22 U.S.C. § 3784: Transfer of property to…

Summary

On October 1, 1979, the Secretary of State may give the Panama Railroad and certain land that used to be part of the Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama. The land given cannot be land that the United States keeps using under the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty and related agreements. The transfer cannot include buildings and other facilities outside those U.S.-used areas that the United States still uses under the treaty, except for housing. For other property to be turned over under the 1977 Treaty, the Secretary of State may transfer it over time under the treaty’s rules. Before any such transfer, the President must send a written report to Congress that clearly names and describes the property, certifies whether Panama is following the treaty, and explains why the transfer is happening now. The Panama Canal and certain other named property cannot be transferred before December 31, 1999.

Title 22, §3784

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Conveyance of Panama Railroad

(1)On October 1, 1979, the Secretary of State may convey to the Republic of Panama the Panama Railroad and such property located in the area which, immediately before such date, comprised the Canal Zone and which is not within the land and water areas the use of which is made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(2)Property transferred pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection may not include buildings and other facilities, except housing, located outside such areas, the use of which is retained by the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(b)Transfer of certain property pursuant to Panama Canal Treaty of 1977; report to Congress

With respect to the transfer of all other property (not described in subsection (a)(1) of this section) to be transferred in accordance with the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements, the Secretary of State may convey such property from time to time in accordance with the terms of such Treaty and related agreements. Before the transfer of any such property, the President must submit a written report to the Congress—

(1)precisely identifying and describing the particular property to be transferred;

(2)certifying the state of compliance by the Republic of Panama with such Treaty and related agreements; and

(3)setting forth the reasons for the conveyance being made at the particular time.

(c)Restriction on transfer of Panama Canal and certain other property

The Panama Canal, and such other property referred to in paragraph 2(d) of Article XIII of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 that has not been previously transferred in accordance with paragraphs 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) of such Article, shall not be transferred to the Republic of Panama prior to December 31, 1999.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1985—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–223 substituted “Before” for “At least 180 days before”.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions Functions vested in President by subsec. (b) delegated to Secretary of State, see section 1–402 of Ex. Ord. No. 12215, May 27, 1980, 45 F.R. 36044, set out as a note under section 3601 of this title.

§3784 Transfer of Property to Republic of Panama