A bill to grant a Federal charter to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
PL 99-318 (S.8), enacted 05/23/1986

100 STAT. 474 
PUBLIC LAW 99-318—MAY 23, 1986 
Public Law 99-318 
99th Congress 
An Act 
^—'- 
To grant a Federal charter to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. 
[S. 8] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Corporations. 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
RECOGNITION AS CORPORATION AND GRANT OF FEDERAL CHARTER 
36 use 3801. 
SECTION 1. The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., a nonprofit 
corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, is 
hereby recognized as such and is granted a charter. 
CORPORATE POWERS 
36 use 3802. 
SEC. 2. The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. (hereinafter in this 
Act referred to as the "corporation"), shall have only those powers 
granted to it through its articles of incorporation filed in the State 
in which it is incorporated and its constitution and bylaws, and 
subject to the laws of such State. 
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF CORPORATION 
36 use 3803. 
SEC: 3. The objects and purposes of the corporation are those 
stated in its articles of incorporation, constitution, and bylaws and 
include a commitment to— 
(1) uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States; 
(2) foster the improvement of the condition of Vietnam-era 
veterans; 
(3) promote the social welfare (including educational, eco-
nomic, social, physical, and cultural improvement) in the 
United States by encouraging the growth and development, 
readjustment, self-respect, self-confidence and usefulness of 
Vietnam-era veterans and other veterans; 
(4) improve conditions for Vietnam-era veterans and develop 
channels of communication to assist Vietnam-era veterans; 
(5) conduct and publish research, on a nonpartisan basis, 
pertaining to the relationship between Vietnam-era veterans 
and the American society, to the Vietnam war experience, to 
the role of the United States in securing peaceful coexistence 
for the world community, and to other matters which affect the 
educational, economic, social, physical, or cultural welfare of 
Vietnam-era veterans and other veterans and the families of 
such veterans; 
(6) assist disabled Vietnam-era veterans and other veterans in 
need of assistance and the dependents and survivors of such 
veterans; and 
(7) consecrate the efforts of the members of the corporation 
and Vietnam-era veterans generally to mutual helpfulness and 
service to their country. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-318—MAY 23, 1986 
100 STAT. 475 
SERVICE OF PROCESS 
SEC. 4. With respect to service of process, the corporation shall 
36 USC 3804. 
comply with the laws of the State in which it is incorporated and 
those States in which it carries on its activities in furtherance of its 
corporate purposes. 
MEMBERSHIP 
SEC. 5. Except as provided in section 8, eligibility for membership 
36 USC 3805. 
in the corporation and the rights and privileges of members shall be 
as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
SEC. 6. Except as provided in section 8, the board of directors of 36 USC 3806. 
the corporation, and the responsibilities of the board, shall be as 
provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation and in 
conformity with the laws of the State in which it is incorporated. 
OFFICERS 
SEC. 7. Except as provided in section 8, the officers of the corpora- 
36 USC 3807. 
tion, and the election of such officers, shall be as provided in the 
constitution and bylaws of the corporation and in conformity with 
the laws of the State in which it is incorporated. 
NONDISCRIMINATION 
SEC. 8. In establishing the conditions of membership in the cor- 36 USC 3808. 
poration and in determining the requirements for serving on the 
board of directors or as an officer of the corporation, the corporation 
may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, 
national origin, handicap, or age. 
RESTRICTIONS ON CORPORATE POWERS 
SEC. 9. (a) No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall 36 USC 3809. 
inure to any person who is a member, officer, or director of the 
corporation or be distributed to any such person during the life of 
this charter. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to pre-
vent the payment of reasonable compensation to the officers of the 
corporation or reimbursement for actual necessary expenses in 
amounts approved by the board of directors. 
(b) The corporation shall not make any loan to any officer, direc-
tor, or employee of the corporation. 
(c) The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares of 
stock nor to declare or pay any dividends. 
(d) The corporation shall not claim congressional approval or 
Federal Government authority by virtue of this Act for any of its 
activities. 
LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS 
SEC. 10. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers 
36 USC 3810. 
and agents when acting within the scope of their authority. 
BOOKS 
AND RECORDS; 
INSPECTION 
SEC. 11. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books 36 USC 3811. 
and records of accounts and shall keep minutes of any proceeding of 
100 STAT. 476 
PUBLIC LAW 99-318—MAY 23, 1986 
the corporation involving any of its members, the board of directors, 
or any committee having authority under the board of directors. The 
corporation shall keep at its principal office a record of the names 
and addresses of all members having the right to vote. All books and 
records of the corporation may be inspected by any member having 
the right to vote, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for 
any proper purpose, at any reasonable time. Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to contravene any applicable State law. 
AUDIT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 
SEC. 12. The first section of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for 
audit of accounts of private corporations established under Federal 
law", approved August 30, 1964 (36 U.S.C. 1101), is amended by 
inserting after paragraph (71) the following new paragraph: 
"(72) The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.". 
ANNUAL REPORT 
36 use 3812. 
SEC. 13. The corporation shall report annually to the Congress 
concerning the activities of the corporation during the preceding 
fiscal year. Such annual report shall be submitted at the same time 
as is the report of the audit of the corporation required by section 2 
of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for audit of accounts of 
private corporations established under Federal law", approved 
August 30,1964 (36 U.S.C. 1102). The report shall not be printed as a 
public document. 
RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO ALTER, AMEND, OR REPEAL CHARTER 
36 use 3813. 
SEC. 14. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this charter is 
expressly reserved to the Congress. 
DEFINITION OF "STATE" 
36 use 3814. 
SEC. 15. For purposes of this Act, the term "State" includes the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of 
the territories and possessions of the United States. 
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS 
36 use 3815. 
SEC. 16. The corporation shall maintain its status as an organiza-
tion exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code 
26 u s e 1 et seq. 
of 1954. 
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NAMES 
36 use 3816. 
SEC. 17. The corporation shall have the sole and exclusive right to 
use the name "The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.", "Vietnam 
Veterans of America, Inc.", and "Vietnam Veterans of America", 
PUBLIC LAW 99-318—MAY 23, 1986 
100 STAT. 477 
and such seals, emblems, and badges as the corporation may law-
fully adopt. Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere or 
conflict with established or vested rights. 
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH RESTRICTIONS OR PROVISIONS 
SEC. 18. If the corporation shall fail to comply with any of the 36 use 3817. 
restrictions or provisions of this Act, the charter granted by this Act 
shall expire. 
Approved May 28, 1986. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 8 (H.R. 512): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 99-591 accompanying H.R. 512 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 99-268 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 132 (1986): 
Apr. 8, 9, considered and passed Senate. 
May 12, H.R. 512 considered and passed House; proceedings vacated and S. 8 
passed in lieu. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 22 (1986): 
May 23, Presidential statement.