PUBLIC LAW 104-106—FEB. 10, 1996 110 STAT. 639 of the Board shall be nationals of the Republic of Panama. Three members of the Board who are nationals of the United States shall hold no other office in, and shall not be employed by, the Government of the United States, and shall be chosen for the independent perspective they can bring to the Commission's affairs. Members of the Board who are nationals of the United States shall cast their votes as directed by the Secretary of Defense or a designee of the Secretary of Defense.". SEC. 3524. GENERAL AND SPECIFIC POWERS OF COMMISSION. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1102 the following new sections: " GENERAL POWERS OF COMMISSION "SEC. 1102a. (a) The Commission may adopt, alter, and use 22 USC 36i2a. a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed. "(b) The Commission may by action of the Board of Directors adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws governing the conduct of its general business and the perforaiance of the powers and duties granted to or imposed upon it by law. "(c) The Commission may sue and be sued in its corporate name, except that— "(1) the amenability of the Commission to suit is limited by Article VIII of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, section 1401 of this Act, and otherwise by law; "(2) an attachment, garnishment, or similar process may not be issued against salaries or other moneys owed by the Commission to its employees except as provided by section 5520a of title 5, United States Code, and sections 459, 461, and 462 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 659, 661, 662), or as otherwise specifically authorized by the laws of the United States; and "(3) the Commission is exempt from the payment of interest on claims and judgments. "(d) The Commission may enter into contracts, leases, agreements, or other transactions. "(e) The Commission— "(1) may determine the character of, and necessity for, its obligations and expenditures and the manner in which they shall be incurred, allowed, and paid; and "(2) may incur, allow, and pay its obligations and expenditures, subject to pertinent provisions of law generally applicable to Government corporations. "(f) The Commission shall have the priority of the Government of the United States in the payment of debts out of bankrupt estates. "(g) The authority of the Commission under this section and section 1102B is subject to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements, and to chapter 91 of title 31, United States Code. " SPECIFIC POWERS OF COMMISSION "SEC. 1102b. (a) The Commission may manage, operate, and maintain the Panama Canal. "(b) The Commission may construct or acquire, establish, maintain, and operate such activities, facilities, and appurtenances as 22 USC 3612b.
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