(a) Under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army may settle, or compromise, and receive payment of a claim by the United States for damage to property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army or property for which the Department has assumed an obligation to respond for damage, if—(1) the claim is—(A) of a kind that is within the admiralty jurisdiction of a district court of the United States; or
(B) for damage caused by a vessel or floating object; and
(2) the amount to be received by the United States is not more than $500,000.
(b) In exchange for payment of an amount found to be due the United States under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army may execute a release of the claim on behalf of the United States. Amounts received under this section shall be covered into the Treasury.
(c) In any case where the amount to be received by the United States is not more than $100,000, the Secretary of the Army may delegate his authority under subsections (a) and (b) to any person in the Department of the Army designated by him.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 271, § 4803; Pub. L. 89–67, July 7, 1965, 79 Stat. 212; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1633, Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1608; renumbered § 7803, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(d), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1839.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
4803(a) 4803(b)10:1862 (1st sentence; 2d sentence, less last 32 words; and provisos of last sentence).10:1862 (3d sentence; and last sentence, less provisos).Oct. 20, 1951, ch. 524, §§ 2 (less last 32 words of 2d sentence), 6 (less applicability to § 1), 65 Stat. 572, 573.
4803(c)10:1866 less applicability to 10:1861).
In subsection (a), the words “consider, ascertain, adjust, determine” are omitted as covered by the word “settle”, as defined in section 4801 of this title. The words “receive payment” are substituted for 10:1862 (2d sentence, less last 32 words). The words “of a kind that is within the admiralty jurisdiction” are substituted for the words “cognizable in admiralty”. Clause (2) is substituted for 10:1862 (last proviso of last sentence). 10:1862 (1st proviso of last sentence) is omitted as unnecessary, since other applicable claims laws are restated in this title. The words “by contract or otherwise” are omitted as surplusage.
In subsection (b), the words “of the United States as miscellaneous receipts” and “to deliver” are omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 4803 of this title as this section.
1989—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “$100,000” for “$10,000”.
1965—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89–67 substituted “$10,000” for “$1,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.