Members of the Council who are not officials of the United States Government shall be entitled to compensation, not to exceed the daily equivalent of the highest rate which may be paid to an employee under the General Schedule established by section 5332 of title 5, while in the performance of their duties under this chapter, and to reimbursement for expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence while away from their homes or regular places of business in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5. Members of the Council who are not officials of the United States Government shall not be deemed officers, employees, or otherwise in the service or employment of the United States Government for any purpose, except that members of the Council who are United States citizens shall be deemed Government employees for the purposes of sections 202, 203, 205, 207, 208, and 209 of title 18.