for hungry Americans.  Passage of this provision would be invaluable for long-term disaster recovery and hunger-relief efforts across the United States.

Together, we can and will create a hunger-free America."

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America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional member food banks and food - rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.  The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually.  The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors.  For more on America's Second Harvest, please visit www.secondharvest.org.

Contact:
Maura Daly
Office: 312-263-2303, x162
Cell: 301-943-3733