US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

6 U.S.C. § 331

Treatment of charitable trusts for members of the Armed Forces of the United States and other governmental organizations

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following:
(1)
Members of the Armed Forces of the United States defend the freedom and security of our Nation.
(2)
Members of the Armed Forces of the United States have lost their lives while battling the evils of terrorism around the world.
(3)
Personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) charged with the responsibility of covert observation of terrorists around the world are often put in harm’s way during their service to the United States.
(4)
Personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency have also lost their lives while battling the evils of terrorism around the world.
(5)
Employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other Federal agencies charged with domestic protection of the United States put their lives at risk on a daily basis for the freedom and security of our Nation.
(6)
United States military personnel, CIA personnel, FBI personnel, and other Federal agents in the service of the United States are patriots of the highest order.
(7)
CIA officer Johnny Micheal Spann became the first American to give his life for his country in the War on Terrorism declared by President George W. Bush following the terrorist attacks of .
(8)
Johnny Micheal Spann left behind a wife and children who are very proud of the heroic actions of their patriot father.
(9)
Surviving dependents of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lose their lives as a result of terrorist attacks or military operations abroad receive a $6,000 death benefit, plus a small monthly benefit.
(10)
The current system of compensating spouses and children of American patriots is inequitable and needs improvement.
(b)

Designation of Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trusts

Any charitable corporation, fund, foundation, or trust (or separate fund or account thereof) which otherwise meets all applicable requirements under law with respect to charitable entities and meets the requirements described in subsection (c) shall be eligible to characterize itself as a “Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust”.

(c)

Requirements for the designation of Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trusts

The requirements described in this subsection are as follows:
(1)
Not taking into account funds or donations reasonably necessary to establish a trust, at least 85 percent of all funds or donations (including any earnings on the investment of such funds or donations) received or collected by any Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust must be distributed to (or, if placed in a private foundation, held in trust for) surviving spouses, children, or dependent parents, grandparents, or siblings of 1 or more of the following:
(A)
members of the Armed Forces of the United States;
(B)
section 3003(4) of title 50 personnel, including contractors, of elements of the intelligence community, as defined in ;
(C)
employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
(D)
officers, employees, or contract employees of the United States Government,
Public Law 107–40115 Stat. 224whose deaths occur in the line of duty and arise out of terrorist attacks, military operations, intelligence operations, or law enforcement operations or accidents connected with activities occurring after , and related to domestic or foreign efforts to curb international terrorism, including the Authorization for Use of Military Force (; ).
(2)
Other than funds or donations reasonably necessary to establish a trust, not more than 15 percent of all funds or donations (or 15 percent of annual earnings on funds invested in a private foundation) may be used for administrative purposes.
(3)
No part of the net earnings of any Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust may inure to the benefit of any individual based solely on the position of such individual as a shareholder, an officer or employee of such Trust.
(4)
None of the activities of any Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust shall be conducted in a manner inconsistent with any law that prohibits attempting to influence legislation.
(5)
No Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust may participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, including by publication or distribution of statements.
(6)
Each Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust shall comply with the instructions and directions of the Director of Central Intelligence, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of Defense relating to the protection of intelligence sources and methods, sensitive law enforcement information, or other sensitive national security information, including methods for confidentially disbursing funds.
(7)
Each Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust that receives annual contributions totaling more than $1,000,000 must be audited annually by an independent certified public accounting firm. Such audits shall be filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and shall be open to public inspection, except that the conduct, filing, and availability of the audit shall be consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, of sensitive law enforcement information, and of other sensitive national security information.
(8)
Each Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust shall make distributions to beneficiaries described in paragraph (1) at least once every calendar year, beginning not later than 12 months after the formation of such Trust, and all funds and donations received and earnings not placed in a private foundation dedicated to such beneficiaries must be distributed within 36 months after the end of the fiscal year in which such funds, donations, and earnings are received.
(9)
(A)
When determining the amount of a distribution to any beneficiary described in paragraph (1), a Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust should take into account the amount of any collateral source compensation that the beneficiary has received or is entitled to receive as a result of the death of an individual described in paragraph (1).
(B)
Collateral source compensation includes all compensation from collateral sources, including life insurance, pension funds, death benefit programs, and payments by Federal, State, or local governments related to the death of an individual described in paragraph (1).
(d)

Treatment of Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trusts

section 30101(20)(A) of title 52section 30125(e) of title 52Each Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust shall refrain from conducting the activities described in clauses (i) and (ii) of so that a general solicitation of funds by an individual described in paragraph (1) of will be permissible if such solicitation meets the requirements of paragraph (4)(A) of such section.

(e)

Notification of Trust beneficiaries

ProvidedNotwithstanding any other provision of law, and in a manner consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods and sensitive law enforcement information, and other sensitive national security information, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the Director of Central Intelligence, or their designees, as applicable, may forward information received from an executor, administrator, or other legal representative of the estate of a decedent described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (c)(1), to a Johnny Micheal Spann Patriot Trust on how to contact individuals eligible for a distribution under subsection (c)(1) for the purpose of providing assistance from such Trust: , That, neither forwarding nor failing to forward any information under this subsection shall create any cause of action against any Federal department, agency, officer, agent, or employee.

(f)

Regulations

Not later than 90 days after , the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of Central Intelligence, shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

Pub. L. 107–296, title VI, § 601116 Stat. 2215(, , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 107–40115 Stat. 224section 1541 of Title 50The Authorization for Use of Military Force, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is , , , which is set out as a note under , War and National Defense.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Pub. L. 108–458section 3001 of Title 50Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of , set out as a note under , War and National Defense.