I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2374
To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the
National Lighthouse Center and Museum.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 1999
Mr. FOSSELLA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal
charter to the National Lighthouse Center and Museum.
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 Lighthouse
Center and Museum Act’’.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE CENTER AND MUSEUM.
Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after chapter 1519 the following
new chapter:
‘‘CHAPTER 1520—NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE
CENTER AND MUSEUM
‘‘Sec.
‘‘152001. Organization.
‘‘152002. Purposes.
‘‘152003. Operation of museum.
‘‘152004. Membership.
‘‘152005. Governing body.
‘‘152006. Powers.
‘‘152007. Restrictions.
‘‘152008. Duty to maintain corporate and tax-exempt status.
‘‘152009. Records and inspection.
‘‘152010. Service of process.
‘‘152011. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
‘‘152012. Annual report.
‘‘152013. Definitions.
‘‘§ 152001. Organization
‘‘(a) FEDERAL CHARTER.—The National Lighthouse
Center and Museum, incorporated in New York, is a feder-
ally chartered corporation.
‘‘(b) EXPIRATION OF CHARTER.—If the corporation
does not comply with any provision of this chapter, the
charter granted by this chapter expires.
‘‘§ 152002. Purposes
‘‘The purposes of the corporation are as provided in
its constitution and bylaws and include the following pur-
poses:
‘‘(1) To collect, preserve, and interpret objects
related to the history and technology of lighthouses
located, in the past or present, at sites throughout
the United States.
‘‘(2) To research, document, and disseminate
information on the history and technology of Amer-
ican lighthouses.
‘‘(3) To create and maintain an archive of arti-
facts and materials related to American lighthouses.
‘‘(4) To foster research of American lighthouse
history.
‘‘(5) To serve as a contact point for public in-
quiry and assistance with respect to American light-
house history, research, education, collections, and
programs.
‘‘(6) To celebrate America’s lighthouse heritage
through educational programs, publications, films,
festivals, living history, lighthouse trails, con-
ferences, and other such offerings.
‘‘(7) To support other existing and future light-
house museums, organizations, and sites.
‘‘(8) To establish partnerships with other orga-
nizations to attain the above goals.
‘‘(9) To engage in any lawful act or activity
necessary to further the purposes of the corporation
under this section.
‘‘§ 152003. Operation of museum
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The corporation shall operate a
museum to be known as the National Lighthouse Center
‘‘§ 152005. Governing body
‘‘(a) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The board of trustees
of the corporation and the responsibilities of the board are
as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corpora-
tion.
‘‘(b) OFFICERS.—The officers and the election of offi-
cers of the corporation are as provided in the bylaws of
the corporation.
‘‘§ 152006. Powers
‘‘The corporation has only the powers provided in its
constitution, bylaws, and charter as granted by the Board
of Regents of the State of New York and in the certificate
of authority in any other State in which the corporation
is, or shall be, qualified to do business.
‘‘§ 152007. Restrictions
‘‘(a) STOCK AND DIVIDENDS.—The corporation may
not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend.
‘‘(b) POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.—The corporation or a
trustee or officer, acting as such trustee or officer, may
not contribute to, support, or participate in any political
activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation.
‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME OR ASSETS.—The in-
come or assets of the corporation may not inure to the
benefit of, or be distributed to, a trustee, officer, or mem-
ber during the life of the charter granted by this chapter.
This subsection does not prevent the payment of reason-
able compensation to an officer or reimbursement for ac-
tual necessary expenses in amounts approved by the board
of trustees.
‘‘(d) LOANS.—The corporation may not make a loan
to a trustee, officer, or employee.
‘‘(e) CLAIM OF GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL OR AU-
THORIZATION.—The corporation may not claim congres-
sional approval or the authority of the United States Gov-
ernment for any of its activities.
‘‘§ 152008. Duty to maintain corporate and tax-ex-
empt status
‘‘(a) CORPORATE STATUS.—The corporation shall
maintain its corporate status as a corporation incor-
porated under the laws of the State of New York.
‘‘(b) TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.—The corporation shall
maintain its status as an organization exempt from tax-
ation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.
1 et seq.).
‘‘§ 152009. Records and inspection
‘‘(a) RECORDS.—The corporation shall keep—
‘‘(1) correct and complete records of account;
‘‘(2) minutes of the proceedings of its members,
board of trustees, and committees; and
‘‘(3) at its principal office, a record of the
names and addresses of its members entitled to vote,
if any.
‘‘(b) INSPECTION.—Any officer or trustee, or any
member entitled to vote (if any), or an agent or attorney
of such officer, trustee, or member, may inspect the
records of the corporation for any proper purpose at any
reasonable time.
‘‘§ 152010. Service of process
‘‘The corporation shall comply with the law on service
of process of the State of New York and in each State
in which it carries on activities.
‘‘§ 152011. Liability for acts of officers and agents
‘‘The corporation is liable for the acts of its officers
and agents acting within the scope of their authority.
‘‘§ 152012. Annual report
‘‘The corporation shall submit an annual report to
Congress on the activities of the corporation during the
prior fiscal year. The report shall be submitted at the
same time as the report of the audit required by section
10101 of this title. The report may not be printed as a
public document.
‘‘§ 152013. Definitions
‘‘For purposes of this chapter—
(1) the term ‘corporation’ means the National
Lighthouse Center and Museum, Inc., incorporated
in New York; and
(2) the term ‘State’ includes the District of Co-
lumbia and the territories and possessions of the
United States.’’.
SEC. 3. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.
The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle II
of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to chapter 1519 the following new
item:
‘‘1520. NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE CENTER AND MUSEUM .........152001’’.
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