USC Subchapter I

USC Subchapter I
in effect

22 U.S.C. § 1621 Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter— (a) The term “person” shall include an individual, partnership, corporation, or the Government of the United States. (b) The term “United States” when used in a geographical sense shall include the United States, its Territories and insular possessions, and the Canal Zone. (c) The term “nationals of the United States” includes (1) persons who are citizens of the United States, and (2) persons who, though not citizens of the United States, owe permanent allegiance to the United States. It does not include aliens. (d) The term “Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948” means the agreement between the Governments of the United States of America and of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia regarding pecuniary claims of the United States and its nationals, signed July 19, 1948.

22 U.S.C. § 1622 Establishment of International Claims Commission

(a), (b) Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 656 (c) Rules and regulations; termination date; removal of personnel; reportsThe Commission may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions, and may delegate functions to any member, officer, or employee of the Commission. The President may fix a termination date for the authority of the Commission, and the terms of office of its members under this subchapter. Any member of the Commission may be removed by the Secretary of State, upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause. Not later than six months after its organization, and every six months 11 See Modification of Reporting Requirements note below. thereafter, the Commission shall make a report, through the Secretary of State, to the Congress concerning its operations under this subchapter. The Commission shall, upon completion of its work, certify in duplicate to the Secretary of State and to the Secretary of the Treasury the following: (1) A list of all claims disallowed; (2) a list of all claims allowed, in whole or in part, together with the amount of each claim and the amount awarded thereon; and (3) a copy of the decision rendered in each case.

22 U.S.C. § 1622a Transfer of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to Department of Justice

The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States, established under Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1954, is hereby transferred to the Department of Justice as a separate agency within that Department.

22 U.S.C. § 1622b Transfer of functions, powers, and duties of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States

All functions, powers, and duties of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission established by Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1954 are hereby transferred with the Commission, together with personnel, assets, liabilities, unexpended balances of appropriations, authorizations, allocations, and other funds held, used, available, or to be made available in connection with the statutory functions of the Commission. The Commission shall continue to perform its functions as provided by the War Claims Act of 1948, as amended [50 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.], the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended [22 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.], and Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1954.

22 U.S.C. § 1622c Membership of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States

(a) Composition of Commission; appointment and compensation of ChairmanThe Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and two members. The Chairman shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve on a full-time basis for a term of three years, and compensated at the rate provided for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5. (b) Appointment and compensation of members other than ChairmanThe other members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and serve on a part-time basis, and be compensated on a per diem basis at a rate of compensation equivalent to the daily rate for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5 for each day that such member is employed in the actual performance of official business of the Commission as may be directed by the Chairman. Each member shall be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for persons in Government service employed intermittently. (c) Terms of officeThe terms of Office of the Chairman and members of the Commission shall be for three years, except the Chairman and members first appointed after the enactment of this subsection shall be appointed to terms ending respectively September 30, 1982, September 30, 1981, and September 30, 1980. The incumbent of any such office may continue to serve until a successor takes office. (d) Continuation in office of existing membersNotwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, members of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission who are serving on March 14, 1980, shall continue to serve in their same capacities until the expiration of the terms to which they were appointed.

22 U.S.C. § 1622d Appointment and compensation of officers and employees of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States; allowances and benefits; utilization of other Federal facilities

The Commission is authorized, in accordance with civil service laws and in accordance with title 5 to appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Commission. The Commission is authorized to employ experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5 without compensation or at rates of compensation not in excess of the maximum daily rate prescribed for GS–18 under section 5332 of title 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission is further authorized to employ nationals of other countries who may possess special knowledge, languages, or other expertise necessary to assist the Commission. The Commission is authorized to pay expenses of packing, shipping, and storing personal effects of personnel of the Commission assigned abroad, and to pay allowances and benefits similar to those provided by title IX of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended. The Commission is authorized, with the consent of the head of any other department or agency of the Federal Government, to utilize the facilities and services of such department or agency in carrying out the functions of the Commission. Officers and employees of any department and agency of the Federal Government may, with the consent of the head of such department or agency, be assigned to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions. The Commission shall reimburse such department and agency for the pay of such officers or employees.

22 U.S.C. § 1622e Vesting of all non-adjudicatory functions, powers, and duties in Chairman of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States

All functions, powers, and duties not directly related to adjudicating claims are hereby vested in the Chairman, including the functions set forth in section 3 of Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1954 and the authority to issue rules and regulations.

22 U.S.C. § 1622f Administrative support and services to Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States by Attorney General

The Attorney General shall provide necessary administrative support and services to the Commission. The Chairman shall prepare the budget requests, authorization documents, and legislative proposals for the Commission within the procedures established by the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General shall submit these items to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as proposed by the Chairman.

22 U.S.C. § 1622g Independence of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States; finality of Commission decisions

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the independence of the Commission in making its determinations on claims in programs that it is authorized to administer pursuant to the powers and responsibilities conferred upon the Commission by the War Claims Act of 1948, as amended [50 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.], the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended [22 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.], and Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1954. The decisions of the Commission with respect to claims shall be final and conclusive on all questions of law and fact, and shall not be subject to review by the Attorney General or any other official of the United States or by any court by mandamus or otherwise.

22 U.S.C. § 1623 Claims

(a) Jurisdiction of Commission; bases for determination; fair market value(1) The Commission shall have jurisdiction to receive, examine, adjudicate, and render a final decision with respect to any claim of the Government of the United States or of any national of the United States—(A) included within the terms of the Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948; (B) included within the terms of any claims agreement concluded on or after March 10, 1954, between the Government of the United States and a foreign government (exclusive of governments against which the United States declared the existence of a state of war during World War II) similarly providing for the settlement and discharge of claims of the Government of the United States and of nationals of the United States against a foreign government, arising out of the nationalization or other taking of property, by the agreement of the Government of the United States to accept from that government a sum in en bloc settlement thereof; or (C) included in a category of claims against a foreign government which is referred to the Commission by the Secretary of State. (2) In the decision of claims under this subchapter, the Commission shall apply the following in the following order:(A) The provisions of the applicable claims agreement as provided in this subsection. (B) The applicable principles of international law, justice, and equity. In determining the value of a claim under international law, the Commission shall award the fair market value of the property as of the time of the taking by the foreign government involved (without regard to any action or event that occurs after the taking), except that the value of the claim shall not reflect any diminution in value attributable to actions which are carried out, or threats of action which are made, by the foreign government with respect to the property before the taking. Fair market value shall be ascertained in accordance with the method most appropriate to the property taken and equitable to the claimant, including—(i) market value of outstanding equity securities; (ii) replacement value; (iii) going-concern value (which includes consideration of an enterprise’s profitability); and (iv) book value. In the case of any claim for losses in a service industry, the appropriate basis of valuation shall be presumed to be that referred to in clause (iii). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “service” means economic activity the output of which is other than tangible goods. (b) Notice of filing time; publication; basis of decisions; finality of decisionThe Commission shall give public notice of the time when, and the limit of time within which, claims may be filed, which notice shall be published in the Federal Register. In addition, the Commission is authorized and directed to mail a similar notice to the last known address of each person appearing in the records of the Department of State as having indicated an intention of filing a claim with respect to a matter concerning which the Commission has jurisdiction under this subchapter. All decisions shall be upon such evidence and written legal contentions as may be presented within such period as may be prescribed therefor by the Commission, and upon the results of any independent investigation of cases which the Commission may deem it advisable to make. Each decision by the Commission pursuant to this subchapter shall be by majority vote, and shall state the reason for such decision, and shall constitute a full and final disposition of the case in which the decision is rendered. (c) Administration of oaths; examination of witnesses; subpenas; reporting of hearings; witness fees; contemptAny member of the Commission, or any employee of the Commission, designated in writing by the Chairman of the Commission, may administer oaths and examine witnesses. Any member of the Commission may require by subpena the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of all necessary books, papers, documents, records, correspondence, and other evidence, from any place in the United States at any designated place of inquiry or of hearing. The Commission is authorized to contract for the reporting of inquiries or of hearings. Witnesses summoned before the Commission shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. In case of disobedience to a subpena, the aid of any district court of the United States, as constituted by chapter 5 of title 28, and the United States court of any Territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may be invoked in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of such books, papers, documents, records, correspondence, and other evidence. Any such court within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry or hearing is carried on may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena issued to any person, issue an order requiring such person to appear or to give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. (d) DepositionsThe Commission may order testimony to be taken by deposition in any inquiry or hearing pending before it at any stage of such proceeding or hearing. Such depositions may be taken, under such regulations as the Commission may prescribe, before any person designated by the Commission and having power to administer oaths. Any person may be compelled to appear and depose, and to produce books, papers, documents, records, correspondence, and other evidence in the same way as witnesses may be compelled to appear and testify and produce documentary evidence before the Commission, as hereinabove provided. If a witness whose testimony may be desired to be taken by deposition be in a foreign country, the deposition may be taken, provided the laws of the foreign country so permit, by a consular officer, or by an officer or employee of the Commission, or other person commissioned by the Commission, or under letters rogatory issued by the Commission. Witnesses whose depositions are taken as authorized in this subsection, and the persons taking the same, shall severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States. (e) PenaltiesIn addition to the penalties provided in section 1001 of title 18, any person guilty of any act, as provided therein, with respect to any matter under this subchapter, shall forfeit all rights under this subchapter, and, if payment shall have been made or granted, the Commission shall take such action as may be necessary to recover the same. (f) Attorney’s fees; limitationNo remuneration on account of services rendered on behalf of any claimant in connection with any claim filed with the Commission under this subchapter shall exceed 10 per centum of the total amount paid pursuant to any award certified under the provisions of this subchapter on account of such claim. Any agreement to the contrary shall be unlawful and void. Whoever, in the United States or elsewhere, demands or receives, on account of services so rendered, any remuneration in excess of the maximum permitted by this section, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than twelve months, or both. (g) Representation by United States; paymentsThe Attorney General shall assign such officers and employees of the Department of Justice as may be necessary to represent the United States as to any claims of the Government of the United States with respect to which the Commission has jurisdiction under this subchapter. Any and all payments required to be made by the Secretary of the Treasury under this subchapter pursuant to any award made by the Commission to the Government of the United States shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts. (h) Notification of disposition of claims; right to hearing; finality of Commission’s decisionThe Commission shall notify all claimants of the approval or denial of their claims, stating the reasons and grounds therefor, and, if approved, shall notify such claimants of the amount for which such claims are approved. Any claimant whose claim is denied, or is approved for less than the full amount of such claim, shall be entitled, under such regulations as the Commission may prescribe, to a hearing before the Commission, or its duly authorized representatives, with respect to such claim. Upon such hearing, the Commission may affirm, modify, or revise its former action with respect to such claim, including a denial or reduction in the amount theretofore allowed with respect to such claim. The action of the Commission in allowing or denying any claim under this subchapter shall be final and conclusive on all questions of law and fact and not subject to review by the Secretary of State or any other official, department, agency, or establishment of the United States or by any court by mandamus or otherwise. (i) Separation of awardsThe Commission may in its discretion enter an award with respect to one or more items deemed to have been clearly established in an individual claim while deferring consideration and action on other items of the same claim. (j) Compliance with administrative procedure lawThe Commission shall comply with the provisions of subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5 except as otherwise specifically provided by this subchapter. (k) Compliance with principles of international law, justice and equity; fair market valueIn exercising authority granted after October 8, 1986, under this chapter or any other Act, the Commission, in determining the value of claims of the Government of the United States or of nationals of the United States (as defined in this chapter or such other Act) against any foreign government for losses arising from the nationalization or other taking of property, shall comply with the principles set forth in subsection (a)(2) of this section.

22 U.S.C. § 1624 Certification of awards; certification of claims

The Commission shall, as soon as possible, and in the order of the making of such awards, certify to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the Secretary of State copies of the awards made in favor of the Government of the United States or of nationals of the United States under this subchapter. The Commission shall certify to the Secretary of State, upon his request, copies of the formal submissions of claims filed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 1623 of this title for transmission to the foreign government concerned.

22 U.S.C. § 1626 Payments

(a) Principal and interest; regulationsSubject to the limitations hereinafter provided, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to pay, as prescribed by section 1627 of this title, an amount not exceeding the principal of each award, plus accrued interest on such awards as bear interest, certified pursuant to section 1624 of this title, in accordance with the award. Such payments, and applications for such payments, shall be made in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. (b) Deductions; coverage into Treasury; reimbursement for expenses(1) There shall be deducted from the amount of each payment made pursuant to subsection (c) of section 1627 of this title, as reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the United States, an amount equal to 5 per centum of such payment. All amounts so deducted shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts. (2) The Secretary of the Treasury shall deduct from any amounts covered, subsequent to July 24, 1968, into any special fund, created pursuant to section 1627 of this title, 5 per centum thereof as reimbursement to the Government of the United States for expenses incurred by the Commission and by the Treasury Department in the administration of this subchapter. The amounts so deducted shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts. (c) To whom made; exceptionsPayments made pursuant to this subchapter shall be made only to the person or persons on behalf of whom the award is made, except that—(1) if any person to whom any payment is to be made pursuant to this subchapter is deceased or is under a legal disability, payment shall be made to his legal representative, except that if any payment to be made is not over $1,000 and there is no qualified executor or administrator, payment may be made to the person or persons found by the Secretary of the Treasury to be entitled thereto, without the necessity of compliance with the requirements of law with respect to the administration of estates; (2) in the case of a partnership or corporation, the existence of which has been terminated and on behalf of which an award is made, payment shall be made, except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, to the person or persons found by the Secretary of the Treasury to be entitled thereto; (3) if a receiver or trustee for any such partnership or corporation has been duly appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States and has not been discharged prior to the date of payment, payment shall be made to such receiver or trustee in accordance with the order of the court; (4) if a receiver or trustee for any such partnership or corporation, duly appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States, makes an assignment of the claim, or any part thereof, with respect to which an award is made, or makes an assignment of such award, or any part thereof, payment shall be made to the assignee, as his interest may appear; and (5) in the case of any assignment of an award, or any part thereof, which is made in writing and duly acknowledged and filed, after such award is certified to the Secretary of the Treasury, payment may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, be made to the assignee, as his interest may appear. (d) Erroneous payments as bar to further recoveryWhenever the Secretary of the Treasury shall find that any person is entitled to any such payment, after such payment shall have been received by such person, it shall be an absolute bar to recovery by any other person against the United States, its officers, agents, or employees with respect to such payment. (e) Acquiescence in conditions of subchapterAny person who makes application for any such payment shall be held to have consented to all the provisions of this subchapter. (f) Non-assumption of liability by United States on claims against foreign governmentsNothing in this subchapter shall be construed as the assumption of any liability by the United States for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any claim on behalf of any national of the United States against any foreign government.

22 U.S.C. § 1627 Creation of special funds in Treasury

(a) Credits to, and payment from fundsThere are created in the Treasury of the United States (1) a special fund to be known as the Yugoslav Claims Fund; and (2) such other special funds as may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, be required, each to be a claims fund to be known by the name of the foreign government which has entered into a settlement agreement with the Government of the United States as described in subsection (a) of section 1623 of this title. There shall be covered into the Treasury to the credit of the proper special fund all funds hereinafter specified. All payments authorized under section 1626 of this title shall be disbursed from the proper fund, as the case may be, and all amounts covered into the Treasury to the credit of the aforesaid funds are permanently appropriated for the making of the payments authorized by section 1626 of this title. (b) Credits to Yugoslav Claims Fund; credits to other fundsThe Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to cover into—(1) the Yugoslav Claims Fund the sum of $17,000,000 being the amount paid by the Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia pursuant to the Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948; (2) a special fund created for that purpose pursuant to subsection (a) of this section any amounts hereafter paid, in United States dollars, by a foreign government which has entered into a claims settlement agreement with the Government of the United States as described in subsection (a) of section 1623 of this title. (c) Payment of awardsThe Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed out of the sums covered, prior to July 24, 1968, into any of the funds pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and after making the deduction provided for in section 1626(b)(1) of this title—(1) to make payments in full of the principal of awards of $1,000 or less, certified pursuant to section 1624 of this title; (2) to make payments of $1,000 on the principal of each award of more than $1,000 in principal amount, certified pursuant to section 1624 of this title; (3) to make additional payment of not to exceed 25 per centum of the unpaid principal of awards in the principal amount of more than $1,000; (4) after completing the payments prescribed by paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, to make payments, from time to time in ratable proportions, on account of the unpaid principal of all awards in the principal amount of more than $1,000, according to the proportions which the unpaid principal of such awards bear to the total amount in the fund available for distribution at the time such payments are made; and (5) after payment has been made of the principal amounts of all such awards, to make pro rata payments on account of accrued interest on such awards as bear interest. (d) Payment of balance to Yugoslav Government; certification of adjudication costs; finality of certificationThe Secretary of the Treasury, upon the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is authorized and directed, out of the sum covered into the Yugoslav Claims Fund pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, after completing the payments of such funds pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, to make payment of the balance of any sum remaining in such fund to the Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia to the extent required under article 1(c) of the Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948. The Secretary of State shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the total cost of adjudication, not borne by the claimants, attributable to the Yugoslav Claims Agreement of 1948. Such certification shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to review by any other official, or department, agency, or establishment of the United States. (e) Payments; prioritiesExcept as provided in subsection (f), the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed out of sums covered, subsequent to July 24, 1968, into any special fund created pursuant to this section to make payment on account of awards certified by the Commission pursuant to this subchapter with respect to claims included within the terms of a claims settlement agreement concluded between the Government of the United States and a foreign government as described in section 1623(a) of this title, as follows and in the following order of priority:(1) Payment in the amount of $1,000 or the principal amount of the award, whichever is less; (2) Thereafter, payments from time to time on account of the unpaid principal balance of each remaining award which shall bear to such unpaid principal balance the same proportion as the total amount available for distribution at the time such payments are made bears to the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all such awards; and (3) Thereafter, payments from time to time on account of the unpaid balance of each award of interest which shall bear to such unpaid balance of interest, the same proportion as the total amount available for distribution at the time such payments are made bears to the aggregate unpaid balance of interest of all such awards. (f) People’s Republic of China; claim payment priorities(1) Out of sums covered after May 11, 1979, into the special fund created pursuant to this section to receive funds paid by the People’s Republic of China, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to make payments on account of awards certified by the Commission pursuant to subchapter V with respect to claims included within the terms of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China Concerning the Settlement of Claims, signed on May 11, 1979, in the following order of priority:(A) Payment in the amount of $1,000 or the principal amount of the award, whichever is less. (B) Thereafter, except as provided in paragraph (2), to the extent there remain unpaid principal balances on awards, payments from time to time on account of the unpaid principal balance of each remaining award which bear to such unpaid principal balance the same proportion as the total amount available for distribution at the time such payments are made bears to the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all such awards. (C) Thereafter, payments from time to time on account of the unpaid balance of each award of interest which bear to such unpaid balance of interest the same proportion as the total amount available for distribution at the time such payments are made bears to the aggregate unpaid balance of interest of all such awards. (2)(A) For the purpose of computing the payments to be made under paragraph (1) to any claimant which was an incorporated business enterprise on the date of nationalization or other taking of property, the award certified by the Commission under subchapter V shall be reduced by the amount of Federal tax benefits derived by such claimant on account of the losses upon which such claim was based, but in no case shall such payments be reduced below the amount paid to such claimant on account of such claim before October 13, 1980. For purposes of this subparagraph, such Federal tax benefits shall be the amount by which the claimant’s taxes in any prior taxable year or years under chapters 1, 2A, 2B, 2D, and 2E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, or subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, were decreased with respect to the loss or losses upon which the claim was based. The sum of the amounts which would otherwise be payable but for this paragraph which are not paid to any such claimant shall be aggregated, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to make payments out of such aggregated sums in accordance with subparagraph (B). (B) To the extent that there remain unpaid principal balances on awards to claimants which were, on the date of nationalization or other taking of property, nonprofit organizations operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, religious, charitable, or educational purposes (after payments made to such nonprofit organizations pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) are taken into account), the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to make payments from time to time on account of the unpaid principal balance of each remaining award to such nonprofit organizations which bear to such unpaid principal balance the same proportion as the total sums aggregated pursuant to subparagraph (A) at the times such payments are made bear to the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all such awards to nonprofit organizations. (g) Authority to invest and recover expenses from fundsThe Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to invest the amounts held respectively in the “special funds” established by this section in public debt securities with maturities suitable for the needs of the separate accounts and bearing interest at rates determined by the Secretary, taking into consideration the average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities. The interest earned on the amounts in each special fund shall be used to make payments, in accordance with subsection (c), on awards payable from that special fund.

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