---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 1644a"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "1644a"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/1644a"
units:
  - "Chapter 21 — Settlement of International Claims"
  - "Subchapter VI — Claims Against German Democratic Republic"
---

# §1644a. Definitions


As used in this subchapter—

- (1) The term “[national of the United States](/usc/22/1643a.md?p=1)” means—
- (2) The term “[Commission](/usc/22/1643a.md?p=2)” means the Foreign Claims Settlement [Commission](/usc/22/1643a.md?p=2) of the United States.
- (3) The term “[property](/usc/22/1643a.md?p=3)” means any [property](/usc/22/1643a.md?p=3), right, or interest, including any leasehold interest, and debts owed by enterprises which have been nationalized, expropriated, or taken by the [German Democratic Republic](#4) for which no restoration or no adequate compensation has been made to the former owners of such [property](/usc/22/1643a.md?p=3).
- (4) The term “German Democratic Republic” includes the government of any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof or under its control.
- (5) The term “Claims Fund” is the special fund established in the Treasury of the United States composed of such sums as may be paid to the United States by the [German Democratic Republic](#4) pursuant to the terms of any agreement settling such claims that may be entered into by the Governments of the United States and the [German Democratic Republic](#4).

## Source credit

(Mar. 10, 1950, ch. 54, title VI, § 601, as added Pub. L. 94–542, Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2509.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States as Separate Agency Within Department of Justice

For provisions transferring Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States as a separate agency within the Department of Justice, see section 1622a et seq. of this title.