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PUBLIC LAW 158-JULY 28, 1953

Court of Claims. 62 Stat. 898.

A s s i g n ment of judges.

Commissioners.

58 Stat. 663.

Auditors.

Repeal.

Jurisdiction.

48 Stat. 5 8. 16 USC 831. Repeal.

STAT.

CHAPTER 253

Public Law 158 I u l y 28, 1953 [H. R. 1070]

[67

AN ACT To amend title 28, United States Code.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 171 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "Such court is hereby declared to be a court established under article III of the Constitution of the United States." SEC. 2. Section 291 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by changing present subsection (c) to subsection (d) and inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c): "(c) The Chief Justice of the United States may designate and assign temporarily any circuit judge to serve as a judge of the United States Court of Claims, Avhen requested so to do, upon a certificate by the chief judge of such court that it is in need of such assistance." SEC. 3. Section 292 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding the following as section 292(d): " (d) The Chief Justice of the United States may designate and assign temporarily any district judge to serve as a judge of the United States Court of Claims, when requested so to do, upon a certificate by the chief judge of such court that it is in need of such assistance." SEC. 4. (a) Paragraph (a) of section 792, title 28, United States Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: " (a) The United States Court of Claims may appoint fifteen commissioners who shall be subject to removal by the court." (b) The authority contained in subsection (a) of section 14 of the Act of July 1, 1944 (41 U.S.C. 114), respecting the appointment of commissioners of the Court of Claims is hereby terminated. SEC. 5. Subsection (a) of section 14 of the Act of July 1, 1944 (41 U.S.C. 114) is amended to read as follows: "For the purpose of expediting the adjudication of termination claims, the Court of Claims is authorized to appoint not more than ten auditors." SEC. 6. Section 793 of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. SEC. 7. Section 1491 of title 28, United States Code, is hereb}^ amended to read as follows: "The United States Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim against the United States— " (1) founded upon the Constitution; or " (2) founded upon any Act of Congress; or "(3) founded upon any regulation of an executive department; or "(4) founded upon any express or implied contract with the United States; or "(5) for liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort. "Nothing herein shall be construed to give the Court of Claims jurisdiction in suits against, or founded on actions of, the Tennessee Valley Authority, nor to amend or modify the provisions of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to suits by or against the Authority." SEC. 8. Section 1493 of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. SEC. 9. Section 1494 of title 28, United States Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: "The United States Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to determine the amount, if any, due to or from the United States by reason of any unsettled account of any officer or agent of, or contractor with,