WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) bipartisan bill to amend the federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. Kennedy’s bill, the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025, now moves to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
“There’s no reason for Congress to keep around pointless federal requirements that don’t help anybody. My bill, the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act, would remove outdated and overly specific provisions from the FBA Foundation’s federal charter and let the organization handle its own business. I’m grateful to my friends in the House of Representatives for passing this important bill and I look forward to it becoming law,” said Kennedy.
The Federal Bar Association (FBA) Foundation, distinct from the FBA itself, is a charitable organization offering research grants, scholarships and legal programming. Congress first chartered the organization in 1954, and the FBA Foundation must still abide by several outdated federal regulations in its charter, including a requirement that it be based in the District of Columbia.
Kennedy’s bill would remove this requirement, in addition to making other changes that shift authority to the organization’s bylaws.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, supports the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act.
“Senator Kennedy’s bill allows the Federal Bar Association to run more efficiently and helps the organization continue to provide civics education programs to classrooms across the country. We were proud to support it and appreciate the Senator’s great work,” said Jordan.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) cosponsored the bill in the U.S. Senate.
“The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association does great work strengthening our justice system. Our bipartisan legislation now heads to the President’s desk, where it will modernize the Foundation’s structure and allow it to better serve the American people,” said Whitehouse.
In April 2025, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Kennedy’s bill. Kennedy and Whitehouse, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previously introduced the legislation in 2023.
The FBA Foundation supports Kennedy’s bill.
“The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association is very grateful that the House of Representatives has now approved S. 616, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senator John Kennedy that would modify the Foundation’s Congressional Charter for the first time since 1954 and help improve our efficiency in operating this nonprofit institution dedicated to civic education. Thanks to Sen. Kennedy and his lead cosponsor, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the Senate unanimously approved this bill earlier this year. Our Foundation Board of Directors and our robust Federal Bar Association chapters in Louisiana are grateful to Senator Kennedy for taking up this cause three years ago and for working with his colleagues, including Leader Scalise and Chairman Jordan, and to Senator Whitehouse, to ensure Senate and House passage,” said Steve R. Jackson, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
Text of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025 is available here.
