•HCON 28 IH 
provide for the payment of life, health, accident, and 
other benefits to their members; 
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 the government 
cannot address; 
Whereas the fraternal benefit society model represents one of 
the largest member-volunteer networks in the United 
States, with approximately 7,000,000 people belonging to 
local chapters across the country; 
Whereas research has shown that the value of the work of 
fraternal benefit societies to society averages 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 fraternal benefit societies have adapted since 1909 
to better serve the evolving needs of their members and 
the public; 
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•HCON 28 IH 
Whereas the efforts of fraternal benefit societies to help peo-
ple of the United States save money and be financially 
secure relieves pressure 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 fraternal member activities: Now, there-
fore, 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, health, ac-
cident, 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 
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•HCON 28 IH 
fraternal benefit societies continues to generate sig-
nificant returns to the United States, and the work 
of fraternal benefit societies should continue to be 
promoted. 
Æ 
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