What This Bill Does
This bill grants a Federal charter to the National Lighthouse Museum, a museum incorporated in New York. The Federal charter gives the museum official government recognition and the legal power to operate as a federally chartered corporation. The museum will operate at the former United States Lighthouse Service General Depot in St. George, Staten Island, New York.
Who It Affects
The National Lighthouse Museum, Inc. is directly affected. Congress, the State of New York, and the public who visit or support the museum are indirectly affected.
Key Provisions
- The museum must collect, preserve, and interpret objects related to the history and technology of lighthouses and lightships located throughout the United States (Sec. 2, § 152002).
- The museum must operate a storage facility at or near the Staten Island site to care for, conserve, and maintain artifacts in its collection (Sec. 2, § 152003).
- The museum cannot issue stock, declare dividends, make loans to trustees or officers, or allow income or assets to benefit trustees or officers during the charter period (Sec. 2, § 152007).
- The museum cannot contribute to, support, or participate in any political activity or attempt to influence legislation (Sec. 2, § 152007).
- The museum must maintain its corporate status under New York law and its tax-exempt status under federal law (Sec. 2, § 152008).
- The museum must submit an annual report to Congress about its activities during the prior fiscal year (Sec. 2, § 152012).
What Changes
The National Lighthouse Museum becomes a federally chartered corporation with official government recognition. The museum gains the exclusive right to use the name "National Lighthouse Museum" and its corporate seal. The museum's charter will expire if it fails to comply with any provision of this chapter.
Important Definitions
"Corporation" means the National Lighthouse Museum, Inc., incorporated in New York (Sec. 2, § 152013). "State" includes the District of Columbia and the territories and possessions of the United States (Sec. 2, § 152013).
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 266
To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the
National Lighthouse Museum.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 10, 2023
Ms. MALLIOTAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal
charter to the National Lighthouse Museum.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Lighthouse
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Museum Act’’.
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SEC. 2. NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM.
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Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code,
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is amended by inserting after chapter 1519 the following
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new chapter:
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•HR 266 IH
‘‘CHAPTER 1520—NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE
1
MUSEUM
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‘‘Sec.
‘‘152001. Organization.
‘‘152002. Purposes.
‘‘152003. Operation of museum.
‘‘152004. Membership.
‘‘152005. Governing body.
‘‘152006. Powers.
‘‘152007. Restrictions.
‘‘152008. Duty to maintain corporate and tax-exempt status.
‘‘152009. Records and inspection.
‘‘152010. Service of process.
‘‘152011. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
‘‘152012. Annual report.
‘‘152013. Definitions.
‘‘§ 152001. Organization
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‘‘(a) FEDERAL CHARTER.—The National Lighthouse
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Museum, incorporated in New York, is a federally char-
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tered corporation.
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‘‘(b) EXPIRATION OF CHARTER.—If the corporation
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does not comply with any provision of this chapter, the
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charter granted by this chapter expires.
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‘‘§ 152002. Purposes
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‘‘The purposes of the corporation are as provided in
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its constitution and bylaws and include the following pur-
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poses:
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‘‘(1) To collect, preserve, and interpret objects
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related to the history and technology of lighthouses
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and lightships located, in the past or present, at
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sites throughout the United States.
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•HR 266 IH
‘‘(2) To research, document, and disseminate
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information on the history and technology of Amer-
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ican lighthouses.
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‘‘(3) To create and maintain an archive of arti-
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facts and materials related to American lighthouses.
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‘‘(4) To foster research of American lighthouse
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history.
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‘‘(5) To serve as a contact point for public in-
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quiry and assistance with respect to American light-
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house history, research, education, collections, and
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programs.
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‘‘(6) To celebrate America’s lighthouse heritage
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through educational programs, publications, films,
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festivals, living history, lighthouse trails, con-
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ferences, and other such offerings.
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‘‘(7) To support other existing and future light-
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house museums, organizations, and sites.
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‘‘(8) To establish partnerships with other orga-
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nizations to attain the above goals.
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‘‘(9) To engage in any lawful act or activity
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necessary to further the purposes of the corporation
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under this section.
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‘‘§ 152003. Operation of museum
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‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The corporation shall operate a
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museum to be known as the National Lighthouse Museum
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•HR 266 IH
at the site of the former United States Lighthouse Service
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General Depot located at what is now known as St.
2
George, Staten Island, New York.
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‘‘(b) STORAGE FACILITY.—The corporation shall op-
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erate a storage facility located at or near the site described
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in subsection (a) for the care, conservation, and mainte-
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nance of artifacts in the collection of the corporation.
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‘‘(c) SUPPORT TO OTHER MUSEUMS.—The corpora-
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tion shall provide support to other museums that interpret
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the history of aids to navigation in the United States.
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‘‘(d) DESIGNATION OF COLLECTION.—The collection
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of artifacts of the National Lighthouse Museum shall be
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known as the National Lighthouse Collection.
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‘‘(e) EXCLUSIVE RIGHT.—The corporation shall have
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the sole and exclusive right to use, in carrying out its pur-
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poses, the name ‘National Lighthouse Museum’ and the
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sole and exclusive right to the use of its corporate seal,
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emblems, and badges as adopted by the corporation.
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‘‘§ 152004. Membership
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‘‘Eligibility for membership in the corporation and
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the rights and privileges of members are as provided in
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the constitution and bylaws of the corporation.
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‘‘§ 152005. Governing body
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‘‘(a) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The board of trustees
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of the corporation and the responsibilities of the board are
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•HR 266 IH
as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corpora-
1
tion.
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‘‘(b) OFFICERS.—The officers and the election of offi-
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cers of the corporation are as provided in the bylaws of
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the corporation.
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‘‘§ 152006. Powers
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‘‘The corporation has only the powers provided in its
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constitution, bylaws, and charter as granted by the Board
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of Regents of the State of New York and in the certificate
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of authority in any other State in which the corporation
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is, or shall be, qualified to do business.
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‘‘§ 152007. Restrictions
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‘‘(a) STOCK AND DIVIDENDS.—The corporation may
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not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend.
14
‘‘(b) POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.—The corporation or a
15
trustee or officer, acting as such trustee or officer, may
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not contribute to, support, or participate in any political
17
activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation.
18
‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME OR ASSETS.—The in-
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come or assets of the corporation may not inure to the
20
benefit of, or be distributed to, a trustee, officer, or mem-
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ber during the life of the charter granted by this chapter.
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This subsection does not prevent the payment of reason-
23
able compensation to an officer or reimbursement for ac-
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•HR 266 IH
tual necessary expenses in amounts approved by the board
1
of trustees.
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‘‘(d) LOANS.—The corporation may not make a loan
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to a trustee, officer, or employee.
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‘‘(e) CLAIM OF GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL OR AU-
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THORIZATION.—The corporation may not claim congres-
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sional approval or the authority of the United States Gov-
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ernment for any of its activities.
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‘‘§ 152008. Duty to maintain corporate and tax-ex-
9
empt status
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‘‘(a) CORPORATE STATUS.—The corporation shall
11
maintain its corporate status as a corporation incor-
12
porated under the laws of the State of New York.
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‘‘(b) TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.—The corporation shall
14
maintain its status as an organization exempt from tax-
15
ation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.
16
1 et seq.).
17
‘‘§ 152009. Records and inspection
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‘‘(a) RECORDS.—The corporation shall keep—
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‘‘(1) correct and complete records of account;
20
‘‘(2) minutes of the proceedings of its members,
21
board of trustees, and committees; and
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‘‘(3) at its principal office, a record of the
23
names and addresses of its members entitled to vote,
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if any.
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•HR 266 IH
‘‘(b) INSPECTION.—Any officer or trustee, or any
1
member entitled to vote (if any), or an agent or attorney
2
of such officer, trustee, or member, may inspect the
3
records of the corporation for any proper purpose at any
4
reasonable time.
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‘‘§ 152010. Service of process
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‘‘The corporation shall comply with the law on service
7
of process of the State of New York and in each State
8
in which it carries on activities.
9
‘‘§ 152011. Liability for acts of officers and agents
10
‘‘The corporation is liable for the acts of its officers
11
and agents acting within the scope of their authority.
12
‘‘§ 152012. Annual report
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‘‘The corporation shall submit an annual report to
14
Congress on the activities of the corporation during the
15
prior fiscal year. The report shall be submitted at the
16
same time as the report of the audit required by section
17
10101 of this title. The report may not be printed as a
18
public document.
19
‘‘§ 152013. Definitions
20
‘‘For purposes of this chapter—
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‘‘(1) the term ‘corporation’ means the National
22
Lighthouse Museum, Inc., incorporated in New
23
York; and
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•HR 266 IH
‘‘(2) the term ‘State’ includes the District of
1
Columbia and the territories and possessions of the
2
United States.’’.
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SEC. 3. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.
4
The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle II
5
of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting
6
after the item relating to chapter 1519 the following new
7
item:
8
‘‘1520. National Lighthouse Museum .........................................
152001.’’.
Æ
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