H.R. 4953 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4953 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 24, 2014 Mrs. Noem introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. 1. Recognition as corporation and grant of Federal charter for National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated (a) In general Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 1503 the following new chapter: 1504 National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated Sec. 150401. Organization 150402. Purposes 150403. Membership 150404. Board of directors 150405. Officers 150406. Nondiscrimination 150407. Powers 150408. Exclusive right to name, seals, emblems, and badges 150409. Restrictions 150410. Duty to maintain tax-exempt status 150411. Records and inspection 150412. Service of process 150413. Liability for acts of officers and agents 150414. Failure to comply with requirements 150415. Annual report 150401. Organization (a) Federal Charter The National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation organized in the United States (in this chapter referred to as the corporation), is a federally chartered corporation. (b) Independent status of corporation The corporation is not an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government. 150402. Purposes The purposes of the corporation are those stated in its articles of incorporation, constitution, and bylaws, and include a commitment— (1) to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States while respecting the sovereignty of the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Nations; (2) to unite under one body all American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans who served in the Armed Forces of United States; (3) to be an advocate on behalf of all American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans without regard to whether they served during times of peace, conflict, or war; (4) to be an advocate for all veterans suffering from service-connected disabilities; (5) to promote social welfare (including educational, economic, social, physical, cultural values, and traditional healing) in the United States by encouraging the growth and development, readjustment, self-respect, self-confidence, contributions, and self-identity of American Indian veterans; (6) to serve as an advocate for the needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans, their families, or survivors in their dealings with all Federal and State Government agencies; (7) to promote, support, and use research, on a nonpartisan basis, pertaining to the relationship between the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans and American society; and (8) to provide technical assistance to all regional areas without veterans committees or organizations and programs by— (A) providing outreach service to those tribes in need; and (B) training and educating Tribal Veterans Service Officers for those tribes in need. 150403. Membership (a) In General Subject to subsection (b) and section 150406 of this title, eligibility for membership in the corporation, and the rights and privileges of members, shall be as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. (b) Limitation Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights and privileges of members shall not be determined by the Federal Government. 150404. Board of directors Subject to section 150406 of this title, the board of directors of the corporation, and the responsibilities of the board, shall be as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation and in conformity with the laws under which the corporation is incorporated. 150405. Officers Subject to section 150406 of this title, the officers of the corporation, and the election of such officers, shall be as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation and in conformity with the laws of the jurisdiction under which the corporation is incorporated. 150406. Nondiscrimination In establishing the conditions of membership in the corporation, and in determining the requirements for serving on the board of directors or as an officer of the corporation, the corporation may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or age. 150407. Powers The corporation shall have only those powers granted the corporation through its articles of incorporation and its constitution and bylaws, which shall conform to the laws of the jurisdiction under which the corporation is incorporated. 150408. Exclusive right to name, seals, emblems, and badges (a) In general The corporation shall have the sole and exclusive right to use the names National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated and National American Indian Veterans, and such seals, emblems, and badges as the corporation may lawfully adopt. (b) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere or conflict with established or vested rights. 150409. Restrictions (a) Stock and dividends The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares of stock nor to declare or pay any dividends. (b) Distribution of income or assets (1) No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall inure to any person who is a member, officer, or director of the corporation or be distributed to any such person during the life of the charter granted by this chapter. (2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the payment of reasonable compensation to the officers of the corporation, or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, in amounts approved by the board of directors. (c) Loans The corporation shall not make any loan to any officer, director, member, or employee of the corporation. (d) No Federal endorsement The corporation shall not claim congressional approval or Federal Government authority by virtue of the charter granted by this chapter for any of its activities. 150410. Duty to maintain tax-exempt status The corporation shall maintain its status as an organization exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 150411. Records and inspection (a) Records The corporation shall keep— (1) correct and complete books and records of accounts; (2) minutes of any proceeding of the corporation involving any of its members, the board of directors, or any committee having authority under the board of directors; and (3) at its principal office, a record of the names and addresses of all members having the right to vote. (b) Inspection (1) All books and records of the corporation may be inspected by any member having the right to vote, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for any proper purpose, at any reasonable time. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to contravene the laws of the jurisdiction under which the corporation is incorporated or the laws of those jurisdictions within which the corporation carries on its activities in furtherance of its purposes within the United States and its territories. 150412. Service of process With respect to service of process, the corporation shall comply with the laws of the jurisdiction under which the corporation is incorporated and those jurisdictions within which the corporation carries on its activities in furtherance of its purposes within the United States and its territories. 150413. Liability for acts of officers and agents The corporation shall be liable for the acts of the officers and agents of the corporation when such individuals act within the scope of their authority. 150414. Failure to comply with requirements If the corporation fails to comply with any of the restrictions or provisions of this chapter, including the requirement under section 150410 of this title to maintain its status as an organization exempt from taxation, the charter granted by this chapter shall expire. 150415. Annual report (a) In general The corporation shall report annually to Congress concerning the activities of the corporation during the preceding fiscal year. (b) Submittal date Each annual report under this section shall be submitted at the same time as the report of the audit of the corporation required by section 10101(b) of this title. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 1503 the following new item: 1504. National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated 150401 .