22 U.S.C. § 2670 — Insurance on motor vehicles in foreign

Page 1111 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 2670 § 2670. Insurance on motor vehicles in foreign countries; tie lines and teletype equipment; ice and drinking water; excise taxes on nego- tiable instruments; remains of deceased per- sons; relief, protection, and burial of seamen; acknowledgement of services of foreign ves- sels and aircraft; rentals and leases The Secretary of State is authorized to— (a) obtain insurance on official motor vehi- cles operated by the Department of State in foreign countries, and pay the expenses inci- dent thereto; (b) rent tie lines and teletype equipment; (c) provide ice and drinking water for United States Embassies and Consulates abroad; (d) pay excise taxes on negotiable instru- ments which are negotiated by the Depart- ment of State abroad; (e) Omitted; (f) pay expenses incident to the relief, pro- tection, 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 ac- knowledgment of the services of officers and crews of foreign vessels and aircraft in res- cuing 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 liv- ing quarters for the use of the Foreign Service abroad as he may deem necessary, and make payments therefor in advance; (i) maintain, improve, and repair properties rented or leased pursuant to authority con- tained in subsection (h) of this section and fur- nish fuel, water, and utilities for such prop- erties; (j) provide emergency medical attention and dietary supplements, and other emergency as- sistance, for United States citizens incarcer- ated abroad or destitute United States citizens abroad who are unable to obtain such services otherwise, such assistance to be provided on a reimbursable basis to the extent feasible; (k) subject to the availability of appro- priated funds, obtain insurance on the historic and artistic articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects which may from time-to- time be within the responsibility of the Fine Arts Committee of the Department of State for the Diplomatic Rooms of the Department; (l) make payments in advance, of the United States share of necessary expenses for inter- national fisheries commissions, from appro- priations available for such purpose; (m) establish, maintain, and operate pass- port and dispatch agencies; and (n) pay expenses to provide internet services in residences owned or leased by the United States Government in foreign countries for the use of Department personnel where De- partment personnel receive a post hardship differential equivalent to 30 percent or more above basic compensation. (Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 3, 70 Stat. 890; Pub. L. 95–45, § 2, June 15, 1977, 91 Stat. 221; 1977 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 9(a)(7), 42 F.R. 62461, 91 Stat. 1639; Pub. L. 95–426, title I, § 108(a), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 966; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 97–241, title II, § 202(a), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, § 126(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1342; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 166, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 676; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 162(k)(3), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 409; Pub. L. 118–31, div. F, title LXII, § 6225, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 980.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 170h of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378. Subsec. (e) of this section, relating to the payment of the actual expenses of preparing and transporting to their former homes the remains of persons, not United States Government employees, who die away from their homes while participating in international edu- cational exchange activities under the jurisdiction of the Department of State, was omitted pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1977, § 9(a)(7), 42 F.R. 62461, 91 Stat. 1639, set out under section 1461 of this title, effective on or before July 1, 1978, at such time as specified by the President, which abolished the functions of the Sec- retary of State under subsec. (e). AMENDMENTS 2023—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 118–31 added subsec. (n). 1994—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 103–236 added subsec. (m). 1991—Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 102–138 added subsec. (l). 1987—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 100–204 added subsec. (k). 1978—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 95–426 inserted ‘‘or destitute United States citizens abroad’’ after ‘‘incarcerated abroad’’. 1977—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 95–45 added subsec. (j). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 103–236 applicable with re- spect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders, regulations, or depart- mental directives implementing the amendments by sections 161 and 162 of Pub. L. 103–236 become effective, or 90 days after Apr. 30, 1994, whichever comes earlier, see section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended, set out as a note under section 2651a of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1978 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 95–426, title I, § 108(b), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 966, provided that: ‘‘The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1978.’’ PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES OR RELATED SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Pub. L. 116–136, div. B, title XI, § 21008, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 592, provided that: ‘‘The Secretary of State, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, may exercise the authorities of section 3(j) of the State De- partment Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2670(j)) to provide medical services or related support for private United States citizens, nationals, and per- manent resident aliens abroad, or third country nation- als connected to such persons or to the diplomatic or development missions of the United States abroad, who are unable to obtain such services or support otherwise: Provided, That such assistance shall be provided on a reimbursable basis to the extent feasible: Provided fur- ther, That such reimbursements may be credited to the applicable Department of State appropriation and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That the Secretary shall prioritize providing medical serv- ices or related support to individuals eligible for the Page 1112 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 2671 1 See References in Text note below. health program under section 904 of the Foreign Serv- ice Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4084): Provided further, That the authority made available pursuant to this section shall expire on September 30, 2022.’’ [For definition of ‘‘coronavirus’’ as used in section 21008 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out above, see section 23005 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 162b of Title 2, The Congress.] § 2671. Emergency expenditures (a) Delegation of authority pertaining to certifi- cation of expenditures The Secretary of State is authorized to— (1) subject to subsection (b), make expendi- tures, from such amounts as may be specifi- cally appropriated therefor, for unforeseen emergencies arising in the diplomatic and con- sular service and, to the extent authorized in appropriation Acts, funds expended for such purposes may be accounted for in accordance with section 3526(e) of title 31; and (2) delegate to subordinate officials the au- thority vested in him by section 3526(e) of title 31 pertaining to certification of expenditures. (b) Activities subject to expenditures (1) Expenditures described under subsection (a) shall be made only for such activities as— (A) serve to further the realization of foreign policy objectives; (B) are a matter of urgency to implement; (C) with respect to activities the expendi- tures for which are required to be certified under subsection (a), require confidentiality in the best interests of the conduct of foreign policy by the United States; and (D) are not otherwise prohibited by law. (2) Activities described in paragraph (1) in- clude— (A) the evacuation when their lives are en- dangered by war, civil unrest, or natural dis- aster of— (i) United States Government employees and their dependents; and (ii) private United States citizens or third- country nationals, on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable, with such reimbursements to be credited to the applicable Department of State appropria- tion and to remain available until expended, except that no reimbursement under this clause shall be paid that is greater than the amount the person evacuated would have been charged for a reasonable commercial air fare immediately prior to the events giv- ing rise to the evacuation; (B) loans made to destitute citizens of the United States who are outside the United States and made to provide for the return to the United States of its citizens; (C) visits by foreign chiefs of state or heads of government to the United States; (D) travel of delegations representing the President at any inauguration or funeral of a foreign dignitary; (E) travel of the President, the Vice Presi- dent, or a Member of Congress to a foreign country, including advance arrangements, es- cort, and official entertainment; (F) travel of the Secretary of State within the United States and outside the United States, including official entertainment; (G) official representational functions of the Secretary of State and other principal officers of the Department of State; (H) official functions outside the United States the expenses for which are not other- wise covered by amounts appropriated for rep- resentation allowances; (I) investigations and apprehension of groups or individuals involved in fraudulent issuance of United States passports and visas; and (J) gifts of nominal value given by the Presi- dent, Vice President, or Secretary of State to a foreign dignitary. (c) Annual confidential audit and report The Inspector General of the Department of State shall conduct a periodic audit of the De- partment of State’s emergency expenditures and prepare and transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an annual re- port indicating whether such expenditures were made in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section. (d) Repatriation loan program With regard to the repatriation loan program, the Secretary of State shall— (1) require the borrower to provide a verifiable address and social security number at the time of application; (2) require a written loan agreement which includes a repayment schedule; (3) bar passports from being issued or re- newed for those individuals who are in default; (4) refer any loan more than one year past due to the Department of Justice for litiga- tion; (5) obtain addresses from the Internal Rev- enue Service for all delinquent accounts which have social security numbers; (6) report defaults to commercial credit bu- reaus as provided in section 3711(e) of title 31; (7) be permitted to use any funds necessary to contract with commercial collection agen- cies, notwithstanding section 3718(c) 1 of title 31; (8) charge interest on all loans as of May 1, 1983, with the rate of interest to be that set forth in section 3717(a) of title 31; (9) assess charges, in addition to the interest provided for in paragraph (8), to cover the costs of processing and handling delinquent claims, as of May 1, 1983; (10) assess a penalty charge, in addition to the interest provided for in paragraphs (8) and (9), of 6 per centum per year for failure to pay any portion of a debt more than ninety days past due; and (11) implement the interest and penalty pro- visions in paragraphs (8), (9), and (10) for all current and future loans, regardless of wheth- er the debts were incurred before or after May 1, 1983. (Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 4, 70 Stat. 890; re- numbered title I, Pub. L. 97–241, title II, § 202(a), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 98–164, title I, § 122(a), Nov. 22, 1983, 97 Stat. 1023; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 125, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 393;