---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 5842"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "5842"
heading: "Appointment and authority of Director"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/5842"
units:
  - "Chapter 88 — Research"
  - "Subchapter II — National Genetic Resources Program"
---

# §5842. Appointment and authority of Director

- (a) **Director—** There shall be at the head of the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) an official to be known as the [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) of the National Genetic Resources [Program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) who shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6). The [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) shall perform such duties as are assigned to the [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) by this subchapter and such other duties as the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) may prescribe.
- (b) **Administrative authority—** In carrying out this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6), acting through the [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3)—
  - (1) shall be responsible for the overall direction of the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) and for the establishment and implementation of general policies respecting the management and operation of activities within the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1);
  - (2) may secure for the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) consultation services and advice of [persons](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) from the United States and abroad;
  - (3) may accept voluntary and uncompensated services; and
  - (4) may perform such other administrative functions as the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) determines are needed to effectively carry out this subchapter.
- (c) **Duties—** The [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) shall—
  - (1) advise participants on the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) activities;
  - (2) coordinate, review and facilitate the systematic identification and evaluation of, relevant information generated under the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1);
  - (3) promote the effective transfer of the information described in [paragraph (2)](#c-2) to the agriculture and food production community and to entities that require such information; and
  - (4) monitor the effectiveness of the activities described in [paragraph (3)](#c-3).
- (d) **Biennial reports—** The [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) shall prepare and transmit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) and to the Congress a biennial report containing—
  - (1) a description of the activities carried out by and through the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) and the policies of the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1), and such recommendations respecting such activities and policies as the [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) considers to be appropriate;
  - (2) a description of the necessity for, and progress achieved toward providing, additional [programs](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) and activities designed to include the range of genetic resources described in [section 5841(d)(5) of this title](/usc/7/5841.md?p=d-5) in the activities of the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1); and
  - (3) an assessment of events and activities occurring internationally as they relate to the activities and policies of the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1).
- (e) **Initial reports—** Not later than one year after November 28, 1990, the [Director](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-3) shall transmit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) and to the Congress a report—
  - (1) describing the projected needs over a 10-year period in each of the areas of genetic resources described in [section 5841(d)(5) of this title](/usc/7/5841.md?p=d-5), including the identification of existing components of a comprehensive [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1), policies and activities needed to coordinate those components, and additional elements not in existence which are required for the development of a comprehensive genetic resources [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) as described in such section;
  - (2) assessing the international efforts and activities related to the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1), and their effect upon and coordination with the [program](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1); and
  - (3) evaluating the potential effect of various national laws, including national quarantine requirements, as well as treaties, agreements, and the activities of international organizations on the development of a comprehensive international system for the collection and maintenance of genetic resources of importance to agriculture.
- (f) **Plan publication—** On completion of the development of the plan described in [section 5841(d)(6) of this title](/usc/7/5841.md?p=d-6), the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall make the plan available to the public.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1633, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3744; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 404(a)(2), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1864; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7205(b), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4803.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–334 added subsec. (f).

1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “Resources Program” for “Resources program”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (d) of this section relating to biennial reports to Congress, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 49 of House Document No. 103–7.