Resolution Supporting the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (H.R. 1547/S.781)

WHEREAS, the University Assembly (herein, “Assembly”) Charter grants the Assembly power to examine “matters which involve the interests or concern the welfare of a substantial segment of the University community;” and

WHEREAS, a substantial portion of the Cornell community relies on non-University owned non-for-profit student housing entities for residence; and

WHEREAS, all constituencies are affected by such housing communities�undergraduate and graduate students who live in them, staff and employees responsible for maintaining and supporting them, and faculty affiliated with them; and

WHEREAS, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (H.R. 1547/S. 781) would eliminate a distinction in existing tax law thereby allowing tax-exempt charitable and educational organizations to make grants to non-University owned not-for-profit student housing entities; and

WHEREAS, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act would encourage charitable contributions to collegiate housing for installation of life saving equipment such as fire sprinklers, smoke detectors, and alarm systems; and

WHEREAS, President Skorton has endorsed the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act for the past two years through direct correspondence with members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate from the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Arcuri [NY-24], Representative Yvette Clarke [NY-11], Representative Joseph Crowley [NY-7], Representative Eliot Engel [NY-17], Representative Maurice Hinchey [NY-22], Representative Peter King [NY-3], Representative Christopher Lee [NY-26], Representative Nita Lowey [NY-18], Representative Daniel Maffei [NY-25], Representative Carolyn Maloney [NY-14], and Representative Gregory Meeks [NY-6] have each decided to sponsor the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act; and

WHEREAS, not all members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate from the State of New York have decided to sponsored the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act; and

WHEREAS, Cornell University fulfills a unique public function through its Land Grant mission by providing education, outreach, and applied research, thus touching every aspect of life in New York, and contributing to the State’s economic prosperity; and

WHEREAS, passage of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act would further enable Cornell to fulfill its public function as a Land Grant institution;

THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Assembly, on behalf of the undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and staff communities of Cornell, supports the passage of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assembly urges all members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate to sponsor the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Assembly urges existing sponsors of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act to work swiftly to find a suitable vehicle for its passage.

Respectfully submitted,

John Cetta
Undergraduate Representative, University Assembly

Mark Fontana
Former Vice Chair, University Assembly