§ 32306. Personnel
(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.