LEASE AUTHORITY.

SEC. 115. LEASE AUTHORITY. (a) Increase in Lease Authority.—Section 10 of the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 300) is amended by striking out “$25,000,” and inserting in lieu thereof “$50,000”. (b) Advance Payments.—Section 10 of the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 is further amended— (1) by inserting “Leases.—” after “Sec. 10.”; and (2) by adding after subsection (a) the following new subsection: “(b) Advance Payments for Long-Term Leases and Lease Purchase.—The Secretary may, subject to the availability of appropriations, make advance payments for long-term leases and lease-pur-105 STAT. 656chase agreements, if the Secretary or his designee determines, in each case, that such payments are in the interest of the United States Government in carrying out the purposes of this Act.”. (c) Exception of Leases and Purchases From Competition.—Section 3 of the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 294), is amended in the second sentence by inserting “purchases of buildings, for leases, and for” after “contracts for”.