An Act making appropriations for additional independent executive bureaus, boards, commissions, corporations, agencies, and offices, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1954, and for other purposes
PL 83-149 (H.R.5690), enacted 07/27/1953

67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
187 
Public Law 149 
CHAPTER 241 
AN ACT 
Making appropriations for additional independent executive bureaus, boards, 
commissions, corporations, agencies, and offices, for the fiscal year ending 
June 30,1954, and for other purposes. 
July 27,1953 
IH. R. 5690] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assenibled^ That the following pt^dent 
omdl 
sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not other- Appropriation Act, 
wise appropriated, for sundry independent executive bureaus, boards, ^ ^^' 
commissions, corporations, agencies, and offices, for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1954, namely : 
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION 
Operating expenses: For necessary operating expenses of the Com-
mission in carrying out the purposes of the Atomic Energy Act of 
1946, including the employment of aliens; services authorized by sec-
tion 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 TJ. S. C. 55a); maintenance 
and operation of aircraft; publication and dissemination of atomic 
information; purchase, repair, and cleaning of uniforms; purchase 
of newspapers and periodicals (not to exceed $5,000) ; official enter-
tainment expenses (not to exceed $5,000) ; not to exceed $2,564,130 
for expenses of travel; reimbursement of the General Services Adminis-
tration for security guard services; not to exceed $27,352,000 for pro-
gram direction and administration personnel; and hire of passenger 
motor vehicles; $891,781,000, together with the unexpended balances, 
as of June 30, 1953, of prior year appropriations made.available 
under this head to the Atomic Energy Commission: Provided^ That of 
such amounts $100,000 may be expended for objects of a confidential 
nature and in any such case the certificate of the Commission as to 
the amount of the expenditure and that it is deemed inadvisable 
to specify the nature thereof shall be deemed a sufficient voucher for 
the sum therein expressed to have been expended: Provided 
further^ 
That from this appropriation transfers of sums may be made to other 
agencies of the Government for the [ >rformance of the work for 
which this appropriation is made, and in such cases the sums so 
transferred may be merged with the appropriation to which trans-
ferred : Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be 
used to pay the salary of any officer or employee (except such officers 
and employees whose compensation is fixed by law, and scientific 
and technical personnel) whose position would be subject to the Classi-
fication Act of 1949, as amended, if such Act were applicable to such 
position, at a rate in excess of the rate payable under such Act for 
positions of equivalent difficulty or responsibility: Provided 
further, 
That no part of this appropriation shall be used in connection with 
the payment of a fixed fee to any contractor or firm of contractors 
engaged under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract or contracts at any 
installation of the Commission, w^here that fee for community manage-
ment is at a rate in excess of $90,000 per annum, or for the operation 
of a transportation system where that fee is at a rate in excess of 
$45,000 per annum. 
Plant and equipment: For expenses of the Commission in connec-
tion with the purchase and construction of plant and the acquisition 
of equipment and other expenses incidental thereto necessary in 
carrying out the purposes of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, includ-
ing purchase of land and interests in land; purchase of aircraft; 
purchase of two hundred and sixty-three passenger-carrying motor 
vehicles for replacement only in the event adequate vehicles cannot b© 
60 Stat. 775. 
42 u s e 
1801 
note. 
60 Stat. 810. 
T r a n s f e r s of 
funds. 
Salary restric-
tion. 
63 Stat. 954. 
5 use 1071 note. 
e o St-plu 8-a-
fixed-fee contract, 
etc. 
42 u s e 
1801 
note. 
188 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
Unexpended bal> 
ances. 
R e a c t o r c o n -
Btruction. 
Particle acceler-
ators, c o n s t r u c -
tion. 
C o n s t r u c t ! on 
p r o j e c t s , restric-
tions. 
C o n t r a c t pay-
m e n t s, 
tion. 
r e s t ric-
Audit by GAO. 
T r a n s f e r s 
funds. 
obtained by transfer from other departments or agencies and hire of 
passenger motor vehicles; $166,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended : Provided^ That the unexpended balances of prior year appro-
priations made available under this head shall be merged with this 
appropriation: Provided further^ That in addition to funds allocated 
for research and development for any reactor which will advance tech-
nology towards both ship propulsion and the generation of industrial 
power and for design of such atomic power reactors, the Commission 
may expend from funds provided under this head such sum as may be 
necessary, not to exceed $7,000,000, for beginning of construction of 
such reactors, without regard to any other provision of this Act: 
Provided 
further^ That funds appropriated under this head may, 
whenever the Commission determines a need exists, be used for the 
construction of particle accelerators without regard to any other 
provision of this Act: Provided further. That no part of the fore-
going appropriation shall be available for the construction of any 
office building, residence, warehouse or similar structure, utility, or 
other specific portion or unit of a project, unless funds are available 
for the completion of such building, utility, or other specific portion 
or unit of such project. 
The foregoing proviso shall not be construed 
to prevent the purchase of land for any project, the construction of 
any new building or procurement of any machinery, equipment or 
materials therefor, nor any utility nor any portion or unit of a specific 
project if the funds are available to pay the cost of such land, the 
cost of such building, machinery, equipment or materials, or the cost 
of such utility or the cost of any such specific portion or unit of such 
project: Provided further^ That no part of this appropriation shall 
be used— 
(A) to start any new construction project for which an esti-
mate was not included in the budget for the current fiscal year; 
and 
(B) to start any new construction project the currently esti-
mated cost of which exceeds by thirty-five per centum the esti-
mated cost included therefor in such budget: Provided 
further^ 
That the Commission is authorized to transfer not to exceed 
$10,000,000 to the Bureau of Public Roads, Department of Com-
merce, to provide for construction of access roads to the Pike 
County, Ohio, plant and to the i^irco, Idaho, plant of the 
Commission. 
No part of the appropriations herein made to the Atomic Energy 
Commission shall be available for payments under any contract here-
after negotiated without advertising by the Commission, except 
contracts with any foreign" government or any agency thereof and 
contracts for source material with foreign producers, unless such 
contract includes a clause to the effect that the Comptroller General 
of the United States or any of his duly authorized representatives shall 
until the expiration of three years after final payment have access to 
and the right to examine any directly pertinent books, documents, 
papers, and records of the contractor or any of his subcontractors 
engaged in the performance of and involving transactions related to 
such contracts or subcontracts: Provided^ That no part of such appro-
priations shall be available for payments under any such contract which 
includes any provision precluding an audit by the General Accounting 
Office of any transaction under such contract. 
Any appropriation available under this Act or heretofore made to 
the Atomic Energy Commission may initially be used during the fiscal 
year 1954 to finance the procurement of materials, services, or other 
costs which are a part of worli or activities for which funds have been 
provided in any other appropriation available to the Commission: 
Provided, That appropriate transfers or adjustments between such 
67 S T A T . 1 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
appropriations shall subsequently be made for such costs on the basis 
oi actual application determined in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles. 
Not to exceed 5 per centum of any appropriation under this head 
may be transferred to any other such appropriation but no such 
appropriation shall be increased by more than 5 per centum by any 
such transfers, and any such transfers shall be reported promptly to 
the appropriations committees of the House and Senate. 
No part of any appropriation herein made to the Atomic Energy 
Commission shall be used to confer a fellowship on any person who 
advocates or who is a member of an organization or party that advo-
cates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force 
or violence or with respect to whom the Commission finds, upon inves-
tigation and report by the Civil Service Commission on the character, 
associations, and loyalty of whom, that reasonable grounds exist for 
belief that such person is disloyal to the Government of the United 
States: Provided^ That any person who advocates or who is a member 
of an organization or party that advocates the overthrow of the Gov-
ernment of the United States by force or violence and accepts employ-
ment or a fellowship the salary, wages, stipend, grant, or expenses for 
which are paid from any appropriation contained herein shall be 
guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than 
$1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both: Provided 
further^ That the above penal clause shall be in addition to, and not 
in substitution for, any other provisions of existing law. 
Restriction. 
R e p o r t to Con-
gressional C o m -
mittees. 
A E C 
f e l l o w -
ships. 
D i s l o y alty re-
strictions. 
Penalty. 
SELECTIVE 
SERVICE 
SYSTEM 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For expenses necessary for the operation and maintenance of the 
Selective Service System, as authorized by title I of the Universal 
Military Training and Service Act (62 Stat. 604), as amended, includ-
ing services as authorized by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 
(5 U. S. C. 55a) ; not to exceed $250 for the purchase of newspapers 
and periodicals; not to exceed $80,000 for expenses of travel. National 
Administration, Planning, Training, and Records Management; not 
to exceed $200,000 for expenses of travel. State Administration, Plan-
ning, Training, and Records Servicing; $92,500 for the National 
Selective Service Appeal Board, of which not to exceed $3,875 shall 
be available for expenses of travel; and $265,000 for the National 
Advisory Committee on the Selection of Doctors, Dentists, and Allied 
Specialists, of which not to exceed $35,000 shall be available for 
expenses of travel; $29,882,400: Provided^ That during the current 
fiscal year, the President may exempt this appropriation from the 
provisions of subsection (c) of section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, 
as amended, whenever he deems such action to be necessary in the 
interest of national defense. 
Appropriations for the Selective Service System may be used for 
the destruction of records accumulated under the Selective Training 
and Service Act of 1940, as amended, which are hereby authorized 
to be destroyed by the Director of Selective Service after compliance 
with the procedures for the destruction of records prescribed pursuant 
to the Records Disposal Act of 1943, as amended (44 U. S. C. 366-380): 
Provided^ That no records may be transferred to any other agency 
without the approval of the Director of Selective Service. 
65 Stat. 75. 
50 u s e app.451-
471. 
60 Stat. 810. 
31 u s e 665. 
Destruc t i o n of 
records. 
54 Stat. 885. 
SOUSCapp. 318. 
57 Stat. 380. 
27000 O - 53 - 15 
190 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
48 Stat. 48. 
16 u s e 831. 
Restrictions. 
16 u s e 831. 
, 
TENNESSEE 
VALLEY 
AUTHORITY . 
For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Tennessee 
Valley Authority Act of 1933, as amended (16 U. S. C, ch. 12A), 
including purchase (not to exceed one) and hire, maintenance, 
and operation of aircraft, and hire of passenger motor vehicles, 
$188,371,000, to remain available until expended, and to be available 
for the payment of obligations chargeable against prior appro-
priations: Provided^ That no funds appropriated for the Tennessee 
Valley Authority by this paragraph shall be used for the maintenance 
or operation of any aircraft for passenger service that is not specifi-
cally confined to the active operation of the official business of the 
Tennessee Valley Authority by officers or employees of such Authority, 
and not to exceed $773,000 (exclusive of travel for work in connection 
with the construction of transmission lines, dams, and steam plants) 
of funds available to the Tennessee Valley Authority shall be used 
for expenses of travel: Provided further^ That no part of funds avail-
able for expenditure by this agency shall be used, directly or indirectly, 
to acquire a building for use as an administrative office of the Tennessee 
Valley Authority unless and until the Director of the Bureau of the 
Budget, following a study of the advisability of the proposed acquisi-
tion, shall advise the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives and the Tennessee Valley Authority 
that the acquisition has his approval. 
Resource development: For resource development activities pur-
suant to the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933, as amended, 
$850,000, of which $675,000 shall be from proceeds derived from the 
operations of the Tennessee Valley Authority. 
P u b l i c 
re 1 a-
tions work. 
Educational at" 
tendance reports. 
REDUCTION IN 
APPROPRIATION 
The sum of $66,000 heretofore appropriated for construction of a 
combination fertilizer facility is hereby carried to the surplus fund 
and covered into the Treasury immediately upon the approval of 
this Act. 
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION 
General operating expenses: For necessary operating expenses of 
the Veterans Administration, not otherwise provided for, including 
expenses incidental to securing employment for war veterans; not to 
exceed $6,000 for newspapers and periodicals; not to exceed $3,200,000 
for expenses of travel of employees; and not to exceed $43,700 for 
preparation, shipment, installation, and display of exhibits, photo-
graphic displays, moving pictures, and other visual educational infor-
mation and descriptive material, including purchase or rental of equip-
ment; $193,531,000: Provided., That no part of this appropriation 
shall be used to pay in excess of twenty-six persons engaged in public 
relations work: Provided further., That between September 1, 1953, 
and June 30, 1954, no part of any appropriation shall be used to pay 
to educational institutions for reports and certifications of attendance 
at such institutions covering attendance on or after September 1953 
an allowance at a rate in excess of $1 per month for each eligible 
veteran enrolled in and attending such institution. 
Medical administration and miscellaneous operating expenses: For 
expenses necessary for administration of the medical, hospital, domi-
ciliary, special service, construction and supply, research, and employee 
education and training activities; expenses necessary for carrying out 
programs of medical research and of education and training of 
employees, as authorized by law; repairs, alterations, and improve-
T r a n s f e r s 
of 
funds. 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW U9-JULY 27, 1953 
191 
iiients of facilities for regional offices and supply depots, as author-
ized by law; and not to exceed $856,000 for expenses of travel of 
employees paid from this appropriation; $14,870,400. 
Maintenance and operation of hospitals: For expenses necessary 
for maintenance and operation of hospitals, including the furnishing 
of recreational articles and facilities; not to exceed $305,000 for 
expenses of travel of employees; and maintenance and operation of 
farms; $555,000,000, including the sum of $7,000,000 for reimbursable 
services performed for other government agencies and individuals: 
Provided^ That the foregoing appropriation is predicated on the 
staffing and operation of 114,315 beds during the fiscal year 1954, 
and if a lesser number is provided such appropriation shall be expended 
only in proportion to the number of beds staffed and operated. 
Contract hospitalization: For care and treatment of beneficiaries of 
the Veterans Administration in facilities not under the jurisdiction of 
the Veterans Administration, as authorized by law, $20,583,100: Pro-
vided^ That allotments and transfers may be made from this appro-
priation to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (Public 
Health Service), the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Interior Depart-
ments, for disbursement by them under the various headings of their 
applicable appropriations, of such amounts as are necessary for the 
care and treatment of beneficiaries of the Veterans Administration. 
Maintenance and operation of domiciliary facilities: For expenses 
necessary for the maintenance and operation of domiciliary facilities, 
including recreational articles and facilities, and not to exceed $4,800 
for expenses of travel of employees; and aid to State or Territorial 
homes in conformity with the Act approved August 27, 1888, as 
amended (24 U. S. C. 134), for the support of veterans eligible for 
25 stat. 450. 
admission to Veterans Administration facilities for hospital or 
domiciliary care; $24,248,200. 
Out-patient care: For expenses necessary for furnishing out-patient 
care to beneficiaries of the Veterans Administration, as authorized by 
law, including not to exceed $196,000 for expenses of travel of 
employees; $92,677,900, of which not exceeding $23,000,000 shall be 
available for out-patient fee basis dental care: Provided^ That no part 
of this appropriation shall be available for out-patient dental services 
and treatment, or related dental appliances with respect to a service-
connected dental disability which is not compensable in degree unless 
such condition or disability is shown to have been in existence at time 
of discharge and application for treatment is made within one year 
after enactment of this Act: Provided^ That this limitation shall not 
apply to adjunct out-patient dental services or appliances for any 
dental condition associated with and held to be aggravating disability 
from some other service incurred or service aggravated injury or 
disease. 
Maintenance and operation of supply depots: For expenses neces-
sary for maintenance and operation of supply depots, including not to 
exceed $18,200 for expenses of travel of employees, $1,800,000. 
Compensation and pensions: For the payment of compensation, 
pensions, gratuities, and allowances (including subsistence allowances 
authorized by part VII of Veterans Regulation la, as amended), 
38 use ch. 12A. 
authorized under any Act of Congress, or regulation of the Presi-
dent based thereon, including emergency officers' retirement pay and 
annuities, the administration of which is now or may hereafter be 
placed in the Veterans Administration, and for the payment "of 
adjusted-service credits as provided in sections 401 and 601 of the 
Act of May 19, 1924, as amended (38 U. S. C. 631 and 661), 
43 stat. 125. 
$2,246,291,000, to be immediately available and to remain available 
until expended. 
m 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
[67 ST A T . 
58 Stat. 287. 
38 u s e 701, 694-
6 9 4 m , 696-696m, 
ch. 12 
A. 
66 Stat. 663. 
38 u s e 911-984. 
58 Stat. 288. 
38 u s e ch. 12A. 
Effective 
d a t e 
of proviso. 
46 Stat. 1550. 
58 Stat. 284. 
54 Stat. 1008. 
38 u s e 818. 
Readjustment benefits: For the payment of benefits to or on behalf 
of veterans as authorized by titles II, III, and V, of the Servicemen's 
Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, and title II of the Veterans 
Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952, $664,311,000, to be immediately 
available and to remain available until expended: Provided, 
That 
from September 1,1953, to Jane 30,1954, no part of any appropriation 
to the Veterans Administration shall be available, in connection with 
any loan authorized by title III of the Servicemen's Readjustment 
Act of 1944, as amended (38 U. S. C. 694-694n), for payment to the 
lender by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs, or for credit on the 
loan, of an amount equivalent to 4 per centum of the amount origi-
nally loaned, guaranteed or insured by the Veterans Administration: 
Provided further, 
That no right to any such payment shall accrue 
during this period, but the foregoing proviso shall not apply with 
respect to payments based on guarantees made, or certificates of com-
mitments issued, prior to said date or commitments for loans made 
by the Veterans Administration: Provided furtheVy That under any 
contract between a State, or any political subdivision of a State, and 
the Veterans' Administration providing for the furnishing of instruc-
tion in a course of institutional on-f arm or other training under part 
VIII of Veterans Regulation Numbered 1 (a), as amended (Public 
Law 346, Seventy-eighth Congress, as amended) liability authorized 
by this section by reason of payments of subsistence allowance which 
were illegal because of failure of the veteran or the course to comply 
with the applicable statutory, regulatory or contractual requirements 
shall not be applied to the contracting State, or political subdivision, 
unless the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, after investigation, 
finds that an employee or representative of such State, or political 
subdivision, conspired with the veteran by, or was guilty of fraud or 
gross negligence in, falsely reporting to the Veterans' Administration 
that the veteran was in a proper course of training, failing to report 
unauthorized or excessive absences from, or interruption or discon-
tinuance of, his course of training, or not discovering the failure of 
the veteran to comply with the applicable statutory, regulatory, or 
contractual requirements and not promptly terminating the course 
of training of the veteran. The provisions of this proviso shall be 
effective as of July 13, 1950, but shall not require repayment of any 
funds heretofore properly recovered by agreement of the parties to 
any such contract, and shall not be applicable to any other liabilities 
or agreements pursuant to such contract. 
Military and naval insurance: For military and naval insurance, 
$1,496,000, to remain available until expended. 
Hospital and domiciliary facilities: For hospital and domiciliary 
facilities, for planning (including a survey of the hospital construc-
tion program) and for extending, with the approval of the Presi-
dent, any of the facilities under the jurisdiction of the Veterans 
Administration or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 1 and 
2 of the Act approved March 4, 1931 (38 U. S. C. 438j-k) or in section 
101 of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (38 U. S. C. 693a), 
to remain available until expended, $17,500,000. 
Hospital and domiciliary facilities (liquidation of contract author-
ization) : For payment of obligations heretofore authorized to be 
incurred under this head, $21,185,664, to remain available until 
expended. 
National service life insurance: For the payment of benefits and for 
transfer to the national service life insurance fund, in accordance with 
the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940, as amended, 
$75,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That certain 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
193 
premiums shall be credited to this appropriation as provided by the 
Act. 
Servicemen's indemnities: For payment of liabilities under the 
Servicemen's Indemnity Act of 1951, $18,000,000, to remain available 
flusc'ssi'note. 
until expended. 
Veterans miscellaneous benefits: For the payment of burial awards 
authorized by Veterans Administration Regulation Numbered 9 (a), 
as amended, and for supplies, equipment, and tuition authorized by 
part VII and payments authorized by part I X of Veterans Adminis-
tration Regulation Numbered 1 (a), as amended, $35,743,000, to remain 
38 use ch. I2A. 
available until expended. 
Grants to the Republic of the Philippines: For payment to the 
Republic of the Philippines of grants in accordance with the Act of 
July 1, 1948 (50 U. S. C. App. 1991-1996), for expenses incident to 
" stat. 1210. 
medical care and treatment of veterans, $1,731,000, and in addition 
thereto not exceeding $769,000 of the unobligated balance for this pur-
pose for the fiscal year 1953. 
Supply fund: For establishment of a revolving supply fund effective 
supply fund. 
July 1, 1953, to be available without fiscal year limitation for all 
expenses necessary for the operation and maintenance of a supply 
system for the Veterans Administration including procurement of 
supplies and equipment, and personal services, the Administrator is 
authorized to capitalize, at fair and reasonable values as determined 
by him, all supplies and materials and depot stocks of equipment on 
hand or on order: Provided, That the fund shall be (1) reimbursed 
for the cost of all services, equipment and supplies furnished appro-
priations at rates determined by the Administrator on the basis of 
estimated or actual direct and indirect cost; (2) credited with advances 
from appropriations to which services or supplies are to be furnished, 
and all other receipts resulting from the operation of the fund includ-
ing the proceeds of disposal of scrap, excess or surplus personal prop-
erty of the fund, and receipts from carriers and others for loss of or 
damage to personal property: Provided further, That following the 
close of each fiscal year any net income after making provision for 
prior losses, if any, shall be covered into the Treasury of the United 
States as miscellaneous receipts: Provided further, That an adequate 
system of accounts for the fund shall be maintained on the accrual 
method and financial reports prepared on the basis of such accounts, 
and that an annual business type budget shall be prepared for the 
operations under this fund. 
Not to exceed 5 per centum of any appropriation for the current 
fiscal year for "Compensation and pensions", "Readjustment bene-
fits", "Military and naval insurance", "National service life insur-
ance", and "Servicemen's indemnities", may be transferred, to any 
other of the mentioned appropriations, but not to exceed 10 per centum 
of the appropriation so augmented. 
Appropriations available to the Veterans Administration for the 
current fiscal year for salaries and expenses shall be available for 
services as authorized by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 
U . S . C . 5 5 a ) . _ 
_ 
60 Stat. 810. 
Appropriations available to the Veterans Administration for the 
current fiscal year for "Maintenance and operation of hospitals", 
"Maintenance and operation of domiciliary facilities", and "Out-
patient care", shall be available for funeral, burial, and other expenses 
incidental thereto (except burial awards authorized by Veterans 
Administration Regulation Numbered 9 (a), as amended), for bene- 
^
® "^^ *
=
*
"
• ^^A. 
ficiaries of the Veterans Administration receiving care under such 
appropriations. 
194 
PUBLIC LAW 149-JULY 27, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
No part of the appropriations in this Act for the Veterans Adminis-
tration (except the appropriation for "Hospital and domiciliary 
facilities") shall be available for the purchase of any site for or toward 
the construction of any new hospital or home. 
Appropriations in this Act for the Veterans Administration for 
"Maintenance and operation of hospitals" and "Maintenance and oper-
ation of domiciliary facilities" may be used to repair, alter, improve, or 
provide facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the juris-
diction of the Veterans Administration, not otherwise provided for, 
either by contract, or by the hire of temporary employees and the 
purchase of materials. 
No part of the foregoing appropriations shall be available for hos-
pitalization or examination of any persons except beneficiaries entitled 
under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimburse-
ment of cost is made to the appropriation at such rates as may be fixed 
by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs. 
The Administrator of Veterans Affairs is hereby authorized, in his 
discretion, to activate and operate at reasonable standards throughout 
the fiscal year 1954 those beds which are needed and which can be 
staffed, in the following categories: (a) all beds in Veterans Admin-
istration hospital and domiciliary facilities and all contract beds that 
were in use during the fiscal year 1953, except those replaced or to be 
replaced by new construction, (b) all beds in Veterans Administration 
hospital and domiciliary facilities and all contract beds that were 
closed during the fiscal year 1953, except those replaced or to be 
replaced by new construction, and (c) all beds in Veterans Adminis-
tration hospital and domiciliary facilities constructed in the fiscal years 
1953 and 1954; provided, that the qualified personnel required for the 
standard operation and maintenance of such beds can be obtained. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Strikes or over-
t h r o w of 
U. S, 
Government. 
Affidavit. 
Penalty. 
SEO. 102. The general provisions applicable to appropriations 
contained in title I of the "First Independent Offices Appropriation 
Act, 1954", shall apply to appropriations contained in this Act, except-
ing the Tennessee Valley Authority: Provided, That the provisions of 
section 102 of such Act shall not apply to travel performed by uncom-
pensated officials of local boards and appeal boards of the Selective 
Service System. 
SEC. 103. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act, or 
of the funds available for expenditure by any corporation included 
in this Act, shall be used to pay the salary or wages of any person 
who engages in a strike against the Government of the United States 
or who is a member of an organization of Government employees that 
asserts the right to strike against the Government of the United 
States, or who advocates, or is a member of an organization that 
advocates, the overthrow 
of 
the Government 
of 
the 
United 
States by force or violence: Provided, 
That for the purposes 
hereof an affidavit shall be considered prima facie evidence that the 
person making the affidavit has not contrary to the provisions of this 
section engaged in a strike against the Government of the United 
States, is not a member of an organization of Government employees 
that asserts the right to strike against the Government of the United 
States, or that such person does not advocate, and is not a member 
of an organization that advocates, the overthrow of the Government 
of the United States by force or violence: Provided further, 
That 
any person who engages in a strike against the Government 
of 
the United 
States or who is a member of 
an 
organi-
zation of Government employees that asserts the right to strike 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 150-JULY 27, 1953 
against the Government of the United States, or who advo-
cates, or who is a member of an organization that advocates, 
the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or 
violence and accepts employment the salary or wages for which are 
paid from any appropriation or fund contained in this Act shall be 
guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than 
|l,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both: Provided 
further^ That the above penalty clause shall be in addition to, and not 
in substitution for, any other provisions of existing law. 
SEC. 104. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act, or 
of the funds available for expenditure by any corporation or agency 
included in this Act, shall be used for publicity or propaganda pur-
poses designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the 
Congress. 
SEO. 105. This Act may be cited as the "Second Independent Offices 
Appropriation Act, 1954". 
Approved July 27, 1953. 
P u b l i c it y 
propaganda. 
Short title. 
Public Law 150 
CHAPTER 242 
AN ACT 
To authorize an agreement between the United States and Mexico for the joint 
operation and maintenance by the International Boundary and Water Com-
mission, United States and Mexico, of the Nogales sanitation project, and for 
other purposes. 
ily 1 
[S. 498] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Atnerica in Congress assemhled^ That the Secretary 
of State is authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of law 
and subject to the conditions provided in this Act, to enter into an 
agreement with the appropriate official or officials of the United 
Mexican States for the operation and maintenance by the Interna-
tional Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, 
of the Nogales sanitation project, located at Nogales, Arizona, and 
Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, heretofore constructed by the said Com-
mission, which agreement shall contain such provisions relating to 
a division between the two Governments of the costs of such operation 
and maintenance, or of the work involved therein, as may be recom-
mended by said Commission and approved by the Government of 
Mexico and by the Secretary of State on behalf of the Government of 
the United States: Provided^ That no such agreement shall be entered 
into until the governing body of the city of Nogales, Arizona, has 
given assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of State that it will, 
so long as such agreement remains in force, contribute an equitable 
proportion, as determined by the United States section of said Com-
mission, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, of the costs 
of such operation and maintenance allocated to the United States. 
SEC. 2. There is authorized to be appropriated to the United States 
section, International Boundary and Water Commission, United 
States and Mexico, such sums as may be necessary to defray such costs 
as may accrue to the United States arising out of any such agreement 
for the operation and maintenance of such project: Provided^ That 
funds heretofore appropriated to the Department of State under the 
heading "International Boundary and Water Commission, United 
States and Mexico", shall be available for expenditure for the purposes 
of this Act: Provided further^ That any moneys received from the 
Nogales 
sanita-
tion project. 
U. S.-Mexic an 
agreement. 
Appropriation.