I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1839 
To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the 
National Lighthouse Museum. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2021 
Ms. MALLIOTAKIS 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 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 
Museum Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM. 
Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after chapter 1519 the following 
new chapter: 
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‘‘CHAPTER 1520—NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE 
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 
Museum, incorporated in New York, is a federally char-
tered 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 
and lightships located, in the past or present, at 
sites throughout the United States. 
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‘‘(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 Museum 
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at the site of the former United States Lighthouse Service 
General Depot located at what is now known as St. 
George, Staten Island, New York. 
‘‘(b) STORAGE FACILITY.—The corporation shall op-
erate a storage facility located at or near the site described 
in subsection (a) for the care, conservation, and mainte-
nance of artifacts in the collection of the corporation. 
‘‘(c) SUPPORT TO OTHER MUSEUMS.—The corpora-
tion shall provide support to other museums that interpret 
the history of aids to navigation in the United States. 
‘‘(d) DESIGNATION OF COLLECTION.—The collection 
of artifacts of the National Lighthouse Museum shall be 
known as the National Lighthouse Collection. 
‘‘(e) EXCLUSIVE RIGHT.—The corporation shall have 
the sole and exclusive right to use, in carrying out its pur-
poses, the name ‘National Lighthouse Museum’ and the 
sole and exclusive right to the use of its corporate seal, 
emblems, and badges as adopted by the corporation. 
‘‘§ 152004. Membership 
‘‘Eligibility for membership in the corporation and 
the rights and privileges of members are as provided in 
the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. 
‘‘§ 152005. Governing body 
‘‘(a) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The board of trustees 
of the corporation and the responsibilities of the board are 
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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-
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