§7008 Administrative Matters

Summary

People appointed under sections 7002, 7003, 7004, or 7005 are not federal employees while doing that work, but they are covered for job injury pay and for government tort claims under chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28. Most appointees get no pay for serving as a representative, alternate, scientific expert, or advisory panel member, but the Secretary may hire and pay a non‑government scientific expert for the scientific review group under section 7003(a) using the authority in section 3109 of title 5. The Secretary must pay needed travel costs under the Federal Travel Regulations and sections 5701, 5702, 5704–5708, and 5731 of title 5. For the two independent members and two public advisors of the scientific review group jointly appointed under section 7003(c), and the one independent member to the joint technical committee jointly appointed under section 7004(b), the Secretary may pay up to 50 percent of their pay and of their travel costs.