2011 US Code
Title 38 - Veterans’ Benefits
Part III - READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS (§§ 3001 - 4335)
Chapter 37 - HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS (§§ 3701 - 3775)
Subchapter I - GENERAL (§§ 3701 - 3708)
Section 3701 - Definitions

(a) For the purpose of this chapter, the term “housing loan” means a loan for any of the purposes specified by sections 3710(a) and 3712(a)(1) of this title.

(b) For the purposes of housing loans under this chapter—

(1) The term “World War II” (A) means the period beginning on September 16, 1940, and ending on July 25, 1947, and (B) includes, in the case of any veteran who enlisted or reenlisted in a Regular component of the Armed Forces after October 6, 1945, and before October 7, 1946, the period of the first such enlistment or reenlistment.

(2) The term “veteran” includes the surviving spouse of any veteran (including a person who died in the active military, naval, or air service) who died from a service-connected disability, but only if such surviving spouse is not eligible for benefits under this chapter on the basis of the spouse's own active duty. The active duty or service in the Selected Reserve of the deceased spouse shall be deemed to have been active duty or service in the Selected Reserve by such surviving spouse for the purposes of this chapter.

(3) The term “veteran” also includes, for purposes of home loans, the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37, United States Code, and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than ninety days: (A) missing in action, (B) captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or (C) forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power. The active duty of the member shall be deemed to have been active duty by such spouse for the purposes of this chapter. The loan eligibility of such spouse under this paragraph shall be limited to one loan guaranteed or made for the acquisition of a home, and entitlement to such loan shall terminate automatically, if not used, upon receipt by such spouse of official notice that the member is no longer listed in one of the categories specified in the first sentence of this paragraph.

(4) The term “veteran” also includes an individual serving on active duty.

(5)(A) The term “veteran” also includes an individual who is not otherwise eligible for the benefits of this chapter and (i) who has completed a total service of at least 6 years in the Selected Reserve and, following the completion of such service, was discharged from service with an honorable discharge, was placed on the retired list, was transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service in the Selected Reserve characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service, or continues serving in the Selected Reserve, or (ii) who was discharged or released from the Selected Reserve before completing 6 years of service because of a service-connected disability.

(B) The term “Selected Reserve” means the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of any of the reserve components (including the Army National Guard of the United States and the Air National Guard of the United States) of the Armed Forces, as required to be maintained under section 10143(a) of title 10.

(c) Benefits shall not be afforded under this chapter to any individual on account of service as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or predecessor entity), or of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, unless such service would have qualified such individual for benefits under title III of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1203, §1801; Pub. L. 91–584, §5(a), Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1576; Pub. L. 94–324, §7(1), (2), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 97–72, title III, §303(a), Nov. 3, 1981, 95 Stat. 1059; Pub. L. 97–295, §4(62), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1309; Pub. L. 100–322, title IV, §415(c)(1), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 551; Pub. L. 101–237, title III, §313(a), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2077; renumbered §3701 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 102–547, §2(a)(1), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3633; Pub. L. 103–446, title IX, §901, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4675; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, §1501(e)(2)(B), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 501.)

The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, referred to in subsec. (c), is act June 22, 1944, ch. 268, 58 Stat. 284, as amended. Title III of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 was classified generally to subchapter II (§694 et seq.) of chapter 11C of former Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans’ Relief, which was repealed and the provisions thereof reenacted as this chapter by Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1105.

1996—Subsec. (b)(5)(B). Pub. L. 104–106 substituted “section 10143(a) of title 10” for “section 268(b) of title 10”.

1994—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–446, §901(b), inserted “or service in the Selected Reserve” after “duty” in two places and substituted “deceased spouse shall” for “spouse shall”.

Subsec. (b)(5)(A). Pub. L. 103–446, §901(a), inserted “(i)” before “who has” and substituted “, or” and cl. (ii) for the period at end.

1992—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 102–547 added par. (5).

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, §5(a), renumbered section 1801 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted “3710(a) and 3712(a)(1)” for “1810(a) and 1812(a)(1)”.

1989—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 101–237 added par. (4).

1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–322 substituted “1812(a)(1)” for “1819(a)(1)”.

1982—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “member shall be deemed” for “spouse shall be deemed”, and “member is no longer listed” for “spouse is no longer listed”.

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–72, §303(a)(2), added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–72, §303(a)(1), (3), redesignated subsec. (a) as (b) and substituted “For the purposes of housing loans under this chapter” for “For the purposes of this chapter”. Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–72, §303(a)(1), (4), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c) and substituted “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or predecessor entity)” for “Coast and Geodetic Survey”.

1976—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 94–324, §7(1), substituted “surviving spouse”, “the spouse's own”, and “the spouse” for “widow”, “her own”, and “her husband”, respectively, wherever appearing.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 94–324, §7(2), substituted “spouse” and “the spouse” for “wife” and “her husband”, respectively, wherever appearing.

1970—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 91–584 added par. (3).

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–106 effective as if included in the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act, title XVI of Pub. L. 103–337, as enacted on Oct. 5, 1994, see section 1501(f)(3) of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 113 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–72 effective at end of 180-day period beginning on Nov. 3, 1981, see section 305 of Pub. L. 97–72, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3741 of this title.

Section 9 of Pub. L. 94–324 provided that:

“(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification] shall become effective on the date of enactment [June 30, 1976].

“(b) Sections 2 [enacting section 1807 of this title] and 3 [amending section 1811 [now 3711] of this title] shall become effective on October 1, 1976. Section 5 [amending section 1819 [now 3712] of this title] shall become effective on July 1, 1976.”