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38 U.S. Code Subchapter IV - GENERAL
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
1965—Pub. L. 89–214, § 1(a), Sept. 29, 1965, 79 Stat. 880, redesignated “SUBCHAPTER III—GENERAL” as “SUBCHAPTER IV—GENERAL”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement of Treatment of Undisbursed Life Insurance Benefits
Pub. L. 117–313, § 4, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4400, provided that:
“(a) Improvement of Processes.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall improve the processes and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find beneficiaries of life insurance policies issued under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, including by—
“(1)
improving the search tools available on the website of the Department;
“(2)
conducting outreach to veterans, veterans service organizations, and the general public with respect to such search tools;
“(3)
improving the processes for searching for information relating to potential recipients through internal Department sources and sources available through other Federal agencies, State government agencies, and non-government entities; and
“(4)
ensuring the Department has sufficient dedicated staff whose primary responsibilities are identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find beneficiaries, with the goal of disbursing by not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2022], all funds that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are owed to a beneficiary of a life insurance policy issued under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code.
“(b) Sense of Congress.—
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should work with interagency partners to determine the types of records, reports, and other materials that may be required to identify, locate, and disburse undisbursed life insurance benefits to hard-to-find beneficiaries.
“(c) Report.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in carrying out this section.
“(d) Undisbursed Life Insurance Benefits Defined.—The term ‘undisbursed life insurance benefits’—
“(1)
means any amount of money that is owed to a beneficiary of a life insurance policy issued under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, and that has not been disbursed for a period of two years or longer; and
“(2) does not include any amount of money that—
“(A)
has not been disbursed due to a contested claim; or
“(B)
is in dispute by two or more parties over who is the entitled beneficiary.”