--- kind: "section" citation: "46 U.S.C. § 42503" title: "46" title_heading: "Shipping" number: "42503" heading: "Administration" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/42503" units: - "Subtitle IV — Regulation of Ocean Shipping" - "Part B — Actions To Address Foreign Practices" - "Chapter 425 — National Shipper Advisory Committee" --- # §42503. Administration - (a) **Meetings.—** The [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall, not less than once each year, meet at the call of the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) or a majority of the members of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (b) **Employee Status.—** A member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall not be considered an employee of the Federal Government by reason of service on such [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2), except for the purposes of the following: - (1) Chapter 81 of title 5. - (2) [Chapter 171](/usc/28/chptVI/ch171.md) of title 28 and any other Federal law relating to tort liability. - (c) **Volunteer Services and Compensation.—** - (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) may serve on such [committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) on a voluntary basis without pay. - (2) No member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall receive compensation for service on the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (d) **Status of Members.—** - (1) **In general.—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#d-2), with respect to a member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) whom the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) appoints to represent an entity or group— - (A) the member is authorized to represent the interests of the applicable entity or group; and - (B) requirements under Federal law that would interfere with such representation and that apply to a special Government employee (as defined in [section 202(a) of title 18](/usc/18/202.md?p=a)), including requirements relating to employee conduct, political activities, ethics, conflicts of interest, and corruption, do not apply to the member. - (2) **Exception.—** Notwithstanding [subsection (b)](#b), a member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall be treated as a special Government employee for purposes of the [committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) service of the member if the member, without regard to service on the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2), is a special Government employee. - (e) **Service on Committee.—** - (1) **Solicitation of nominations.—** Before appointing an individual as a member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2), the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall publish a timely notice in the Federal Register soliciting nominations for membership on such [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (2) **Appointments.—** - (A) **In general.—** After considering nominations received pursuant to a notice published under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may appoint a member to the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (B) **Prohibition.—** The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall not seek, consider, or otherwise use information concerning the political affiliation of a nominee in making an appointment to the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (3) **Service at pleasure of commission.—** Each member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall serve at the pleasure of the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1). - (4) **Security background examinations.—** The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may require an individual to have passed an appropriate security background examination before appointment to the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (5) **Prohibition.—** A Federal employee may not be appointed as a member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (6) **Terms.—** - (A) **In general.—** The term of each member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall expire on December 31 of the third full year after the effective date of the appointment. - (B) **Continued service after term.—** When the term of a member of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) ends, the member, for a period not to exceed 1 year, may continue to serve as a member until a successor is appointed. - (7) **Vacancies.—** A vacancy on the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. - (8) **Special rule for reappointments.—** Notwithstanding paragraphs [(1)](#e-1) and [(2)](#e-2), the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may reappoint a member of a [committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) for any term, other than the first term of the member, without soliciting, receiving, or considering nominations for such appointment. - (f) **Staff Services.—** The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall furnish to the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) any staff and services considered by the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) to be necessary for the conduct of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2)’s functions. - (g) **Chair; Vice Chair.—** - (1) **In general.—** The [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among the [committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2)’s members. - (2) **Vice chairman acting as chairman.—** The Vice Chair shall act as Chair in the absence or incapacity of, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of, the Chair. - (h) **Subcommittees and Working Groups.—** - (1) **In general.—** The Chair of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) may establish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups for any purpose consistent with the function of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (2) **Participants.—** Subject to conditions imposed by the Chair, members of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) may be assigned to subcommittees and working groups established under [paragraph (1)](#h-1). - (i) **Consultation, Advice, Reports, and Recommendations.—** - (1) **Consultation.—** Before taking any significant action, the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall consult with, and consider the information, advice, and recommendations of, the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) if the function of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) is to advise the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) on matters related to the significant action. - (2) **Advice, reports, and recommendations.—** The [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall submit, in writing, to the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) its advice, reports, and recommendations, in a form and at a frequency determined appropriate by the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2). - (3) **Explanation of actions taken.—** Not later than 60 days after the date on which the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) receives recommendations from the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) under [paragraph (2)](#i-2), the [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall— - (A) publish the recommendations on a public website; and - (B) respond, in writing, to the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) regarding the recommendations, including by providing an explanation of actions taken regarding the recommendations. - (4) **Submission to congress.—** The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) shall submit to the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the advice, reports, and recommendations received from the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) under [paragraph (2)](#i-2). - (j) **Observers.—** The [Commission](/usc/46/42501.md?p=1) may designate a representative to— - (1) attend any meeting of the [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2); and - (2) participate as an observer at such meeting. - (k) **Termination.—** The [Committee](/usc/46/42501.md?p=2) shall terminate on September 30, 2029. ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXVI [LXXXVI], § 8604(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4762.)