CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Two US representatives, Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Terri Sewell (D-AL), have introduced a bipartisan bill called the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2023, aimed at improving the affordability and safety of student housing. The legislation aims to update the tax code to allow not-for-profit student housing organizations to use tax-deductible donations to construct, maintain or improve student housing.
The bill has enjoyed broad bipartisan support in the past and is viewed as an important first step in addressing the wider issue of college affordability. Arbitrary distinctions in the tax code that currently make collegiate housing more expensive would be eliminated by the bill, which will also improve the overall safety of campuses.
“Congress must look at the root causes that drive the college affordability crisis, including the rise of housing costs. Arbitrary distinctions in our tax code should not make collegiate housing more expensive. This bill will help fix this while also improving the overall safety of campuses,” said Representative Wenstrup. “This legislation has enjoyed wide bipartisan support in the past. It is a necessary first step while we tackle the larger overall problem of college affordability.”
The proposed bill would help to make housing more affordable for nearly 400,000 students living in non-profit facilities on campuses across America. It would also provide aid to hundreds of public institutions that currently lack the capacity to house students in state-owned accommodations.
“We in Congress must do what we can to alleviate the crushing financial burden of receiving a higher education,” said Representative Sewell. “This bipartisan bill takes critical steps to bring down the cost of college housing and provide breathing room to students and their families. I urge my colleagues to give it their full support.”
Under the current tax code, colleges, and universities are permitted to use charitable contributions to construct new buildings or make safety improvements. The Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act would extend this privilege to certain tax-exempt charitable or educational organizations, such as fraternities or sororities, enabling them to access collegiate housing and infrastructure grants and apply these to their collegiate housing properties.
The bill aims to eliminate arbitrary distinctions, enabling fraternal organizations and other educational groups to install safety equipment, construct new housing, and help students lower their college costs. The legislation has been widely welcomed by the National Panhellenic Conference and Jeff Rundle, CEO of Beta Theta Pi (Oxford, OH).