S.b. 1246

[JLyons]

October 9, 2003

RE: Senate Bill 1246: Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003

Greetings Alumni, Collegiate Members & Membership Candidates:

Sponsored by Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Pat Roberts (R-KS), "For the past three years, leaders from most of the NPC sororities and NIC fraternities have been working on Capitol Hill to lobby Congress for passage of legislation that would be beneficial for Greek organizations, especially in regard to fundraising efforts for housing structures...”

This bill will allow tax-deductible contributions to not-for-profit groups, which include fraternity and sorority foundations, to be used for most of the same purposes that a college or university could use such contributions."

As several of our chapters now have a house, I urged everyone to write your senator in support of this bill before Oct. 22. Below is a copy of a sample letter that I found on the Internet to use as a template.

For those in the state of Louisiana, here is the contact information for the LA Senators. If you would prefer to call, the phone numbers are included.

Senator Breaux:
United States Senate
503 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4623 phone
(202) 228-2577 fax
Email: senator@breaux.senate.gov
Web mail: http://breaux.senate.gov/index_contact.html


Senator Landrieu:
724 Hart Senate Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5824 phone
(202) 224-9735 fax
Web mail: http://landrieu.senate.gov/newsite/webform.html


=========================

[INSERT DATE]

The Honorable [FULL NAME]
United States Senate
Washington D.C. 20510

Dear Senator [LAST NAME]:

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor S. 1246, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003, which erases an arbitrary disparity in the income tax treatment of charitable contributions made for the benefit of college students. I urge you to communicate your support of S. 1246 to Finance Committee Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Baucus, and the other potential Senate conferees to the CARE Act of 2003 (S.476) and to ask that they accept a nearly identical provision that is already contained in the charitable giving bill (H.R. 7) coming from the House of Representatives.

Colleges and universities use tax-deductible contributions for a variety of purposes, including expansion, renovation and improvement of student living facilities. Even though we provide similar living facilities for students, the Internal Revenue Code has said that fraternities, sororities and other student associations supported by charitable foundations may not use tax-deductible contributions to those foundations for the purpose of expansion, renovation and improvement of the student living spaces we own and operate. In contrast to colleges, the IRS has said that fraternities and sororities may use tax-deductible contributions only for purely educational purposes, such as providing libraries, computer facilities or study areas.

Other than the host institutions themselves, fraternities and sororities are the largest not-for-profit college student landlords in the United States, annually operating $3 billion in housing for more than 250,000 students at no cost to the affiliated colleges and universities. Unfortunately, our housing stock is deteriorating because the current tax law inhibits our raising the funds needed to make long-term capital improvements. For example, the current rules allow colleges and universities to use tax-deductible funds to install life safety systems such as fire sprinklers in existing student housing, while fraternities, sororities, and other student associations are prevented from using similar contributions to make life safety improvements to their own student housing.

I am an [alumnus/alumna] of [name of fraternity/sorority] and graduated from [name of college or university]. Passing S. 1246 will allow my own chapter to someday raise funds to upgrade our housing stocks, install advanced life safety equipment and make other general housing improvements. Fires at fraternity and sorority houses comprise 10% of campus fires each year but have five times the damage costs and twice the injury rate of other campus fires.

S. 1246 and similar language pending in the House’s version of charitable giving legislation will correct the disparity in tax treatment of gifts used for the benefit of collegiate housing infrastructure improvements, and offers an opportunity to improve student safety and the condition of our student housing. Please let Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Baucus, and other potential conferees on the charitable giving legislation know you support adopting S. 1246 in conference.

Sincerely,

[INSERT NAME]

[JLyons]

Akaka, Daniel E. (D-HI) SH-141 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1103 (202) 224-6361 (202) 224-2126
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN) SH-302 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4206 (202) 224-4944 (202) 228-3398
Allard, Wayne (R-CO) SD-525 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0606 (202) 224-5941 (202) 224-6471
Allen, George (R-VA) SR-204 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4602 (202) 224-4024 (202) 224-5432
Baucus, Max (D-MT) SH-511 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2602 (202) 224-2651 (202) 224-4700
Bayh, Evan (D-IN) SR-463 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1404 (202) 224-5623 (202) 228-1377
Bennett, Robert F. (R-UT) SD-431 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4403 (202) 224-5444 (202) 228-1168
Biden, Joseph R. Jr. (D-DE) SR-201 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0802 (202) 224-5042 (202) 224-0139
Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM) SH-703 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3102 (202) 224-5521 (202) 224-2852
Bond, Christopher "Kit" (R-MO) SR-274 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2503 (202) 224-5721 (202) 224-8149
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) SH-112 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0505 (202) 224-3553 (415) 956-6701
Breaux, John B. (D-LA) SH-503 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1803 (202) 224-4623 (202) 228-2577
Brownback, Sam (R-KS) SH-303 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1604 (202) 224-6521 (202) 228-1265
Bunning, Jim (R-KY) SH-316 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1703 (202) 224-4343 (202) 228-1373
Burns, Conrad (R-MT) SD-187 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2603 (202) 224-2644 (202) 224-8594
Byrd, Robert (D-WV) SH-311 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4801 (202) 224-3954 (202) 228-0002
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R-CO) SR-380 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0605 (202) 224-5852 (202) 228-4609
Cantwell, Maria (D-WA) SH-717 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4705 (202) 224-3441 (202) 228-0514
Carper, Thomas R. (D-DE) SH-513 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0803 (202) 224-2441 (202) 228-2190
Chafee, Lincoln D. (R-RI) SR-141A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3902 (202) 224-2921 (202) 228-2853
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) SR-416 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1007 (202) 224-3521 (202) 224-0103
Clinton, Hillary Rodham (D-NY) SR-476 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3203 (202) 224-4451 (202) 228-0282
Cochran, Thad (R-MS) SD-113 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2402 (202) 224-5054 (202) 224-9450
Coleman, Norm (R-MN) SH-320 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2307 (202) 224-5641 (202) 224-1152
Collins, Susan M. (R-ME) SR-172 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1904 (202) 224-2523 (202) 224-2693
Conrad, Kent (D-ND) SH-530 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3403 (202) 224-2043 (202) 224-7776
Cornyn, John (R-TX) SH-517 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4305 (202) 224-2934 (202) 228-2856
Corzine, John S. (D-NJ) SH-502 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3001 (202) 224-4744 (202) 228-2197
Craig, Larry E. (R-ID) SH-520 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1203 (202) 224-2752 (202) 228-1067
Crapo, Michael D. (R-ID) SD-239 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1204 (202) 224-6142 None listed
Daschle, Tom (D-SD) SH-509 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4103 (202) 224-2321 (202) 224-6603
Dayton, Mark (D-MN) SR-346 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2304 (202) 224-3244 (202) 228-2186
DeWine, Mike (R-OH) SR-140 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3503 (202) 224-2315 (202) 224-6519
Dodd, Christopher J. (D-CT) SR-448 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0702 (202) 224-2823 (202) 224-1083
Dole, Elizabeth H. (R-NC) SR-120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3307 (202) 224-6342 (202) 224-1100
Domenici, Pete V. (R-NM) SH-328 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3101 (202) 224-6621 None listed
Dorgan, Byron L. (D-ND) SH-713 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3405 (202) 224-2551 (202) 224-1193
Durbin, Richard J. (D-IL) SD-332 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1304 (202) 224-2152 (202) 228-0400
Edwards, John (D-NC) SD-225 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3306 (202) 224-3154 (202) 228-1374
Ensign, John (R-NV) SR-364 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2805 (202) 224-6244 (202) 228-2193
Enzi, Michael R. (R-WY) SR-379A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-5004 (202) 224-3424 (202) 228-0359
Feingold, Russell D. (D-WI) SH-506 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4904 (202) 224-5323 (202) 224-2725
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA) SH-331 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0504 (202) 224-3841 (202) 228-3954
Fitzgerald, Peter D. (R-IL) SD-555 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1305 (202) 224-2854 (202) 228-1372
Frist, Bill (R-TN) SD-461 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4205 (202) 224-3344 (202) 228-1264
Graham, Bill (D-FL) SH-524 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0903 (202) 224-3041 (202) 224-2237
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC) SR-290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4003 (202) 224-5972 (202) 224-3808
Grassley, Charles E. (R-IA) SH-135 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1501 (202) 224-3744 (202) 224-6020
Gregg, Judd (R-NH) SR-393 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2904 (202) 224-3324 (202) 224-4952
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE) SR-248 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2705 (202) 224-4224 (202) 224-5213
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) SH-731 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1502 (202) 224-3254 (202) 224-9369
Hatch, Orin G. (R-UT) SH-104 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4402 (202) 224-5251 (202) 224-6331
Hollings, Ernest F. (D-SC) SR-125 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4002 (202) 224-6121 (202) 224-4293
Hutchinson, Kay Bailey (R-TX) SR-284 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4304 (202) 224-5922 (202) 224-0776
Inhofe, James M. (R-OK) SR-453 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3603 (202) 224-4721 (202) 228-0380
Inouye, Daniel K. (D-HI) SH-722 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1102 (202) 224-3934 None listed
Jeffords, James F. (I-VT) SD-413 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4503 (202) 224-5141 None listed
Johnson, Tim (D-SD) SH-136 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4104 (202) 224-5842 (202) 228-5765
Kennedy, Edward M. (D-MA) SR-317 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2101 (202) 224-4543 (202) 224-2417
Kerry, John F. (D-MA) SR-304 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2102 (202) 224-2742 (202) 224-8525
Kohl, Herb (D-WI) SH-330 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4903 (202) 224-5653 (202) 224-9787
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) SH-730 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0304 (202) 224-4521 (202) 224-2207
Landrieu, Mary L. (D-LA) SH-724 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1804 (202) 224-5824 202) 224-9735
Lautenberg, Frank L. (D-NJ) SH-324 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3002 (202) 224-3224 (202) 228-4054
Leahy, Patrick J. (D-VT) SR-433 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4502 (202) 224-4242 (202) 224-3479
Levin, Carl (D-MI) SR-269 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2202 (202) 224-6221 (202) 224-1388
Lieberman, Joseph I. (D-CT) SH-706 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0703 (202) 224-4041 (202) 224-9750
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR) SD-355 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0404 (202) 224-4843 (202) 228-1371
Lott, Trent (R-MI) SR-487 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2403 (202) 224-6253 (202) 224-2262
McCain, John (R-AZ) SR-241 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0303 (202) 224-2235 (202) 228-2862
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) SR-361A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1702 (202) 224-2541 (202) 224-2499
Milkulski, Barbara A. (D-MD) SH-709 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2003 (202) 224-4654 (202) 224-8858
Miller, Zell (D-GA) SD-257 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1006 (202) 224-3643 (202) 228-2090
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) SH-322 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0203 (202) 224-6665 (202) 224-5301
Murray, Patty (D-WA) SR-173 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4704 (202) 224-2621 (202) 224-0238
Nelson, Ben (D-NE) SH-720 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2706 (202) 224-6551 (202) 228-0012
Nelson, Bill (D-FL) SH-716 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0904 (202) 224-5274 (202) 228-2183
Nickles, Don (R-OK) SH-133 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3602 (202) 224-5754 (202) 224-6008
Pryor, Mark (D-AR) SR-217 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0405 (202) 224-2353 (202) 228-0908
Reed, Jack (D-RI) SH-728 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3903 (202) 224-4642 (202) 224-4680
Reid, Harry (D-NV) SH-528 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2803 (202) 224-3542 (202) 224-7327
Rockefeller, John D. (D-WV) SH-531 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4802 (202) 224-6472 (202) 224-7665
Santorum, Rick (D-PA) SD-511 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3804 (202) 224-6324 (202) 228-0604
Sarbanes, Paul S. (D-PA) SH-309 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2002 (202) 224-4524 (202) 224-1651
Schumer, Charles D. (D-NY) SH-313 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3202 (202) 224-6542 (202) 228-3027
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL) SR-335 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0104 (202) 224-4124 (202) 224-3149
Shelby, Richard C. (R-AL) SH-110 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0103 (202) 224-5744 (202) 224-3416
Smith, Gordon H. (R-OR) SR-404 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3704 (202) 224-3753 (202) 228-3997
Snowe, Olympia J. (R-ME) SR-154 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1903 (202) 224-5344 (202) 224-1946
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) SH-711 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3802 (202) 224-4254 (202) 228-1229
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) SH-702 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2204 (202) 224-4822 (202) 228-0325
Stevens, Ted (R-AK) SH-522 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-0201 (202) 224-3004 (202) 224-2354
Sununu, John E. (R-NH) SR-111 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2905 (202) 224-2841 (202) 228-4131
Talent, James M. (R-MO) SR-493 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2506 (202) 224-6154 (202) 228-1518
Thomas, Craig (R-WY) SD-307 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-5003 (202) 224-6441 (202) 224-1724
Voinovich, George V. (R-OH) SH-317 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3504 (202) 224-3353 (202) 228-1382
Warner, John (R-VA) SR-225 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-4601 (202) 224-2023 (202) 224-6295
Wyden, Ron (D-OR) SH-516 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3703 (202) 224-5244 (202) 228-2717