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19 U.S.C. § 540

U.S. CodeFederal
President may use suitable vessels for enforcing customs laws
About This Law
/us/usc/t19/s540
Title
19 — Customs Duties
Chapter
CH3
Release
119-84
Release Date
2026-04-17

Section Text

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In the execution of laws providing for the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, the President, in addition to the Coast Guard vessels in service, may employ in aid thereof such other suitable vessels as may, in his judgment, be required. (R.S. § 5318; Jan. 28, 1915, ch. 20, § 1, 38 Stat. 800; Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §§ 1, 20, 63 Stat. 496, 561.) Editorial Notes Codification R.S. § 5318 derived from act July 13, 1861, ch. 3, § 7, 12 Stat. 257. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Transfer of Functions For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 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. “Coast Guard vessels” substituted in text for “revenue-cutters”, the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service having been combined to form the Coast Guard by section 1 of act Jan. 28, 1915. That act was repealed by section 20 of act Aug. 4, 1949, section 1 of which reestablished the Coast Guard by enacting Title 14, Coast Guard. Executive Documents Delegation of Functions For delegation to Secretary of the Treasury of authority vested in President by this section, see section 1(i) of Ex. Ord. No. 10289, Sept. 17, 1951, 16 F.R. 9499, as amended, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The President.

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