Sponsors (105)
The resolution recognizes and affirms the large community role of fraternal nonprofit societies and their millions of members, at the cost of potentially reinforcing tax-preference sentiment and rhetoric that may reduce emphasis on publicly funded safety-net programs.
About 7 million members and local chapters of nonprofit fraternal societies provide substantial charitable, educational, and volunteer services (estimated ~$3.8B/year), strengthening community support networks and local social services.
Affirming and praising tax-exempt fraternal societies can be seen as endorsing an implicit tax preference, which could be argued to reduce federal revenue available for other programs.
Framing fraternal societies as substitutes for government services could shift policy discussion away from strengthening public safety-net programs that serve low-income or vulnerable populations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Formally recognizes the history, membership, benefits, and societal contributions of fraternal benefit societies and notes their tax-exempt status under IRC 501(c)(8).
Recognizes fraternal benefit societies as long-standing, member-run mutual aid organizations that provide life, health, accident, and other benefits through a chapter-based national structure, notes about 7,000,000 members and an estimated annual societal value of roughly $3.8 billion from charitable, educational, and volunteer activities, and highlights that Congress historically exempted these societies from taxation (now codified at Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(8)). It also states these organizations help reduce pressure on government safety-net programs and have adapted to serve changing member and public needs for more than a century. This resolution is a formal recognition highlighting contributions and historical treatment; it does not create new programs, change tax law, or authorize spending. It mainly affirms the role and public value of fraternal benefit societies.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Darin Lahood · Last progress January 28, 2025