22 U.S.C. § 7713 — Powers of the Corporation; related provisions

(a) Powers. The Corporation^* (1) continues forever unless dissolved by a law enacted after January 23, 2004; (2) may adopt, change, and use a seal, which courts must recognize; (3) may make contracts, grants, and agreements with any person or government anywhere when needed for its functions; (4) may set how its obligations and expenses, including representation expenses, are incurred, allowed, and paid; (5) may lease, buy, acquire, improve, and use needed real property anywhere; (6) may accept money, services, or property donations; (7) may use the mails like executive departments; (8) may contract for personal services, with those contractors not treated as Federal employees for laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management; (9) may hire or obtain passenger vehicles; and (10) has other powers necessary and incidental to this chapter.

(b) Principal office. The Corporation must keep its principal office in the Washington, District of Columbia, metropolitan area.

(c) Foreign-government positions. With the Chief Executive Officer’s approval, Corporation employees, including detailees, may hold unpaid offices or positions with foreign governments, their agencies, or international organizations to implement a Compact^*.

(d) Other authorities. Unless inconsistent with this chapter, administrative authorities in the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 and Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 apply to this chapter to the same extent and manner as they apply to those Acts.

(e) Government Corporation Control Act. (1) The Corporation is subject to title 31, subtitle VI, chapter 91, but may not issue obligations or offer them to the public. (2) Omitted.

(f) Inspector General. (1) USAID’s Inspector General serves as the Corporation’s Inspector General and may review, investigate, and inspect all Corporation operations and activities. (2) In these duties, the Inspector General reports to and is generally supervised by the Board^*. (3)(A) The Corporation must reimburse USAID for all related Inspector General expenses. (B) Up to $5 million of the amount authorized under section 7718(a) for a fiscal year may be made available to USAID’s Inspector General for these reviews, investigations, and inspections.

(g) Special assistance. (1) The Chief Executive Officer^* may contract with United States or candidate-country nongovernmental organizations, including universities and independent foundations, and when appropriate directly with a government agency, for research improving eligibility-criteria data for a country. (2) Up to $5 million of the amount authorized under section 7718(a) for a fiscal year may fund this research.