Collegiate Housing Act Needs Your Help
January 3, 2006
For the past few years, Sigma Chi and other members of the North-American Interfraternity Conference have been engaging in important legislative efforts in Washington, D.C. These efforts have focused on gaining support for the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, reintroduced earlier this year in both the House (H.R. 1548) and Senate (S. 713).
Current tax law greatly restricts the ability of fraternities and sororities to raise tax-deductible money for housing and infrastructure improvements. Unlike housing owned by our host institutions, the only areas within Greek housing that can currently utilize tax-deductible funds in their construction or renovation are those portions that are exclusively used for educational purposes (ie: libraries, study rooms, etc.). The Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act would change tax laws and permit qualified 501(c)(3) foundations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to fraternal organizations. In other words, this bill would enable house corporations to utilize existing foundations (ie: Sigma Chi Foundation) to conduct capital campaigns for chapter houses in which all of the contributions could be raised on a tax-deductible basis!
Throughout 2006, we are asking Sigma Chi alumni, undergraduates and their parents to contact their United States Representative and Senators by letter, e-mail or fax to request their support for this legislation. For your convenience, we have included sample letters attached below for you to customize and send to your elected officials. Please take a moment to contact your U.S. Representative and Senators as soon as possible. Also, please be sure to fax a copy of your letters to Sigma Chi Headquarters at (847) 869-4906 or e-mail your letters to
alumni@sigmachi.org. This additional step will enable Sigma Chi to follow up with your elected officials to be sure they are aware of your support for this legislation.
Attached below [~~Go to the link at the top of the page and click on Collegiate Housing Act Needs Your Help then go to the bottom of the press release for the links listed below] are helpful links which will provide background information on this Act as well as the current contact information for your U.S. Representative and Senators. If you are unsure who is currently representing you in the U.S. House, the following link can assist you:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Legislation
Background Information
List of Senators
List of Representatives
Current Senate Cosponsors
Current House Cosponsors
Sigma Chi Cosponsors
Honor Roll of Sigma Chi Participants
All-Greek Honor Roll
SENATE LETTERS
Alumni Volunteers
Chapter President
General Alumni
General Student
Parent Letter
HOUSE LETTERS
Alumni Volunteers
Chapter President
General Alumni
General Student
Parent Letter
© 2006, Sigma Chi International Headquarters
edited to add the descriptions of the links