Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 3904

Research and development

(a)
section 7303 of this title In carrying out medical and prosthetic research under , the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for Health, shall provide for special emphasis on the research and development of adaptive equipment and adapted conveyances (including vans) meeting standards of safety and quality prescribed under subsection (d) of section 3903, including support for the production and distribution of devices and conveyances so developed.
(b)
In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for Health, shall consult and cooperate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education, in connection with programs carried out under section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (relating to the establishment and support of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers).

Pub. L. 93–538, § 5(a)88 Stat. 1737Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 205(b)(2)90 Stat. 2859Pub. L. 95–602, title I, § 122(f)92 Stat. 2987Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(69)96 Stat. 1310Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 403(b)(1)105 Stat. 239Pub. L. 102–83105 Stat. 404–406Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1)106 Stat. 1984Pub. L. 105–220, title IV, § 414(c)112 Stat. 1242(Added , , , § 1904; amended , (3), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 3904 and amended , §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 764(b)(3) of Title 29Section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (b), is classified to , Labor.

Prior Provisions

Prior sections 4001 to 4005 were renumbered sections 7101 to 7105 of this title, respectively.

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1241Pub. L. 87–666Another prior section 4005, , , , related to applications for review on appeal, prior to repeal by .

section 7106 of this titlePrior section 4006 was renumbered .

section 4007 of this titleAnother prior section 4006 was renumbered .

section 7107 of this titlePrior section 4007 was renumbered .

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1242Pub. L. 87–666section 7105A of this titleAnother prior section 4007, , , , related to simultaneously contested claims, prior to repeal by . See .

Prior sections 4008 to 4010, 4051 to 4056, 4061 to 4069, 4081 to 4085, 4091, 4092, and 4096 to 4098 were renumbered sections 7108 to 7110, 7251 to 7256, 7261 to 7269, 7281 to 7285, 7291, 7292, and 7296 to 7298 of this title, respectively.

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–22029 U.S.C. 762(b)(2)1998—Subsec. (b). substituted “section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973” for “section 204(b)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ()”.

Pub. L. 102–4051992—Subsecs. (a), (b). substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)section 1904 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (a). , substituted “3903” for “1903”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–40 substituted “section 7303” for “section 4101”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (b). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” before “through”.

Pub. L. 97–29529 U.S.C. 762(b)(2)Public Law 93–11287 Stat. 3571982—Subsec. (b). substituted “Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education” for “Health, Education, and Welfare and the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare”, and “section 204(b)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ()” for “section 3(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (; ) (relating to the development and support, and the stimulation of the development and utilization, including production and distribution of new and existing devices, of innovative methods of applying advanced medical technology, scientific achievement, and psychological and social knowledge to solve rehabilitation problems), and section 204(b)(2) of such Act”.

Pub. L. 95–6021978—Subsec. (b). substituted “and section 204(b)(2) of such Act” for “section 202(b)(2) of such Act” and struck out “, and section 405 of such Act (relating to the Secretarial responsibilities for planning, analysis, promoting utilization of scientific advances, and information clearinghouse activities)” after “Research Centers)”.

Pub. L. 94–581, § 205(b)(2)1976—, struck out “; coordination with other Federal programs” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 94–581, § 205(b)(3)Subsec. (a). , substituted “medical and prosthetic research” for “prosthetic and orthopedic appliance research under section 216 and medical research”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–581section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581section 111 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 6 of Pub. L. 93–538section 3901 of this titleSection effective first day of second calendar month following , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1974 Amendment note under .