[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6448-6449]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES

  Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today to praise the work of 
fraternal benefit societies, little-known but critical nonprofit 
organizations that meet the needs of millions of Americans day in and 
day out. There are over 9 million fraternal members across the country.

[[Page 6449]]

  Every day, their volunteers supplement the social services provided 
by overburdened government agencies-- serving children, the elderly, 
veterans, and others who need help. In the past year alone, fraternal 
members invested 91 million hours in community service and contributed 
$400 million to charitable programs. In the State of Wisconsin, there 
are 252,232 fraternal members, and in the last year, these members 
spent over 4 million hours volunteering and donated over $25 million 
throughout the state.
  Fraternal benefit societies are tax-exempt organizations that sell 
financial products such as life insurance and annuities, and use the 
profits to meet community needs. From a small Federal investment of $50 
million a year, over $400 million is put back directly into 
communities. A recent study found that fraternal benefit societies 
contribute more than $3 billion annually to society. The fraternal 
benefit societies leverage additional community resources through fund 
matching programs and by bringing people together to do good. These 
community needs would not be met without fraternal benefit societies, 
especially at this time of shrinking federal, state and local 
resources.
  From acting as a first-response network in the face of natural 
disasters, to building homes for families in need, to assisting 
families struggling with overwhelming medical bills, to providing 
scholarships to deserving students, fraternals are dedicated to 
improving the lives of their members, families, and communities.
  Many of these societies have been around for over a century. They 
began, in large part to meet needs of immigrant populations that could 
not otherwise be met--helping families when a breadwinner got sick or 
died; helping a community member find a place to stay or meet medical 
needs. While the organizations have evolved, today they still meet 
needs that are otherwise not met. They help pay for medical bills, have 
scholarship funds, assist in neighborhood playground builds, clean up 
after disasters, stock food pantries and bring meals to seniors.
  I want to honor these groups during their annual meeting. I want to 
take the opportunity to thank the 9 million fraternal members for all 
of the great work they do around the country.

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