An Act to incorporate the Paralyzed Veterans of America
PL 92-93 (H.R.2894), enacted 08/11/1971

85 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-93-AUG. 11, 1971 
317 
Public Law 92-93 
AN ACT 
August 11, 1971 
To incorporate the Paralyzed Veterans of America. 
[H. R. 2894] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of RepTesentatwes 
of the 
United States of ATnerica in Congress assembled, That the following 
Paralyzed vet-
persons, to wit: Burton Little, Chickasaw, Alabama; Tom Goggin, ^Tnco^or^fon?'* 
Phoenix, Arizona; Leonard Chrysler, Los Altos, California; Wayne L. 
Capson, Garden Grove, California; George Boschet, Silver Spring, 
Maryland; Robert Classon, New York, New York; Edward G. Max-
well, Miami, Florida; Claude C. Beckham, Irmo, South Carolina; 
Benny Tschetter, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Federick T. Gill, Valley 
Station, Kentucky; Lee M. Gresham, Wixom, Michigan; Conrad M. 
Standinger, Memphis, Tennessee; Curley Gullet, Denver, Colorado; 
Charles Swartz, Marblehead, Massachusetts; Bolivar Rivera, Rio 
Piedras, Puerto Rico; James Schwiem, Pasadena, Texas; Robert T. 
Kiggins, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Glenn E. Mayer, Hines, Illinois; 
John Novak, Richmond, Virginia; and such other persons as are mem-
bers of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and their associates and 
successors, are hereby created and declared to be a body corporate by 
the name of Paralyzed Veterans of America (hereinafter referred to 
as the "corporation"). 
SEC. 2. The persons named in the first section of this Act, or their 
successors, are hereby authorized to complete the organization of the 
corporation by the selection of officers, the adoption of a constitution 
and bylaws, and the doing of such other acts as may be necessary for 
such purpose. 
SEC. 3. The objects and purposes of the corporation shall be— 
Purpose. 
(a) to preserve the great and basic truths and enduring prin-
ciples upon which this Nation was founded; 
(b) to form a national association for the benefit of persons 
who have suffered injuries or diseases of the spinal cord; 
(c) to acquaint the public with the needs and problems of 
paraplegics; 
(d) to promote medical research in the several fields connected 
with injuries and diseases of the spinal cord, including research 
in neurosurgery and orthopedics and in genitourinary and ortho-
pedic appliances; and 
(e) to advocate and foster complete and effective recondition-
ing programs for paraplegics, including a thorough physical 
reconditioning program, 
physiotherapy, 
competent 
walking 
instructions, adequate guidance (both vocational and educa-
tional) , academic and vocational education (both in hospitals and 
in educaitional institutions), psychological orientation and read-
justment to family and friends, and occupational therapy (both 
functional and diversional). 
SEC. 4. The corporation shall have perpetual succession and shall 
Powers. 
have power— 
(a) to sue and be sued; 
(b) to acquire, hold, and dispose of such real and personal 
property as may be necessary to carry out the corporate purposes; 
(c) to make and enter into contracts; 
(d) to accept gifts, legacies, and devises which will further 
the corporate purposes; 
(e) to borrow money for the purposes of the corporation, issue 
bonds therefor, and secure the same oy mortgage, subject in every 
case to all applicable provisions of Federal and State law; 
(f) to adopt and alter a corporate seal; 
318 
PUBLIC LAW92-93-AUG. 11, 1971 
[85 STAT. 
Membership, 
eligibility. 
"Paralyzed 
Veterans of 
America", ex-
clusive right. 
Records, av£ 
ability. 
(g) to establish, regulate, and discontinue subordinate State 
and regional organizations and local chapters or posts; 
(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 
afl'airs of the corporation; 
(j) to adopt and alter a constitution and bylaws not inconsistent 
with law; 
(k) to publish a newspaper, magazine, or other publications; 
(1) to adopt and alter emblems and badges; and 
(m) to do any and all acts and things necessary and proper 
to accomplish the objects and purposes of the corporation. 
SEC. 5. The corporation shall have no power to issue capital stock 
or engage in business for pecuniary profit or gain. 
SEC. 6. The corporation shall be nonpolitical and, as an organization, 
shall not furnish financial aid to, or otherwise promote the candidacy 
of, any person seeking public office. 
SEC. 7. Any American citizen shall be eligible for membership in the 
corporation who was regularly enlisted, inducted, or commissioned, 
and who was accepted for, or was on, active duty in the Army, Navy, 
Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard of the United States, or our 
allies. Service with the Armed Forces must have been terminated by 
discharge or separation from service under conditions other than dis-
honorable: Provided^ hotvever^ That persons otherwise eligible for 
membership who are on active duty or who must continue to serve after 
the cessation of hostilities are also eligible for membership: And pro-
vided further^ That membership shall be limited to such persons as 
have suffered spinal cord injuries or diseases whether service connected 
or nonservice connected in origin. 
SEC. 8. The headquarters and principal place of business of said 
corporation shall be located in the District of Columbia, but the activi-
ties of said organization, as set out herein, shall not be confined to said 
city, but shall be conducted throughout the several States and any 
territory or possession of the United States. 
SEC. 9. In the event of a final dissolution or liquidation of such cor-
poration, and after the discharge or satisfactory provisions for the dis-
charge of all its liabilities, the remaining assets of the said corporation 
shall be transferred to the Veterans' Administration to be applied to 
the care and comfort of paralyzed veterans. 
SEC. 10. The corporation and its State and regional organizations 
and local chapters or posts shall have the sole and exclusive right to 
have and use in carrying out its purposes the name "Paralyzed Vet-
erans of America," and such seals, emblems, and badges as the corpo-
ration may lawfully adopt. 
SEC. 11. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and 
records of accomit and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of 
its members, executive committee, and committee, having any of the 
authority of the executive committee; and shall keep at its registered 
office or principal office a record giving the names and addresses of its 
members entitled to vote; and permit all books and records of the 
corporation to be inspected by any member or his agent or his attorney 
for any proper purpose at any reasonable time. 
SEC. 12. As a condition precedent to the exercise of any power or 
privilege herein granted or conferred, the corporation shall file in the 
office of the Secretary of each State or of any territory or possession 
of the United States, in which organizations, chapters, or posts may 
be organized, the name and post office address of an authorized agent 
upon whom local process or demands against the corporation may be 
served. 
85 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-94-AUG. 11, 1971 
319 
SEC. 13. Such provisions, privileges, and prerogatives as have been 
granted heretofore to other national veterans' organizations by virtue 
of their being incorporated by Congress are hereby granted and accrue 
to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. 
SEC. 14. (a) No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall 
inure to any member, director, officer, or employee of the corporation 
or be distributable to any person during the life of the corporation or 
upon its dissolution or final liquidation. Nothing in this subsection, 
however, shall be construed to prevent the payment of reasonable 
compensation to officers and employees of the corporation or to pre-
vent their reimbursement for actual necessary expenses in amounts 
approved by the corporation's board of directors. 
(b) The corporation shall not make loans to its members, officers, 
directors, or employees. Any director who votes for or assents to the 
making of such a loan, and any officer who participates in the making 
of such a loan, shall be jointly and severally liable to the corporation 
for the amount of such loan until the repayment thereof. 
SEC. 15. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers 
and agents when acting within the scope of their authority. 
SEC. 16. The provisions of sections 2 and 3 of the Act of August 30, 
1964 (36 U.S.C. 1102, 1103), entitled "An Act to provide for audit 
of accounts of private corporations established under Federal law" 
shall apply with respect to the corporation. 
SEC. IT. The rig'ht to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby 
expressly reserved. 
Approved August 11, 1971. 
Liability. 
78 Stat. 636. 
Public Law 92-94 
AN A C T 
To amend section 8 of the Act approved March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 974), as 
amended, to standardize procedures for the testing of utility meters; to add 
a penalty provision in order to enable certification under section 5(a) of the 
Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, and to authorize cooperative action 
with State and Federal regulatory bodies on matters of joint interest. 
August 11, 1971 
[H. R. 2591] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Awjerica in Congress assembled^ That section 8 of the 
Act entitled "An Act making appropriations to provide for the 
expenses of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal 
year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and fourteen, and for 
other purposes", approved March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 974, as amended; 
D.C. Code, sec. 43-101 et seq.), is amended as follows: 
(a) The first two paragraphs of paragraph 57 (D.C. Code, sec. 
43-603) are amended to read as follows: 
"57. That the commission shall appoint inspectors of gas meters, 
whose duty it shall be, when required by the commission, to inspect, 
examine, and ascertain the accuracy of gas meters used or intended to 
be used for measuring and ascertaining the quantity of gas furnished 
for light, heat, or power by any person or corporation to or for the 
use of any person or corporation. 
"No corporation or person shall furnish, set, or put in use any gas 
meter which shall not have been inspected and proved for accuracy, 
or any meter the type of which shall not have been approved by the 
commission or by an inspector of the commission." 
(b) Paragraph 85 (D.C. Code, sec. 43-906) is amended by adding 
the following new paragraphs: 
"Any person who \nolates any regulation issued by the commission 
govei'uing safety of pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas, 
D.C. 
Public utllltie 
Gas meter in-
spectors, duties 
Penalty.