An Act to amend title 28 of the United States Code to increase the limit for administrative settlement of claims against the United States under the tort claims procedure to $2,500
PL 86-238 (H.R.6000), enacted 09/08/1959

73 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 86-238-SEPT. 8, 1959 
471 
Public Law 86-236 
AN ACT 
To amend section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, to provide the same 
educational benefits for children of Spanish-American War veterans who 
died of a service-connected disability as are provided for children of veterans 
of World War I, World War II, and the Korean conflict. 
September 8, 1959 
[H. R. 2773] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States 
of America 
in Congress a^semoled^ That sections 
1701(a)(1) and 1701(d) of title 38, United States Code, are each 
amended by inserting "the Spanish-American War," immediately be-
fore "World War I" each place it appears. 
SEC. 2. In the case of any individual who is an eligible person 
within the meaning of section 1701(a) (1) of title 38, United States 
Code, solely by virtue of the amendments made by this Act, and who 
has reached his eighteenth birthday but has not reached his twenty-
third birthday on the date of enactment of this Act, the period re-
ferred to in section 1712 of title 38, United States Code, shall not 
end with respect to such individual until the expiration of the five-
year period which begins on the date of enactment of this Act. 
Approved September 8, 1959. 
Veterans, Span* 
ish-American War. 
Orphans sicholar* 
ships. 
72 S t a t , 1193, 
1194. 
Public Law 86-237 
AN ACT 
September 8^ 1959 
To amend section 511(h) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, in 
[s. 2013] 
order to extend the time for commitment of construction reserve funds. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled, That the proviso 
at the end of section oll(h) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as 
amended, is amended to read as follows: '"'• 
Provided^ That until 
January 1, 1961, in addition to the extensions hereinbefore permitted, 
further extensions may be granted ending not later than December 
31, 1961." 
SEC. 2. The amendment made by the first section of this Act shall 
take effect June 30, 1959, or on the date of enactment of this Act, 
whichever date first occurs. 
Approved September 8, 1959. 
Merchant Marine 
Act, amendment. 
54 Stat. 1106. 
46 u s e 1161. 
Effective date. 
Public Law 86-238 
AN ACT 
To amend title 28 of the United States Code to increase the limit for administra-
tive settlement of claims against the United States under the tort claims 
procedure to $2,500. 
September 8, 
[H. R - -
. L959 
6000] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That title 28 of 
the United States Code is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 2672 is amended as folows: 
(A) The catchline is amended to read as follows: 
'•§ 2672. Administrative adjustment of claims of $2,500 or less." 
(B) The first paragraph of section 2672 is amended by striking out 
"$1,000", and by mserting in lieu thereof "$2,500". 
Tort claims. 
Settlement. 
62 Stat. 983. 
472 
PUBLIC LAW 86-239-SEPT. 8, 1959 
[73 ST A T . 
28 
u s e 2671-
2680. 
62 Stat. 971. 
(2) The analysis of chapter l7l is amended by striking out the fol-
lowing item: 
"2672. Administrative adjustment of claims of $1,000 or less." 
and by inserting the following item in place thereof: 
"2672. Administrative adjustment of claims of $2,500 or less." 
(3) Subsection (b) of section 2401 of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by striking out "$1,000" wherever it appears in such sub-
section, and by inserting in lieu thereof "$2,500". 
Approved September 8, 1959. 
Public Law 86-239 
September 8, 1959 
[H. R. 7373] 
AN ACT 
To amend section 801 of title 38, United States Code, to provide assistance in 
acquiring specially adapted housing to an additional group of severely dis-
abled veterans. 
Veterans, Hous-
ing grants for dis> 
abled. 
72 Stat. 1168. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 801 of 
title 38, United States Code is amended to read as follows: 
"§ 801. Veterans eligible for assistance 
"The Administrator is authorized, under such regulations as he 
may prescribe, to assist any veteran, who is entitled to compensation 
under chapter 11 of this title, based on service after April 20, 1898, 
for permanent and total service-connected disability— 
"(1) due to the loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities, 
such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, 
crutches, canesj or a wheelchair^ or 
"(2) which includes (A) blindness in both eyes, having only 
light perception, plus (B) loss or loss of use of one lower extrem-
ity, and such permanent and total disability is such as to pre-
clude locomotion without the aid of a wheelchair, 
in acquiring a suitable housing unit with special fixtures or movable 
facilities made necessary by the nature of the veteran's disability, and 
necessary land therefor. 
The regulations of the Administrator shall 
include, but not be limited to, provisions requiring findings that (1) it 
is medically feasible for such veteran to reside in the proposed housing 
unit and in the proposed locality; (2) the proposed housing unit bears 
a proper relation to the veteran's present and anticipated income and 
expenses; and (3) the nature and condition of the proposed housing 
unit are such as to be suitable to the veteran's needs for dwelling 
purposes." 
Approved September 8, 1959. 
Public Law 86-240 
September 9, 1959 
A N A C T 
— 
•
' 
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands to the Bethel 
Baptist Church of Henderson, Tennessee. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
c^u^ch)Venn.^*^^* United States of ATuerica in Congress assembled, Th&t, (a) notwith-
conv4yance. 
standing the provisions of title I I I and title IV of the Bankhead-
7°ut*c^i"ofo- Jones Farm Tenant Act, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized 
1012, 1014-10 29 and directed to convey to the Bethel Baptist Church, Henderson, 
p^**^*"- 
Tennessee, by quitclaim deed all right, title, and interest of the United