---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 15304"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "15304"
heading: "Administrative powers and expenses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/15304"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development"
  - "Chapter 153 — Regional Commissions"
---

# §15304. Administrative powers and expenses

- (a) **Powers.—** In carrying out its duties under this subtitle, a [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) may—
  - (1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and print or otherwise reproduce and distribute a description of the proceedings and reports on actions by the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) as the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) considers appropriate;
  - (2) authorize, through the Federal or State Cochairperson or any other member of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) designated by the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1), the administration of oaths if the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) determines that testimony should be taken or evidence received under oath;
  - (3) request from any Federal, State, or local agency such information as may be available to or procurable by the agency that may be of use to the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) in carrying out the duties of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1);
  - (4) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws and rules governing the conduct of business and the performance of duties by the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1);
  - (5) request the head of any [Federal agency](/usc/40/102.md?p=5), State agency, or local government to detail to the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) such personnel as the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) requires to carry out its duties, each such detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other employee status, which may be done without a requirement for the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) to reimburse the agency or local government;
  - (6) provide for coverage of [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) employees in a suitable retirement and employee benefit system by making arrangements or entering into contracts with any participating State government or otherwise providing retirement and other employee coverage;
  - (7) accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations or services or real, personal, tangible, or intangible [property](/usc/40/102.md?p=9);
  - (8) collect fees for services provided and retain and expend such fees;
  - (9) enter into and perform such contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as are necessary to carry out [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) duties, including any contracts or cooperative agreements with a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, a State (including a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the State), or a person, firm, association, or corporation; and
  - (10) establish and maintain a central office at such location in its [region](/usc/40/15101.md?p=6) as the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) may select.
- (b) **Federal Agency Cooperation.—** A [Federal agency](/usc/40/102.md?p=5) shall—
  - (1) cooperate with a [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1); and
  - (2) provide, to the extent practicable, on request of the Federal Cochairperson, appropriate assistance in carrying out this subtitle, in accordance with applicable Federal laws (including regulations).
- (c) **Administrative Expenses.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the administrative expenses of a [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) shall be paid—
    - (A) by the Federal Government, in an amount equal to 50 percent of the administrative expenses of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1); and
    - (B) by the States participating in the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1), in an amount equal to 50 percent of the administrative expenses.
  - (2) **Expenses of the federal cochairperson.—** All expenses of the Federal Cochairperson, including expenses of the alternate and staff of the Federal Cochairperson, shall be paid by the Federal Government.
  - (3) **State share.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#c-3-B), the share of administrative expenses of a [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) to be paid by each State of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) shall be determined by a majority vote of the State members of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1).
    - (B) **No federal participation.—** The Federal Cochairperson shall not participate or vote in any decision under [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A).
    - (C) **Delinquent states.—** During any period in which a State is more than 1 year delinquent in payment of the State’s share of administrative expenses of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) under this subsection—
      - (i) no assistance under this subtitle shall be provided to the State (including assistance to a political subdivision or a resident of the State) for any project not approved as of the date of the commencement of the delinquency; and
      - (ii) no member of the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) from the State shall participate or vote in any action by the [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1).
  - (4) **Effect on assistance.—** A State’s share of administrative expenses of a [Commission](/usc/40/15101.md?p=1) under this subsection shall not be taken into consideration when determining the amount of assistance provided to the State under this subtitle.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14217(a)(2), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1471, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14217(a)(2), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2233; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6304(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4749; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, § 2242(c), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3203.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2242(c)(1), inserted “, which may be done without a requirement for the Commission to reimburse the agency or local government” after “status”.

Subsec. (a)(8), (9). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2242(c)(2), (3), added par. (8) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9). Former par. (9) redesignated (10).

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2242(c)(2), (4), redesignated par. (9) as (10) and struck out “maintain a government relations office in the District of Columbia and” before “establish and maintain a central office”.

2018—Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “majority” for “unanimous”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after June 18, 2008, see section 14217(d) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 15101 of this title.