10 USC 2604 - United Seamen’s Service: cooperation and assistance

Collapse to view only § 2604. United Seamen’s Service: cooperation and assistance

§ 2601. General gift funds
§ 2601a. Direct acceptance of gifts by members of the armed forces and Department of Defense and Coast Guard employees and their families
§ 2602. American National Red Cross: cooperation and assistance
§ 2603. Acceptance of fellowships, scholarships, or grants
§ 2604. United Seamen’s Service: cooperation and assistance
§ 2605. Acceptance of gifts for defense dependents’ schools
§ 2606. Scouting: cooperation and assistance in foreign areas
§ 2607. Acceptance of gifts for the Defense Intelligence College
§ 2608. Acceptance of contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities; Defense Cooperation Account
[§ 2609. Repealed.
§ 2610. Competitions for excellence: acceptance of monetary awards
§ 2611. Regional centers for security studies: acceptance of gifts and donations
§ 2612. National Defense University: acceptance of gifts
§ 2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, credits, points, and tickets: use to facilitate rest and recuperation travel of deployed members and their families
§ 2614. Emergency communications equipment: acceptance from local public safety agencies for temporary use related to disasters
§ 2615. Military museums and military education programs: cooperative agreement authority

§ 2601. General gift funds

(a)General Authority to Accept Gifts.—

(1) The Secretary concerned may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift, devise, or bequest of real property, personal property, or money made on the condition that the gift, devise, or bequest be used for the benefit, or in connection with, the establishment, operation, or maintenance, of a school, hospital, library, museum, cemetery, or other institution or organization under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.

(2)

(A) Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the Secretary concerned may accept a gift of services for a military museum program from a nonprofit entity established for the purpose of supporting a military museum program. Employees or personnel of a nonprofit entity who provide a gift of services under this subparagraph may not be considered to be employees of the United States.

(B) For the use and benefit of a military museum program, the Secretary concerned may solicit from a bona fide collector a gift of books, manuscripts, works of art, historical artifacts, drawings, plans, models, or condemned or obsolete combat materiel.

(b)Additional Authority to Accept Gifts to Benefit Certain Members, Dependents, and Civilian Employees.—

(1) The Secretary concerned may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift, devise, or bequest of real property, personal property, money, or services made on the condition that the gift, devise, or bequest be used for the benefit of—

(A) members of the armed forces, including members performing full-time National Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32, who incur a wound, injury, or illness while in the line of duty;

(B) civilian employees of the Department of Defense who incur a wound, injury, or illness while in the line of duty;

(D) survivors of such members or employees who are killed.

(2) The Secretary concerned may not accept a gift of services from a foreign government or international organization under this subsection. A gift of real property, personal property, or money from a foreign government or international organization may be accepted under this subsection only if the gift is not designated for a specific individual.

(3) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations specifying the conditions that may be attached to a gift, devise, or bequest accepted under this subsection.

(c)Gift Funds.—Gifts and bequests of money, and the proceeds of the sale of property, received under subsection (a) or (b) shall be deposited in the Treasury in the following accounts:

(1) The Department of the Army General Gift Fund, in the case of deposits made by the Secretary of the Army.

(2) The Department of the Navy General Gift Fund, in the case of deposits made by the Secretary of the Navy.

(3) The Department of the Air Force General Gift Fund, in the case of deposits made by the Secretary of the Air Force.

(4) The Coast Guard General Gift Fund, in the case of deposits made by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(5) The Department of Defense General Gift Fund, in the case of deposits made by the Secretary of Defense.

(d)Use of Gifts; Prohibitions.—

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), property and money accepted under subsection (a) or (b) may be used by the Secretary concerned, and services accepted under such subsections may be performed, without further specific authorization in law.

(2) Property, money, and services may not be accepted under subsection (a) or (b)—

(A) if the use of the property or money or the performance of the services in connection with any program, project, or activity would result in the violation of any prohibition or limitation otherwise applicable to such program, project, or activity;

(B) if the conditions attached to the property, money, or services are inconsistent with applicable law or regulations;

(C) if the Secretary concerned determines that the use of the property or money or the performance of the services would reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, any employee of the Department or Coast Guard, or any member of the armed forces to carry out any responsibility or duty in a fair and objective manner; or

(D) if the Secretary concerned determines that the use of the property or money or the performance of the services would compromise the integrity or appearance of integrity of any program of the Department of Defense or Coast Guard, or any individual involved in such a program.

(3) The Secretary concerned may disburse funds deposited in a gift fund referred to in subsection (c) for the purposes specified in subsections (a) and (b), subject to the terms of the gift, devise, or bequest.

(e)Acceptance of Property Gifts; Naming Rights.—

(1) The Secretary concerned may accept a gift under subsection (a) or (b) consisting of the provision, acquisition, enhancement, or construction of real or personal property offered to an eligible entity even though the gift will be subject to the condition that the real or personal property, or a portion thereof, bear a specified name.

(2) The authority conferred by this subsection may be delegated by the Secretary concerned only to a civilian official appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(3) A gift may not be accepted under paragraph (1) if—

(A) the acceptance of the gift or the imposition of the naming-rights condition would reflect unfavorably upon the United States, as provided in subsection (d)(2); or

(B) the real or personal property to be subject to the condition, or portion thereof, has been named by an act of Congress.

(4) The Secretaries concerned shall issue uniform regulations governing the circumstances under which gifts conditioned on naming rights may be accepted, appropriate naming conventions, and suitable display standards.

(5) In this subsection, the term “eligible entity” means each of the following:

(A) The United States Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy.

(B) The professional military education schools listed in section 2162(d) of this title and the Defense Acquisition University.

(f)Payment of Expenses.—The Secretary concerned may pay all necessary expenses in connection with the conveyance or transfer of a gift, devise, or bequest accepted under this section.

(g)Treatment of Gifts.—For the purposes of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, any property, money, or services accepted under subsection (a) or (b) shall be considered as a gift, devise, or bequest to or for the use of the United States.

(h)Management of Funds.—In the case of each gift fund referred to in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Secretary concerned, may retain money, securities, and the proceeds of the sale of securities in the gift fund and may invest money and reinvest the proceeds of the sale of securities in the gift fund in securities of the United States or in securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States. The interest and profits accruing from those securities shall be deposited to the credit of the gift fund and may be disbursed as provided in subsection (d).

(i)Comptroller General Review.—The Comptroller General shall make periodic audits of gifts, devises, and bequests accepted under subsection (a) or (b) at such intervals as the Comptroller General determines to be warranted. The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of each such audit.

(j)Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “Secretary concerned” includes the Secretary of Defense.

(2) The term “services” includes activities that benefit the education, morale, welfare, or recreation of members of the armed forces and their dependents or are related or incidental to the conveyance of a gift, devise, or bequest of real property or personal property under subsection (a) or (b).

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 144; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(86), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2927; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title III, § 374, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3211; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 593(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 138; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, § 587(a), div. B, title XXVIII, § 2852(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1768, 2160; Pub. L. 114–92, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2812, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1174; Pub. L. 116–283, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2821, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4330.)

§ 2601a. Direct acceptance of gifts by members of the armed forces and Department of Defense and Coast Guard employees and their families

(a)Regulations Governing Acceptance of Gifts.—

(1) The Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy) shall prescribe regulations to provide that, subject to such limitations as may be specified in such regulations, the following individuals may accept gifts from nonprofit organizations, private parties, and other sources outside the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security:

(A) A member of the armed forces described in subsection (b).

(B) A civilian employee of the Department of Defense or Coast Guard described in subsection (c).

(D) Survivors of such a member or employee who is killed.

(2) The regulations required by this subsection shall—

(A) apply uniformly to all elements of the Department of Defense and, to the maximum extent feasible, to the Coast Guard; and

(B) require review and approval by a designated agency ethics official before acceptance of a gift to ensure that acceptance of the gift complies with the Joint Ethics Regulation.

(b)Covered Members.—This section applies to a member of the armed forces who, while performing active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or inactive-duty training on or after September 11, 2001, incurred an injury or illness—

(1) as described in section 1413a(e)(2) of this title;

(2) in an operation or area designated as a combat operation or a combat zone, respectively, by the Secretary of Defense in accordance with the regulations prescribed under subsection (a);

(3) that results in enrollment in a Warriors in Transition program, as defined in section 738(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note); or

(4) under other circumstances determined by the Secretary concerned to warrant treatment analogous to members covered by paragraph (1).

(c)Covered Employees.—This section applies to a civilian employee of the Department of Defense or Coast Guard who, while an employee on or after September 11, 2001, incurred an injury or illness under a circumstance described in subsection (b).

(d)Gifts From Certain Sources Prohibited.—The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) may not authorize the acceptance of a gift from a foreign government or international organization or their agents.

(e)Application of Certain Regulations.—To the extent provided in the regulations issued under subsection (a) to implement subsection (b)(2), the regulations shall apply to the acceptance of gifts received after December 31, 2011, for injuries or illnesses incurred on or after September 11, 2001.

(Added Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title V, § 591(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4231; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, § 543, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1411; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(f)(32), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1954; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(e)(4), (f)(19), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3510, 3511; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, § 522, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2570.)

§ 2602. American National Red Cross: cooperation and assistance

(a) Whenever the President finds it necessary, he may accept the cooperation and assistance of the American National Red Cross, and employ it under the armed forces under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

(b) Personnel of the American National Red Cross who are performing duties in connection with its cooperation and assistance under subsection (a) may be furnished—

(1) transportation, at the expense of the United States, while traveling to and from, and while performing, those duties, in the same manner as civilian employees of the armed forces;

(2) meals and quarters, at their expense or at the expense of the American National Red Cross, except that where civilian employees of the armed forces are quartered without charge, employees of the American National Red Cross may also be quartered without charge; and

(3) available office space, warehousing, wharfage, and means of communication, without charge.

(c) No fee may be charged for a passport issued to an employee of the American National Red Cross for travel outside the United States to assume or perform duties under this section.

(d) Supplies of the American National Red Cross, including gifts for the use of the armed forces, may be transported at the expense of the United States, if it is determined under regulations prescribed under subsection (a) that they are necessary to the cooperation and assistance accepted under this section.

(e) For the purposes of this section, employees of the American National Red Cross may not be considered as employees of the United States.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 145.)

§ 2603. Acceptance of fellowships, scholarships, or grants

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a fellowship, scholarship, or grant may, under regulations to be prescribed by the President (or an individual designated by the President), be made by a corporation, fund, foundation, or educational institution that is organized and operated primarily for scientific, literary, or educational purposes to any member of the armed forces, and the benefits thereof may be accepted by the member—

(1) in recognition of outstanding performance in the field of the member;

(2) to undertake a project that may be of value to the United States; or

(3) for development of the recognized potential for future career service of the member.

However, the benefits of such a fellowship, scholarship, or grant may be accepted by the member in addition to the member’s pay and allowances only to the extent that those benefits would be conferred upon the member if the education or training contemplated by that fellowship, scholarship, or grant were provided at the expense of the United States. In addition, if such a benefit, in cash or in kind, is for travel, subsistence, or other expenses, an appropriate reduction shall be made from any payment that is made for the same purpose to the member by the United States incident to the member’s acceptance of the fellowship, scholarship, or grant.

(b) Each member of the armed forces who accepts a fellowship, scholarship, or grant in accordance with subsection (a) shall, before he is permitted to undertake the education or training contemplated by that fellowship, scholarship, or grant, agree in writing that, after he completes the education or training, he will serve on active duty for a period three times the length of the period of the education or training.

(Added Pub. L. 87–555, § 1(1), July 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 244; amended Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, § 1075(b)(39), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4371; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, § 523, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2571.)

§ 2604. United Seamen’s Service: cooperation and assistance

(a) Whenever the President finds it necessary in the interest of United States commitments abroad to provide facilities and services for United States merchant seamen in foreign areas, he may authorize the Secretary of Defense, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, to cooperate with and assist the United Seamen’s Service in establishing and providing those facilities and services.

(b) Personnel of the United Seamen’s Service who are performing duties in connection with the cooperation and assistance under subsection (a) may be furnished—

(1) transportation, at the expense of the United States, while traveling to and from, and while performing those duties, in the same manner as civilian employees of the armed forces;

(2) meals and quarters, at their expense or at the expense of the United Seamen’s Service, except that where civilian employees of the armed forces are quartered without charge, employees of the United Seamen’s Service may also be quartered without charge; and

(3) available office space (including space for recreational activities for seamen), warehousing, wharfage, and means of communication, without charge.

(c) No fee may be charged for a passport issued to an employee of the United Seamen’s Service for travel outside the United States to assume or perform duties under this section.

(d) Supplies of the United Seamen’s Service, including gifts for the use of merchant seamen, may be transported at the expense of the United States, if it is determined under regulations prescribed under subsection (a) that they are necessary to the cooperation and assistance provided under this section.

(e) Where practicable, the President shall also make arrangements to provide for convertibility of local currencies for the United Seamen’s Service, in connection with its activities under subsection (a).

(f) For the purposes of this section, employees of the United Seamen’s Service may not be considered as employees of the United States.

(Added Pub. L. 91–603, § 3(1), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1674.)

§ 2605. Acceptance of gifts for defense dependents’ schools

(a) The Secretary of Defense may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift (including any gift of an interest in real property) made on the condition that it be used in connection with the operation or administration of a defense dependents’ school. The Secretary may pay all necessary expenses in connection with the acceptance of a gift under this subsection.

(b) There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the “Department of Defense Dependents’ Education Gift Fund”. Gifts of money, and the proceeds of the sale of property, received under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the fund. The Secretary may disburse funds deposited under this subsection for the benefit or use of defense dependents’ schools, subject to the terms of the gift.

(c) Subsection (c) of section 2601 of this title applies to property that is accepted under subsection (a) in the same manner that such subsection applies to property that is accepted under subsection (a) of that section.

(d)

(1) Upon request of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury may—

(A) retain money, securities, and the proceeds of the sale of securities, in the Department of Defense Dependents’ Education Gift Fund; and

(B) invest money and reinvest the proceeds of the sale of securities in that fund in securities of the United States or in securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.

(2) The interest and profits accruing from those securities shall be deposited to the credit of the fund and may be disbursed as provided in subsection (b).

(e) In this section, the term “gift” includes a devise of real property or a bequest of personal property.

(f) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

(g) In this section, the term “defense dependents’ school” means the following:

(1) A school established as part of the defense dependents’ education system provided for under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.).

(2) An elementary or secondary school established pursuant to section 2164 of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title III, § 314(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3853; amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title III, § 353(a)–(c)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2731.)

§ 2606. Scouting: cooperation and assistance in foreign areas

(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary concerned may cooperate with and assist qualified scouting organizations in establishing and providing facilities and services for members of the armed forces and their dependents, and civilian employees of the Department of Defense and their dependents, at locations outside the United States.

(b) Cooperation and assistance under subsection (a) shall be provided under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and may be provided only if the President determines that such cooperation and assistance is necessary in the interest of the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the armed forces.

(c) Personnel of a qualified scouting organization, including officials certified by that organization as representing that organization, who are performing duties in connection with cooperation and assistance provided under subsection (a) may be furnished—

(1) transportation at the expense of the United States while traveling to and from, and while performing, such duties in the same manner as civilian employees of the United States; and

(2) available office space (including space for recreational activities for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts), warehousing, utilities, and a means of communication, without charge.

(d) Supplies of a qualified scouting organization may be transported at the expense of the United States if the Secretary concerned determines, under regulations prescribed under subsection (b), that the supplies are necessary to the cooperation and assistance provided under this section.

(e) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a qualified scouting organization for all or part of the pay of an employee of that organization for any period during which the employee was performing services under subsection (a). Any such reimbursement may not be made from appropriated funds and shall be made under regulations prescribed under subsection (b).

(f) For the purposes of this section, employees of a qualified scouting organization performing services under subsection (a) may not be considered to be employees of the United States.

(g) In this section, the term “qualified scouting organization” means the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and the Boy Scouts of America.

(Added Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title III, § 323(a), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1953.)

§ 2607. Acceptance of gifts for the Defense Intelligence College

(a) The Secretary of Defense may accept, hold, administer, and use any gift (including any gift of an interest in real property) made for the purpose of aiding and facilitating the work of the Defense Intelligence College and may pay all necessary expenses in connection with the acceptance of such a gift.

(b) Money, and proceeds from the sale of property, received as a gift under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for disbursement upon the order of the Secretary of Defense to the extent provided in annual appropriation Acts.

(d) In this section, the term “gift” includes a bequest of personal property or a devise of real property.

(Added Pub. L. 101–193, title V, § 502(a), Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1708.)

§ 2608. Acceptance of contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities; Defense Cooperation Account

(a)Acceptance Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may accept from any person, foreign government, or international organization any contribution of money or real or personal property made by such person, foreign government, or international organization for use by the Department of Defense and may accept from any foreign government or international organization any contribution of services made by such foreign government or international organization for use by the Department of Defense.

(b)Establishment of Defense Cooperation Account.—

(1) There is established in the Treasury of the United States a special account to be known as the “Defense Cooperation Account”.

(2) Contributions of money and proceeds from the sale of any property accepted by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (a) shall be credited to the Defense Cooperation Account.

(c)Use of the Defense Cooperation Account.—

(1) Funds in the Defense Cooperation Account may be appropriated for a function described in section 114 of this title only to the extent that the appropriation of such funds for such purpose is authorized in accordance with that section.

(2) Funds in the Defense Cooperation Account shall not be made available for obligation or expenditure except to the extent and in the manner provided in subsequent appropriations Acts.

(d)Use of Property.—Any contribution of property received under this section may be—

(1) retained and used by the Department of Defense in the form in which it was donated;

(2) sold or otherwise disposed of upon such terms and conditions and in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary determines appropriate; or

(3) converted into a form usable by the Department of Defense.

(e)Reporting Requirement.—

(1) Not later than 30 days after the end of the second quarter and the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on contributions of property accepted by the Secretary under this section during the preceding two quarters. The Secretary shall include in each such report a description of all property having a value of more than $1,000,000.

(2) In computing the value of any property referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall aggregate the value of—

(A) similar items of property accepted by the Secretary during the quarter concerned; and

(B) components which, if assembled, would comprise all or a substantial part of an item of equipment or a facility.

(f)Authority to Use Property.—Property accepted under subsection (a) may be used by the Secretary of Defense without specific authorization, except that such property may not be used in connection with any program, project, or activity if the use of such property would result in the violation of any prohibition or limitation otherwise applicable to such program, project, or activity.

(g)Investment of Money.—

(1) Upon request by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury may invest money in the Defense Cooperation Account in securities of the United States or in securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.

(2) Any interest or other income that accrues from investment in securities referred to in paragraph (1) shall be deposited to the credit of the Defense Cooperation Account.

(h)Notification of Conditions.—The Secretary of Defense shall notify Congress of any condition imposed by the donor on the use of any contribution accepted by the Secretary under the authority of this section.

(i)Periodic Audits by GAO.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall make periodic audits of money and property accepted under this section, at such intervals as the Comptroller General determines to be warranted. The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of each such audit.

(j)Items Included as Contributions.—In this section, the term “contribution” includes a devise of real property or a bequest of personal property.

(k)Regulations.—The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

(Added Pub. L. 101–403, title II, § 202(a)(1), Oct. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 872; amended Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title X, § 1061(a)(16), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1473; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1105(b)(1), (2), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1750; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1063, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2652; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title X, § 1064(7), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1587.)

[§ 2609. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title II, § 253(9), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 235]

§ 2610. Competitions for excellence: acceptance of monetary awards

(a)Acceptance Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense may accept a monetary award given to the Department of Defense by a nongovernmental entity as a result of the participation of the Department in a competition carried out to recognize excellence or innovation in providing services or administering programs.

(b)Disposition of Awards.—A monetary award accepted under subsection (a) shall be credited to one or more nonappropriated fund accounts supporting morale, welfare, and recreation activities for the command, installation, or other activity that is recognized for the award. Amounts so credited may be expended only for such activities.

(c)Incidental Expenses.—Subject to such limitations as may be provided in appropriation Acts, appropriations available to the Department of Defense may be used to pay incidental expenses incurred by the Department to participate in a competition described in subsection (a) or to accept a monetary award under this section.

(d)Regulations and Reporting.—

(1) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to determine the disposition of monetary awards accepted under this section and the payment of incidental expenses under subsection (c).

(2) At the end of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report for that year describing the disposition of monetary awards accepted under this section and the payment of incidental expenses under subsection (c).

(e)Termination.—The authority of the Secretary under this section shall expire on February 10, 1998.

(Added Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title III, § 377(a), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 283; amended Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1074(a)(16), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2659.)

§ 2611. Regional centers for security studies: acceptance of gifts and donations

(a)Authority to Accept Gifts and Donations.—

(1) Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may, on behalf of any Department of Defense regional center for security studies, any combination of such centers, or such centers generally, accept from any source specified in subsection (b) any gift or donation for purposes of defraying the costs or enhancing the operation of such a center, combination of centers, or centers generally, as the case may be.

(2) For purposes of this section, the Department of Defense regional centers for security studies are the following:

(A) The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

(B) The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

(D) The Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

(E) The Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies.

(F) The Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.

(b)Sources.—The sources from which gifts and donations may be accepted under subsection (a) are the following:

(1) The government of a State or a political subdivision of a State.

(2) The government of a foreign country.

(3) A foundation or other charitable organization, including a foundation or charitable organization this is organized or operates under the laws of a foreign country.

(4) Any source in the private sector of the United States or a foreign country.

(c)Limitation.—The Secretary may not accept a gift or donation under subsection (a) if acceptance of the gift or donation would compromise or appear to compromise—

(1) the ability of the Department of Defense, any employee of the Department, or any member of the armed forces to carry out the responsibility or duty of the Department in a fair and objective manner; or

(2) the integrity of any program of the Department, or of any person involved in such a program.

(d)Criteria for Acceptance.—The Secretary shall prescribe written guidance setting forth the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of a gift or donation would have a result described in subsection (c).

(e)Crediting of Funds.—Funds accepted by the Secretary under section (a) shall be credited to appropriations available to the Department of Defense for the regional center, combination of centers, or centers generally for which accepted. Funds so credited shall be merged with the appropriations to which credited and shall be available for the regional center, combination of centers, or centers generally, as the case may be, for the same purposes as the appropriations with which merged. Any funds accepted under this section shall remain available until expended.

(f)Gift or Donation Defined.—In this section, the term “gift or donation” means any gift or donation of funds, materials (including research materials), real or personal property, or services (including lecture services and faculty services).

(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title IX, § 915(a), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 721; amended Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, § 1041(a)(17), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2645; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, § 931(a), (b)(1), (c), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1580, 1581; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, § 1084(f)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2064; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title IX, § 903(a)(1), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3397; Pub. L. 112–239, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2854(b)(2), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2162; Pub. L. 113–291, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2861(b)(2), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3716; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, § 1082(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1922.)

§ 2612. National Defense University: acceptance of gifts

(a) The Secretary of Defense may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift, including a gift from an international organization and a foreign gift or donation (as defined in section 343(f)(4) of this title), that is made on the condition that it be used in connection with the operation or administration of the National Defense University. The Secretary may pay all necessary expenses in connection with the acceptance of a gift under this subsection.

(b) There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the “National Defense University Gift Fund”. Gifts of money, and the proceeds of the sale of property, received under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the fund. The Secretary may disburse funds deposited under this subsection for the benefit or use of the National Defense University.

(d)

(1) Upon request of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury may—

(A) retain money, securities, and the proceeds of the sale of securities, in the National Defense University Gift Fund; and

(B) invest money and reinvest the proceeds of the sale of securities in that fund in securities of the United States or in securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.

(2) The interest and profits accruing from those securities shall be deposited to the credit of the fund and may be disbursed as provided in subsection (b).

(e) In this section:

(1) the term “gift” includes a devise of real property or a bequest of personal property and any gift of an interest in real property.

(2) The term “National Defense University” includes any school or other component of the National Defense University specified under section 2165(b) of this title.

(f) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

(Added Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title IX, § 931(a), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2624; amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, § 931(d), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1581; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(44), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1596.)

§ 2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, credits, points, and tickets: use to facilitate rest and recuperation travel of deployed members and their families

(a)Authority to Accept Donation of Travel Benefits.—Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may accept from any person or government agency the donation of travel benefits for the purposes of use under subsection (d).

(b)Travel Benefit Defined.—In this section, the term “travel benefit” means—

(1) frequent traveler miles, credits for tickets, or tickets for air or surface transportation issued by an air carrier or a surface carrier, respectively, that serves the public; and

(2) points or awards for free or reduced-cost accommodations issued by an inn, hotel, or other commercial establishment that provides lodging to transient guests.

(c)Condition on Authority to Accept Donation.—The Secretary may accept a donation of a travel benefit under this section only if the business entity referred to in subsection (b) that is the source of the benefit consents to such donation. Any such donation shall be under such terms and conditions as the business entity may specify, and the travel benefit so donated may be used only in accordance with the rules established by the business entity.

(d)Use of Donated Travel Benefits.—A travel benefit accepted under this section may be used only for the purpose of—

(1) facilitating the travel of a member of the armed forces who—

(A) is deployed on active duty outside the United States away from the permanent duty station of the member in support of a contingency operation; and

(B) is granted, during such deployment, rest and recuperative leave, emergency leave, convalescent leave, or another form of leave authorized for the member; or

(2) in the case of a member of the armed forces recuperating from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during such a deployment, facilitating the travel of family members of the member in order to be reunited with the member.

(e)Administration.—

(1) The Secretary shall designate a single office in the Department of Defense to carry out this section. That office shall develop rules and procedures to facilitate the acceptance and distribution of travel benefits under this section.

(2) For the use of travel benefits under subsection (d)(2) by family members of a member of the armed forces, the Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, limit—

(A) eligibility to family members who, by reason of affinity, degree of consanguinity, or otherwise, are sufficiently close in relationship to the member of the armed forces to justify the travel assistance;

(B) the number of family members who may travel; and

(3) The Secretary of Defense may, in an exceptional case, authorize a person not described in subsection (d)(2) to use a travel benefit accepted under this subsection to visit a member of the armed forces described in subsection (d)(1) if that person has a notably close relationship with the member. The travel benefit may be used by such person only in accordance with such conditions and restrictions as the Secretary determines appropriate and the rules established by the business entity referred to in subsection (b) that is the source of the travel benefit.

(f)Services of Nonprofit Organization.—The Secretary of Defense may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization to use the services of the organization—

(1) to promote the donation of travel benefits under this section, except that amounts appropriated to the Department of Defense may not be expended for this purpose; and

(2) to assist in administering the collection, distribution, and use of travel benefits under this section.

(g)Family Member Defined.—In this section, the term “family member” has the meaning given that term in section 451(a) of title 37.

(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 585(a)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1930; amended Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(a)(20), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2399; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, § 576(a)–(d)(1), title VI, § 631(f)(4)(A), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1428, 1429, 1465; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a)(9), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1948; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(25), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1985; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, § 626(c)(8), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2628.)

§ 2614. Emergency communications equipment: acceptance from local public safety agencies for temporary use related to disasters

(a)Authority to Accept Equipment.—

(1) Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary concerned—

(1) may accept communications equipment for use in coordinating joint response and recovery operations with public safety agencies in the event of a disaster; and

(2) may accept services related to the operation and maintenance of such equipment.

(b)Regulations.—The authority under subsection (a) shall be exercised under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.

(c)Limitations.—

(1) Equipment may be accepted under subsection (a)(1) only to the extent that communications equipment under the control of the Secretary concerned at the potential disaster response site is inadequate to meet military requirements for communicating with public safety agencies during the period of response to the disaster.

(2) Services may be accepted under subsection (a)(2) related to the operation and maintenance of communications equipment only to the extent that the necessary capabilities are not available to the military commander having custody of the equipment.

(d)Liability.—A person providing services accepted under this section may not be considered, by reason of the provision of such services, to be an officer, employee, or agent of the United States for any purpose.

(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, § 1051(a), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2053, § 2613; renumbered § 2614 and amended Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(a)(19)(A), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2399.)

§ 2615. Military museums and military education programs: cooperative agreement authority

(a)Use Authorized.—The Secretary concerned may enter into a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit entity for purposes related to—

(1) a military museum program; or

(2) the support of a military educational institution program.

(b)Cooperative Agreement Described.—For purposes of subsection (a), an authorized cooperative agreement is described in section 6305 of title 31, except that the use of a cooperative agreement by the Secretary concerned is limited to nonprofit entities.

(Added Pub. L. 112–239, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2852(b)(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2161.)