§2421 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

Money set aside to feed members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force may be used to run, maintain, and improve plantations or farms outside the United States that are under those services’ control so they can supply fresh fruits and vegetables. The government may not buy land for those farms. Any extra fruits and vegetables beyond what the forces or their civilian helpers get can only be sold outside the United States. Only U.S. nationals hired there get U.S. civilian employee benefits. The farms should be run by private contractors or lessees when possible. Before using service members, the Secretary in charge must try to hire a civilian contractor on terms that help the United States, and the Secretary’s judgment on that effort is final. This authority ended on September 30, 2018.

Title 10, §2421

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Appropriations for the subsistence of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force are available for expenditures necessary in the operation, maintenance, and improvement of any plantation or farm, outside the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, as the case may be, for furnishing fresh fruits and vegetables to the armed forces. However, no land may be acquired under this subsection.

(b)Fruits and vegetables produced under subsection (a) that are over the amount furnished or sold to the armed forces or to civilians serving with the armed forces may be sold only outside the United States.

(c)Of the persons employed by the United States under subsection (a), only nationals of the United States are entitled to the benefits provided by laws relating to the employment, work, compensation, or other benefits of civilian employees of the United States.

(d)A plantation or farm covered by subsection (a) shall be operated, maintained, and improved by a private contractor or lessee, so far as practicable. Before using members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, as the case may be, the Secretary concerned must make a reasonable effort to make a contract or lease with a person in civil life for his services for that operation, maintenance, or improvement, on terms advantageous to the United States. A determination by the Secretary as to the reasonableness of effort to make a contract or lease, and as to the advantageous nature of its terms, is final.

(e)The authority under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2018.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2421(a) 2421(b)10:1213 (less 1st and 2d provisos).34:555a (less 1st and 2d provisos).10:1213 (2d proviso).34:555a (2d proviso).

June 28, 1944, ch. 306; restated

July 1, 1947, ch. 188, 61 Stat. 234; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, § 3(2), 65 Stat. 708. 2421(c)10:1213 (1st proviso). 34:555a (1st proviso). 2421(d)10:1214. 34:555b. In subsection (a), the word “management”, in 10:1213 and 34:555a, is omitted as covered by the word “operation”. The word “members” is substituted for the word “personnel”. The word “may” is substituted for the word “shall”. The words “any and all” and “the purpose of” are omitted as surplusage. In subsections (a) and (b), the word “continental” is omitted, since section 101(1) of this title defines the United States to include the States and the District of Columbia. In subsection (b), the words “of the United States” are omitted as surplusage. The words “Fruits and vegetables produced under subsection (a)” are substituted for the words “That surplus production”. In subsection (c), the words “nationals of the United States” are substituted for the words “American nationals”. The words “civil-service laws and other * * * of the United States” and “rights * * * or obligations” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (d), the words “after the termination of the present war” are omitted as executed. The word “by” is substituted for the words “through the instrumentality of”. The words “partnership, association” are omitted as covered by the definition of “person” in section 1 of title 1. The words “United States” are substituted for the word “Government”. The words “management”, “for that purpose”, and “or agreement” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “Marine Corps, or Space Force” for “or Marine Corps” wherever appearing. 2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–328 added subsec. (e).

§2421 Plantations and farms: operation, maintenance, and improvement