§315. Regional offices

(a) The Secretary may establish such regional offices and such other field offices within the United States, its Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, as the Secretary considers necessary.

(b) The Secretary may maintain a regional office in the Republic of the Philippines until December 31, 2003.

(Added Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 384 ; amended Pub. L. 102–291, §1(a), May 20, 1992, 106 Stat. 178 ; Pub. L. 103–210, §2(c), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2497 ; Pub. L. 103–446, title V, §502, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4663 ; Pub. L. 106–117, title VIII, §802, Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1586 .)

Prior Provisions

Prior section 315 was renumbered section 1115 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 230(a), (b) of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a).

Amendments

1999-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–117 substituted "December 31, 2003" for "December 31, 1999".

1994-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted "December 31, 1999" for "December 31, 1994".

1993-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–210 substituted "December 31, 1994" for "March 31, 1994".

1992-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–291 substituted "March 31, 1994" for "September 30, 1991".

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Section 1(b) of Pub. L. 102–291 provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as of September 30, 1991."

Ratification of Maintenance of Office During Lapsed Period

Section 1(c) of Pub. L. 102–291 provided that: "Any action of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in maintaining a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in the Republic of the Philippines under section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, during the period beginning on October 1, 1991, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act [May 20, 1992] is hereby ratified with respect to that period."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 115 of this title.