US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

50 U.S.C. § 4101

Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States

(a)

Employment of personnel; use of other facilities and services

The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”) may, in accordance with the provisions of the civil-service laws and chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, appoint and fix the compensation of such officers, attorneys, and employees, and may make such expenditures, as may be necessary to carry out its functions. Officers and employees of any other department or agency of the Government may, with the consent of the head of such department or agency, be assigned to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions. The Commission may, with the consent of the head of any other department or agency of the Government, utilize the facilities and services of such department or agency in carrying out the functions of the Commission.

(b)

Rules and regulations; delegation of functions; time limit on filing of claims

The Commission may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions, and may delegate functions to any member, officer, or employee of the Commission. The Commission shall give public notice of the time when, and the limit of time within which, claims may be filed, which notice shall be published in the Federal Register. The limit of time within which claims may be filed with the Commission shall in no event be later than . The Commission shall take immediate action to advise all persons entitled to file claims under the provisions of this subchapter administered by the Commission of their rights under such provisions, and to assist them in the preparation and filing of their claims.

(c)

Subpenas; issuance; contempt; witness fees; administration of oaths

(1)
Provided For the purpose of any hearing, examination, or investigation under this subchapter, the Commission and those employees designated by the Commission shall have the power to issue subpenas requiring persons to appear and testify or to appear and produce documents, or both, at any designated place where such hearing, examination, or investigation is being held. The Commission or any employee so designated shall, upon application of a claimant, issue to such claimant subpenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of documents, or both, required by such claimant in hearings upon his claim: , That the claimant making such application pay the witness fees and mileage of any witness or witnesses subpenaed upon his request. The production of a person’s documents at any place other than his place of business shall not be required, however, in any case in which, prior to the return date specified in the subpena with respect thereto, such person either has furnished the issuer of the subpena with a copy of such documents (certified by such person under oath to be a true and correct copy) or has entered into a stipulation with the issuer of the subpena as to the information contained in such documents.
(2)
The Commission may, in case of a failure or refusal on the part of any person to comply with any such subpena, invoke the aid of any United States district court within the jurisdiction of which the hearing, examination, or investigation is being conducted, or such person resides or transacts business. Such court may issue an order requiring such person to appear at the designated place of hearing, examination, or investigation, there to give or produce testimony or documentary evidence concerning the matter in question. Any failure to obey such order of the court shall be punishable by such court as a contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district wherein such person resides or transacts business or wherever such person may be found.
(3)
Witnesses subpenaed under this subsection shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are allowed and paid witnesses in United States district courts.
(4)
Any member of the Commission, and any employee of the Commission authorized by the Commission to do so, may administer to, or take from, any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit when such action is necessary or appropriate in the performance of the functions or activities of the Commission.

July 3, 1948, ch. 82662 Stat. 1240May 27, 1949, ch. 145, § 1(1)63 Stat. 112Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 78263 Stat. 972Aug. 16, 1950, ch. 71864 Stat. 449Apr. 5, 1951, ch. 2765 Stat. 2868 Stat. 1279Aug. 21, 1954, ch. 784, § 368 Stat. 762Pub. L. 87–846, title I76 Stat. 1107Pub. L. 96–209, title I, § 10894 Stat. 97(, title I, § 2, ; , ; , title XI, § 1106(a), ; , ; , ; 1954 Reorg. Plan No. 1 §§ 2, 4, eff. , 19 F.R. 3985, ; , ; , §§ 102, 104(a), , , 1113; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act July 3, 1948, ch. 82662 Stat. 1240This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of , , which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b)80 Stat. 631In subsec. (a), “chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5” was substituted for “the Classification Act of 1949, as amended” on authority of , , , the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section was formerly classified to section 2001 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

Pub. L. 96–209section 1622c(c) of Title 221980—Subsec. (d). struck out subsec. (d) which provided for terms of office of Chairman and members of Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of United States. See , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Pub. L. 87–846, § 1021962—Subsecs. (b), (c)(1). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to this subchapter.

Pub. L. 87–846, § 104(a)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d).

1954—Subsec. (a). Act , struck out subsec. (a) which related to establishment and composition of the former War Claims Commission, and which had been affected by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1954 (see Transfer of Functions note below), redesignated subsec. (b) as (a) and substituted “The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Commission’)” for “The Commission”, meaning the former War Claims Commission.

Subsecs. (b) to (d). Act , § 3(a), designated subsecs. (b) to (d) as (a) to (c), respectively.

Former subsec. (e). Act , § 3(a), repealed subsec. (e) which related to termination of former War Claims Commission.

1951—Subsec. (c). Act , extended time limit on filing of claims from to , and authorized Commission to advise claimants of their rights.

1950—Subsecs. (d), (e). Act , added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).

1949—Subsec. (b). Act , substituted “Classification Act of 1949” for “Classification Act of 1923”.

Subsec. (c). Act , extended time within which persons may file claims until .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–209Pub. L. 96–209section 1622a of Title 22Amendment by effective , see title VI of , set out as an Effective Date note under , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Effective Date of 1951 Amendment

Act Apr. 5, 1951, ch. 2765 Stat. 28, , provided that the amendment made by that Act is effective as of .

Short Title of 1954 Amendment

Act Aug. 31, 1954, ch. 1162, title I, § 168 Stat. 1033

“That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘War Claims Act Amendments of 1954’.”
, , provided:

Short Title

Act July 3, 1948, ch. 826, title I, § 162 Stat. 1240

“This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘War Claims Act of 1948’.”
, , provided that:

Repeals

Act Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 632, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed (subject to a savings clause) by , , § 8, , 655.

Transfer of Functions

For provisions transferring Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to Department of Justice, as a separate agency, see section 1622a et seq. of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

68 Stat. 1279“Foreign Claims Settlement Commission” substituted in text for “War Claims Commission” pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1954, §§ 2, 4, eff. , 19 F.R. 3985, , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which abolished War Claims Commission, including offices of its members, and transferred functions of Commission and members, officers, and employees thereof to Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States.