
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC3611]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
                        CHAPTER 51--PANAMA CANAL
 
              SUBCHAPTER I--ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS
 
                     Part 1--Panama Canal Commission
 
Sec. 3611. Establishment, purposes, offices, and residence of 
        Commission
        
    (a) For the purposes of managing, operating, and maintaining the 
Panama Canal and its complementary works, installations and equipment, 
and of conducting operations incident thereto, in accordance with the 
Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements, the Panama Canal 
Commission (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the 
``Commission'') is established as a wholly owned government corporation 
(as that term is used in chapter 91 of title 31) within the executive 
branch of the Government of the United States. The authority of the 
President with respect to the Commission shall be exercised through the 
Secretary of Defense.
    (b) The principal office of the Commission shall be located in the 
Republic of Panama in one of the areas made available for use of the 
United States under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related 
agreements, but the Commission may establish branch offices in such 
other places as it considers necessary or appropriate for the conduct of 
its business. Within the meaning of the laws of the United States 
relating to venue in civil actions, the Commission is an inhabitant and 
resident of the District of Columbia and the eastern judicial district 
of Louisiana.

(Pub. L. 96-70, title I, Sec. 1101, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 456; Pub. 
L. 104-106, div. C, title XXXV, Sec. 3522(a), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 
638.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original ``this 
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 96-70, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 452, known as the 
Panama Canal Act of 1979, which is classified principally to this 
chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short 
Title note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-106 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, 
section read as follows: ``There is established in the executive branch 
of the United States Government an agency to be known as the Panama 
Canal Commission (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the 
`Commission'). The Commission shall, under the general supervision of 
the Board established by section 3612 of this title, be responsible for 
the maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal and the facilities and 
appurtenances related thereto. The authority of the President with 
respect to the Commission shall be exercised through the Secretary of 
Defense.''


   Recommendations by President on Changes to Panama Canal Commission 
                                Structure

    Pub. L. 102-484, div. C, title XXXV, Sec. 3522, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 
Stat. 2657, provided that:
    ``(a) Report.--The President shall conduct a study and, if 
warranted, develop a plan setting forth recommendations for such 
changes, if any, to the Panama Canal Commission for the operation of the 
Panama Canal during the period before the termination of the Panama 
Canal Treaty of 1977 as the President determines would facilitate and 
encourage the operation of the canal through an autonomous entity under 
the Government of Panama after the transfer of the canal on December 31, 
1999, pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related 
agreements. The President shall submit the study and, if warranted, plan 
to Congress, together with a legislative proposal containing any changes 
to existing law required to implement the plan, not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1992].
    ``(b) Preparation of Plan.--Recommendations to the President for 
purposes of the study and plan required by subsection (a) shall be 
prepared with the participation of a representative of each of the 
following:
        ``(1) The Secretary of State.
        ``(2) The Secretary of Defense.
        ``(3) The Secretary of the Treasury.
        ``(4) The Secretary of Commerce.
        ``(5) The Secretary of Transportation.
        ``(6) The Panama Canal Commission.
    ``(c) Plan To Be Consistent With Panama Canal Treaty.--The study 
and, if warranted, plan submitted by the President pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall be consistent with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 
and related agreements.''


  Report by Comptroller General on Changes to Panama Canal Commission 
                                Structure

    Pub. L. 102-484, div. C, title XXXV, Sec. 3523, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 
Stat. 2658, provided that:
    ``(a) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a 
report analyzing the effectiveness of the fiscal, operational, and 
management structure of the Panama Canal Commission and setting forth 
recommendations for such changes to that structure as the Comptroller 
General determines would, if implemented, enable the Commission to 
operate more efficiently and, thereby, serve as a model for the 
Government of Panama for the operation of the Panama Canal after the 
transfer of the Panama Canal on December 31, 1999, pursuant to the 
Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements. The Comptroller 
General shall submit the report to Congress not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1992].
    ``(b) Preparation of Report.--In developing the report required by 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall seek the views of each of 
the following:
        ``(1) The Secretary of State.
        ``(2) The Secretary of Defense.
        ``(3) The Secretary of the Treasury.
        ``(4) The Secretary of Commerce.
        ``(5) The Secretary of Transportation.
        ``(6) The Panama Canal Commission.
    ``(c) Report To Be Consistent With Panama Canal Treaty.--The 
recommendations in the report submitted by the Comptroller General 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be consistent with the Panama Canal 
Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.''
