22 U.S.C. § 4603 — United States Institute of Peace

(a) The Institute may exercise powers given to a District of Columbia nonprofit corporation, consistent with this chapter, except the cited section 5(o). (b) Acting through the Board, it may (1) establish the Jennings Randolph Program, appoint United States and foreign peace scholars and leaders for up to two years, and provide support; (2) form consistent formal or informal relationships with public or private institutions; (3) establish the Jeannette Rankin Research Program to study war, conflict, peace, theories, methods, programs, systems, and countries’ conflict-resolution experiences, emphasizing realistic lessons from successes and failures in peace and arms control and using Government and properly classified State, Defense, and intelligence materials as much as possible; (4) make peace research, education, and training more available through programs, handbooks, and practical materials; (5) support graduate and postgraduate peace education and research; (6) train practitioners, policymakers, implementers, citizens, and noncitizens through training, symposia, and continuing education; (7) publish and disseminate selected Institute work; (8) create an information clearinghouse, including properly safeguarded classified information, for the public and cleared government personnel; (9) obtain needed Federal information under title 5 section 552 on request of the Institute president if release would not unduly interfere with an agency, including classified information if staff and Board members obtain Defense and State clearances; and (10) establish the Spark M. Matsunaga Scholars Program with scholarships and education for outstanding secondary students and scholarships for outstanding undergraduates, called Spark M. Matsunaga Scholars. (c)(1)(A) Each year the Institute may award the Spark M. Matsunaga Medal of Peace and up to $25,000 to a person or persons it finds made extraordinary contributions to peace, especially knowledge and skill in peacemaking and conflict management. (B) The Treasury Secretary must strike a bronze medal with suitable goals-related emblems and inscriptions, designing it with the Board and Fine Arts Commission; the Secretary and Board determine its size; and the Treasury account must be reimbursed from section 4609(a)(1) funds. (2) The Board must create an advisory panel of eminent peacemakers, diplomats, public-affairs leaders, and scholars to advise on the recipient. (3) The Institute must inform the named Senate and House committees about selection procedures and relevant matters emphasizing the award’s importance. (d) The Institute may make grants and contracts for outreach with postsecondary, community, secondary, and elementary schools; public and private education, training, and research institutions and libraries; and public departments and agencies, including State and territorial education and commerce departments. A recipient must be nonprofit or official public, and at least one-fourth of annual appropriations must go to such institutions. Grants or contracts may (1) support basic and applied peace and conflict research; (2) advance its study; (3) educate the Nation and train people in theories, methods, programs, and systems; (4) assist publications, clearinghouse, and information services; (5) assist study of conflicts between free trade unions and Communist-dominated groups in the global human-rights struggle; and (6) support other chapter purposes. (e) At a United States department or agency’s request, the Institute may investigate, examine, study, and report on matters within its competence, including negotiating histories and classified materials. (f) It may make personal-service and other operating contracts. (g) It may set officers’, employees’, and agents’ duties and create needed advisory bodies. (h)(1) Except as (2) and (3) provide, it may receive government grants, contracts including classified research contracts for the named agencies, gifts, and contributions. (2) It and the entity in section 4603(c) may not accept a foreign-government or international-organization gift, contribution, or grant, or one from a legal entity more than 50 percent owned directly or indirectly by foreign nationals. (3) They may not accept private gifts, grants, or contributions, except for (A) acquiring, building, improving, furnishing, or maintaining a permanent headquarters or related site or facility, or (B) program hospitality, including for the Medal. (i) It may charge subscriptions and publish and distribute periodicals and other materials. (j) It may charge participation fees and costs for its subsection (b) activities. (k) It may sue and be sued in a competent court. (l) It may adopt and use a seal, emblem, badge, or similar recognition mark. (m) It may take lawful actions needed or desirable for chapter purposes. (n) It may not influence legislation before Congress, State or local bodies, or the United Nations, but its personnel may testify or communicate when formally requested by a legislative body, committee, or member. (o) It may obtain reimbursable administrative support and supplies and services from the General Services Administration.