22 U.S.C. § 3657a: Quarters allowances

“position” means a civilian position; and “employee” means an individual serving in a position in the Department of Defense whose permanent duty station is in the area which, before October 1, 1979 , was known as the Canal Zone. any employee who is a citizen of the United States and who, before October 1, 1979 , was employed by the Panama Canal Company, the Canal Zone Government, or any other agency, in the area then known as the Canal Zone; and any other employee who is a citizen of the United States and who (before, on, or after the effective date of this section) is or was recruited within the United States; the actual expenses for rent and utilities incurred by the employee during such period while occupying quarters other than Government owned or leased quarters; or the maximum amount which would be authorized for such employee with respect to such period under the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas) if such employee were covered by those regulations; the estimated total cost of rent and utilities which the employee would have been charged if Government owned or leased quarters had been provided on a rental basis during such period. The provisions of this section shall apply without regard to whether any election by the Department of Defense under section 3652(b) of this title is then in effect.