§3623. Office of Ombudsman

(a) Establishment; appointment of Ombudsman; functions

There is established within the Commission an Office of Ombudsman, to be directed by an Ombudsman, who shall be appointed by the Commission. It shall be the function of the Office of Ombudsman to receive individual complaints, grievances, requests, and suggestions of employees (and their dependents) of the Commission and other departments and agencies of the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution, conducting operations before October 1, 1979, in the area then comprising the Canal Zone concerning administrative problems, inefficiencies, and conflicts caused within departments and agencies of the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution, as a result of the implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(b) Authority to make findings, render assistance, and offer recommendations

The Ombudsman shall make findings and render assistance with respect to the complaints, grievances, requests, and suggestions submitted to the Office of Ombudsman, and shall make appropriate recommendations to the Commission or any other department or agency of the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution.

(c) Effect on procedures for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters under this chapter, in other provisions of law, or in Federal regulations

The establishment of the Office of Ombudsman shall not affect any procedures for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters in any other provision of this chapter, any other provision of law, or any Federal regulation.

(d) Termination date

The Office of Ombudsman shall terminate upon the termination of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977.

( Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1113, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 460 ; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, §3525, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2861 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 96–70, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 452 , known as the Panama Canal Act of 1979, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1996-Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 104–201 redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read as follows: "The Ombudsman shall be a citizen of the United States."