2019 US Code
Title 22 - Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Chapter 8 - Foreign Service Buildings
Sec. 292 - Acquisition of sites and buildings for diplomatic and consular establishments; allotment of space; credit of payments without regard to limitations of amounts

The Secretary of State is empowered to acquire by purchase or construction in the manner hereinafter provided, within the limits of appropriations made to carry out this chapter, by exchange, in whole or in part, of any building or grounds of the United States in foreign countries and under the jurisdiction and control of the Secretary of State, sites and buildings in foreign capitals and in other foreign cities, and to alter, repair, and furnish such buildings for the use of the diplomatic and consular establishments of the United States, or for the purpose of consolidating within one or more buildings, the embassies, legation, consulates, and other agencies of the United States Government there maintained. The space in such buildings shall be allotted by the Secretary of State among the several agencies of the United States Government.

Payments made for rent or otherwise by the United States from funds other than appropriations made to carry out this chapter may be credited toward the acquisition of property under this chapter without regard to limitations of amounts imposed by this chapter.

The Secretary of State may improve or construct facilities overseas for other Federal departments and agencies on an advance-of-funds or reimbursable basis if such advances or reimbursements are credited to the Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance account and remain available until expended.

(May 7, 1926, ch. 250, §1, 44 Stat. 403; May 29, 1928, ch. 876, §1, 45 Stat. 971; Pub. L. 88–94, §2(b), Aug. 12, 1963, 77 Stat. 122; Pub. L. 89–636, §2, Oct. 10, 1966, 80 Stat. 881; Pub. L. 95–105, title I, §106(a), Aug. 17, 1977, 91 Stat. 845; Pub. L. 114–323, title I, §119, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1912.)

2016—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–323 added subsec. (c).

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–105, §106(a)(1), substituted "to carry out" for "pursuant to".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–105, §106(a)(2), substituted "to carry out" for "under authority of".

1966—Pub. L. 89–636 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

1963—Pub. L. 88–94 struck out ", subject to the direction of the commission hereinafter established," after "is empowered", "under such terms and conditions as in the judgment of the commission may best protect the interests of the United States," after "in part," and ", to the extent deemed advisable by the commission," after "consolidating" and substituted ". The space in such buildings shall be allotted by the Secretary of State" for ", which buildings shall be appropriately designated by the commission, and the space in which shall be allotted by the Secretary of State under the direction of the commission."

1928—Act May 29, 1928, inserted "or by exchange, in whole or in part, under such terms and conditions as in the judgment of the commission may best protect the interest of the United States, of any building or grounds of the United States in foreign countries and under the jurisdiction and control of the Secretary of State".

Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §134, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 396, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, §1(z), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4302, provided that: "Whenever the Department of State enters into lease-purchase agreements involving property in foreign countries pursuant to section 1 of the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 292), the Department shall account for such transactions in accordance with fiscal year obligations."