[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1519 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1519

To provide for the recognition and designation of the official society 
    to administer and coordinate activities in the United States to 
commemorate and celebrate the achievements of the second millennium and 
   to promote even greater achievements in the millennium to come by 
 endowing an international cross-cultural scholarship fund to further 
      the development and education of the world's future leaders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 1997

    Mr. Davis of Virginia (for himself, Mr. Gejdenson, Mrs. Meek of 
Florida, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Scott, Mr. Towns, Mr. Conyers, Mr. 
Fazio of California, Mr. Herger, Mr. Deutsch, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Roemer, Mr. 
 Stearns, Ms. Norton, Mr. Deal of Georgia, Mr. Clay, Mr. Diaz-Balart, 
   Mr. Sisisky, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Torres, Mr. 
Clement, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Frost, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. 
Leach,, Mr. Sandlin, Mr. McCollum, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Petri, Mr. Bentsen, 
Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Thompson, Mr. 
   Shuster, Mr. Pickett, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Lampson, Mr. Boucher, Mr. 
   Bishop, Mr. Bateman, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Martinez) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform 
   and Oversight, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiciton of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the recognition and designation of the official society 
    to administer and coordinate activities in the United States to 
commemorate and celebrate the achievements of the second millennium and 
   to promote even greater achievements in the millennium to come by 
 endowing an international cross-cultural scholarship fund to further 
      the development and education of the world's future leaders.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Millennium Society 
Act of 1997''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
             TITLE I--RECOGNITION OF THE MILLENNIUM SOCIETY

Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Purposes.
Sec. 103. Recognition of the Millennium Society.
Sec. 104. Conformance of articles of incorporation and bylaws.
Sec. 105. Objects and purposes of the Society.
Sec. 106. Powers of the Society.
Sec. 107. Nonpolitical nature of Society.
Sec. 108. Membership.
Sec. 109. Active board of directors.
Sec. 110. Officers of the Society.
Sec. 111. Prohibition on distributions of income or assets and on loans 
                            to members.
Sec. 112. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
Sec. 113. Prohibition against issuance of stock or payment of 
                            dividends.
Sec. 114. Symbols, emblems, trademarks, and names.
Sec. 115. Agents for service of process.
Sec. 116. Books and records.
Sec. 117. Audit of financial accountability.
Sec. 118. Use of assets upon dissolution or liquidation.
Sec. 119. Reservation of right to amend or repeal chapter.
Sec. 120. Reports to President and Congress on operations.
                 TITLE II--COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMPS

Sec. 201. Sense of Congress.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Society'' means the Millennium Society 
        recognized under section 103; and
            (2) the term ``Millennium Scholars Program'' means the 
        international scholarship program established, endowed, and 
        administered by the Society, as described in section 105(6).

             TITLE I--RECOGNITION OF THE MILLENNIUM SOCIETY

SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the advent of the year 2000 and the third millennium 
        provides the citizens of the United States an opportunity to 
        celebrate the achievements of civilization to date and to 
        promote even greater achievements in the millennium to come;
            (2) as the United States approaches the third millennium, 
        it is fitting and proper that the citizens of the United States 
        join the citizens from other nations around the world in the 
        international celebration of the new millennium in a manner 
        which encourages freedom and international peace and 
        understanding;
            (3) the advent of the third millennium offers opportunity 
        to bring together young women and men of excellence from 
        throughout the world, without distinction as to race, sex, 
        language, or religion, in a manner which will foster 
        international fellowship and free and open discourse between 
        all peoples on an unofficial and nongovernmental basis; and
            (4) it is appropriate and desirable, therefore, to 
        designate the Millennium Society to coordinate activities in 
        the United States that celebrate the second millennium and the 
        achievements of civilization through the second millennium and 
        to promote even greater achievements in the third millennium, 
        to coordinate those activities with international efforts, and 
        to endow and administer a private scholarship program to 
        prepare young leaders from around the world for the future 
        millennium.

SEC. 102. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this title are--
            (1) to recognize the Millennium Society--
                    (A) to promote and coordinate activities in the 
                United States to commemorate and celebrate the 
                achievements of the second millennium;
                    (B) to coordinate these activities with 
                international efforts; and
                    (C) to administer an international scholarship 
                program to support the education of young leaders from 
                around the world to promote even greater achievements 
                in the next millennium;
            (2) to foster international fellowship and free and open 
        discourse between all peoples on an unofficial and 
        nongovernmental basis, helping to develop friendly relations 
among nations and individuals to promote the cause of freedom and 
peace;
            (3) to promote international understanding, tolerance, 
        freedom, peace, cooperation, and genuine friendship by bringing 
        together young women and men of excellence, leaders in the 
        arts, sciences, education, religion, communications, 
        agriculture, finance, government, business, journalism, 
        athletics, diplomacy, medicine, law, and other professions and 
        fields of endeavor, from throughout the world for charitable 
        fundraising, education, international exchange and 
        communication, and other such charitable purposes;
            (4) to sponsor educational conferences, charitable 
        fundraisers, and other charitable activities, including 
        sponsorship of the World Millennium Charity Ball (an 
        international gathering of diverse young leaders from all 
        continents of the world on December 31, 1999), to celebrate the 
        dawn of the third millennium; and
            (5) to provide for a Millennium Scholars Program, an 
        international cross-cultural scholarship program for preparing 
        young leaders from around the world for even greater 
        achievements in the next millennium by furthering their 
        education, leadership abilities, cultural understanding, and 
        dedication to peace.

SEC. 103. RECOGNITION OF THE MILLENNIUM SOCIETY.

    (a) Recognition.--The following organizations are recognized as the 
``Millennium Society'':
            (1) The Millennium Society, a nonprofit corporation of the 
        United States chartered and organized under the laws of the 
        State of Illinois on November 21, 1983, and operated 
        exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the 
        meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986, including its members and directors.
            (2) Any other organization that--
                    (A) is organized and operated by the corporation 
                referred to in paragraph (1); and
                    (B) is operated exclusively for charitable and 
                educational purposes within the meaning of section 
                501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    (b) Offices.--The Society shall maintain its principal offices and 
national headquarters in such place in the United States as is 
determined by the Society, and may hold its annual and special meetings 
in such places as the Society shall determine.

SEC. 104. CONFORMANCE OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS.

    The board of directors of the Society shall take such actions as 
are necessary to conform the articles of incorporation and bylaws of 
the Society to the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 105. OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF THE SOCIETY.

    The objects and purposes of the Society are--
            (1) to establish national goals for commemoration and 
        celebration of the millennium in the United States and 
        participation by the United States in such international 
        events;
            (2) to promote and support official celebrations of the 
        millennium in the United States and to coordinate those 
        celebrations with international commemorations and celebrations 
        of the millennium;
            (3) to exercise exclusive jurisdiction, either directly or 
        through its constituent members or organs, over all matters 
        pertaining to the participation of the United States in 
        commemorations or celebrations of the millennium;
            (4) to assist organizations and persons concerned with the 
        millennium in commemorations or celebrations of the millennium;
            (5) to coordinate activities and hold forums and symposiums 
        to promote educational and cross-cultural exchange; and
            (6) to establish, endow, and administer the Millennium 
        Scholars Program, an international scholarship program that 
        provides for university level exchange for exceptional young 
        women and men from all regions of the world and all pursuits 
        who have proven leadership abilities, true academic 
        superiority, and a demonstrated desire to further international 
        understanding in order to better prepare those young leaders 
        for greater achievements in the next millennium by furthering 
        their education, leadership abilities, cultural understanding, 
        and dedication to freedom and peace.

SEC. 106. POWERS OF THE SOCIETY.

    The Society is authorized--
            (1) to adopt and amend articles of incorporation and bylaws 
        for the management of its property and the regulation of its 
        affairs, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or 
        any State in which the corporation is to operate;
            (2) to adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal;
            (3) to choose officers, managers, and agents as the 
        business of the Society may require;
            (4) to approve and revoke membership in the Society;
            (5) to charge and collect membership dues;
            (6) to determine the criteria for and establish subsidiary 
        organs and chapters as may be necessary to the purposes of the 
        Society;
            (7) to sue and be sued, complain, and defend in any court 
        of competent jurisdiction;
            (8) to make contracts;
            (9) to establish and maintain offices for the conduct of 
        the affairs of the Society;
            (10) to acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal 
        property as may be necessary for the purposes of the Society;
            (11) to accept gifts, legacies, and devises in furtherance 
        of its Society purposes;
            (12) to borrow money to carry out the purposes of the 
        Society, including to issue notes, bonds, or other evidences of 
        indebtedness, and to secure the same by mortgage, subject in 
        each case to the laws of the United States or of any State;
            (13) to provide financial assistance to any organization or 
        association, other than a corporation organized for profit, in 
        furtherance of the purposes of the Society;
            (14) to conduct campaigns for raising funds and to accept 
        contributions from individuals, corporations, and other bodies, 
        foundations, and organizations;
            (15) to mint, create, and distribute commemorative coins 
        and medals, edit, publish, make, display, and sell books and 
        magazines, pictures, slides, compact discs, videos, cinemas and 
        other commemorative items as may be necessary or desirable for 
        the accomplishment of the purposes of the Society;
            (16) to buy, sell, and generally deal in appropriate and 
        related souvenirs, commemorative coins and medals, curios, 
        mementos, and publications;
            (17) to publish a newsletter, magazine, book, or other 
        publication and exclusively produce and broadcast on radio, 
        television, film and other media, consistent with Society 
        purposes;
            (18) to participate in the production of an international 
        celebration and sanction related events within the United 
        States; and
            (19) to do any and all acts and things necessary and proper 
        to carry out the purposes of the Society.

SEC. 107. NONPOLITICAL NATURE OF SOCIETY.

    The Society shall be nonpolitical and nonpartisan and, as an 
organization, shall not promote the candidacy of any person seeking 
public office.

SEC. 108. MEMBERSHIP.

    Eligibility for membership in the Society and the rights and 
privileges of members shall, except as provided in this chapter, be 
determined as the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Society 
may provide.

SEC. 109. ACTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    (a) Composition and Chairman.--The control and management of the 
affairs and funds of the Society shall be vested in a board of 
directors, as provided in the articles of incorporation of the Society.
    (b) Terms.--The term of each of the members of the board of 
directors shall be as provided in the articles of incorporation or 
bylaws of the society. The Board shall elect a permanent board of 
directors on or before January 1, 2001, to administer the Millennium 
Scholars Program.
    (c) Meetings.--The board of directors shall meet not less than 
twice annually, and at such other times as may be determined in the 
manner provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the 
Society. No meeting of the board of directors may be held except at a 
time and place stated in the bylaws or in a written notice that is 
transmitted to each member at the time and in the manner provided in 
the bylaws.
    (d) Election and Removal.--Directors of the Society shall be 
elected at the times and in the manner provided by the articles of 
incorporation and bylaws of the Society and may be removed from office 
in the manner provided by the articles of incorporation and bylaws.

SEC. 110. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.

    (a) Authorized Positions.--The officers of the Society shall be 
those provided in the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the 
Society. The board of directors may modify the composition of the 
offices of the Society as the board considers appropriate.
    (b) Privileges.--Subject to the provisions of this Act and the 
articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Society, the privileges of 
the officers of the Society shall be those prescribed by the board of 
directors of the Society.
    (c) Compensation.--Officers of the board may receive compensation 
or other remuneration for their services, as determined by the board of 
directors. An officer may be reimbursed, with the approval of the board 
of directors, for expenses that the officer incurs in the performance 
of the duties of the office.
    (d) Election and Term of Office.--Officers of the Society shall be 
elected annually by action of the board of directors and shall continue 
in office at the pleasure of the board.
    (e) Duties.--The duties of the officers of the Society shall be 
such as usually pertain to the offices they hold and shall also include 
such additional duties as may be delegated by the board of directors.
    (f) Executive Director and Other Personnel.--The board of directors 
may employ an executive director and such other paid employees as may 
be necessary to assist the officers and the board and to carry out the 
programs and business of the Society. The executive director and the 
other employees shall serve at the pleasure of the board of directors. 
The board of directors shall fix the compensation and prescribe the 
duties of the executive director and such other paid employees.

SEC. 111. PROHIBITION ON DISTRIBUTIONS OF INCOME OR ASSETS AND ON LOANS 
              TO MEMBERS.

    (a) Income and Assets.--Except as provided in subsections (c) and 
(f) of section 110, no part of the income or assets of the Society 
shall inure to any of its members, directors, officers, or employees, 
or be distributable to any of them during the life of the Society or 
upon its dissolution or final liquidation.
    (b) Loans.--The Society may not make loans to officers, directors, 
or employees. Any director who votes for or assents to the making of a 
loan or advance to an officer, director, or employee of the Society, 
and any officer who participates in the making of such loan or advance 
shall be jointly and severally liable to the Society for the amount of 
such loan or advance until the repayment thereof.

SEC. 112. LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS.

    The Society shall be liable for the acts of its officers and agents 
when acting within the scope of their authority.

SEC. 113. PROHIBITION AGAINST ISSUANCE OF STOCK OR PAYMENT OF 
              DIVIDENDS.

    The Society shall have no power to issue capital stock or to 
declare or pay any dividends.

SEC. 114. SYMBOLS, EMBLEMS, TRADEMARKS, AND NAMES.

    (a) Exclusive Right.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the preexisting rights 
        described in subsection (b), the Society shall have the sole 
        and exclusive right to use the name the ``Millennium Society'' 
        and to have and use in carrying out its purpose the following 
        trademarks, symbols, insignia, emblems, seals, descriptive or 
        designating marks, and slogans in the furtherance of its 
        functions:
                    (A) ``Countdown 2000''.
                    (B) ``How to do something great for civilization 
                and have a ball doing it''.
                    (C) ``Millennium Scholars Program''.
                    (D) ``Millennium Scholar''.
                    (E) ``Millennium Scholars''.
                    (F) ``Dollars for Scholars''.
                    (G) ``Millennium Minute''.
            (2) Authorized use by others.--The Society may authorize 
        contributors and suppliers of goods or services to use the 
        trade name of the Society, as well as any trademarks, symbols, 
        insignia, emblems, seals, descriptive or designating marks, and 
        slogans of the Society in advertising that the contributions, 
        goods, or services were donated, supplied, or furnished to or 
        for the use of, approved, selected, or used by the Society.
    (b) Unauthorized Use.--
            (1) Remedies.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
        person who, without the consent of the Society, uses for the 
        purpose of trade, to induce the sale of any goods or services, 
        or to promote any theatrical exhibition, performance, or 
        competition any trademark, symbol, insignia, emblem, seal, 
        descriptive or designating mark, or slogan described 
in subsection (a)(1) shall be subject to suit in a civil action by the 
Society for the remedies provided in the Act of July 5, 1946 (60 Stat. 
427; 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.; popularly known as the ``Trademark Act of 
1946'').
            (2) Exceptions.--Any person who actually used the 
        trademark, symbol, insignia, emblem, seal, descriptive or 
        designating mark, or slogan described in subsection (a)(1) for 
        any lawful purpose before the date of enactment of this Act is 
        not prohibited by this section from continuing such lawful use 
        for the same purpose and for the same goods or services. Any 
        person who used, or whose assignor used, any other trademark, 
        symbol, insignia, emblem, seal, descriptive or designating 
        mark, or slogan described in subsection (a)(1) for any lawful 
        purpose before the date of enactment of this Act is not 
        prohibited by this section from continuing such lawful use for 
        the same purpose and for the same goods and services.

SEC. 115. AGENTS FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS.

    As a condition precedent to the exercise of any power or privilege 
granted or conferred under this title, the Society shall file in the 
office of the Secretary of State, or similar office, in each State the 
name and post office address of an authorized agent of the Society in 
such State upon whom local process or demands against the Society may 
be served.

SEC. 116. BOOKS AND RECORDS.

    (a) In General.--The Society shall--
            (1) keep correct and complete books and records of account 
        and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its members, board 
        of directors, and committees having any authority under the 
        board of directors; and
            (2) keep at its principal office a record of the names and 
        addresses of its members entitled to vote.
    (b) Inspections.--All books and records of the corporation may be 
inspected by any member entitled to vote, or the agent or attorney of 
such member, for any proper purpose, at any reasonable time.

SEC. 117. AUDIT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

    Section 1 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 adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(78) The Millennium Society.''.

SEC. 118. USE OF ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION.

    Upon dissolution or final liquidation of the Society, after 
discharge or satisfaction of all outstanding obligations and 
liabilities, any remaining assets of the Society shall be distributed 
in accordance with the determination of the board of directors of the 
Society and in compliance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws 
of the Society and all Federal and State laws applicable thereto.

SEC. 119. RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL CHAPTER.

    The right to alter, amend, or repeal this title at any time is 
hereby expressly reserved.

SEC. 120. REPORTS TO PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS ON OPERATIONS.

    The Society shall, on or before June 1 of each year, transmit 
simultaneously to the President and to each House of Congress a 
detailed report of its operations for the preceding calendar year. The 
report shall include a complete statement of its receipts and 
expenditures and a comprehensive description of the activities and 
accomplishments of the Society during the preceding year. Copies of the 
report shall be made available by the Society to interested persons at 
a reasonable cost.

                 TITLE II--COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMPS

SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States Postal Service 
should cooperate with the Society--
            (1) in the issuance of appropriate first day of issuance 
        postage stamps commemorating the end of the second millennium 
        and the advent of the third millennium; and
            (2) in the production of a philatelic numismatic 
        combination as a unique item to be made available to the public 
        to commemorate the end of the second millennium and the advent 
        of the third millennium.
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