CONSULAR AUTHORITIES.

SEC. 127. CONSULAR AUTHORITIES. (a) Persons Authorized To Issue Passports Abroad.— The Act entitled “An Act to regulate the issue and validity of passports, and for other purposes”, approved July 3, 1926 (44 Stat. 887, 22 U.S.C. 211a) is amended by striking “by diplomatic representatives of the United States, and by such consul generals, consuls, or vice consuls when in charge,” and inserting “by diplomatic and consular officers of the United States, and by other employees of the Department of State who are citizens of the United States,”. (b) Notarial Authority.—The Act entitled “An Act to provide for the reorganization of the consular service of the United States”, approved April 5, 1906 (34 Stat. 100, 22 U.S.C. 4221) is amended in section 7 by adding at the end “Pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary of State may prescribe, the Secretary may designate any other employee of the Department of State who is a citizen of the United States to perform any notarial function authorized to be performed by a consular officer of the United States under this Act.”.