Title 32National GuardRelease 119-73not60

§703 Purchases of Supplies by States From Army or Air Force

Title 32 › Chapter 7— SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROCUREMENT › § 703

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands may buy Army supplies and military books for their National Guard or officers if the Secretary of the Army approves. They may buy similar items from the Air Force. Purchases must be paid in cash at cost plus shipping. If there is war or a threat of war, the U.S. can take those items for military use and will give the state or territory credit when similar items are returned. Money from these sales goes back to the same fund used to buy the items, is not sent to the Treasury, and may be used to replace them.

Full Legal Text

Title 32, §703

National Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Army, any State, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin Islands may buy from the Department of the Army, for its National Guard or the officers thereof, supplies and military publications furnished to the Army, in addition to other supplies issued to its Army National Guard. On the same basis, it may buy similar property from the Department of the Air Force. A purchase under this subsection shall be for cash, at cost plus transportation.
(b)In time of actual or threatened war, the United States may requisition for military use any property bought under subsection (a). Credit for the return in kind of property so requisitioned shall be given to the State, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin Islands from which it is received.
(c)Proceeds of sales by the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force under this section shall be credited to the appropriations from which the property was purchased, shall not be covered into the Treasury, and may be used to replace property sold under this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 703(a)703(b) 703(c)32:39 (1st sentence).32:39 (proviso of last sentence).32:39a.32:39 (less 1st sentence, and less proviso of last sentence).
June 3, 1916, ch. 134, § 86, 39 Stat. 204.
June 23, 1910, ch. 370, 36 Stat. 603. In subsection (a), the words “stores * * * materiel” are omitted as covered by the word “supplies”. The words “other supplies issued” are substituted for the words “those issued under the provisions of this title”. The words “at cost plus transportation” are substituted for the words “at the price at which they shall be listed to the Army, with cost of transportation added”. In subsection (b), 32:39a (less last 23 words) is omitted as obsolete and superseded by 32:39 (proviso of last sentence). The Act of
June 23, 1910, ch. 370 (less proviso), not contained in 32:39a, is omitted from the revised section as executed. The words “bought under subsection (a)” are substituted for the words “so purchased”. The words “for military use” are substituted for the words “for use in the military service thereof”. The words “and when so requisitioned by the United States and delivered” and “ultimate” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (c), the words “Proceeds of sales by the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force under this section” are substituted for the words “The funds received from such sale”. The words “from which the property was purchased” are substituted for the words “to which they shall belong”. The words “may be used to replace property sold under this section” are substituted for the words “shall be available until expended to replace therewith the supplies sold to the States in the manner herein authorized”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “State, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin Islands” for “State or Territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia”. 1988—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 100–456 struck out “the Canal Zone,” after “Puerto Rico,”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

32 U.S.C. § 703

Title 32National Guard

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60