Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/696

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PUBLIC LAW 7 9 2 - J U L Y 25, 1956

Public Law 792 July 25, 1956 [S. 3498]

American Battle Monuments Commission.

Compensation.

Personnel.

EffecUve date.

Repeals. 33 USC 126, 129, 130. Redesignations.

Cemeteries outside U. S.

[70 8T A T, C H A P T E R 721

AN ACT To extend authority of the American Battle Monuments Commission to ail areas in which the Armed Forces of the United States have conducted operations since April 6, 1917, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the second and third paragraphs of the first section of the Act entitled "An Act for the creation or the American Battle Monuments Commission to erect suitable memorials commemorating the services of the American Soldier in Europe, and for other purposes", approved March 4, 1923 (42 Stat. 1509, as amended; 36 U.S.C. 121), are amended to read as follows: "The members of the Commission shall serve as such without compensation, except that (1) their actual expenses in connection with the work of the Commission,^ and (2) when in a travel status, a per diem of $20 in lieu of subsistence, may be paid to them from any funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act, or acquired by other means hereinafter authorized, "Upon the request of the Commission, the heads of the Federal departments or agencies are authorized to designate such personnel, and to make available to the Commission such facilities, of their respective departments or agencies, or of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, as the case may be, as may be necessary to assist in carrying out the purposes of this Act, and may expend for such purposes any funds appropriated to such departments, agencies, and services, with reimbursement from the Commission for the pay and allowances of the personnel so designated. The Commission is authorized to employ such further personnel as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, within the limits of any appropriation or appropriations made for such purposes. "The provisions of this subsection shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month following the date of enactment of this Act." SEC. 2. (a) Sections 5,8, and 9 of such Act are repealed. (b) Sections 2, 3, and 4 of such Act are redesignated as sections 3, 4, and 5, respectively, of such Act. (c) Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of such Act are redesignated as sections 8, 9,10, 11, and 12, respectively, of such Act. (d) Each reference made hereinafter to any section of such Act, the numbering of which is redesignated by subsection (b) or (c) of this section, shall be deemed to be made to such section as so redesignated. SEC. 3. (a) Such Act is amended by inserting, immediately after the first section thereof, the following new section: " S E C 2. AVhen, as a result of combat operations, the Armed Forces shall establish military cemeteries in zones of operations outside the United States and its Territories and possessions, the Commission and the Secretary of the Army immediately upon the cessation of hostilities, shall determine which of the cemeteries so established, if any, shall become permanent cemeteries or, as they may deem desirable, select new sites at any other location for such cemeteries. The Commission shall be solely responsible for the design and construction of such permanent cemeteries, and of all buildings, plantings, headstones, and other permanent improvements incidental thereto except that (1) the Armed Forces shall be responsible for the maintenance of such permanent cemeteries until such time as the Commission shall express its readiness to assume the functions of administra-

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