A bill to amend sections 2733, 2734, and 2736 of title 10, United States Code and section 715 of title 32, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount of a claim against the United States that may be paid administratively under those sections and to allow increased delegation of authority to settle and pay certain of those claims, and for other purposes.
PL 98-564 (H.R.597), enacted 10/30/1984

98 STAT. 2918 
PUBLIC LAW 98-564—OCT. 30, 1984 
Public Law 98-564 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To amend sections 2733, 2734, and 2736 of title 10, United States Code, and section 715 
Oct 30 1984 
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® ^^' United States Code, to increase the maximum amount of a claim against 
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the United States that may be paid administratively under those sections and to 
[H.R. 597] 
allow increased delegation of authority to settle and pay certain of those claims, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That (a) section 
2733 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) is amended by striking out "chief legal 
officer" and "$25,000" and inserting in lieu thereof "Chief 
Counsel" and "$100,000", respectively. 
(2) Subsection (d) is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) If the Secretary concerned considers that a claim in excess of 
$100,000 is meritorious, and the claim otherwise is payable under 
this section, the Secretary may pay the claimant $100,000 and report 
any meritorious amount in excess of $100,000 to the Comptroller 
31 use 1304. 
General for payment under section 1304 of title 31.". 
(3) Subsection (g) is amended to read as follows: 
"(g) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, an 
officer or employee under the jurisdiction of the Secretary may 
settle a claim that otherwise would be payable under this section in 
an amount not to exceed $25,000. A decision of the officer or 
employee who makes a final settlement decision under this section 
may be appealed by the claimant to the Secretary concerned or an 
officer or employee designated by the Secretary for that purpose.". 
SEC. 2. Section 2734 of title 10, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) is amended by amending that part of the 
subsection that precedes paragraph (1) to read as follows: 
"(a) To promote and to maintain friendly relations through the 
prompt settlement of meritorious claims, the Secretary concerned, 
or an officer or employee designated by the Secretary, may appoint, 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, one or more 
claims commissions, each composed of one or more officers or em-
ployees or combination of officers or employees of the armed forces, 
to settle and pay in an amount not more than $100,000, a claim 
against the United States for—". 
(2) Subsection (a) is further amended in the last sentence by 
inserting "or employee" after "An officer". 
(3) Subsection (c) is amended to read as follows: 
"(c) The Secretary concerned may appoint any officer or employee 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to act as an approval author-
ity for claims determined to be allowable under subsection (a) in an 
amount in excess of $10,000.". 
(4) Subsection (d) is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) If the Secretary concerned considers that a claim in excess of 
$100,000 is meritorious, and the claim otherwise is payable under 
this section, the Secretary may pay the claimant $100,000 and report 
PUBLIC LAW 98-564—OCT. 30, 1984 
98 STAT. 2919 
any meritorious amount in excess of $100,000 to the Comptroller 
General for payment under section 1304 of title 31.". 
31 use 1304. 
SEC. 3. Section 2736(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking out "$1,000" and inserting in lieu thereof "$10,000". 
SEC. 4. Action 715 of title 32, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) is amended by striking out "$25,000" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$100,000". 
(2) Subsection (d) is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) If the Secretary concerned considers that a claim in excess of 
$100,000 is meritorious, and the claim otherwise is payable under 
this section, the Secretary may pay the claimant $100,000 and report 
any meritorious amount in excess of $100,000 to the Comptroller 
General for payment under section 1304 of title 31.". 
31 use 1304. 
(3) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows: 
"(f) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, an 
officer or employee under the jurisdiction of the Secretary may 
settle a claim that otherwise would be payable under this section in 
an amount not to exceed $25,000. A decision of the officer or 
employee who makes a final settlement decision under this section 
may be appealed by the claimant to the Secretary concerned or an 
officer or employee designated by the Secretary for that purpose.". 
Approved October 30, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R 597: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-407 (eomm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 129 (1983): Oct. 24, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 130 (1984): Oct. 11, considered and passed Senate.