The Secretary of State shall administer the historic and artistic articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects of the reception areas of the Department of State by such means and measures as conform to the purposes of the reception areas, which include conserving those articles, fixtures, and objects and providing for their enjoyment in such manner and by such means as will leave them for the use of the American people. Nothing shall be done under this subsection which conflicts with the administration of the Department of State or with the use of the reception areas for official purposes of the United States Government.

Whenever the Secretary of State determines that—

(1) Items covered Articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects of the reception areas (and similar articles, fixtures, and objects acquired by the Secretary of State), when declared by the Secretary of State to be of historic or artistic interest, shall thereafter be considered to be the property of the Secretary in his or her official capacity and shall be subject to disposition solely in accordance with this subsection.

Whenever the Secretary of State determines that—

(A) any item covered by paragraph (1) is no longer needed for use or display in the reception areas, or

(B) in order to upgrade the reception areas, a better use of that article would be its sale or exchange,

(3) Smithsonian Institution The Secretary of State may also lend items covered by paragraph (1), when not needed for use or display in the reception areas, to the Smithsonian Institution or a similar institution for care, repair, study, storage, or exhibition.

For purposes of this section, the term “reception areas” means the areas of the Harry S Truman Federal Building, located at 2201 C Street, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, known as the Diplomatic Reception Rooms (eighth floor), the Secretary of State’s offices (seventh floor), the Deputy Secretary of State’s offices (seventh floor), and the seventh floor reception area.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 41, as added Pub. L. 100–204, title I, § 126(a)(2), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1341; amended Pub. L. 106–218, § 2, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 345.)