Us Code § 1971 - Transfer of surplus personal property owned by United States
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1971 — Transfer of surplus personal property owned by United States, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1971. Transfer of surplus personal property owned by United States
(a) Transfer to Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to valid existing rights, and subject to subsection (b) of this section, all right, title, and interest of the Government of the United States in personal property situated in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and of the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in personal property wherever located shall be transferred, without reimbursement, by a date not later than ninety days following termination of the trusteeship agreement governing the administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, to the government of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia according to a list of distribution established by the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in consultation with the recipient government.
(b) Declaration that property is surplus
Personal property referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be transferred upon declaration by the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that such property is surplus to the needs of the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which declaration shall be approved, if applicable, by the head of the agency of the Government of the United States having administrative responsibility for the property.
(c) Property held in trust
If no government exists in Palau on December 24, 1980, that is capable of receiving title to such property in its own name, the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands shall hold such property in trust for the prospective government of Palau until such government is established.
(Pub. L. 96–597, title IV, §402, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3478; Pub. L. 97–357, title II, §201, Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1706.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly set out as a note under section 1681 of this title.
Amendments
1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–357, substituted "by a date not later than ninety days following termination of the trusteeship agreement governing the administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands," for "by October 1, 1982,".
Executive Documents
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of this title.
About This Section
48 U.S.C. § 1971 is part of Title 48 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 48 U.S.C. § 1971. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.