An Act to provide certain basic authority for the Department of State
PL 84-885 (S.2569), enacted 08/01/1956

890 
PUBLIC LAW 885-AUG. 1, 1956 
[70 ST A T . 
August 1, 1956 
IS. 2S69] 
Public Law 885 
CHAPTER 841 
AN ACT 
To provide certain basic authority for the Department of State. 
S t a t e 
Depart-
ment. 
P a s s p o r t an d 
despatch agencies. 
P r i n t i n g 
a n d 
binding. 
40 Stat. 1270. 
Transportation of 
household effects, 
etc. 
62 Stat. 983.^ 
In s u r a n c e o n 
motor vehicles. 
E x p e n s e s 
for 
seamen. 
R e n t a l s 
a n d 
leases. 
E m e r g e n c y ex-
penditures. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Refresentatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assenwled^ That the Secretary 
of State is authorized to establish, maintain, and operate passport and 
despatch agencies. 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of State, when funds are appropriated there-
for, may— 
(a) provide for printing and binding outside the continental 
United States without regard to section 11 of the Act of March 1, 
1919 (44 U. S. C. I l l ) ; 
(b) pay the cost of transportation to and from a place of stor-
age and the cost of storing the furniture and household and per-
sonal effects of an employee of the Foreign Service who is assigned 
to a post at which he is unable to use his furniture and effects, 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe; 
(c) employ aliens, by contract, for services abroad; 
(d) provide for official functions and courtesies; 
(e) purchase uniforms; and 
(f) pay tort claims, in the manner authorized in the first para-
graph of section 2672, as amended, of title 28 of the United States 
Code when such claims arise in foreign countries in connection 
with Department of State operations abroad. 
SEC. 3. The Secretary of State is authorized to— 
(a) obtain insurance on official motor vehicles operated by the 
Department of State in foreign countries, and pay the expenses 
incident thereto; 
(b) rent tie lines and teletype equipment; 
(c) provide ice and drinking water for United States Em-
bassies and Consulates abroad; 
(d) pay excise taxes on negotiable instruments which are nego-
tiated by the Department of State abroad; 
(e) pay the actual expenses of preparing and transporting to 
their former homes the remains of persons, not United States 
Government employees, who may die away from their homes 
while participating in international educational exchange activi-
ties under the jurisdiction of the Department of State; 
(f) pay expenses incident to the relief, protection, and burial 
of American seamen, and alien seamen from United States vessels 
in foreign countries and in the United States Territories and 
possessions; 
(g) pay the expenses incurred in the acknowledgment of the 
services of officers and crews of foreign vessels and aircraft in 
rescuing American seamen, airmen, or citizens from shipwreck or 
other catastrophe abroad or at sea; 
(h) rent or lease, for periods of less than ten years, such offices, 
buildings, grounds, and living quarters for the use of the Foreign 
Service abroad as he may deem necessary, and make payments 
therefor in advance; and 
(i) maintain, improve, and repair properties rented or leased 
pursuant to authority contained in subsection (h) of this section 
and furnish fuel, water, and utilities for such properties. 
SEC. 4. The Secretary of State is authorized to— 
(a) make expenditures, from such amounts as may be specifi-
cally appropriated therefor, for unforeseen emergencies arising 
in the diplomatic and consular service and, to the extent author-
70 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 886-AUG. 1, 1966 
891 
ized in appropriation Acts, funds expended for such purposes 
may be accounted for in accordance with section 291 of the Kevised 
Statutes (31 U. S. C. 107); and 
(b) delegate to subordinate officials the authority vested in 
him by section 291 of the Eevised Statutes pertaining to certifi-
cation of expenditures. 
SEC. 5. The Secretary of State is authorized to— 
(a) provide for participation by the United States in interna- in^e'r*ifi5onS*a^<? 
tional activities which arise from time to time in the conduct of tivities. 
foreign affairs for which provision has not been made by the 
terms of any treaty, convention, or special Act of Congress: 
Provided, That this subsection shall not be construed as granting 
authority to accept membership for the United States in any 
international organization, or to participate in the activities of 
any international organization for more than one year without 
approval by the Congress; and 
(b) pay the expenses of participation in activities in which 
the United States participates by authority of subsection (a) 
of this section, including, but not limited to the following: 
(1) Employment of aliens; 
(2) Travel expenses without regard to the Standardized Gov-
ernment Travel Regulations and to the rates of per diem allow-
ances in lieu of subsistence expenses under the Travel Expense 
Act of 1949, as amended (5 U. S. C. 835-842) ; 
. 
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(3) Travel expenses of persons serving without compensation 
in an advisory capacity while away from their homes or regular 
places of business not in excess of those authorized for regular 
officers and employees traveling in connection with said inter-
national activities; and 
(4) Rental of quarters by contract or otherwise. 
SEC. 6. The provisions of section 8 of the United Nations Participa-
tion Act of 1945, as amended (22 U. S. C. 287e), and regulations there- 
^^ stat. 736. 
under, applicable to expenses incurred pursuant to that Act, may be 
applicable to the obligation and expenditure of funds in connection 
with United States participation in the International Civil Aviation 
Organization. 
SEC. 7. The exchange allowances or proceeds derived from the 
exchange or sale of passenger motor vehicles in possession of the For-
eign Service abroad, in accordance with section 201 (c) of the Act 
of June 30,1949 (40 U. S. C. 481 (c)), shall be available without fiscal 
year limitation for replacement of an equal number of such vehicles. 
SEC. 8. The Secretary of State may, when authorized in an appro-
priation or other law, transfer to any department, agency, or inde-
pendent establishment of the Government, with the consent of the 
head thereof, any funds appropriated to the Department of State, for 
direct expenditure by such department, agency, or independent estab-
lishment for the purposes for which the funds are appropriated. 
SEC. 9. The Secretary of State is authorized to enter into contracts ^jSfl^^fJ'ii"'**" 
in foreign countries involving expenditures from funds appropriated 
or otherwise made available to the Department of State, without regard 
to the provisions of section 3741 of the Revised Statutes (41 U. S. C. 
22) : Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to waive 
the provisions of section 431 of title 18 of the United States Code. 
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SEC. 10. Appropriated funds made available to the Department of avludbiiity.'""**'' 
State for expenses in connection with travel of personnel outside the 
continental United States, including travel of dependents and trans-
portation of personal effects, household goods, or automobiles of such 
personnel shall be available for such expenses when any part of such 
travel or transportation begins in one fiscal year pursuant to travel 
63 Stat. 384. 
T r a n s f e r 
of 
funds. 
elgn countries. 
892 
PUBLIC LAW 886-AUG. 1, 1956 
[70 S T A T . 
60 Stat. 810. 
Per diem rates. 
60 Stat. 1025. 
Appropriation. 
orders issued in that year, notwithstanding the fact that such travel 
or transportation may not be completed during that same fiscal year. 
SEC. 11. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 16 (a) of the 
Act of August 2,1946 (5 U. S. C. 78 (c)), the Secretary of State may 
authorize any chief of diplomatic mission to approve the use of Gov-
ernment-owned vehicles in any foreign country for transportation of 
United States Government employees from their residence to the office 
and return when public transportation facilities are unsafe or are not 
available. 
SEC. 12. The Secretary of State, with the approval of the Bureau of 
the Budget, shall prescribe the maximum rates of per diem in lieu of 
subsistence (or of similar allowances therefor) payable while away 
from their own countries to foreign participants in any exchange of 
persons program, or in any program of furnishing technical infor-
mation and assistance, under the jurisdiction of any Government 
agency, and said rates may be fixed without regard to any provision 
of law in limitation thereof. 
SEC. 13. Allowances granted under section 901 (1) of the Foreign 
Service Act of 1946 (22 U. S. C. 1131 (1)), may include water, in 
addition to the utilities specified. 
SEC. 14. Appropriations now or hereafter made available for allow-
ances granted under the authority in part A of title I X of the Foreign 
Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U. S. C. 1131), including an 
allowance for water as authorized in section 13 of this Act shall be 
available for the payment of such allowances in advance. 
SEC. 15. Appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act are 
hereby authorized. 
When so provided in an appropriation law, an 
appropriation made to the Department of State may remain available 
until expended. 
Approved August 1, 1956. 
August 1, 1956 
IS. 4060] 
Public Law 886 
CHAPTER 842 
AN ACT 
To amend section 607 of the Postal Field Service Compensation Act of 1955, to 
include employees in the Motor Vehicle Service. 
39 u s e 1007. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate atid House of Representatives 
of the 
MS*o?V2hTc*i*i United States of Ajnerica in Congress assemhled^ That section 607 of 
Service enq)ioy>- \^Q^ Postal Field Service Compensation Act of 1955 is amended by 
69 Stat. 127. 
inserting after the words "Postal Transportation Service" wherever 
they appear therein the words "and the Motor Vehicle Service". The 
heading of such section is amended to read as follows: "EMPLOYEES IN 
THE POSTAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICE." 
SEC. 2. As used in this section in reference to employees in the 
Motor Vehicle Service the term "assigned to road duty" means assign-
ment to a Motor Vehicle Service route which is not less than fifty mues 
in length one way. 
SEC. 3. Subsection (b) of section 605 of the Postal Field Service 
(Compensation x\ct of 1955 is amended by inserting after the words 
"Postal Transportation Service" the words "and tTie Motor Vehicle 
Service". 
Approved August 1, 1956. 
69 Stat. 126. 
39 u s e 1005.