Joint resolution to strengthen the foreign relations of the United States by establishing a Commission on Governmental Use of International Telecommunications
PL 83-558 (S.J.Res.96), enacted 07/29/1954

68 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 558-JULY 29, 1954 
587 
Public Law 558 
CHAPTER 647 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To strengthen the foreign relations of the United States by establishing a Com-
mission on Governmental Use of International Telecommimications. 
Whereas the overseas information program as carried on through the 
media of telecommunications is of continuing and increasing im-
portance in carrying out and supporting the foreign policies of the 
United States; and 
Whereas in his State of the Union message, February 2, 1953, the 
President asserted the necessity "to make more effective all activities 
related to international information": Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of Ameinca in Congress assembled^ That there is hereby estab-
llslied a commission to be known as the Commission on Governmental 
Use of International Teleconnnunications (in this Act referred to as 
tlie "Commission"), 
MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 2. NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of nine members as follows: 
(1) Five appointed by the President of the United States, of 
whom at least one shall be appointed from the telecommunications 
industry and at least one from the field of education and of whom 
not more more than three shall be from the same political party; 
(2) Tw^o appointed from the Senate by the President of the 
Senate of whom not more than one shall be from the same politi-
cal party; and 
(3) Tw^o appointed from the House of Representatives by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives of whom not more than 
one shall be from the same political party. 
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 3. The Commission shall choose its Chairman and Vice Chair-
man from among its members and shall establish its own procedure. 
July 29, 1954 
[S. J. Res. 96] 
Commission o n 
Governmental Use 
of I n t e r n a t i o n a l 
T e 1 e c o mmvinica-
tions. 
QUORUM 
SEC. 4. Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 5. (a) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—Members of Congress who 
are 
members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in 
addition to that received for their services as Members of Congress; 
but without regard to any other provision of law they shall be reim-
bursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 
by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission 
and reasonable advances may be made to them for such ])urposes. 
(b) MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.—Any members of the 
Commission who may be in the executive branch of the Government 
shall receive the compensation which he would receive if he were not 
a member of the Commission, but without regard to any other provi-
sion of law they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence and other 
necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties 
vested in the Commission and reasonable advances may be made to 
them for such purposes. 
588 
PUBLIC LAW 558-JULY 29, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
(c) MEMBERS FROM PRIVATE LIFE.—The members from private life 
shall receive not to exceed $75 per diem when engaged in the perform-
ance of duties vested in the Commission, plus reimbursement for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the performance of such duties. 
STAFF o r T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 6. The Commission shall have power to appoint a Secretary 
General at a salary of not to exceed $15,000 per annum, and an Assist-
ant Secretary General at a salary of not to exceed $12,500 per annum, 
and such other personnel in accordance with the Classification Act 
of 1949, as amended, or to obtain assistance from Government agencies 
on a reimbursable basis. The Commission is further authorized to 
employ experts and consultants for temporary and intermittent 
personal services, but at rates not to exceed $75 per diem for each indi-
vidual. The Commission is authorized without regard to any other 
provision of law to reimburse employees, experts, and consultants for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the performance of their official duties and to make reasonable 
advances to such persons for such purposes. 
EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 7. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not to exceed 
$250,000 to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
REPORT—^EXPIRATION OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 8. (a) KEPORT.—On or before December 31, 1954, the Com-
mission shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to 
the Congress. 
It may submit such interim reports as it deems 
desirable. 
(b) EXPIRATION OF THE COMMISSION.—Ninety days after the sub-
mission to the Congress of the report provided for in subsection (a) 
of this section 8, the Commission shall cease to exist. 
DUTIES OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 9. The Commission is directed to examine, study, and report 
on the objectives, operations, and effectiveness of our information 
programs with respect to the prompt development of techniques, meth-
ods, and programs for greatly expanded and far more effective opera-
tions in this vital area of foreign policy through the use of foreign 
telecommunications. 
POWERS OF T H E COMMISSION 
Hearings. 
gj,^, ^Q (a) The Commissiou or, on the authorization of the Com-
mission, any subcommittee or member thereof, shall have power to 
hold hearings and sit and act at such times and places in the United 
subpena. 
Statcs and abroad, to require by subpena or otherwise the attendance 
of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and docu-
ments, to administer such oaths, and to take such testimony, as the 
Commission or such subcommittee or member may deem advisable. 
Subpenas shall be issued under the signature of the Chairman of the 
Commission and shall be served by any person designated by him. 
Fiscri^^t^Ve- 
(b) The Commission may authorize the Chairman or the Vice 
ment and audit. 
Chairman to make the expenditures herein authorized and such other 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 559-JULY 30, 1954 
589 
expenditures as the Commission may deem advisable: Provided^ how-
ever^ That when the Commission ceases its activities it shall submit to 
the Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the House of Repre-
sentatives a statement of its fiscal transactions properly audited by 
the Comptroller General of the United States. 
(c) The Commission is authorized to secure from any department, fomatfin.*^ of in-
agency, or independent instrumentality of the Government any infor-
mation it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this Act; 
and each such department, agency, and instrumentality is authorized 
and directed to furnish such information to the Commission, upon 
request made by the Chairman or by the Vice Chairman when acting 
as Chairman. 
Approved July 29, 1954. 
Public Law 559 
CHAPTER 648 
AN ACT 
jyj 30^ 1954 
To permit all civil actions against the United States for recovery of taxes 
I-"' ^^^^ 
erroneously or illegally assessed or collected to be brought in the district 
courts with right of trial by jury. 
District covirts' 
jurisdiction. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Amet^ca in Congress a^ssembled, That paragraph 
(1) of section 1346 (a) of title 28 of the United States Code is amended •'"6'2"statr"933; 63 
to read as follows : 
^^Tax^reVovery. 
"(1) Any civil action against the United States for the recovery 
of any internal-revenue tax alleged to have been erroneously or 
illegally assessed or collected, or any penalty claimed to have been 
collected without authority or any sum alleged to have been excessive 
or in any manner wrongfully collected under the internal-revenue 
laws;". 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 2402 of title 28 of the United States Code is 
^2 stat. 971. 
amended to read as follows: 
"§ 2402. Jury trial in actions against United States. 
"Any action against the United States under section 1346 shall be 
tried by the court without a jury, except that any action against the 
United States under section 1346 (a) (1) shall, at the request of either 
party to such action, be tried by the court with a jury." 
(b) The second item in the analysis of chapter 161 of title 28 of 
the United States Code is amended to read as follows: 
"2402. Jury trial in actions against United States." 
Approved July 30, 1954.