Weber Times

Today, Congressman Blake Moore unveiled bipartisan legislation targeting the affordability of student housing in higher education. The proposed Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act seeks to eliminate a prohibition on non-profit student housing entities, such as fraternities and sororities, from using donations for building and maintaining quality student housing. The bill aims to amend the tax code, treating all non-profit student housing entities equally.

Congressman Moore expressed his motivation behind the initiative by saying, “While I consider high school my ‘glory days,’ my collegiate years were among the most formative of my life, and I want to ensure students across the nation are able to get the most out of their experiences without feeling burdened by housing costs.” The legislation intends to broaden the availability of affordable housing options for students, potentially reducing their student loan burdens and easing financial barriers to accessing higher education.

The legislation was co-introduced by Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who emphasized the necessity of tackling higher education costs. She stated, "Now more than ever, Congress must do what it can to alleviate the financial burden associated with pursuing a higher education." She highlighted that this bipartisan bill is a vital step toward reducing college housing expenses for students and families.

Student housing represents a significant cost for many pursuing higher education in the United States. Often, colleges and universities cannot accommodate all students, pushing them to rely on costly, for-profit alternatives. Currently, non-profit organizations providing student housing to over 400,000 students nationwide face restrictions under the tax code that limit their fundraising abilities by not allowing tax-deductible donations, consequently affecting housing affordability.

The Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act aims to resolve these tax code discrepancies and enhance affordable housing options for students.