---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 3715a"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "3715a"
heading: "Operation of Fund"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/3715a"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Panama Canal"
  - "Subchapter I — Administration and Regulations"
  - "Part 3 — Funds and Accounts"
  - "Subpart i — funds"
---

# §3715a. Operation of Fund

- (a) **Deposits to Fund—** The Panama Canal [Commission](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2) shall make deposits on a regular basis to the Fund, beginning on October 1, 1988, to accumulate an amount sufficient to defray the estimated total cost of liability for the workers’ compensation benefits and other payments payable under [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of title 5 for the disability or death of employees of the Panama Canal [Commission](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2) or any of its predecessor agencies on account of injuries sustained on or before December 31, 1999, except for those claims arising before, on, or after October 1, 1988, for which the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Labor has assumed fiscal responsibility.
- (b) **Calculation of amounts to be deposited—** The amounts deposited under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be based upon periodic actuarial studies conducted by experts or consultants whose services are procured by the Panama Canal [Commission](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2) by contract. The amounts of such deposits shall take into consideration interest earnings in accordance with [subsection (c)](#c) of this section and expected cost of living adjustments as provided in [section 8146a of title 5](/usc/5/8146a.md), but not amounts payable by the [Commission](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2) for continuation of pay pursuant to [section 8118](/usc/5/8118.md) of such title.
- (c) **Investment of amounts in Fund—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of the Treasury, upon the request of the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Labor, shall invest moneys in the Fund in public debt securities which shall bear interest at rates determined by the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of the Treasury, taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturity. Such interest shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–705, § 3, Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4685.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Panama Canal Commission Compensation Fund Act of 1988, and not as part of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1988, see section 10 of Pub. L. 100–705, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 3612 of this title.