Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1872 International cooperation and coordination with foreign policy

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 16— - NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION › § 1872

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Foundation can join and pay for international science and engineering work, using money Congress gives it. The Director may pay travel and other costs for government reps, groups, or individual scientists to attend accredited international meetings when that helps the Foundation’s goals. With the Secretary of State’s OK, the Foundation may give fellowships or similar support to foreign nationals to study or do research in the United States without following section 1869 or the affidavit rule in section 1874(d)(2). Any contracts or arrangements with foreign organizations or governments (see section 1870(c)) and other international cooperation must have the Secretary of State’s approval so they match U.S. foreign policy. If negotiations with foreign governments are needed, the Secretary of State will lead them in consultation with the Director.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1872

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Foundation is authorized to cooperate in any international scientific or engineering activities consistent with the purposes of this chapter and to expend for such international scientific or engineering activities such sums within the limit of appropriated funds as the Foundation may deem desirable. The Director may defray the expenses of representatives of Government agencies and other organizations and of individual scientists or engineers to accredited international scientific or engineering congresses and meetings whenever he deem 11 So in original. Probably should be “deems”. it necessary in the promotion of the objectives of this chapter. In this connection, with the approval of the Secretary of State, the Foundation may undertake programs granting fellowships to, or making other similar arrangements with, foreign nationals for study and research in the sciences or in engineering in the United States without regard to section 1869 of this title or the affidavit of allegiance to the United States required by section 1874(d)(2) 22 See References in Text note below. of this title.
(b)(1)The authority to enter into contracts or other arrangements with organizations or individuals in foreign countries and with agencies of foreign countries, as provided in section 1870(c) of this title, and the authority to cooperate in international scientific or engineering activities as provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall be exercised only with the approval of the Secretary of State, to the end that such authority shall be exercised in such manner as is consistent with the foreign policy objectives of the United States.
(2)If, in the exercise of the authority referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, negotiation with foreign countries or agencies thereof becomes necessary, such negotiation shall be carried on by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Director.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1874(d)(2) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was redesignated section 1874(c)(2) by Pub. L. 96–516, § 21(b)(2), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3010.

Amendments

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–159, § 110(a)(16), inserted “or engineering” after “scientific” the first three places appearing and “or engineers” after “scientists” and substituted “study and research in the sciences or in engineering” for “scientific study or scientific work”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 99–159, § 110(a)(17), inserted reference to engineering. 1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–407 struck out “, with the approval of the Board,” after “The Director”, and substituted “section 15(d)(2) of this Act” for “section 16(d)(2) of this Act”, which resulted in no change in text because, for purposes of classification, provision was translated as “section 1874(d)(2) of this title”. 1959—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–232 authorized the Foundation, with approval of the Secretary of State, to cooperate in scientific activities rather than scientific research activities, and to grant fellowships or make other arrangements with foreign nationals for scientific study or scientific work in the United States. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 86–232 struck out “research” from phrase “scientific research activities”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Continuation of Existing Offices, Procedures, and Organization of the National Science FoundationAmendment by Pub. L. 90–407 intended to continue in effect the existing offices, procedures, and organization of the Foundation, see section 16 of Pub. L. 90–407, set out as a note under section 1862 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1872

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73