§1051. Bilateral or regional cooperation programs: payment of personnel expenses

(a) The Secretary of Defense may pay the travel, subsistence, and similar personal expenses of defense personnel of developing countries in connection with the attendance of such personnel at a bilateral or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting if the Secretary determines that the attendance of such personnel at such conference, seminar, or similar meeting is in the national security interests of the United States.

(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may be paid on behalf of personnel from a developing country only in connection with travel to and within the area of responsibility of the unified combatant command (as such term is defined in section 161(c) of this title) in which the bilateral or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting for which expenses are authorized is located or in connection with travel to Canada or Mexico.

(2) In a case in which the headquarters of a unified combatant command is located within the United States, expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may be paid in connection with travel of personnel to the United States to attend a bilateral or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting.

(3) In the case of defense personnel of a developing country that is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and that is participating in the Partnership for Peace program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may be paid in connection with travel of personnel to the territory of any of the countries participating in the Partnership for Peace program or the territory of any NATO member country.

(4) Expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a) may not, in the case of any individual, exceed the amount that would be paid under chapter 7 of title 37 to a member of the armed forces of the United States (of a comparable grade) for authorized travel of a similar nature.

(c) In addition to the expenses authorized to be paid under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may pay such other expenses in connection with any such conference, seminar, or similar meeting as the Secretary considers in the national security interests of the United States.

(d) The authority to pay expenses under this section is in addition to the authority to pay certain expenses and compensation of officers and students of Latin American countries under section 1050 of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XIII, §1322(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3989 ; amended Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title IX, §936, Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1538 ; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIII, §1301(5), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1668 ; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title XIII, §1362, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2560 ; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title XII, §1202(a), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2663 ; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title XII, §1203, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3456 .)

Codification

Another section 1051 was renumbered section 1032 of this title.

Amendments

2006-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–163 inserted "to and" after "in connection with travel" and substituted "in which the bilateral or regional conference, seminar, or similar meeting for which expenses are authorized is located" for "in which the developing country is located".

2002-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 107–314, §1202(a)(1), substituted "paragraphs (2) and (3)" for "paragraph (2)".

Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 107–314, §1202(a)(2), (3), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).

1992-Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–484 struck out subsec. (e) which read as follows: "The authority of the Secretary of Defense under this section shall expire on September 30, 1992."

1990-Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 101–510 redesignated subsec. (g) as (e) and struck out former subsecs. (e) and (f) which read as follows:

"(e) Not later than March 1 each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing-

"(1) a list of the developing countries for which expenses have been paid under this section during the preceding fiscal year; and

"(2) the amount paid by the United States in the case of each such country.

"(f) During each of fiscal years 1987, 1988, and 1989, not more than $800,000 may be obligated or expended under this section."

1989-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–189, §936(a), inserted before period at end "or in connection with travel to Canada or Mexico".

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–189, §936(b), substituted "1992" for "1989".

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title XII, §1202(b), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2663 , provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to travel performed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 2002]."