Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§8161 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 V— - ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY › § 8161

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part of the law. An "enhanced-use lease" is a written lease the Secretary makes under this part. "Congressional veterans’ affairs committees" means the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. "Supportive housing" is housing that gives on-site and community support to veterans or their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and covers seven types, including transitional, single-room-occupancy, permanent, congregate, independent, assisted, or other housing forms. A "lessee" is the party who holds an enhanced-use lease. A "major enhanced-use lease" is one with average annual rent of more than $10,000,000.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §8161

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this subchapter:
(1)The term “enhanced-use lease” means a written lease entered into by the Secretary under this subchapter.
(2)The term “congressional veterans’ affairs committees” means the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(3)The term “supportive housing” means housing that engages tenants in on-site and community-based support services for veterans or their families that are at risk of homelessness or are homeless. Such term may include the following:
(A)Transitional housing.
(B)Single-room occupancy.
(C)Permanent housing.
(D)Congregate living housing.
(E)Independent living housing.
(F)Assisted living housing.
(G)Other modalities of housing.
(4)The term “lessee” means the party with whom the Secretary has entered into an enhanced-use lease under this subchapter.
(5)The term “major enhanced-use lease” means an enhanced-use lease that includes consideration consisting of an average annual rent of more than $10,000,000.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 114–226 added pars. (4) and (5). 2012—Par. (3). Pub. L. 112–154 added par. (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2012 Amendment Pub. L. 112—154, title II, § 211(k), Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1182, provided that “Except as otherwise provided in this section [enacting section 8168 of this title, amending this section and section 8162, 8164 to 8167, and 8169 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 8162 and 8168 of this title], the

Amendments

made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 6, 2012]. Training and Outreach Regarding Authority Pub. L. 106–117, title II, § 208(f), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1568, provided that: “The Secretary [of Veterans Affairs] shall take appropriate actions to provide training and outreach to personnel at Department [of Veterans Affairs] medical centers regarding the enhanced-use lease authority under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code. The training and outreach shall address methods of approaching potential lessees in the medical or commercial sectors regarding the possibility of entering into leases under that authority and other appropriate matters.” Independent Analysis of Opportunities for Use of Authority Pub. L. 106–117, title II, § 208(g), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1568, provided that: “(1) The Secretary [of Veterans Affairs] shall take appropriate actions to secure from an appropriate entity (or entities) independent of the Department [of Veterans Affairs] an analysis (or analyses) of opportunities for the use of the enhanced-use lease authority under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code. “(2) An analysis under paragraph (1) shall include—“(A) a survey of facilities of the Department for purposes of identifying Department property that presents an opportunity for lease under the enhanced-use lease authority; “(B) an assessment of the feasibility of entering into enhanced-use leases under that authority in the case of any property identified under subparagraph (A) as presenting an opportunity for such lease; and “(C) an assessment of the resources required at the Department facilities concerned, and at the Department Central Office, in order to facilitate the entering into of enhanced-used leases in the case of property so identified. “(3) If as a result of a survey under paragraph (2)(A) an entity carrying out an analysis under this subsection determines that a particular Department property presents no opportunities for lease under the enhanced-use lease authority, the analysis shall include the entity’s explanation of that determination. “(4) If as a result of such a survey an entity carrying out an analysis under this subsection determines that certain Department property presents an opportunity for lease under the enhanced-use lease authority, the analysis shall include a single integrated business plan, developed by the entity, that addresses the strategy and resources necessary to implement the plan for all property determined to present an opportunity for such lease.” Enhanced Use Leases Pub. L. 104–110, title II, § 202(c), Feb. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 771, provided that: “The Secretary shall submit to Congress, not later than March 31, 1997, a report evaluating the operation of the program under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 8161

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73