§ 551. — Definitions.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 37USC551]
TITLE 37--PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES
CHAPTER 10--PAYMENTS TO MISSING PERSONS
Sec. 551. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) The term ``dependent'', with respect to a member of a
uniformed service, means--
(A) his spouse;
(B) his unmarried child (including an unmarried dependent
stepchild or adopted child) under 21 years of age;
(C) his dependent mother or father;
(D) a dependent designated in official records; and
(E) a person determined to be dependent by the Secretary
concerned, or his designee.
(2) The term ``missing status'' means the status of a member of
a uniformed service who is officially carried or determined to be
absent in a status of--
(A) missing;
(B) missing in action;
(C) interned in a foreign country;
(D) captured, beleaguered, or besieged by a hostile force;
or
(E) detained in a foreign country against his will.
(3) The term ``pay and allowances'' means--
(A) basic pay;
(B) special pay;
(C) incentive pay;
(D) basic allowance for housing;
(E) basic allowance for subsistence; and
(F) station per diem allowances for not more than 90 days.
(Added Pub. L. 89-554, Sec. 5(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 625; amended
Pub. L. 99-145, title XIII, Sec. 1301(g), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 737;
Pub. L. 100-26, Sec. 8(e)(10), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 287; Pub. L.
105-85, div. A, title VI, Sec. 603(d)(1)(D), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat.
1782.)
Historical and Revision Notes
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Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
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551(1)................................ 50 App. 1001. Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, Sec. 1, 56
Stat. 143; July 1, 1944, ch. 371,
Sec. 1, 58 Stat. 679; Aug. 14,
1964, Pub. L. 88-428, Sec. 1(1),
(2), 78 Stat. 437.
551(2)................................ 50 App. 1002(a) (22d through 66th Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, Sec. 2(a)
words of 1st sentence, for (22d through 66th and 96th through
definition purposes). 120th words of 1st sentence, for
50 App. 1002(a) (96th through 120th definition purposes); added July
551(3)................................ words of 1st sentence, for 1, 1944, ch. 371, Sec. 2, 58
definition purposes). Stat. 679; Apr. 4, 1953, ch. 17,
Sec. 1(a), 67 Stat. 21; Aug. 29,
1957, Pub. L. 85-217, Sec. 1(b)
(1st par.), 71 Stat. 491; Aug. 14,
1964, Pub. L. 88-428, Sec.
1(3)(A), 78 Stat. 437.
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Only that portion of the source law which is applicable to members
of the uniformed services and their dependents is codified in this
section.
The words ``In this chapter'' are substituted for ``For the purpose
of this Act''.
In clause (1), the words ``with respect to a member of a uniformed
service'' are inserted for clarity. In clause (1)(A), the word
``lawful'' is omitted as unnecessary in view of the accepted recognition
of the fact that the word ``wife'' means a lawful wife. In clause
(1)(E), the words ``Secretary concerned, or his designee'' are
substituted for ``head of the department concerned, or subordinate
designated by him'' to conform to the definition in 37 U.S.C. 101(5).
The definitions of ``person'', ``active service'', and ``department'',
respectively, in 50 App. U.S.C. 1001(a)(1), (b), and (d) are omitted as
unnecessary in view of the definitions of ``member'', ``uniformed
services'', ``active service'', and ``Secretary concerned'', in 37
U.S.C. 101(3), (5), (20), and (23).
The definitions in clauses (2) and (3), which do not appear in, but
are based on, the source law are created for legislative convenience.
Amendments
1997--Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 105-85 substituted ``housing'' for
``quarters''.
1987--Pub. L. 100-26 substituted ``In this chapter:'' for ``In this
chapter--'', inserted ``The term'' at beginning of pars. (1) to (3), and
substituted period for semicolon at end of par. (1) and period for ``;
and'' at end of par. (2).
1985--Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 99-145 substituted ``spouse'' for
``wife''.
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 105-85 effective Jan. 1, 1998, see section
603(e) of Pub. L. 105-85, set out as a note under section 5561 of Title
5, Government Organization and Employees.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 501 of this title; title 10
sections 701, 1032, 1035, 1095a, 2181, 4342, 6954, 9342, 12301; title 26
section 112; title 50, Appendix, section 592.
