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Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102

§8301 Authority to Accept Gifts, Devises, and Bequests

Title 38 › PART VI — ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY › CHAPTER 83 — ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND BEQUESTS › § 8301

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can accept donations, gifts, or property given now or left in a will if the giver says it should help groups of former military members (Army, Navy, Air, or Space) who, because of their service or service-related disability, are or will be patients or residents of U.S. government hospitals or homes, or if it is meant to help any such hospital, home, official, or agency that runs them. The Secretary can also take gifts that help carry out the laws the Secretary oversees and that improve the Secretary’s 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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102