To authorize the National Park Service to acquire and manage the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, and for other purposes.
PL 102-211 (H.R.690), enacted 12/11/1991

105 STAT. 1652 
PUBLIC LAW 102-211—DEC. 11, 1991 
Public Law 102-211 
102d Congress 
An Act 
Dec. 11, 1991 
To authorize the National Park Service to acquire and manage the Mary McLeod 
[H.R. 690] 
Bethune Council House National Historic Site, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
16 u s e 461 note. 
SECTION 1. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) preserve and interpret the life and work of Mary McLeod 
Bethune; 
(2) preserve and interpret the history, lives, and contributions 
of African American women; and 
(3) preserve and interpret the struggle for civil rights in the 
United States of America. 
District of 
SEC. 2. ACQUISITION. 
16 use 461 note. 
The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in this Act referred to 
as the "Secretary") may acquire, with the consent of the owner 
thereof, by donation or by purchase with donated or appropriated 
funds, the property designated under the Act of October 15, 1982 
(Public Law 97-329; 96 Stat. 1615), as the Mary McLeod Bethune 
Council House National Historic Site, located at 1318 Vermont 
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., together with such structures and 
improvements thereon and such personal property associated with 
the site as he deems appropriate for interpretation of the site. 
16 u s e 461 note. 
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon acquisition of the property described in 
section 2, the cooperative agreement referred to in section 3 of the 
Act of October 15,1982 (Public Law 97-329; 96 Stat. 1615) shall cease 
to have any force and effect, and upon acquisition of such property, 
the Secretary shall administer the Mary McLeod Bethune Council 
House National Historic Site (hereinafter in this Act referred to as 
the "historic site") in accordance with this Act and in accordance 
with the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the 
national park system, including the Act entitled "An Act to estab-
lish a National Park Service, and for other purposes", approved 
August 25,1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2-4) and the Act of August 
21,1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467). 
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—(1) The Secretary is authorized and 
directed to enter into a cooperative agreement with nonprofit 
organizations dedicated to preserving and interpreting the life and 
work of Mary McLeod Bethune and the history and contributions of 
African American women— 
(A) to provide to the public such programs, seminars, and 
lectures as are appropriate to interpret the life and work of 
Mary McLeod Bethune and the history and contributions of 
African American women, and 
PUBLIC LAW 102-211—DEC. 11, 1991 
105 STAT. 1653 
(B) to administer the archives currently located at the historic 
site, including providing reasonable access to the archives by 
scholars and other interested parties. 
(2) The Secretary is authorized to provide space and administra-
tive support for such nonprofit organization. 
(c) MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.—The historic site shsdl be 
operated and managed in accordance with a Greneral Mansigement 
Plan. The Advisory Commission appointed under section 4 shall 
fully participate in an advisory capacity with the Secretary in the 
development of the General Management Plan for the historic site. 
The Secretary and the Advisory Commission shall meet and consult 
on matters relating to the mansigement and development of the 
historic site as often as necessary, but at least semiannually. 
SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMISSION. 
16 USC 461 note. 
(a) ESTABUSHMENT.—There is hereby established the Mary 
McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Advisory 
Commission (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Commis-
sion"). The Commission shall carry out the functions specified in 
section 3(c) of this Act. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be composed of 15 mem-
bers appointed by the Secretary for 4-year terms as follows: 
(1) 3 members appointed from recommendations submitted by 
the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. 
(2) 2 members appointed from recommendations submitted by 
other national organizations in which Mary McLeod Bethune 
played a leadership role. 
(3) 2 members appointed from recommendations submitted by 
the Bethune Museum and Archives, Inc. 
(4) 2 members who shall have professional expertise in the 
history of African American women. 
(5) 2 members who shall have professional expertise in ar-
chival management. 
(6) 3 members who shall represent the general public. 
(7) 1 member who shall have professional expertise in historic 
preservation. 
Any member of the Commission appointed for a definite term may 
serve £ifter the expiration of his or her term until his or her 
successor is appointed. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. 
(c) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission shall serve with-
out compensation except that the Secretary is authorized to pay 
such expenses as are reasonably incurred by the members in carry-
ing out their responsibilities under this Act. 
(d) OFFICERS.—The Chair and other ofHcers of the Commission 
shall be elected by a mcgority of the members of the Commission to 
serve for terms established by the Commission. 
(e) BYLAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.—The Commission shall 
make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it considers necessary to 
105 STAT. 1654 
PUBLIC LAW 102-211—DEC. 11, 1991 
carry out its functions under this Act. The provisions of section 14(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix) are 
hereby waived with respect to this Commission. 
16 u s e 461 note. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out this Act. 
Approved December 11, 1991. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 690: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-36 (Comm. on Interior and Insular AfTairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-88 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 137 (1991): 
Apr. 24, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 24, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Nov. 26, Senate receded from its amendment.