Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110
§5504 Designation of State Department-family Liaison and Toll-free Family Communications System
Title 22 › CHAPTER 64 — UNITED STATES RESPONSE TO TERRORISM AFFECTING AMERICANS ABROAD › § 5504
Summary
Within 60 days after November 16, 1990, the Secretary of State must write rules so that when an airplane disaster abroad directly involves U.S. citizens, the State Department will, if possible, name one person and a backup to act as the family’s contact for each victim. The Secretary must also reserve a toll-free phone line just for those families when setting up a disaster phone system for U.S. citizens abroad.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §5504
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Designation of State Department-family liaison
Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990, the Secretary of State shall issue such rules and guidelines as are necessary to provide that in the event of an aviation disaster directly involving United States citizens abroad, if possible, the Department of State will assign a specific individual, and an alternate, as the Department of State liaison for the family of each such citizen.
(b)Toll-free communications system
In the establishment of the Department of State toll-free communications system to facilitate inquiries concerning the affect of any disaster abroad on United States citizens residing or traveling abroad, the Secretary of State shall ensure that a toll-free telephone number is reserved for the exclusive use of the families of citizens who have been determined to be directly involved in any such disaster.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 5504
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110