An Act to amend title 38 of the United States Code in order to clarify the purposes for which the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may release the names and/or addresses of present and former members of the Armed Forces and their dependents.
PL 94-321 (H.R.10268), enacted 06/29/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-321—JUNE 29, 1976 
90 STAT. 713 
Public Law 94-321 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38 of the United States Code in order to clarify tlie purposes for 
which the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may release the names and/or 
addresses of present and former members of the Armed Forces and their 
dependents. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That (a) section 
3301 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by— 
(1) inserting "(a)" before "All"; 
(2) striking out "follows:" and inserting in lieu thereof "pro-
vided in this section.", and inserting thereafter the following new 
subsection: 
"(b) The Administrator shall make disclosure of such files, records, 
reports, and other papers and documents as are described in subsection 
(a) of this section as follows:"; 
(3) redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), (8), and (9) as sub-
sections (c)^ (d), (e),and(f),respectively; 
(4) striking out "The" at the beginning of subsection (e) (as 
redesignated by clause (3) of this subsection) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "Except as otherwise specifically provided in this 
section with respect to certain information, the"; and 
(5) striking out subsection (f) (as redesignated by clause (3) 
of this subsection) and inserting in lieu thereof the following new 
subsections: 
"(f) The Administrator may, pursuant to regulations the Adminis-
trator shall prescribe, release the names or addresses, or both, of any 
present or former members of the Armed Forces, and/or their 
dependents, (1) to any nonprofit organization if the release is directly 
connected with the conduct of programs and the utilization of benefits 
under this title, or (2) to any criminal or civil law enforcement govern-
mental agency or instrumentality charged under applicable law with 
the protection of the public health or safety if a qualified representa-
tive of such agency or instrumentality has made a written request that 
such names or addresses be provided for a purpose authorized by law. 
Any organization or member thereof or other person who, knowing 
that the use of any name or address released by the Administrator 
pursuant to the preceding sentence is limited to the purpose specified 
in such sentence, willfully uses such name or address for a purpose 
other than those so specified, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and 
be fined not more than $5,000 in the case of a first offense and not more 
than $20,000 in the case of any subsequent offense. 
" (g) Any disclosure made pursuant to this section shall be made in 
accordance with the provisions of section 552a of title 5.". 
June 29. 1976 
[H.R. 10268] 
Armed Forces. 
Members and 
dependents, 
release of 
information. 
Organizations 
and agencies 
authorized to 
receive 
information. 
Unauthorized 
use, penalty. 
90 STAT. 714 
PUBLIC LAW 94-321—JUNE 29, 1976 
Effective date. 
(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) of this section with 
38 use 3301 
respect to subsection (f) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(3) of this 
°°*®- 
section) of section 3301 of title 38, United States Code (except for 
the increase in criminal penalties for a violation of the second sentence 
of such subsection (f)), shall be effective with respect to names or 
addresses released on and after October 24, 1972. 
Approved June 29, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-704 (Coram, on Veterans' Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-892 (Coram, on Veterans' Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
VoL 121 (1975): Dec. 15, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 122 (1976): June 2, considered and passed Senate, araended. 
June 16, House agreed to Senate araendraents.