19 U.S.C. § 1318
Section 1318 · Emergencies
Viewing 19 U.S.C. § 1318 as in effect on August 6, 2002. The text changed in 1 later edition (most recent February 24, 2016).
View current version →(a) Whenever the President shall by proclamation declare an emergency to exist by reason of a state of war, or otherwise, he may authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to extend during the continuance of such emergency the time herein prescribed for the performance of any act, and may authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to permit, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, the importation free of duty of food, clothing, and medical, surgical, and other supplies for use in emergency relief work. The Secretary of the Treasury shall report to the Congress any action taken under the provisions of this section.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Treasury, when necessary to respond to a national emergency declared under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) or to a specific threat to human life or national interests, is authorized to take the following actions on a temporary basis:
(A) Eliminate, consolidate, or relocate any office or port of entry of the Customs Service.
(B) Modify hours of service, alter services rendered at any location, or reduce the number of employees at any location.
(C) Take any other action that may be necessary to respond directly to the national emergency or specific threat.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner of Customs, when necessary to respond to a specific threat to human life or national interests, is authorized to close temporarily any Customs office or port of entry or take any other lesser action that may be necessary to respond to the specific threat.
(3) The Secretary of the Treasury or the Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, shall notify the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate not later than 72 hours after taking any action under paragraph (1) or (2).
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
References in Text
The National Emergencies Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is Pub. L. 94–412, Sept. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1255, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 34 (§1601 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 50 and Tables.
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in subsec. (a) of this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, §622, 42 Stat. 988, which was superseded by section 318 of the Tariff Act of 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of said 1930 Act.
Amendments
2002—Pub. L. 107–210 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
Functions of Secretary of the Treasury under this section with respect to functions transferred to Secretary of Commerce in sections 1303 and 1671 et seq. of this title by section 5(a)(1)(C) of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979 transferred to Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, §5(a)(1)(E), 44 F.R. 69275, 93 Stat. 1381, eff. Jan. 2, 1980, as provided by section 1–107(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 993, set out as notes under section 2171 of this title, to be exercised in consultation with Secretary of the Treasury.
Proc. No. 2948. Merchandise in General-Order and Bonded Warehouses
Proc. No. 2948, Oct. 12, 1951, 16 F.R. 10589, 65 Stat. c41, provided: