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Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102

§8131 Definitions

Title 38 › PART VI — ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY › CHAPTER 81 — ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF HOSPITAL AND DOMICILIARY FACILITIES; PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY; ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY › SUBCHAPTER III — STATE HOME FACILITIES FOR FURNISHING DOMICILIARY, NURSING HOME, AND HOSPITAL CARE › § 8131

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words and counts used in this part of the law. The veteran population of each State is based on the latest figures certified by the Department of Commerce. "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. "Construction" covers building new domiciliary or nursing home facilities, expanding or remodeling existing State home buildings for domiciliary, nursing home, adult day health, or hospital care, and providing initial equipment for them. "Cost of construction" is the amount the Secretary finds necessary for a project, including architect fees but excluding land acquisition costs.

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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102