Speech #880100205

That the Director of the. United States Information Agency (hereinafter referred -to as the "Director" and the "Agency". respectively) may(a) employ. without regard to the civil service and classification laws. aliens abroad for services in the United States relating to the translation or narration of colloquial speech in foreign languages when suitably qualified United States citizens are not available (such aliens to be investigated for such employment in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General). Such persons may be admitted to the United States. if otherwise qualified. as nonimmigrants under section 101(a) (15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a) (15)) for such time and under such conditions and procedures as may be established by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. (b) pay travel expenses of aliens employed abroad for service in the United States and their dependents to and from the United States. (c) incur expenses for entertainment within the United States within such amounts as may be provided for in appropriation Acts. (d) obtain insurance on official motor vehicles operated by the Agency in foreign countries. and pay the expenses incident thereto. . (e) pay claims to any persons. in amounts not to exceed $15.000 each in the manner authorized in section 2734. as amended. of title 10. of the United States Code when such claims arise in foreign countries. as though the Director were the Secretary of a military department and as though officers and emloyees of the Agency were commissioned officers and members of the Armed Forces. (f) advance funds within the meaning of section 3648 of the Revised Statutes. as amended. (g) employ aliens by contract for services abroad. (h) provide ice and drinking water abroad. (i) pay excise taxes on negotiable instruments abroad. (J) pay the actual expense of preparing and transporting to their former homes the remains of persons. not United States Government employees. who may die away from their homes while participating in Agency activities. (k) rent or lease. for periods of less than ten years. offices. buildings. grounds. and living quarters for persons engaged in Agency activities abroad. (1) maintain. improve. and repair properties used for information activities in foreign countries. (in) furnish fuel. water and utilities for Governmentowned or leased property abroad. (n) pay travel expenses of employees attending official international conferences. without regard to the Standardized Government Travel Regulations and to the rates of per diem allowances in lieu of subsistence expenses under the Travel Expense Act of 1949. as amended (5 U.S.C. 835842). but at rates not in excess of comparable allowances approved for such conferences by the Secretary of State. SEC. 2. Appropriated funds made available to the Agency for any fiscal year for expenses in connection with travel of personnel outside the continental United States. including travel of dependents and transportation of personal effects. household goods. or automobiles of such personnel shall be available for all such expenses in connection with travel or transportation which begins in that fiscal year pursuant to travel orders issued in that year. notwithstanding the fact that such travel or transportation may not be completed until the following fiscal year.