---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7142c"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7142c"
heading: "Museum volunteers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7142c"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter II — Establishment of Department"
---

# §7142c. Museum volunteers

- (a) **Authority to use volunteers—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7385s.md?p=3) may recruit, train, and accept the services of individuals or entities as volunteers for services or activities related to the [Museum](/usc/42/7142d.md?p=1).
- (b) **Status of volunteers—**
  - (1) **In general—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), service by a volunteer under [subsection (a)](#a) shall not be considered Federal employment.
  - (2) **Exceptions—**
    - (A) **Federal Tort Claims Act—** For purposes of [chapter 171](/usc/28/chptVI/ch171.md) of title 28, a volunteer under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be treated as an employee of the Government (as defined in section 2671 of that title).
    - (B) **Compensation for work injuries—** For purposes of subchapter I of [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of title 5, a volunteer described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be treated as an employee (as defined in [section 8101 of title 5](/usc/5/8101.md)).
- (c) **Compensation—** A volunteer under [subsection (a)](#a) shall serve without pay, but may receive nominal awards and reimbursement for incidental expenses, including expenses for a uniform or transportation in furtherance of [Museum](/usc/42/7142d.md?p=1) activities.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title IV, § 403], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–267.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Miscellaneous Appropriations Act, 2001, and also as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter.