§ 3904. — Research and development.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 38USC3904]
TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
PART III--READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS
CHAPTER 39--AUTOMOBILES AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DISABLED
VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
Sec. 3904. Research and development
(a) In carrying out medical and prosthetic research under section
7303 of this title, the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for
Health, shall provide for special emphasis on the research and
development of adaptive equipment and adapted conveyances (including
vans) meeting standards of safety and quality prescribed under
subsection (d) of section 3903, including support for the production and
distribution of devices and conveyances so developed.
(b) In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary,
through the Under Secretary for Health, shall consult and cooperate with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of
Education, in connection with programs carried out under section
204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (relating to the
establishment and support of Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers).
(Added Pub. L. 93-538, Sec. 5(a), Dec. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 1737,
Sec. 1904; amended Pub. L. 94-581, title II, Sec. 205(b)(2), (3), Oct.
21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2859; Pub. L. 95-602, title I, Sec. 122(f), Nov. 6,
1978, 92 Stat. 2987; Pub. L. 97-295, Sec. 4(69), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat.
1310; Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, Sec. 403(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat.
239; renumbered Sec. 3904 and amended Pub. L. 102-83, Secs. 4(b)(1),
(2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404-406; Pub. L. 102-405,
title III, Sec. 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984; Pub. L. 105-
220, title IV, Sec. 414(c), Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1242.)
References in Text
Section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in
subsec. (b), is classified to section 764(b)(3) of Title 29, Labor.
Prior Provisions
Prior sections 4001 to 4005 were renumbered sections 7101 to 7105 of
this title, respectively.
Another prior section 4005, Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat.
1241, related to applications for review on appeal, prior to repeal by
Pub. L. 87-666.
Prior section 4006 was renumbered section 7106 of this title.
Another prior section 4006 was renumbered section 4007 of this
title.
Prior section 4007 was renumbered section 7107 of this title.
Another prior section 4007, Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat.
1242, related to simultaneously contested claims, prior to repeal by
Pub. L. 87-666. See section 7105A of this title.
Prior sections 4008 to 4010, 4051 to 4056, 4061 to 4069, 4081 to
4085, 4091, 4092, and 4096 to 4098 were renumbered sections 7108 to
7110, 7251 to 7256, 7261 to 7269, 7281 to 7285, 7291, 7292, and 7296 to
7298 of this title, respectively.
Amendments
1998--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105-220 substituted ``section 204(b)(3)
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973'' for ``section 204(b)(2) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 762(b)(2))''.
1992--Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 102-405 substituted ``Under
Secretary for Health'' for ``Chief Medical Director''.
1991--Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(a), renumbered section 1904 of this
title as this section.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 5(c)(1), substituted ``3903'' for
``1903''.
Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted ``Secretary'' for
``Administrator''.
Pub. L. 102-40 substituted ``section 7303'' for ``section 4101''.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' before ``through''.
1982--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97-295 substituted ``Health and Human
Services and the Secretary of Education'' for ``Health, Education, and
Welfare and the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare'', and
``section 204(b)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
762(b)(2))'' for ``section 3(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Public Law 93-112; 87 Stat. 357) (relating to the development and
support, and the stimulation of the development and utilization,
including production and distribution of new and existing devices, of
innovative methods of applying advanced medical technology, scientific
achievement, and psychological and social knowledge to solve
rehabilitation problems), and section 204(b)(2) of such Act''.
1978--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95-602 substituted ``and section
204(b)(2) of such Act'' for ``section 202(b)(2) of such Act'' and struck
out ``, and section 405 of such Act (relating to the Secretarial
responsibilities for planning, analysis, promoting utilization of
scientific advances, and information clearinghouse activities)'' after
``Research Centers)''.
1976--Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 205(b)(2), struck out ``; coordination
with other Federal programs'' in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94-581, Sec. 205(b)(3), substituted ``medical
and prosthetic research'' for ``prosthetic and orthopedic appliance
research under section 216 and medical research''.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94-581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211
of Pub. L. 94-581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective first day of second calendar month following Dec.
22, 1974, see section 6 of Pub. L. 93-538, set out as an Effective Date
of 1974 Amendment note under section 3901 of this title.
