§3620 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

The U.S. Ambassador to Panama must be in charge of coordinating the handover of functions that Panama will take over under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and its related agreements. The Panama Canal Commission must run, manage, and maintain the canal independently of the U.S. Chief of Mission in Panama, but it must keep the Ambassador fully and promptly informed about all its activities. Except for that independence, the Commission’s activities are subject to section 3927 of this title. After December 31, 1999, the Secretary of State may make agreements for the United States to provide administrative services and set up advance funding for them. Those services can cover pension, disability, and medical benefits under section 3682, and workers’ compensation under chapter 81 of title 5.

Title 22, §3620

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama shall have full responsibility for the coordination of the transfer to the Republic of Panama of those functions that are to be assumed by the Republic of Panama pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(b)(1)The Commission shall not be subject to the direction or supervision of the United States Chief of Mission in the Republic of Panama with respect to the responsibilities of the Commission for the operation, management, or maintenance of the Panama Canal, as established in this chapter or any other Act or in the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements, except that the Commission shall keep the Ambassador fully and currently informed with respect to all activities and operations of the Commission.

(2)Except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, section 3927 of this title shall apply with respect to the activities of the Commission.

(c)(1)The Secretary of State may enter into one or more agreements to provide for the United States to furnish administrative services relating to the benefits described in paragraph (2) after December 31, 1999, and to establish appropriate procedures for providing advance funding for the services.

(2)The benefits referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:

(A)Pension, disability, and medical benefits provided by the Panama Canal Commission pursuant to section 3682 of this title.

(B)Compensation for work injuries covered by chapter 81 of title 5.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 96–70, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 452, known as the Panama Canal Act of 1979, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–261 added subsec. (c). 1997—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted “section 3927” for “section 2680a”.

§3620 Authority of Ambassador; independence of Commission regarding its Panama Canal responsibilities