SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 9--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT TAX-EXEMPT FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES HAVE HISTORICALLY PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLE AND...; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 53
(Senate - March 27, 2019)
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[Pages S2057-S2058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 9--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT
TAX-EXEMPT FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES HAVE HISTORICALLY PROVIDED AND
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF
THE UNITED STATES
Mr. ROBERTS (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cardin, Ms.
Klobuchar, and Mr. Lankford) submitted the following concurrent
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance:
S. Con. Res. 9
Whereas the fraternal benefit societies of the United
States are longstanding mutual aid organizations created more
than a century ago to serve the needs of communities and
provide for the payment of life, health,
[[Page S2058]]
accident, and other benefits to their members;
Whereas fraternal benefit societies represent a successful,
modern-day model under which individuals come together with a
common purpose to collectively provide charitable and other
beneficial activities for society;
Whereas fraternal benefit societies operate under a chapter
system, creating a nationwide infrastructure, combined with
local energy and knowledge, which positions fraternal benefit
societies to most efficiently address unmet needs in
communities, many of which the government cannot address;
Whereas the fraternal benefit society model represents one
of the largest member-volunteer networks in the United
States, with approximately 8,000,000 people of the United
States belonging to more than 25,000 local chapters across
the country;
Whereas research has shown that the value of the work of
fraternal benefit societies to society is more than
$3,800,000,000 per year, accounting for charitable giving,
educational programs, and volunteer activities, as well as
important social capital that strengthens the fabric, safety,
and quality of life in thousands of local communities in the
United States;
Whereas, in 1909, Congress recognized the value of
fraternal benefit societies and exempted those organizations
from taxation, as later codified in section 501(c)(8) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
Whereas fraternal benefit societies have adapted since 1909
to better serve the evolving needs of their members and the
public;
Whereas the efforts of fraternal benefit societies to help
people of the United States save money and be financially
secure relieves pressure on government safety net programs;
and
Whereas Congress recognizes that fraternal benefit
societies have served their original purpose for more than a
century, helping countless individuals, families, and
communities through fraternal member activities: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the fraternal benefit society model is a successful
private sector economic and social support system that helps
meet needs that would otherwise go unmet;
(2) the provision of payment for life, health, accident, or
other benefits to the members of fraternal benefit societies
in accordance with section 501(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is necessary to support the charitable and
fraternal activities of the volunteer chapters within the
communities of fraternal benefit societies;
(3) fraternal benefit societies have adapted since 1909 to
better serve their members and the public; and
(4) the exemption from taxation under section 501(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of fraternal benefit societies
continues to generate significant returns to the United
States, and the work of fraternal benefit societies should
continue to be promoted.
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