38 U.S. Code § 3720 - Powers of Secretary

The Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (f), is Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143, known as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which is classified principally to chapter 68 (§ 5121 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5121 of Title 42 and Tables.

2018—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–251 struck out par. (1) designation before “The Secretary may, upon” and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “The Secretary may not under this subsection guarantee the payment of principal and interest on certificates or other securities issued or approved after September 30, 2018.”

2017—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted “September 30, 2018” for “December 31, 2017”.

2016—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted “December 31, 2017” for “December 31, 2016”.

2012—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 112–154 substituted “December 31, 2016” for “December 31, 2011”.

2011—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–350 substituted “division C (except sections 3302, 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” for “title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.)”.

2001—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 107–103 substituted “December 31, 2011” for “December 31, 2008”.

2000—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 106–419 substituted “December 31, 2008” for “December 31, 2002”.

1998—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–368, § 604(a), substituted “, except that title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) shall apply to any contract for services or supplies on account of any property acquired pursuant to this section.” for “; however, section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) shall apply to any contract for services or supplies on account of any property acquired pursuant to this section if the amount of such contract exceeds the amount prescribed in clause (1) of the first sentence of such section.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–368, § 602(c)(1), struck out subsec. (e), which authorized Secretary to set aside first mortgage loans and installment sales contracts owned or held by Secretary under this chapter as basis for sale of participation certificates, authorized agreements, including trust agreements, for this purpose, and set forth provisions relating to allocation, deposit, and set aside of proceeds.

1997—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 105–33 substituted “December 31, 2002” for “December 31, 1997”.

1996—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 104–275 substituted “December 31, 1997” for “December 31, 1996”.

Pub. L. 104–110 substituted “December 31, 1996” for “December 31, 1995”.

1992—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–547 substituted “December 31, 1995” for “December 31, 1992” in par. (2).

Pub. L. 102–291 added subsec. (h).

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1820 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3723 and 3724” for “1823 and 1824” in two places.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 102–54 added subsec. (g).

1989—Subsecs. (a) to (c), (e), (f). Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary”, “Secretary’s”, and “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Administrator”, “Administrator’s”, and “Veterans’ Administration”, respectively, wherever appearing.

1988—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–707 substituted “and Emergency Assistance Act” for “Act of 1974”.

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the amount prescribed in clause (1) of the first sentence of such section” for “$1,000”.

1983—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 98–160 struck out comma after “title 31”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–160 substituted “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5)” for “section 5 of title 41”.

1982—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 97–258 substituted “section 3302(b) of title 31” for “section 3617, Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 484)”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–295 inserted “(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)” after “the Disaster Relief Act of 1974”.

1977—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95–117 inserted prohibition relating to garnishment or attachment against the Administrator, etc.

1976—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(24), substituted “the Administrator’s” for “his”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(24), substituted “the Administrator” for “he”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(25), substituted “utilized by the Administrator” for “utilized by him”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(26), substituted “the Administrator determines” for “he determines”, “by the Administrator” for “by him”, “the Administrator shall periodically” for “he shall periodically”, “set aside by the Administrator” for “set aside by him”, “the Administrator’s commitment” for “his commitment”, and “to pay the Administrator’s” for “to pay his”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(26), substituted “as the Administrator determines” for “as he determines”.

1974—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93–288 substituted “Disaster Relief Act of 1974” for “Disaster Assistance Act of 1970.”

1972—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 92–328 struck out provisions relating to the authority to waive or release claims, including partial or total waiver of payment, following default and loss of property.

1970—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 91–606, § 233(1), substituted “a loan which has been guaranteed, insured, made or acquired under this chapter” for “a loan which has been guaranteed or insured under this chapter”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 91–606, § 233(2), directed the Administrator in major disaster areas to provide the owner of property lost, destroyed, or damaged as the result of a major disaster with counseling and other services, to inform him of disaster assistance available from other Federal, state, or local agencies and to extend such forbearance on an individual case basis as he determines to be warranted by the facts of the case.

1968—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 90–448 substituted “Government National Mortgage Association” for “Federal National Mortgage Association” wherever appearing.

1966—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 89–625 authorized brokers utilized by Administrator in connection with properties acquired or held pursuant to this chapter to deduct from rental collections amounts covering authorized fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with management, repair, sale, or lease of properties and to remit the net balances to Administrator.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 89–769 added subsec. (f).

1964—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 88–560 added subsec. (e).

1963—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 88–151 provided for waiver of indebtedness to the United States in certain cases arising out of default on loans guaranteed or made by the Veterans’ Administration.

Amendment by section 602(c)(1) of Pub. L. 105–368 effective Oct. 1, 1998, see section 602(f) of Pub. L. 105–368, set out as a note under section 2106 of this title.

Pub. L. 105–368, title VI, § 604(b), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3348, provided that:

Pub. L. 95–117, title IV, § 403(b), Oct. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 1066, provided that:

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–324 effective June 30, 1976, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 94–324, set out as a note under section 3701 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–288 effective Apr. 1, 1974, see section 605 of Pub. L. 93–288, formerly set out as an Effective Date note under section 5121 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendment by Pub. L. 92–328 effective June 30, 1972, see section 301(c) of Pub. L. 92–328, set out as a note under section 3713 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–606 effective Dec. 31, 1970, see section 304 of Pub. L. 91–606, set out as a note under section 165 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–448 effective from and after a date, no more than 120 days following Aug. 1, 1968, as established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, see section 808 of Pub. L. 90–448, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1716b of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–769 applicable with respect to any major disaster occurring after Oct. 3, 1964, see section 14 of Pub. L. 89–769.

Any action taken by Secretary of Veterans Affairs before Feb. 13, 1996, under provision of law amended by title I of Pub. L. 104–110 that was taken during period beginning on date on which authority of Secretary under such provision of law expired and ending on Feb. 13, 1996, considered to have same force and effect as if such amendment had been in effect at time of that action, see section 103 of Pub. L. 104–110, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title.

Pub. L. 100–198, § 9, Dec. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 1320, as amended by Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(d)(2), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 239; Pub. L. 102–83, § 6(i), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 408, provided for programs under which the Secretary could (1) convey to nonprofit entities or to States or political subdivisions of States real property or improvements to real property acquired by the Secretary as the result of a default of a loan made under this chapter to use the properties to provide shelter for homeless veterans and their families, or (2) convey such properties to entities for use in job training programs for property rehabilitation and later sale to homeless veterans. Authority to carry out the programs terminated on Oct. 1, 1990.

Pub. L. 95–202, title III, § 311, Nov. 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 1449, directed Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, in consultation with Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to conduct a study to determine the most effective methods of using the programs carried out under, or amending provisions of, this chapter in order to aid and encourage present and prospective veteran homeowners to install solar heating and cooling in their homes and to apply residential energy conservation measures and that a report on such study be submitted to Congress not later than Mar. 1, 1978.

Pub. L. 88–151, § 2, Oct. 17, 1963, 77 Stat. 271, provided that:

Provision for participation sales and administration of trusts by Federal National Mortgage Association not to be construed as a repeal or modification of the provisions of subsection (e) of this section respecting the authority of the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 89–429, set out as a note under section 1717 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.