Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§8131 Definitions
Title 38 › Part PART VI— - ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY › Chapter CHAPTER 81— - ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF HOSPITAL AND DOMICILIARY FACILITIES; PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY; ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - STATE HOME FACILITIES FOR FURNISHING DOMICILIARY, NURSING HOME, AND HOSPITAL CARE › § 8131
Summary
Defines key terms. Veteran population: use the latest figures certified by the Department of Commerce. State: includes Indian tribes (25 U.S.C. 5304) but not U.S. possessions. Construction: building or improving State care facilities and their initial equipment. Cost of construction: the amount the Secretary finds necessary, including architect fees but excluding land.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §8131
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1)The veteran population of each State shall be determined on the basis of the latest figures certified by the Department of Commerce.
(2)The term “State” includes each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) but does not include any possession of the United States.
(3)The term “construction” means the construction of new domiciliary or nursing home buildings, the expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings for the provision of domiciliary, nursing home, adult day health, or hospital care in State homes, and the provision of initial equipment for any such buildings.
(4)The term “cost of construction” means the amount found by the Secretary to be necessary for a construction project, including architect fees, but excluding land acquisition costs.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Par. (2). Pub. L. 116–315 inserted “includes each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) but” before “does not”. 1996—Par. (3). Pub. L. 104–262 inserted “adult day health,” before “or hospital care”. 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5031 of this title as this section. Par. (4). Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–576 redesignated pars. (a) to (d) as pars. (1) to (4), respectively. 1977—Par. (c). Pub. L. 95–62, § 3(1), inserted
Construction
of new domiciliary buildings, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing domiciliary and hospital buildings, and provision of initial equipment for any such buildings to definition of “
Construction
”. Par. (d). Pub. L. 95–62, § 3(2), struck out provisions which had limited definition of “cost of
Construction
” to the cost of
Construction
of nursing home facilities. 1976—Par. (a). Pub. L. 94–581 substituted “veteran” for “war veteran”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–576, title II, § 224(e), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3263, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 5033 and 5035 [now 8133 and 8135] of this title] shall take effect on July 1, 1987.”
Effective Date
of 1977 Amendment Pub. L. 95–62, § 5, July 5, 1977, 91 Stat. 263, provided that: “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the
Amendments
made by this Act [amending this section and sections 5032 to 5036 [now 8132 to 8136] of this title and repealing section 644 of this title] shall be effective
October 1, 1977. “(b)(1) The terms and conditions of any grant made prior to
October 1, 1977, under section 644 of title 38, United States Code [former section 644 of this title], and
Regulations
prescribed thereunder, shall remain in full force and effect unless modified, by the mutual agreement of the parties, in accordance with the provisions of subchapter III of chapter 81 of such title, and
Regulations
prescribed thereunder, in effect after
September 30, 1977. “(2) With respect to any grant made prior to
October 1, 1977, under subchapter III of chapter 81 of such title, the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall, upon application of a grantee, modify the terms and conditions of such grant to comply with the provisions of such subchapter as amended by this Act, and
Regulations
prescribed thereunder, and shall promptly notify each such grantee of the grantee’s right to request such modification.”
Effective Date
of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
Short Title
of 1977 AmendmentFor
Short Title
of Pub. L. 95–62 as the “State Veterans’ Home Assistance Improvement Act of 1977”, see section 1 of Pub. L. 95–62, set out as a
Short Title
of 1977 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 8131
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73