A bill to incorporate United Service Organizations, Incorporated.
PL 96-165 (H.R.600), enacted 12/29/1979

PUBLIC LAW 96-165—DEC. 29, 1979 
93 STAT. 1267 
Public Law 96-165 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To incorporate United Service Organizations, Incorporated. 
Dec. 29, 19 < 9 
[H.R. 600] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That the following United Service 
persons, to wit: 
Organizations, 
Colonel Paul Akst, United States Air Force (retired), New gg'^ulcTsoT' 
York, New York; 
Robert C. Andrews, Nashville, Tennessee; 
Mary Louise Austin, Atlanta, Georgia; 
Alden G. Barber, Menlo Park, California; 
James E. Barrett, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Alfred D. Bell, Junior, Burlingame, California; 
Mrs. Andrew J. Bennett, Junior, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; 
Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 
Frank J. Brennan, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania; 
N. Brewster Broder, Southfield, Michigan; 
Mrs. Edward G. Brown, Millbrook, New York; 
Mrs. Joseph O. Butcher, Bloomington, Indiana; 
Marvin E. Cardoza, San Francisco, California; 
Zebedee C. Chaney, Junior, New York, New York; 
Louis J. Cohen, Newark, New Jersey; 
John B. Coleman, Chicago, Illinois; 
Gilbert Colgate, Junior, New York, New York; 
Robert K. Corn, Papillion, Nebraska; 
Kathryn Grant Crosby, Beverly Hills, California; 
Edward J. Daly, Oakland, California; 
Richard J. Davis, Junior, Arlington, Virginia; 
General Michael S. Davison, United States Army (retired), 
Washington, District of Columbia; 
Colonel Peter Dawkins, United States Army, Fort Campbell, 
Kentucky; 
John W. Dixon, Dallas, Texas; 
Mikki Ehrenfeld, Lincoln, Massachusetts; 
E. Stanley Enlund, Chicago, Illinois; 
Kimball C. Firestone, Potomac, Maryland; 
Mrs. Maxine Flournoy, Alice, Texas; 
Robert G. Geib, New York, New York; 
Rear Admiral Lawrence R. Geis, United States Navy (retired), 
Jacksonville, Florida; 
Jacob Goodstein, New York, New York; 
Theodore J. Hagans, Junior, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Mrs. Henry E. Harriman, Junior, San Diego, California; 
John Halliburton, Kerrville, Texas; 
Ronald E. Herington, New Bedford, Massachusetts; 
Mrs. Margaret Howard Ismaila, Cleveland, Ohio; 
Eugene Jelesnik, Salt Lake City, Utah; 
Major General Orris E. Kelly, United States Army, Washing-
ton, District of Columbia; 
Robert P. Kelsey, Junior, Boston, Massachusetts; 
Donald R. Keough, Atlanta, Georgia; 
Ralph B. Kohnen, Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio; 
93 STAT. 1268 
PUBLIC LAW 96-165—DEC. 29, 1979 
James J. Lazarus, Kearny, New Jersey; 
Honorable John Davis Lodge, Westport, Connecticut; 
Honorable Al G. Loehr, Saint Cloud, Minnesota; 
Morgan Maxfield, North Kansas City, Missouri; 
Mrs. Andrew M. McBurney, New York, New York; 
Fred M. McCahey, Winnetka, Illinois; 
Brigadier General Martin Menter, United States Air Force 
(retired), Chevy Chase, Maryland; 
Ms. Mary Wells Milam, Miami, Florida; 
Nick J. Mileti, Gates Mills, Ohio; 
Donald L. Miller, New York, New York; 
Doctor Ron Miller, Brooklyn, New York; 
Fred Much, Houston, Texas; 
Doctor Frank L. Myers, Avenel, New Jersey; 
Chief Commissaryman Robert A. Nolan, United States Navy 
(retired), Washington, District of Columbia; 
Leo Perlis, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Robert B. Pirie, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Joseph Robbie, Miami, Florida; 
Vincent J. Romeo, Flat Rock, North Carolina; 
Lieutenant Colonel James H. Ryan, United States Army (re-
tired). Mount Rainier, Maryland; 
Theodore R. Serrill, Edgewater, Maryland; 
Mrs. Charles H. Sethness, Junior, Chicago, Illinois; 
Joseph H. Singer, Somerville, New Jersey;-
Colonel C. Haskell Small, United States Army (retired), Wash-
ington, District of Columbia; 
Robert A. Staub, New York, New York; 
Dorothy C. Stephens, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Warren Titus, Boston, Massachusetts; 
Martin Tucker, New York, New York; 
Mrs. Pearl Scott Tyler, Boston, Massachusetts; 
Mrs. Audrey Ullman, Arlington, Virginia; 
Mrs. Paula Unruh, Tulsa, Oklahoma; 
Jeff Wald, Beverly Hills, California; 
Doctor Seymour S. Weisman, Norwalk, Connecticut; 
William G. Whyte, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Clifford R. Williams, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 
Julius E. Williams, New York, New York; 
Michael Collins, Washington, District of Columbia; 
and their successors are hereby created and declared to be a body 
corporate having the name United Service Organizations, Incorpo-
rated (hereinafter the "corporation"). The said corporation shall have 
perpetual existence and the powers, limitations, and restrictions 
herein contained. 
36 use 1302. 
SEC. 2. OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION.—The objects 
and purposes of the corporation are to provide a voluntary civilian 
agency through which the people of this Nation may, in peace or war, 
serve the religious, spiritual, social, welfare, educational, and enter-
tainment needs of the men and women in the Armed Forces within or 
without the territorial limits of the United States, and in general, to 
contribute to the maintenance of morale of such men and women; to 
solicit funds for the maintenance of the organization and the accom-
plishment of its responsibility; to accept the cooperation of and to 
provide an organization and a means through which the National 
Board of Young Men's Christian Associations, National Board of 
Young Women's Christian Associations, National Catholic Commu-
nity Service, the Salvation Army, the National Jewish Welfare 
PUBLIC LAW 96-165—DEC. 29, 1979 
93 STAT. 1269 
Board, the Travelers Aid-International Social Service of America, 
and other civilian agencies experienced in specialized types of related 
work, which may be needed adequately to meet particular needs of 
the members of the Armed Forces, may carry on their historic work 
of serving the spiritual, religious, social, welfare, educational, and 
entertainment needs of such men and women and be afforded an 
appropriate means of participation and financial assistance; to 
coordinate their programs, and to accept the cooperation of individ-
ual citizens in accomplishing its purposes. The corporation shall have 
such other objects and purposes as are consonant with the above. 
SEC. 3. CORPORATE POWERS.—The corporation shall have all the 36 use 1303. 
powers necessary and proper to accomplish the objects and purposes 
set forth in section 2. Without limiting the generality of the forego-
ing, the corporation shall have the following specific powers: 
(a) To enact and amend bylaws, rules, and regulations for its 
internal governance and management, not inconsistent with this Act 
or other provisions of law. 
(b) To establish, regulate, and terminate State, regional, local, and 
'; 
overseas councils, organizations, chapters, or affiliates in such man-
ner and by such rules as it deems appropriate so as to enable it to 
carry out its powers and accomplish the objects and purposes set forth 
in section 2. 
(c) To solicit and raise funds for the accomplishment of its purposes, 
and to accept gifts, legacies, devises, and support in furtherance 
thereof. 
(d) To acquire, hold, and dispose of such real and personal property 
as may be necessary to carry out the corporate purposes; to sell, 
mortgage, or lease any of its real property if authorized by its board of 
governors. 
(e) To make and enter into contracts. 
(f) To borrow money for the purposes of the corporation, issue bonds 
therefor, and secure the same by mortgage, subject in every case to all 
applicable provisions of Federal and State law. 
(g) To adopt and alter a corporate seal, emblems, and marks, 
(h) To choose such officers, representatives, and agents as may be 
necessary to carry out the corporate purposes. 
(i) To establish and maintain offices for the conduct of the affairs of 
the corporation. 
(j) To publish a newspaper, magazine, or other publications. 
(k) To sue and be sued in any court. 
(1) To do any and all acts and things necessary and proper to 
accomplish the foregoing specifically enumerated purposes. 
SEC. 4. RESTRICTIONS ON CORPORATE POWERS.—(a) The corporation 36 use 1304. 
shall be nonpolitical and, as an organization, shall not furnish 
financial aid or assistance to, or otherwise promote the candidacy of, 
any person seeking elective public office. No substantial part of the 
activities of the corporation shall involve carrying on propaganda, or 
otherwise attempting to influence legislation. 
(b) The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares of 
capital stock, or to declare or pay any dividends. It shall also have no 
power to engage in any business activity for pecuniary profit unless 
the activity is substantially related to the carrying out of its objects 
and purposes, as set forth in section 2, or the raising of funds for the 
accomplishment of said purposes. 
(c) The property of the corporation is irrevocably dedicated to 
charitable purposes. Upon dissolution or final liquidation of the 
corporation, after discharge or satisfaction of all outstanding obliga-
tions and liabilities, its remaining assets, if any, shall be distributed 
93 STAT. 1270 
PUBLIC LAW 96-165—DEC. 29, 1979 
in accordance with the determination of its board of governors, in 
compliance with its bylaws and all Federal and State laws applicable 
thereto: Provided, however, That its property shall not, in any event, 
inure to the benefit of any private person except a fund, foundation, 
association, or corporation operated exclusively for charitable 
purposes. 
(d) No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall inure to 
any member, governor, officer, or employee of the corporation or be 
distributable to any person during the life of the corporation or upon 
its dissolution or liquidation. Nothing in this subsection, however, 
M 
shall be construed to prevent the payment of reasonable compensa-
tion for services rendered to officers and employees of the corporation 
and other persons, or to prevent their reimbursement for actual 
necessary expenses in amounts approved by the corporation's board 
of governors. 
(e) The corporation shall not make loans to its members, officers, 
governors, or employees. 
36 use 1305. 
SEC. 5, GOVERNANCE OF THE CORPORATION. 
(a) MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION.—The persons listed in section 1 
are the present members of United Service Organizations, Incorpo-
rated, a corporation organized under the Not-for-Profit Corporation 
Law of the State of New York (hereinafter "the New York Corpora-
tion"). Upon the enactment of this charter, and for not more than one 
year thereafter, the said persons shall be the members of the 
corporation hereunder. They shall adopt bylaws and perform all 
other acts necessary to complete the organization of the corporation. 
Thereafter, the members of the corporation shall consist of nine 
persons designated by the President of the United States, and such 
representatives of the organizations listed in section 2 of this Act and 
of the public at large as shall be specified in the bylaws. The rights, 
privileges, and designations of the classes of members shall also be as 
specified in the bylaws. 
(b) BOARD OF GOVERNORS.—The management of the corporation 
shall be entrusted to a board of governors, which shall be responsible 
for the general policies and program of the corporation and for the 
control of its affairs and property. Upon the enactment of this charter 
and for not more than one year thereafter, the membership of the 
initial board of governors of the corporation created hereunder shall 
consist of the present members of the board of governors of the New 
York corporation. Thereafter, the board of governors shall be elected 
by the members of the corporation for such terms and in such classes 
as shall be specified in the bylaws, and shall include the following 
^. 
persons: 
(1) Six members appointed by the President of the United 
States. 
(2) The Secretary of Defense, or his designee. 
(3) Such representatives of the organizations listed in section 2 
of this Act and of the public at large as shall be specified in the 
bylaws. 
(c) OTHER GOVERNING BODIES.—The corporation shall have such 
other governing bodies and committees as may be provided for in its 
bylaws. 
(d) OFFICERS.—The office of honorary chairman of the corporation 
shall be tendered to the President of the United States. Upon 
acceptance of such office, the honorary chairman shall be invited to 
preside at such meetings of the corporation as he may deem appropri-
ate and convenient. The corporation shall have such other officers as 
may be designated in its bylaws. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-165—DEC. 29, 1979 
93 STAT. 1271 
SEC. 6. STATE OF INCORPORATION.—Upon the enactment of this 
charter, the corporation shall acquire the assets and assume the 
liabilities of the New York corporation. The United Service Organiza-
tions, Incorporated, shall retain and maintain its existing status as a 
corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, 
another State, or the District of Columbia. 
SEC. 7. USE OF NAMES "UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, INCORPO-
RATED" AND "USO".—The corporation, its regional. State, and local 
councils, organizations, chapters, and affiliates shall have the sole 
and exclusive right to use the names "United Service Organizations, 
Incorporated" and "USO" and such distinctive insignia, emblems, 
and badges as the corporation may lawfully adopt in carrying out its 
purposes. 
SEC. 8. ASSISTANCE BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.—The Department 
of Defense may make its resources available to the USO, to the extent 
compatible with the primary mission of the Department of Defense 
and in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Secretary of 
Defense, in order to facilitate the accomplishment of the USO 
mission. 
SEC. 9. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.—(a) The principal office of the 
corporation shall be located in New York, New York, or in such other 
place as may be later determined by the board of governors, but the 
activities of the corporation shall not be confined to that place. The 
said activities may be conducted throughout the various States, 
territories, and possessions of the United States, and in foreign 
countries. 
(b) The corporation shall maintain at all times in the District of 
Columbia a designated agent authorized to accept service of process 
for the corporation. Service upon, or notice mailed to the business 
address of, such agent, shall be deemed notice to or service upon the 
corporation. 
(c) The corporation shall file in the office of the secretary of each 
State, territory, or possession of the United States in which the 
corporation or its local, State, or regional councils, organizations, 
chapters, or affiliates may have activities, the name and post office 
address of an authorized agent upon whom local process or demands 
against the corporation may be served. 
(d) The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and 
records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of 
its members, and of its board of governors, or any committee having 
any of the authority of the board of governors; and shall keep at its 
principal office a record giving the names and addresses of its 
members entitled to vote; and shall permit all books and records of 
the corporation to be inspected by any member or his agent or his 
attorney for any purpose at any reasonable time. 
36 u s e 1306. 
36 u s e 1307. 
36 u s e 1308. 
Principal office, 
location. 
36 u s e 1309. 
Designated 
agent in District 
of eolumbia. 
Local authoriised 
agents. 
Books and 
records. 
Minutes of 
proceedings. 
93 STAT. 1272 
PUBLIC LAW 96-165—DEC. 29, 1979 
Annual report. 
(e) The Corporation shall make public an annual report concerning 
its proceedings and activities for the preceding calendar year. 
(f) The provisions of sections 1102 and 1103 of title 36 of the United 
States Code shall apply with respect to the corporation. 
36 use 1101. 
(g) Section 1 of Public Law 88-504 (78 Stat. 635; 63 U.S.C. 1101) is 
amended by adding a new item 50 as follows: 
"(50) United Service Organizations.". 
(h) The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly 
reserved to the Congress. 
Approved December 29, 1979. 
BlU 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-505 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 96-545 accompanying S. 2113 and No. 96-546 (Comm. on the 
Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 125 (1979): 
Oct. 15, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate.