(a) General Authority.— In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary of Transportation may
(1) appoint and fix the pay of employees without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointment in the competitive service and chapter
51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of title
5; and
(2) make contracts with persons for research and preparation of reports.
(b) Status of Advisory Committee Members.— A member of an advisory committee appointed under section
325 of this title to carry out this chapter is a special United States Government employee under chapter
11 of title
18.
