§9803. Admiralty claims by United States

(a) Under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force 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 Air Force 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 Air Force 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 Air Force may delegate his authority under subsections (a) and (b) to any person in the Department of the Air Force designated by him.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 592 ; 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 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
9803(a)       9803(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.
9803(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 9801 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

Amendments

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".