Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§8301 Authority to accept gifts, devises, and bequests
Title 38 › Part PART VI— - ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY › Chapter CHAPTER 83— - ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS › § 8301
Summary
The Secretary can accept gifts, donations, or property left in wills when the giver wants the gift to help groups of former military members who are patients or residents of U.S. hospitals or homes, or to help those hospitals, homes, their officials, or agencies. The Secretary can also accept donations that help carry out the laws the Secretary manages and that improve the ability to provide services or benefits.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §8301
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary may accept devises, bequests, and gifts, made in any manner, with respect to which the testator or donor shall have indicated the intention that such property shall be for the benefit of groups of persons formerly in the active military, naval, air, or space service who by virtue of such service alone, or disability suffered therein or therefrom, are or shall be patients or members of any one or more hospitals or homes operated by the United States Government, or has indicated the intention that such property shall be for the benefit of any such hospital or home, or shall be paid or delivered to any official, as such, or any agency in administrative control thereof. The Secretary may also accept, for use in carrying out all laws administered by the Secretary, gifts, devises, and bequests which will enhance the Secretary’s ability to provide services or benefits.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”. 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5101 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–86 inserted at end “The Secretary may also accept, for use in carrying out all laws administered by the Secretary, gifts, devises, and bequests which will enhance the Secretary’s ability to provide services or benefits.” Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the” for “his” before “intention” in two places.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 8301
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73