---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5003"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5003"
heading: "United States Commissioners"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5003"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — North Pacific Anadromous Stocks Convention"
---

# §5003. United States Commissioners

- (a) **Commissioners—** The United States shall be represented on the [Commission](/usc/16/5002.md?p=4) by not more than three [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President. Each United States [Commissioner](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) shall be appointed for a term of office not to exceed 4 years, but is eligible for reappointment. Individuals serving as such [Commissioners](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) shall not be considered to be Federal employees while performing such service, except for purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII-sptG-ch81.md) of title 5 and [chapter 171](/usc/28/chptVI-ch171.md) of title 28. Of the [Commissioners](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3)—
  - (1) one shall be an official of the United States Government;
  - (2) one shall be a resident of the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Alaska; and
  - (3) one shall be a resident of the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Washington.

  An individual is not eligible for appointment under paragraph [(2)](#a-2) or [(3)](#a-3) as a [Commissioner](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) unless the individual is knowledgeable or experienced concerning the [anadromous stocks](/usc/16/5002.md?p=1) and [ecologically related species](/usc/16/5002.md?p=8) of the North Pacific Ocean.

- (b) **Alternate Commissioners—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5002.md?p=16), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/5002.md?p=16) of Commerce, may designate from time to time Alternate [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) to the [Commission](/usc/16/5002.md?p=4). An Alternate United States [Commissioner](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) may exercise all designated powers and duties of a United States [Commissioner](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) in the absence of a duly designated [Commissioner](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) for whatever reason. The number of such Alternate [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) that may be designated for any such meeting shall be limited to the number of authorized [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) that will not be present.
- (c) **United States Section—** The [United States Section](/usc/16/5002.md?p=17), in consultation with the Advisory Panel established in [section 5004 of this title](/usc/16/5004.md), shall identify and recommend to the [Commission](/usc/16/5002.md?p=4) research needs and priorities for [anadromous stocks](/usc/16/5002.md?p=1) and [ecologically related species](/usc/16/5002.md?p=8) subject to the [Convention](/usc/16/5002.md?p=5), and oversee the United States research [programs](/usc/16/460ss–6.md?p=1) involving such [fisheries](/usc/16/1383a.md?p=o-1), stocks, and species.
- (d) **Compensation—** [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) and Alternate [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) shall receive no compensation for their services as [Commissioners](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3) and Alternate [Commissioners](/usc/16/3601.md?p=3).
- (e) **Travel expenses—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5002.md?p=16) may pay the necessary travel expenses of the [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) and Alternate [United States Commissioners](/usc/16/951.md?p=6) in carrying out the duties of the [Commission](/usc/16/5002.md?p=4) in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and sections [5701](/usc/5/5701.md), [5702](/usc/5/5702.md), [5704 through 5708](/usc/5/5704..5708.md), and [5731](/usc/5/5731.md) of title 5.
  - (2) **Reimbursement—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/5002.md?p=16) of Commerce may reimburse the [Secretary](/usc/16/5002.md?p=16) for amounts expended by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5002.md?p=16) under this subparagraph.[^1]

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “subsection”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–567, title VIII, § 804, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4310; Pub. L. 102–587, title VIII, § 8004, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5099; Pub. L. 106–562, title III, § 304, Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2806; Pub. L. 114–327, title I, § 121(b)(1), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1984.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Title VIII of Pub. L. 102–567 and Pub. L. 102–587 enacted identical sections. Title VIII of Pub. L. 102–587 was repealed by Pub. L. 106–562.

### Amendments

2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–327 added subsec. (e).

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–562, § 304(b), inserted after second sentence “Individuals serving as such Commissioners shall not be considered to be Federal employees while performing such service, except for purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.”