§ 5506 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE Page 1198

counselors concerning the particular demands

posed by aviation tragedies and terrorist activities.

(2) In providing such additional training under

subsection (a) of this section the Secretary of

State shall consider supplementing the current

training program through—

(A) providing specialized training to create a

team of ‘‘disaster specialists’’ to deploy immediately in a crisis; or

(B) securing outside experts to be brought in

during the initial phases to assist consular

personnel.

(Pub. L. 101–604, title II, §206, Nov. 16, 1990, 104

Stat. 3084.)

§ 5506. Department of State responsibilities and

procedures at international disaster site

(a) Dispatch of senior State Department official

to site

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 international disaster, particularly an aviation tragedy, directly involving significant numbers of United States citizens

abroad not less than one senior officer from the

Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of

State shall be dispatched to the site of such disaster.

(b) Criteria for Department of State staffing at

disaster site

Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990,

the Secretary of State shall promulgate criteria

for Department of State staffing of disaster sites

abroad. Such criteria shall define responsibility

for staffing decisions and shall consider the deployment of crisis teams under subsection (d) of

this section. The Secretary of State shall

promptly issue such rules and guidelines as are

necessary to implement criteria developed pursuant to this subsection.

(c) State Department ombudsman

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 international aviation disaster

involving significant numbers of United States

citizens abroad not less than one officer or employee of the Department of State shall be dispatched to the disaster site to provide on-site

assistance to families who may visit the site and

to act as an ombudsman in matters involving

the foreign local government authorities and social service agencies.

(d) Crisis teams

Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990,

the Secretary of State shall promulgate procedures for the deployment of a ‘‘crisis team’’,

which may include public affairs, forensic, and

bereavement experts, to the site of any international disaster involving United States citizens abroad to augment in-country Embassy and

consulate staff. The Secretary of State shall

promptly issue such rules and guidelines as are

necessary to implement procedures developed

pursuant to this subsection.

(Pub. L. 101–604, title II, §207, Nov. 16, 1990, 104

Stat. 3084.)

AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF STATE

Except as otherwise provided, Secretary of State to

have and exercise any authority vested by law in any

official or office of Department of State and references

to such officials or offices deemed to refer to Secretary

of State or Department of State, as appropriate, see

section 2651a of this title and section 161(d) of Pub. L.

103–236, set out as a note under section 2651a of this

title.

§ 5507. Recovery and disposition of remains and

personal effects

It is the policy of the Department of State

(pursuant to section 2715 of this title) to provide

liaison with foreign governments and persons

and with United States air carriers concerning

arrangements for the preparation and transport

to the United States of the remains of citizens

who die abroad, as well as the disposition of personal effects. The Secretary of State shall ensure that regulations and guidelines of the Department of State reflect such policy and that

such assistance is rendered to the families of

United States citizens who are killed in terrorist incidents and disasters abroad.

(Pub. L. 101–604, title II, §208, Nov. 16, 1990, 104

Stat. 3085.)

§ 5508. Assessment of Lockerbie experience

(a) Assessment

The Secretary of State shall compile an assessment of the Department of State response to

the Pan American Airways Flight 103 aviation

disaster over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December

21, 1988.

(b) Guidelines

The Secretary of State shall establish, based

on the assessment compiled under subsection (a)

of this section and other relevant factors, guidelines for future Department of State responses

to comparable disasters and shall distribute

such guidelines to all United States diplomatic

and consular posts abroad.

(Pub. L. 101–604, title II, §209, Nov. 16, 1990, 104

Stat. 3085.)

§ 5509. Official Department of State recognition

Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990,

the Secretary of State shall promulgate guidelines for appropriate ceremonies or other official

expressions of respect and support for the families of United States citizens who are killed

through acts of terrorism abroad.

(Pub. L. 101–604, title II, §210, Nov. 16, 1990, 104

Stat. 3085.)

§ 5510. United States Government compensation

for victims of terrorism

(a) Compensation

The President shall submit to the Congress,

not later than one year after November 16, 1990,

recommendations on whether or not legislation

should be enacted to authorize the United

States to provide monetary and tax relief as

compensation to United States citizens who are

victims of terrorism.

(b) Board

The President may establish a board to develop criteria for compensation and to rec-