7 U.S.C. § 8312 — Administration and claims

(a) Administration — To carry out this chapter, the Secretary may: (1) buy and keep real or personal property; (2) hire a person; (3) make a grant; and (4) sign a contract, cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement, even though a different law — chapter 63 of title 31 — might otherwise apply. (b) Tort claims — (1) In general: Unless paragraph (2) says otherwise, the Secretary may pay a tort claim, the way the first paragraph of section 2672 of title 28 allows, if the claim arises outside the United States in connection with an activity this chapter authorizes. (2) Requirements: A claim can't be allowed under this subsection unless it's presented in writing to the Secretary no later than 2 years after the date it arose.