IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 65 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit soci-
eties have historically provided and continue to provide critical benefits 
to the people and communities of the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 16, 2021 
Mr. KIND (for himself, Mr. SMITH of Missouri, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. 
LAHOOD, Mr. SUOZZI, Mrs. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. EMMER, Mr. HUD-
SON, Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. STEIL, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mr. KATKO, Mr. HIG-
GINS of New York, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. 
DELBENE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Mr. PA-
NETTA, Mr. POCAN, Mr. WENSTRUP, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. LARSON of Con-
necticut, Mr. STAUBER, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. ESTES, Mr. SCHNEIDER, 
Mr. CLEAVER, Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, and Mr. HOLLINGS-
WORTH) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that tax-exempt fra-
ternal benefit societies have historically provided and con-
tinue to provide critical benefits to the people and com-
munities of the United States. 
Whereas fraternal benefit societies of the United States are 
long-standing mutual aid organizations created more 
than a century ago to serve the needs of communities and 
provide for the payment of life, health, accident, and 
other benefits to their members; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:40 Dec 16, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC65.IH
HC65
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HCON 65 IH 
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 fra-
ternal benefit societies to most efficiently address unmet 
needs in communities, many of which 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 chap-
ters 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 giv-
ing, educational programs, and volunteer activities, as 
well as important social capital that strengthens the fab-
ric, safety, and quality of life in thousands of local com-
munities 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 In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986; 
Whereas fraternals 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 peo-
ple of the United States save money and be financially 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:40 Dec 16, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC65.IH
HC65
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HCON 65 IH 
secure relieves pressures on government safety net pro-
grams; and 
Whereas Congress recognizes that fraternal benefit societies 
have served their original purpose for more than a cen-
tury, helping countless individuals, families, and commu-
nities through their fraternal member activities: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the fraternal benefit society model is a suc-
cessful private sector economic and social support 
system that helps meet needs that would otherwise 
go unmet; 
(2) the provision of payment for life, sick, acci-
dent, 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(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of 
fraternal benefit societies continues to generate sig-
nificant returns to the United States, and the work 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:40 Dec 16, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC65.IH
HC65
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HCON 65 IH 
of fraternal benefit societies should continue to be 
promoted. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:40 Dec 16, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC65.IH
HC65
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS