((a)) ** Appointment of family members** The Secretary, under , may appoint United States citizens, who are family members of government employees assigned abroad or are hired for service at their post of residence, for employment in positions customarily filled by Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service personnel, and foreign national employees.section 3943 of this title

((b)) ** Family nexus as affirmative hiring factor** The fact that an applicant for employment in a position referred to in subsection (a) is a family member of a Government employee assigned abroad shall be considered an affirmative factor in employing such person.

((c)) ** Compensation of family and non-family member employees**

((1)) Non-family members employed under this section for service at their post of residence shall be paid in accordance with local compensation plans established under .

((2)) Family members employed under this section shall be paid in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or the salary rates established under .

((3)) In exceptional circumstances, non-family members may be paid in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or the salary rates established under , if the Secretary determines that the national interest would be served by such payments.

((d)) ** Non-family member employees ineligible for certain benefits** Nonfamily member United States citizens employed under this section shall not be eligible by reason of such employment for benefits under subchapter VIII of this chapter, or under chapters  83 or 84 of title 5.1

((e)) ** Employment standards** The Secretary shall hold a family member of a government employee described in subsection (a) seeking employment in a position described in that subsection to the same employment standards as those applicable to Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service personnel, or foreign national employees seeking the same or a substantially similar position.