American National Red Cross Governance Modernization Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-655
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Auditing
Charities
Commerce
Congressional reporting requirements
Corporate governance
Corporation directors
Disaster relief
Electronic data interchange
Emergency Management
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
International relief
Law
Nongovernmental organizations
Ombudsman
Presidential appointments
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Term limits
Trusts and trustees
Voting

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
American National Red Cross Governance Modernization Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) effectiveness and transparency in the governance of charitable organizations is important in maintaining the trust of the American public; and (2) the American National Red Cross should maintain appropriate communications and coordination with state regulators of such organizations.

Amends federal law concerning the American National Red Cross to: (1) revise its governance structure; (2) authorize the Comptroller General to review its involvement in any federal program or activity; and (3) establish an Office of the Ombudsman which shall report annually to Congress.

action_date: 2007-03-15
text: 
American National Red Cross Governance Modernization Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) charitable organizations are an indispensable part of American society; (2) such organizations must maintain the trust of the American public by fostering effective governance and transparency; (3) the American National Red Cross (ANRC) is and will remain a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States; and (4) the ANRC should maintain appropriate communications with state regulators of charitable organizations and cooperate with such regulators.

(Sec. 3) Amends the charter of the ANRC to designate the ANRC as a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States and authorize it to conduct its business and affairs as the American Red Cross in any jurisdiction and to conduct other activities consistent with its traditional purposes.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes the ANRC corporation (corporation), rather than its board of directors, to prescribe policies and regulations relating to ANRC chapters. Provides for the selection of delegates to the annual meeting of the ANRC, instead of its national convention.

(Sec. 6) Modifies provisions relating to the ANRC board of governors to restate the role of the board as the governing body of the corporation and to revise provisions relating to its size, composition, and relationship with management. Establishes an Advisory Council to advise, report to, and meet with the board of governors.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes the corporation to adopt policies in lieu of bylaws. 

(Sec. 8) Defines the annual meeting of the corporation as the annual meeting of the delegates of the chapters (instead of the national convention). Designates the time and place of the annual meeting and determines the voting guidelines and requirements for such meeting. 

(Sec. 9) Eliminates the requirement that the number of trustees overseeing the ANRC endowment fund be nine. Grants the corporation, rather than the board of governors, the authority to prescribe policies and regulations on terms and tenure of office, accountability, and expenses of the board of trustees. 

(Sec. 10) Requires the corporation to submit a report to the Secretary of Defense on the activities of the corporation during the preceding fiscal year, including a complete, itemized report of all receipts and expenditures. 

(Sec. 11) Authorizes the Comptroller General to review the corporation's involvement in any federal program or activity. 

Requires the corporation to establish an Office of the Ombudsman. Requires such Office to submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on trends and systemic matters that the Office has identified as confronting the corporation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2007-03-16
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2007-03-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-03-15
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3229-3234; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S3229-3231; text as passed Senate: CR S3232-3234)
action_date: 2007-03-15
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3229-3234; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S3229-3231; text as passed Senate: CR S3232-3234)
action_date: 2007-03-08
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 71.
action_date: 2007-03-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-03-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-03-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2166-2168)
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate