Date :     SEP 5 1989

From       Surgeon General
 

Subject    Amendment to February 10, 1983, Delegation of Authority
               Concerning Travel by PHS Commissioned Officers

To           PHS Agency Heads
 

      The memorandum dated April 29, 1983, from the Director, Office of
      Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, to the
      Public Health Service (PBS) Agency Heads amending the
      February 10, 1983, delegation of authority concerning PHS
      commissioned officers' travel is hereby rescinded.

      I hereby amend the February 1O, 1983, delegation of authority
      concerning PBS commissioned officers' travel as follows:

     1. The travel authorizations under the February 10, 1983,
         delegation do not include the authority to authorize or
         approve your own travel. The Assistant Secretary for Health
         will serve as the recommending official for PHS Agency
         Heads' travel and the Chief Administrative Officer of each
         agency will serve as the approving official. No officer or
         employee within PHS may approve his/her own travel.

    2. The authority to authorize acceptance (i) from non-Federal
        sources of cash for deposit to the appropriation to cover
        travel expenses; (ii) from non-Federal sources of service
        in-kind, the purpose of which is to defray travel expenses
        and (iii) of cash reimbursement to the traveler for
        retention by the traveler shall be exercised as follows:

       (a)   The PHS Agency Head will serve as the approving
              official for PHS commissioned officers within his/her
               jurisdictions. This authority may be delegated,
               without authority for further redelegation, to the
               Chief Administrative Officer in the agency. The
               approving official will be responsible for assuring
               that there is no conflict of interest in any instance
              where the acceptance of cash or in-kind travel expenses
              from a non-Federal source is approved.

   (b)      The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Operations .
              will serve as the recommending official for the PHS
              Agency Heads and the Assistant Secretary for Health
              will serve as the approving official for the PHS Agency
              Heads.

  (c)      The exercise of this authority shall be in accordance
            with applicable regulations and policy, including but
            not limited to the Standards of Conduct Regulations for
            the Department of Health and Human Services.

/James O. Mason, M.D., Dr., PH
James 0. Mason, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Assistant Secretary-for Health and
Acting Surgeon General