Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to serve as the lead Democratic cosponsor of the bill introduced by my friend from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2021.

The Federal Bar Association is the primary voluntary bar association for attorneys, both in the private and public sectors, who practice in the Federal courts. The bill will permit the foundation to better fulfill its role as the only institution chartered in America by Congress to promote the Federal administration of justice, the advancement of Federal jurisprudence, and the practice of law in the Federal courts by providing it with the organizational flexibility that it needs to grow and to adapt to its contemporary mission.

The original charter created a framework that has served FBA well for the last six decades. During these years, the foundation has, indeed, strengthened Federal jurisprudence and promoted legal education and understanding at the Federal level, and it has improved the lives of a lot of people.

One community outreach program I know about through a number of my constituents is the Wills for Veterans initiative, which is a pro bono project where the FBA chapters provide the drafting of wills and signing services for veterans in our communities.

Another initiative set up the Dr. J. Clay Smith Jr. Diversity in the Legal Profession Scholarship program, which aims to promote diversity in the profession and to promote the inclusion of racially and ethnically diverse students in law schools and in the work of the Federal Bar Association.

All of these programs and initiatives broaden and strengthen the legal community and need to be bolstered in the years ahead. To allow the FBA greater flexibility to operate and grow as the legal community changes, the current charter must be amended.

In its current iteration, the existing charter codifies strict membership and governance requirements that constrain member development and nimble governance of the organization. This rigidity presents serious challenges as the organization seeks to expand its critical educational and charitable work.

H.R. 2679 makes technical fixes to the charter that will give the FBA the needed flexibility to advance its mission in the 21st century. In the place of legislatively fixed membership criteria, it permits FBA to establish and update membership criteria through the bylaws process itself. Similar provisions authorize enhanced flexibility in the composition and duties of the members of its board.

In general, the measure would enable the FBA to swiftly meet the needs and the priorities of the organization and improve the administration of Federal justice. I urge all colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE.

Again, we have found ourselves striking a chord for justice and clarification to an important organization that stands for justice, the Federal Bar Association. I thank the sponsors of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation makes a number of important changes to strengthen the charter of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2679, the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2021, makes important changes to the federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.

This legislation is intended to give the Federal Bar Association the flexibility it needs to operate well into the future, without the need for further congressional amendment.

Among other things, the legislation makes the following changes to the Association's charter:

It requires the board of directors to decide, and specify in the bylaws, the location of the principal office;

It specifies that the bylaws--not the charter--must provide for the terms of membership, the responsibilities of the board of directors, and the election of officers;

It prohibits a director or officer, in his or her corporate capacity, from contributing to, supporting, or participating in political activities;

It expands a prohibition on loans for directors and officers to include members and employees; and

It specifies that on dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, any remaining assets must be distributed as provided by the board of directors instead of deposited in the Treasury.

I thank Mr. Chabot for introducing this important bipartisan legislation, along with Mr. Raskin.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation makes a number of important changes to strengthen the charter of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.

I urge all Members to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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