USC Chapter 66

in effect

16 U.S.C. § 4601 Establishment of Take Pride in America Program

(a) In generalThere is hereby established the Take Pride in America Program within the Department of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the “TPIA Program”). (b) PurposesThe purposes of the TPIA Program shall include the following:(1) To establish and maintain a public awareness campaign in cooperation with public and private organizations and individuals—(A) to instill in the public the importance of the appropriate use of, and appreciation for Federal, State, and local lands, facilities, and natural and cultural resources; (B) to encourage an attitude of stewardship and responsibility toward these lands, facilities, and resources; and (C) to promote participation by individuals, organizations, and communities of a conservation ethic in caring for these lands, facilities, and resources. (2) To conduct a national awards program to honor those individuals and entities which, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the “Secretary”), have distinguished themselves in the activities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

16 U.S.C. § 4602 Gifts and bequests

(a) AuthorityThe Secretary may solicit, accept, hold, administer, invest in government securities, and use gifts and bequests of money and other personal property to aid or facilitate the purposes of the TPIA Program. Property so donated and accepted shall not be subject to sequestration. (b) AccountingThe Secretary shall maintain a full accounting of such gifts and bequests. (c) Treatment of donations, etc.For purposes of Federal law, property accepted pursuant to this section shall be considered as a gift, bequest, or devise to the United States. (d) Use of propertyAny property and the proceeds thereof shall be used as nearly as practicable in accordance with the terms of the gift or bequest.

16 U.S.C. § 4603 Administrative services

The Secretary of the Interior shall provide such facilities, administrative services, personnel, and support to the TPIA Program as the Secretary determines is necessary and appropriate.

16 U.S.C. § 4604 Volunteers

(a) Authority to use volunteersThe Secretary is authorized to recruit, train, and accept the services of individuals or entities, without compensation, as volunteers for or in aid of the purposes of the TPIA Program, without regard to the provisions of title 5, that govern appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, that relate to classification and General Schedule pay rates. (b) Incidental expensesThe Secretary is authorized to provide for the incidental expenses of such volunteers, such as transportation, uniforms, lodging, or subsistence. (c) Volunteers’ status as Federal employees(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a volunteer shall not be deemed a Federal employee and shall not be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, including those provisions relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, leave, unemployment compensation, and Federal employee benefits. (2) For purposes of chapter 171 of title 28 (commonly referred to as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”), a volunteer under this subsection shall be considered an employee of the government (as defined in section 2671 of such title). (3) For purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, relating to compensation to Federal employees for work injuries, a volunteer under this subsection shall be considered an employee (as defined in section 8101 of title 5).

16 U.S.C. § 4605 Authority to execute contracts

The Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements and generally to do any and all lawful acts necessary or appropriate to further the purposes of the TPIA Program.

16 U.S.C. § 4606 Distribution of appropriate items

The Secretary is authorized to distribute pamphlets and other such appropriate items in order to promote the purposes of the TPIA Program.

16 U.S.C. § 4607 Slogan and logo

The “Take Pride in America” slogan and logo, which are registered by the Department of the Interior, and the goodwill associated with such slogan and logo, shall be administered pursuant to the TPIA Program.

16 U.S.C. § 4608 Authorization of appropriations

(a) Department of the InteriorThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed the amount expended for such purposes for fiscal year 1990. (b) Other Federal agenciesThere are authorized to be appropriated to other Federal departments and agencies such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of any other Take Pride in America programs established by such departments or agencies.