FSPAC

Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ ΣΤ ΥΦ Χ Ψ Ω Political Action Committee future generations of student leaders 5 Past Presidents Patrick Alderdice, ΔΧ Sarah Lindsay, ΔΔΔ Vicki Nixon, ΔΓ Cindy Stellhorn, ΚΑΘ Larry Wiese, KA Order Executive Director/ Past President Kevin O'Neill, ΛΧΑ Director of Development/ Past President Julie Burkhard, ΑΧΩ Dinner Chairmen Betty Quick, ΓΦΒ Donna Stallard, ΦΜ 2016-17 FSPAC Board President Cheri De Jong, ΣΚ President-Elect Marc Katz, ΑΕΠ Vice President Howard Pickett, ΣΝ Treasurer Kathryn Goddard, ΑΔΠ Secretary Bonnie Wunsch, ΑΕΦ Board Recruitment Chairmen Scott Wiley, ΔΣΦ Carmen Rene, AΧΩ Directors at Large Laurie Connor, ΚΑΘ Tom Decker, ΔΣΦ Phyllis Grissom, ΔΔΔ Directors Natalie Averette, ΣΣΣ Brad Beacham, ΣΝ Andrea Bechtel, ΧΩ Susan Bevan, ΑΦ Kelly Bingel, ΧΩ Kellie Bray, ΣΚ Marcy Buckner, ΑΔΠ Maureen Calloway Carnivale, ΑΔΠ Tom Carter, ΠΚΦ Michael Church, ΣΧ Dan Corah, ΠΚΑ Betsy Corridan, ΚΑΘ Kelly Crompton, ΑΔΠ Rob Derdiger, ΑΕΠ Laura Doerre, ΚΑΘ Jim Estes, KA Order Derek Flowers, ΣΑΕ Pris Gerde, ΚΚΓ Mike Greenberg, ΣΧ Kathi Heatherly, ΔΖ Jud Horras, ΒΘΠ Lisa Humenik, ΣΚ Patrick Jessee, ΔΣΦ Rich Jungman, ΦΣΚ Ned Kirklin, ΚΣ Beth Langford, ΚΔ Val Lawlor, ΑΦ Michael Mayer, ΘΧ Herb Morgan, ΘΧ Jean Mrasek, ΧΩ Andy Nunemaker, ΣΧ Julie Pawelczyk, ΓΦΒ Clark Robertson, ΦΓΔ Christine Rocchio, ΔΓ Ben Satcher Jr., KA Order Tom Schneider, ΑΤΩ Dan Shorts, ΔΤΔ Wynn Smiley, ΑΤΩ PJ Stephens, ΣΧ Mark Timmes, ΠΚΦ Katie Vliestra Wonneberg, ΦΣΣ Dian Volkmer, ΑΟΠ Leslie Williams, ΔΖ Michael Wilson, KA Order Student Directors Rita Elfarissi, ΑΟΠ Kelly Nefzger, ΔΔΔ A s a new school year starts, Congress returns to Washington for a critical four-month stretch of legislative activity to end the calendar year. In September alone, Congress will have to pass legislation to temporarily fund the government into the fiscal year that begins in October, extend the debt ceiling, extend several government programs that expire at the end of September, pass the annual defense bill, and continue the process of considering and confirming Executive Branch nominations. The tragic flooding in Texas, caused by Hurricane Harvey, will require federal legislation to rebuild and the down payment on that rebuilding will be made in September. In addition, there will be some level of effort put into finding a legislative solution to healthcare reform after the summer attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act failed in the Senate. Tax reform is going to be a high priority item in the fall, with the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee considering marking up a comprehensive piece of legislation. The President and Congressional leaders have identified the end of 2017 as a tentative goal for completing tax reform legislation, with it retroactive to the beginning of 2017. However, given the complexities of the fall legislative session and the major challenges of tax reform overall, it remains possible this legislation could slip into 2018. Fraternity and sorority alumni and students continue to press their senators and representatives to include the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act in any comprehensive tax reform bill. As of August 1, CHIA had 95 House sponsors and 11 Senate sponsors. We also expect tax reform to address preserving or even improving the current tax deductibility of charitable contributions. This is an important issue for fraternities and sororities, since many of our national educational programs are dependent on charitable support from our alumni. The Congressional committees overseeing higher education—the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee— will continue their discussions about reauthorizing the nation's higher education laws, but we don't reasonably expect to see that legislation move forward given the higher-profile items Congress must consider in September and October. What is occurring is a continuing dialogue about what the reauthorization should look like when it is introduced. Fraternity and sorority leaders have met several times this year with key congressional education leaders to talk about vital higher education policy issues that affect the fraternal experience. These topics include preserving our single-sex experience and preventing schools from punishing students who join our organizations, organizational due process, campus safety, freedom of association, freedom of speech, and ensuring our alumni can continue in their role of supporting today's student members. Legislative Update— Tax Reform Remains High Priority Sigma Chis with Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX/ΠΚΑ). Alpha Phis

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