[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 57 (Thursday, April 29, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4698-S4699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 2364. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a 
Federal charter to the Irish American Cultural Institute; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today I am proud to be introducing a 
bill, along with Senator Collins and Senator Lautenberg, to grant a 
Federal Charter to the Irish American Cultural Institute, an 
organization that promotes appreciation and recognition of the 
important contributions Irish-Americans have played throughout the 
history of the United States. A longstanding goal of the Irish American 
Cultural Institute has been to establish a museum of Irish American 
history and culture in Washington, DC, and I am pleased to introduce 
legislation that could represent a positive step towards achieving that 
goal.
  The Irish American Cultural Institute is a national organization 
founded in 1962, with local chapters in 17 States. The Institute has 
spent the last 40 years fighting to promote, preserve and interpret 
Irish and Irish-American culture. Those involved with the Institute do 
this, in part, by fostering strong cultural and educational ties 
between the United States and Ireland: sending American high school 
students to Ireland, and bringing Irish scholars, musicians, craftsmen, 
actors, and artists to the Untied States. They also fund academic 
research projects that provide insights into Irish-American history, 
and provide fellowships for American professors to spend a year as a 
visiting scholar at the National University of Ireland. In short, the 
Irish American Cultural Institute serves as an important educational, 
informational, and financial resource for key initiatives important to 
the Irish and the Irish-American community in the United States.
  Irish-Americans comprise more than 17 percent of the population of 
the United States, and have made enormous contributions to our Nation 
in countless ways. A Federal charter will help the Irish American 
Cultural Institute continue and expand activities that recognize and 
celebrate the heritage of Irish-Americans. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in supporting this legislation, and I ask unanimous consent that the 
text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2364

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

     SECTION 1. CHARTER FOR IRISH AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE.

       Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating chapter 1001 as chapter 1003;
       (2) by redesignating sections 100101 through 100110, and 
     the items relating thereto in the table of sections, as 
     sections 100301 through 100310, respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after chapter 901 the following new 
     chapter:

           ``CHAPTER 1001--IRISH AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE

``Sec.
``100101. Organization.
``100102. Purposes.
``100103. Membership.
``100104. Governing body.
``100105. Powers.
``100106. Exclusive right to name, seals, emblems, and badges.
``100107. Restrictions.
``100108. Duty to maintain tax-exempt status.
``100109. Principal office.
``100110. Records and inspection.
``100111. Service of process.
``100112. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
``100113. Annual report.

     ``Sec. 100101. Organization

       ``(a) Federal Charter.--The Irish American Cultural 
     Institute (in this chapter, the `corporation'), incorporated 
     in New Jersey, is a federally chartered corporation.
       ``(b) Expiration of Charter.--If the corporation does not 
     comply with any provision of this chapter, the charter 
     granted by this chapter expires.

     ``Sec. 100102. Purposes

       ``The purposes of the corporation are as provided in the 
     articles of incorporation and include--
       ``(1) establishing the Museum of Irish America in 
     Washington, D.C., as the center of Irish American thought, 
     dialogue, debate, and reflection;
       ``(2) recognizing and recording a living memorial to the 
     contributions of Irish-born and Irish Americans to the 
     development of the United States;
       ``(3) providing a focal point for all Irish Americans, who 
     make up 17 percent of the

[[Page S4699]]

     United States population, according to the 2000 census;
       ``(4) exploring past, current, and future events in Ireland 
     and the United States, as they relate to Irish Americans and 
     society as a whole;
       ``(5) documenting the tremendous contributions of Irish 
     immigrants to the United States in the areas of architecture, 
     military, politics, religion, labor, sports, literature, and 
     art;
       ``(6) providing ongoing studies to ensure that the 
     experiences of the past will benefit the future of both 
     Ireland and the United States; and
       ``(7) establishing an Irish American Studies Program for 
     students from both Ireland and the United States.

     ``Sec. 100103. Membership

       ``Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the 
     rights and privileges of membership are as provided in the 
     bylaws.

     ``Sec. 100104. Governing body

       ``(a) Board of Directors.--The board of directors and the 
     responsibilities of the board are as provided in the articles 
     of incorporation.
       ``(b) Officers.--The officers and the election of officers 
     are as provided in the articles of incorporation.

     ``Sec. 100105. Powers

       ``The corporation shall have only the powers provided in 
     its bylaws and articles of incorporation filed in each State 
     in which it is incorporated.

     ``Sec. 100106. Exclusive right to name, seals, emblems, and 
       badges

       ``The corporation has the exclusive right to use the name 
     `Irish American Cultural Institute' and any seals, emblems, 
     and badges relating thereto that the corporation adopts.

     ``Sec. 100107. Restrictions

       ``(a) Stock and Dividends.--The corporation may not issue 
     stock or declare or pay a dividend.
       ``(b) Political Activities.--The corporation or a director 
     or officer as such may not contribute to, support, or 
     participate in any political activity or in any manner 
     attempt to influence legislation.
       ``(c) Distribution of Income or Assets.--The income or 
     assets of the corporation may not inure to the benefit of, or 
     be distributed to, a director, officer, or member during the 
     life of the charter granted by this chapter. This subsection 
     does not prevent the payment of reasonable compensation to an 
     officer or member in an amount approved by the board of 
     directors.
       ``(d) Loans.--The corporation may not make any loan to a 
     director, officer, or employee.
       ``(e) Claim of Governmental Approval or Authorization.--The 
     corporation may not claim congressional approval or the 
     authority of the United States Government for any of its 
     activities.

     ``Sec. 100108. Duty to maintain tax-exempt status

       ``The corporation shall maintain its status as an 
     organization exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.).

     ``Sec. 100109. Principal office

       ``The principal office of the corporation shall be in 
     Morristown, New Jersey, or another place decided by the board 
     of directors.

     ``Sec. 100110. Records and inspection

       ``(a) Records.--The corporation shall keep--
       ``(1) correct and complete books and records of account;
       ``(2) minutes of the proceedings of its members, board of 
     directors, and committees having any of the authority of its 
     board of directors; and
       ``(3) at its principal office, a record of the names and 
     addresses of its members entitled to vote.
       ``(b) Inspection.--A member entitled to vote, or an agent 
     or attorney of the member, may inspect the records of the 
     corporation for any proper purpose, at any reasonable time.

     ``Sec. 100111. Service of process

       ``The corporation shall comply with the law on service of 
     process of each State in which it is incorporated and each 
     State in which it carries on activities.

     ``Sec. 100112. Liability for acts of officers and agents

       ``The corporation is liable for the acts of its officers 
     and agents acting within the scope of their authority.

     ``Sec. 100113. Annual report

       ``The corporation shall submit an annual report to Congress 
     on the activities of the corporation during the prior fiscal 
     year. The report shall be submitted at the same time as the 
     report of the audit required by section 10101 of this title. 
     The report shall not be printed as a public document.''.

     SEC. 2. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle II of 
     title 36, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the item relating to chapter 1001, by striking 
     ``1001'' and inserting ``1003'' and by striking ``100101'' 
     and inserting ``100301''; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to chapter 901 the 
     following new item:

``1001. Irish American Cultural Institute.....................100101''.

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