§2670 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of State may pay for a range of overseas needs for U.S. missions and staff. He or she can buy insurance for official cars abroad, rent tie lines and teletype equipment, and supply ice and drinking water at embassies and consulates. The Secretary can pay excise taxes on negotiable financial papers handled overseas, cover costs to help, protect, or bury American seamen and alien seamen from U.S. ships in foreign places and U.S. territories, and pay to acknowledge foreign crews or aircraft that rescue Americans from shipwrecks or other disasters. The Secretary may rent or lease offices, buildings, grounds, and housing for Foreign Service use for less than ten years and pay in advance, and may maintain, repair, and provide fuel, water, and utilities for them. Emergency medical care, dietary supplements, and other emergency help may be given to U.S. citizens jailed or destitute abroad who cannot get help otherwise; such aid should be repaid when possible. If appropriated funds are available, the Secretary may insure historic and artistic furniture and objects for the Diplomatic Rooms under the Fine Arts Committee, pay the U.S. share for international fisheries commissions from available appropriations, run passport and dispatch agencies, and pay for internet service in U.S. government residences abroad used by Department staff who receive a post hardship differential equal to 30 percent or more above basic pay.

Title 22, §2670

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of State is authorized to—

(a)obtain insurance on official motor vehicles operated by the Department of State in foreign countries, and pay the expenses incident thereto;

(b)rent tie lines and teletype equipment;

(c)provide ice and drinking water for United States Embassies and Consulates abroad;

(d)pay excise taxes on negotiable instruments which are negotiated by the Department of State abroad;

(e)Omitted;

(f)pay expenses incident to the relief, protection, and burial of American seamen, and alien seamen from United States vessels in foreign countries and in the United States Territories and possessions;

(g)pay the expenses incurred in the acknowledgment of the services of officers and crews of foreign vessels and aircraft in rescuing American seamen, airmen, or citizens from shipwreck or other catastrophe abroad or at sea;

(h)rent or lease, for periods of less than ten years, such offices, buildings, grounds, and living quarters for the use of the Foreign Service abroad as he may deem necessary, and make payments therefor in advance;

(i)maintain, improve, and repair properties rented or leased pursuant to authority contained in subsection (h) of this section and furnish fuel, water, and utilities for such properties;

(j)provide emergency medical attention and dietary supplements, and other emergency assistance, for United States citizens incarcerated abroad or destitute United States citizens abroad who are unable to obtain such services otherwise, such assistance to be provided on a reimbursable basis to the extent feasible;

(k)subject to the availability of appropriated funds, obtain insurance on the historic and artistic articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects which may from time-to-time be within the responsibility of the Fine Arts Committee of the Department of State for the Diplomatic Rooms of the Department;

(l)make payments in advance, of the United States share of necessary expenses for international fisheries commissions, from appropriations available for such purpose;

(m)establish, maintain, and operate passport and dispatch agencies; and

(n)pay expenses to provide internet services in residences owned or leased by the United States Government in foreign countries for the use of Department personnel where Department personnel receive a post hardship differential equivalent to 30 percent or more above basic compensation.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 170h of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378. Subsec. (e) of this section, relating to the payment of the actual expenses of preparing and transporting to their former homes the remains of persons, not United States Government employees, who die away from their homes while participating in international educational exchange activities under the jurisdiction of the Department of State, was omitted pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1977, § 9(a)(7), 42 F.R. 62461, 91 Stat. 1639, set out under section 1461 of this title, effective on or before July 1, 1978, at such time as specified by the President, which abolished the functions of the Secretary of State under subsec. (e).

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 118–31 added subsec. (n). 1994—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 103–236 added subsec. (m). 1991—Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 102–138 added subsec. (l). 1987—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 100–204 added subsec. (k). 1978—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 95–426 inserted “or destitute United States citizens abroad” after “incarcerated abroad”. 1977—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 95–45 added subsec. (j).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–236 applicable with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders,

Regulations

, or departmental directives implementing the

Amendments

by section 161 and 162 of Pub. L. 103–236 become effective, or 90 days after Apr. 30, 1994, whichever comes earlier, see section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended, set out as a note under section 2651a of this title.

Effective Date

of 1978 Amendment Pub. L. 95–426, title I, § 108(b), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 966, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on

October 1, 1978.” Providing Medical Services or Related Support in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic Pub. L. 116–136, div. B, title XI, § 21008, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 592, provided that: “The Secretary of State, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, may exercise the authorities of section 3(j) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2670(j)) to provide medical services or related support for private United States citizens, nationals, and permanent resident aliens abroad, or third country nationals connected to such persons or to the diplomatic or development missions of the United States abroad, who are unable to obtain such services or support otherwise: Provided, That such assistance shall be provided on a reimbursable basis to the extent feasible: Provided further, That such reimbursements may be credited to the applicable Department of State appropriation and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That the Secretary shall prioritize providing medical services or related support to individuals eligible for the health program under section 904 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4084): Provided further, That the authority made available pursuant to this section shall expire on

September 30, 2022.” [For definition of “coronavirus” as used in section 21008 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out above, see section 23005 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 162b of Title 2, The Congress.]

Summary

Title 22, §2670

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Regulations

Amendments

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata