Title 54National Park Service and Related ProgramsRelease 119-73

§312304 Duties and powers; administrative support

Title 54 › Subtitle Subtitle III— - National Preservation Programs › Chapter CHAPTER 3123— - COMMISSION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF AMERICA’S HERITAGE ABROAD › § 312304

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Find and list cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings abroad that are linked to the foreign heritage of U.S. citizens from eastern and central Europe, especially those in danger. Work with the Secretary of State to get foreign governments to promise to protect them. Make and share reports about their condition and the progress of preservation efforts. Hold hearings and gather testimony as needed. Hire staff under the usual federal hiring rules in title 5, and set pay under the federal pay rules in chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. Hire temporary help as allowed by 5 U.S.C. 3109(b), but pay those people no more than the daily equivalent of the maximum annual basic pay in effect under 5 U.S.C. 5376. Ask other federal agencies to detail staff on a reimbursable basis, request needed information from agencies, accept gifts, use the mail like other agencies, and receive administrative support from the Administrator of General Services on a reimbursable basis.

Full Legal Text

Title 54, §312304

National Park Service and Related Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Commission shall—
(1)identify and publish a list of cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings located abroad that are associated with the foreign heritage of United States citizens from eastern and central Europe, particularly cemeteries, monuments, and buildings that are in danger of deterioration or destruction;
(2)encourage the preservation and protection of those cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings by obtaining, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, assurances from foreign governments that the cemeteries, monuments, and buildings will be preserved and protected; and
(3)prepare and disseminate reports on the condition of, and the progress toward preserving and protecting, those cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings.
(b)(1)The Commission or any member it authorizes may, for the purposes of carrying out this chapter, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, request such attendance, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers appropriate.
(2)The Commission may appoint such personnel (subject to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service) and may fix the pay of such personnel (subject to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5), as the Commission considers desirable.
(3)The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay then in effect under section 5376 of title 5.
(4)On request of the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency, including the Secretary of State, may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this chapter.
(5)The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States, including the Department of State, any information necessary to enable it to carry out this chapter. On the request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of the department or agency shall furnish the information to the Commission.
(6)The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of money or property.
(7)The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and on the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.
(c)The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support services as the Commission may request.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 312304(a)16 U.S.C. 469j(c).Pub. L. 99–83, title XIII, § 1303(c), (g), Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 280, 281. 312304(b)16 U.S.C. 469j(g). In subsection (a)(2), the word “Secretary” is substituted for “Department” because of 22 U.S.C. 2651 and 2651a(a). In subsection (b)(3), the words “under section 5376 of title 5” are substituted for “for grade GS–18 of the General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a))” because of section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, 1991 (Public Law 101–509, 5 U.S.C. 5376 note).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

54 U.S.C. § 312304

Title 54National Park Service and Related Programs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73