---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1965"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1965"
heading: "Volunteer status"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1965"
units:
  - "Chapter 33A — Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction"
  - "Subchapter II — Marine Debris Foundation"
---

# §1965. Volunteer status


The [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of Commerce may accept, without regard to the civil service classification laws, rules, or regulations, the services of the Foundation, the [Board](/usc/33/467.md?p=2), and the officers and employees of the [Board](/usc/33/467.md?p=2), without compensation from the Department of Commerce, as volunteers in the performance of the functions authorized in this title.[^1]


## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–449, § 115, formerly Pub. L. 116–224, title I, § 115, Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1079; renumbered Pub. L. 109–449, § 115, by Pub. L. 119–65, § 3(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1987.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This title, referred to in text, means title I of Pub. L. 116–224, Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1074, which was classified principally to subchapter I (§ 4211 et seq.) of chapter 55 of this title. Subtitles B and C of title I of Pub. L. 116–224 were transferred to subtitles B and C of Pub. L. 109–449 by Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 3(a), 4(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1987, 1989, and are classified to this subchapter and subchapter III of this chapter, respectively. Subtitle A of title I of Pub. L. 116–224 amended sections 1951, 1958, and 1959 of this title, and subtitle D of title I of Pub. L. 116–224 is classified to part C (§ 4251) of subchapter I of chapter 55 of this title.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 4215 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 119–65.