I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 439 
To amend the charter of the Future Farmers of America, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 10, 2019 
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend the charter of the Future Farmers of America, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National FFA Organi-
zation’s Federal Charter Amendments Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION. 
Section 70901 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION. 
Section 70902 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; 
(3) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (6), and 
(7); 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (11); 
(5) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as 
paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; 
(6) by inserting before paragraph (7), as redes-
ignated by paragraph (2), the following: 
‘‘(1) to be an integral component of instruction 
in agricultural education, including instruction relat-
ing to agriculture, food, and natural resources; 
‘‘(2) to advance comprehensive agricultural edu-
cation in the United States, including in public 
schools, by supporting contextual classroom and lab-
oratory instruction and work-based experiential 
learning; 
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‘‘(3) to prepare students for successful entry 
into productive careers in fields relating to agri-
culture, food, and natural resources, including by 
connecting students to relevant postsecondary edu-
cational pathways and focusing on the complete de-
livery of classroom and laboratory instruction, work- 
based experiential learning, and leadership develop-
ment; 
‘‘(4) to be a resource and support organization 
that does not select, control, or supervise State asso-
ciation, local chapter, or individual member activi-
ties; 
‘‘(5) to develop educational materials, pro-
grams, services, and events as a service to State and 
local agricultural education agencies; 
‘‘(6) to seek and promote inclusion and diver-
sity in its membership, leadership, and staff to re-
flect the belief of the FFA in the value of all human 
beings;’’; 
(7) in paragraph (7), as redesignated by para-
graph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘composed of students and 
former students of vocational agriculture in 
public schools qualifying for Federal reimburse-
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ment under the Smith-Hughes Vocational Edu-
cation Act (20 U.S.C. 11–15, 16–28’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘as such chapters and as-
sociations carry out agricultural education pro-
grams that are approved by States, territories, 
or possessions’’ after ‘‘United States’’; 
(8) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by para-
graph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘to develop’’ and inserting 
‘‘to build’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘train for useful citizen-
ship, and foster patriotism, and thereby’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘aggressive rural and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘assertive’’; 
(9) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (2), the following: 
‘‘(9) to increase awareness of the global and 
technological importance of agriculture, food, and 
natural resources, and the way agriculture contrib-
utes to our well-being; 
‘‘(10) to promote the intelligent choice and es-
tablishment of a career in fields relating to agri-
culture, food, and natural resources;’’; 
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(10) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by 
paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘to procure for and dis-
tribute to State’’ and inserting ‘‘to make avail-
able to State’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, programs, services,’’ 
before ‘‘and equipment’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting 
‘‘FFA’’; 
(11) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by 
paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘State boards for voca-
tional’’ and inserting ‘‘State boards and officials for 
career and technical’’; and 
(12) in paragraph (13), as redesignated by 
paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘FFA’’. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
Section 70903(a) of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting 
‘‘FFA’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘as provided in the bylaws’’ and 
inserting ‘‘as provided in the constitution or bylaws 
of the FFA’’. 
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SEC. 5. GOVERNING BODY. 
Section 70904 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘corpora-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’ each place the term 
appears; 
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) The board— 
‘‘(A) shall consist of— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Education, or 
the Secretary of Education’s designee who 
has experience in agricultural education, 
the FFA, or career and technical edu-
cation; and 
‘‘(ii) other individuals— 
‘‘(I) representing the fields of 
education, agriculture, food, and nat-
ural resources; or 
‘‘(II) with experience working 
closely with the FFA; and 
‘‘(B) shall not include any individual who 
is a current employee of the National FFA Or-
ganization. 
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members of the governing committee shall be mem-
bers of the board of directors and at all times the 
governing committee shall be comprised of not less 
than 3 individuals. 
‘‘(2) When the board is not in session, the gov-
erning committee has the powers of the board sub-
ject to the board’s direction and may authorize the 
seal of the FFA to be affixed to all papers that re-
quire it. 
‘‘(3) The board shall designate to such com-
mittee— 
‘‘(A) the chair of the board; 
‘‘(B) the executive secretary of the board; 
and 
‘‘(C) the treasurer of the board.’’. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL STUDENT OFFICERS. 
Section 70905 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) COMPOSITION.—There shall be not less than 6 
national student officers of the FFA, including a student 
president, 4 student vice presidents (each representing re-
gions as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the cor-
poration), and a student secretary.’’; 
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(2) by striking subsection (b); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and 
(4) in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘, except that’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘(20 U.S.C. 11–15, 16–28)’’. 
SEC. 7. POWERS. 
Section 70906 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘corporate’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; 
(4) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; 
(5) by amending paragraph (8) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(8) use FFA funds to give prizes, awards, 
loans, and grants to deserving members, local FFA 
chapters, and State FFA associations to carry out 
the purposes of the FFA;’’; 
(6) by amending paragraph (9) to read as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(9) produce publications, websites, and other 
media;’’; 
(7) in paragraph (10)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘procure for and distribute 
to State’’ and inserting ‘‘make available to 
State’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Future Farmers of Amer-
ica’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; and 
(8) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘corpora-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’. 
SEC. 8. NAME, SEALS, EMBLEMS, AND BADGES. 
Section 70907 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting 
‘‘FFA’’ each place the term appears; 
(2) by striking ‘‘name’’ and inserting ‘‘names’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘ ‘Future Farmers of America’ ’’ 
and inserting ‘‘ ‘Future Farmers of America’ and 
‘National FFA Organization,’ ’’; and 
(4) by inserting ‘‘education’’ before ‘‘member-
ship’’. 
SEC. 9. RESTRICTIONS. 
Section 70908 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘corporation 
or a director, officer, or member as such’’ and in-
serting ‘‘FFA or a director, officer, or member act-
ing on behalf of the FFA’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’ each place the term appears; 
and 
(4) in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by 
striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’. 
SEC. 10. RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
Section 70909 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 70909. RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On request of the board of direc-
tors, the FFA may collaborate with Federal agencies, in-
cluding the Department of Education and the Department 
of Agriculture on matters of mutual interest and benefit. 
‘‘(b) AGENCY ASSISTANCE.—Those Federal agencies 
may make personnel, services, and facilities available to 
administer or assist in the administration of the activities 
of the FFA. 
‘‘(c) AGENCY COMPENSATION.—Personnel of the 
Federal agencies may not receive compensation from the 
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FFA for their services, except that travel and other legiti-
mate expenses as defined by the Federal agencies and ap-
proved by the board may be paid. 
‘‘(d) COOPERATION WITH STATE BOARDS.—The 
Federal agencies also may cooperate with State boards 
and other organizations for career and technical education 
to assist in the promotion of activities of the FFA.’’. 
SEC. 11. HEADQUARTERS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE. 
Section 70910 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘of the corporation shall be in the 
District of Columbia. However, the activities of the cor-
poration are not confined to the District of Columbia but’’ 
and inserting ‘‘of the FFA shall be as provided in the con-
stitution or bylaws of the FFA. The activities of the 
FFA’’. 
SEC. 12. RECORDS AND INSPECTION. 
Section 70911 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting 
‘‘FFA’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘entitled 
to vote’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘corporation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FFA’’. 
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SEC. 13. SERVICE OF PROCESS. 
Section 70912 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA’’ 
and inserting ‘‘IN GENERAL’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘FFA’’ each place the term appears; 
(C) by striking ‘‘in the District of Colum-
bia’’ before ‘‘to receive’’; and 
(D) by striking ‘‘Designation of the agent 
shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the 
United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting 
‘‘FFA’’ each place the term appears; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘of the FFA’’ after ‘‘asso-
ciation or chapter’’. 
SEC. 14. LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS OR AGENTS. 
Section 70913 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting ‘‘FFA’’. 
SEC. 15. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS IN DISSOLUTION OR 
FINAL LIQUIDATION. 
Section 70914 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘corporation’’ and inserting 
‘‘FFA’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘vocational agriculture’’ and in-
serting ‘‘agricultural education’’. 
Æ 
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