Congress Needs Your Phone Call, Fraters

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - In the coming month, Tau Kappa Epsilon is asking for your earnest support and immediate action regarding fraternity housing. We need you to encourage lawmakers to push for the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA) to be added to the pending economic stimulus bill to be considered by Congress.

CHIA is a bill that would allow Tau Kappa Epsilon and other not-for-profit entities to use tax-deductible charitable contributions to the TKE Educational Foundation to make grants to local house corporations which can be used to construct, modify or improve your chapter house. Life-safety equipment, such as fire sprinklers, may save a Frater's life and are needed in many of our chapter houses. Current tax law does not allow for tax deductibility of donations for chapter housing.

The economic stimulus bill is being composed in several committees, and congressional leaders are expected to be involved in creating the final package. As a result, it is important that you ask your elected official to be in touch with both the leadership in their respective chamber and with committee leaders. As well, the stimulus bill is expected to have a significant component of tax cuts aimed at spurring job creation and economic activity. Many of the CHIA components have an economic basis, and it is important that you emphasize those points in your conversations.

If you do not have a pre-existing relationship with the elected official, please call his/her office and speak to a relevant staff member. The best staff members to speak with are: (1) the Chief of Staff; (2) the Legislative Director; or (3) the staff member who handles tax issues.

Last but not least, please report your calls to our team of volunteer lobbyists in Washington. After each phone call, please complete a contact form, which can be found at the Fraternal Caucus web site. This form is very important in our abilities to follow-up with your contacts. Thank You Fraters for your help. Once again, we ask for your complete support as we rally to make a difference in Washington, a difference that will affect hundreds of thousands of college men and women. Our chances to finalize this bill are better now than ever before.

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