US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 7803

Admiralty claims by United States

(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 Pub. L. 89–6779 Stat. 212 Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1633103 Stat. 1608 Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(d)132 Stat. 1839 (, , § 4803; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 7803, , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (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).

section 4801 of this titleIn subsection (a), the words “consider, ascertain, adjust, determine” are omitted as covered by the word “settle”, as defined in . 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

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232section 4803 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 101–1891989—Subsec. (c). substituted “$100,000” for “$10,000”.

Pub. L. 89–671965—Subsec. (c). substituted “$10,000” for “$1,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–232section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .