Public Law 102-211
102d Congress
An Act
Dec. 11, 1991 [H.R. 690]
To authorize the National Park Service to acquire and manage the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PURPOSES.
16 USC 461 note.
The purposes of this Act are to
- preserve and interpret the life and work of Mary McLeod Bethune;
- preserve and interpret the history, lives, and contributions of African American women; and
- preserve and interpret the struggle for civil right.s in the United States of America.
SEC. 2. ACQUISITION.
District of Columbia. 16 USC 461 note.
The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") may acquire, with the consent of the owner thereof, by donation or by purchase with donated or appropriated funds, the property designated under the Act of October 15, 1982 (Public Law 97-829; 96 Stat. 1615), as the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, located at 1318 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington. D.C., together with such structures and improvements thereon and such personal property associated with the site as he deems appropriate for interpretation of the site.
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION.
16 USC 461 note.
(a) IN GENERAL.-Upon acquisition of the property described in section 2, the cooperative agreement referred to in section 3 of the Act of October 15, 1982 (Public Law 97-829; 96 Stat. 1615) shall cease to have any force and effect., and upon acquisition of such property, the Secretary shall administer the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "historic site") in accordance with this Act and in accordance with the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the national park system, including the Act entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes", approved August 25, 1916 (89 Stat. 585; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2- 4) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467).
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.-(1) The Secretary is authorized and directed to enter into a cooperative agreement with nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving and interpreting the life and work of Mary McLeod Bethune and the history and contributions of African American women-
(A) to provide to the public such programs, . seminars, and lectures as are appropriate to interpret the life and work of Mary McLeod Bethune and the history and contributions of African American women, and
(B) to administer the archives currently located at the historic site, including providing reasonable access to the archives by scholars and other interested parties.
(2) The Secretary is authorized to provide space and administrative support for such nonprofit organization.
(c) MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.-The historic site shall be operated and managed in accordance with a General Management Plan. The Advisory Commission appointed under section 4 shall fully participate in an advisory capacity with the Secretary in the development of the General Management Plan for the historic site. The Secretary and the Advisory Commission shall meet and consult on matters relating to the management and development of the historic site as often as necessary, but at least semiannually.
SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMISSION.
16 USC 461 note.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Advisory Commission (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). The Commission shall carry out the functions specified in section 3(c) of this Act.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary for 4-year terms as follows:
(1) 3 members appointed from recommendations submitted by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
(2) 2 members appointed from recommendations submitted by other national organizations in which Mary McLeod Bethune played a leadership role.
(3) 2 members appointed from recommendations submitted by the Bethune Museum and Archives, Inc.
(4) 2 members who shall have professional expertise in the history of African American women.
(5) 2 members who shall have professional expertise in archival management.
(6) 3 members who shall represent the general public.
(7) 1 member who shall have professional expertise in historic preservation.
Any member of the Commission appointed for a definite term may serve after the expiration of his or her term until his or her successor is appointed. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(c) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation except that the Secretary is authorized to pay such expenses as are reasonably incurred by the members in carrying out their responsibilities under this Act.
(d) OFFICERS.—The Chair and other officers of the Commission shall be elected by a majority of the members of the Commission to serve for terms established by the Commission.
(e) BYLAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.—The Commission shall make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it considers necessary to carry out its functions under this Act. The provisions of section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix) are hereby waived with respect to this Commission.
