(a) Commissioners
The United States shall be represented on the Commission by four United States Commissioners. The President shall appoint individuals to serve on the Commission. The United States Commissioners shall be subject to supervision and removal by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary. In making the appointments, the President shall select United States Commissioners from among individuals who are knowledgeable or experienced concerning highly migratory fish stocks in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, one of whom shall be an officer or employee of the Department of Commerce. Not more than two United States Commissioners may be appointed who reside in a State other than a State whose vessels maintain a substantial fishery in the area of the Convention.
(b) Alternate Commissioners
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary, may designate from time to time and for periods of time deemed appropriate Alternate United States Commissioners to the Commission. Any Alternate United States Commissioner may exercise, at any meeting of the Commission or of the General Advisory Committee or Scientific Advisory Subcommittee established pursuant to section 953(b) of this title, all powers and duties of a United States Commissioner in the absence of any United States Commissioner appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for whatever reason. The number of such Alternate United States Commissioners that may be designated for any such meeting shall be limited to the number of United States Commissioners appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section who will not be present at such meeting.
(c) Administrative matters
(1) Employment status
Individuals serving as United States Commissioners, other than officers or employees of the United States Government, shall not be considered Federal employees except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.
(2) Compensation
The United States Commissioners or Alternate Commissioners, although officers of the United States while so serving, shall receive no compensation for their services as United States Commissioners or Alternate Commissioners.
(3) Travel expenses
(A) The Secretary of State shall pay the necessary travel expenses of United States Commissioners and Alternate United States Commissioners to meetings of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and other meetings the Secretary of State deems necessary to fulfill their duties, in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and sections 5701, 5702, 5704 through 5708, and 5731 of title 5.
(B) The Secretary may reimburse the Secretary of State for amounts expended by the Secretary of State under this subsection.
Amendments
2015—Pub. L. 114–81 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to number, appointment, and qualification of United States Commissioners.
2000—Pub. L. 106–562 inserted after first sentence "Individuals serving as such Commissioners shall not be considered to be Federal employees while performing such service, except for purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28."
1997—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–42, which directed the general amendment of section 3(c) of the Tuna Convention Act, was executed by making the amendment to subsec. (c) of this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: "at least one shall be an officer of the Department of Commerce; and".
1992—Par. (d). Pub. L. 102–523 added par. (d).
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 105–42, see section 8 of Pub. L. 105–42, set out as a note under section 1362 of this title.
Alternate United States Commissioners
For additional provisions relating to the designation of Alternate United States Commissioners, see sections 2672a and 2672b of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
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