22 U.S.C. § 3623 — Office of Ombudsman

(a) Establishment; appointment of Ombudsman; functions The Commission must establish an Office of Ombudsman within the Commission. An Ombudsman, appointed by the Commission, must direct the office. The office must receive individual complaints, grievances, requests, and suggestions from employees and their dependents of the Commission and of other United States departments and agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution, that were conducting operations before October 1, 1979, in the area that then made up the Canal Zone. The complaints, grievances, requests, and suggestions must concern administrative problems, inefficiencies, and conflicts caused within those United States departments and agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution, by carrying out the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(b) Authority to make findings, render assistance, and offer recommendations The Ombudsman must make findings and render assistance concerning the complaints, grievances, requests, and suggestions submitted to the Office of Ombudsman. The Ombudsman must also make appropriate recommendations to the Commission or to any other United States department or agency, including the Smithsonian Institution.

(c) Effect on procedures for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters under this chapter, in other provisions of law, or in Federal regulations Establishing the Office of Ombudsman must not affect any procedure for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters under any other provision of this chapter, any other provision of law, or any Federal regulation.

(d) Termination date The Office of Ombudsman must end when the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 ends. This section does not define the terms "Commission," "Ombudsman," "individual complaints," "grievances," "requests," "suggestions," "employees," "dependents," "departments and agencies of the United States," "Smithsonian Institution," "administrative problems," "inefficiencies," "conflicts," "related agreements," "procedures," "Federal regulation," "this chapter," or "Panama Canal Treaty of 1977."