Section 5334 (a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: For the purpose of this subsection, an individual employed by the Appalachian Regional Commission under section 106(a) of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, or by a regional commission established pursuant to section 502 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, under section 506(2) of such Act, who was a Federal employee immediately prior to such employment by a commission and within six months after separation from such employment is employed in a position to which this subchapter applies, shall be treated as if transferred from a position in the executive branch to which this subchapter does not apply.