15 U.S.C. § 278g : US Code - Section 278G: International activities

Search 15 U.S.C. § 278g : US Code - Section 278G: International activities

(a) Financial assistance to foreign nationals
The Secretary is authorized, notwithstanding any other provision
of law, to expend such sums, within the limit of appropriated
funds, as the Secretary may deem desirable, through the grant of
fellowships or any other form of financial assistance, to defray
the expenses of foreign nationals not in service to the Government
of the United States while they are performing scientific or
engineering work at the Institute or participating in the exchange
of scientific or technical information at the Institute.
(b) Foreign assistance and compensation to Institute employees
The Congress consents to the acceptance by employees of the
Institute of fellowships, lectureships, or other positions for the
performance of scientific or engineering activities or for the
exchange of scientific or technical information, offered by a
foreign government, and to the acceptance and retention by an
employee of the Institute of any form of financial or other
assistance provided by a foreign government as compensation for or
as a means of defraying expenses associated with the performance of
scientific or engineering activities or the exchange of scientific
or technical information, in any case where the acceptance of such
fellowship, lectureship, or position or the acceptance and
retention of such assistance is determined by the Secretary to be
appropriate and consistent with the interests of the United States.
For the purposes of this subsection, the definitions appearing in
section 7342(a) of title 5 apply. Civil actions may be brought and
penalties assessed against any employee who knowingly accepts and
retains assistance from a foreign government not consented to by
this subsection in the same manner as is prescribed by section
7342(h) of title 5.
(c) Prohibition on use of appropriations inapplicable
Provisions of law prohibiting the use of any part of any
appropriation for the payment of compensation to any employee or
officer of the Government of the United States who is not a citizen
of the United States shall not apply to the payment of compensation
to scientific or engineering personnel of the Institute.
(d) Recruitment and employment of resident aliens
For any scientific and engineering disciplines for which there is
a shortage of suitably qualified and available United States
citizens and nationals, the Secretary is authorized to recruit and
employ in scientific and engineering fields at the Institute
foreign nationals who have been lawfully admitted to the United
States for permanent residence under the Immigration and
Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.] and who intend to become
United States citizens. Employment of a person under this paragraph
shall not be subject to the provisions of title 5 governing
employment in the competitive service, or to any prohibition in any
other Act against the employment of aliens, or against the payment
of compensation to them.