36 USC § 170103 - Membership

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t36/s170103"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "36 USC § 170103 - Membership"
title_number: 36
title_name: "PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS"
section_number: "170103"
section_name: "Membership"
chapter_number: 1701
chapter_name: "PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Organizations"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1440.)"
---


# § 170103. Membership

An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation if the individual—

**(1)** is a citizen of the United States;

**(2)** was regularly enlisted, inducted, or commissioned, and was accepted for or on active duty, in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard of the United States or an ally of the United States;

**(3)**

**(A)** was separated from service in the Armed Forces under conditions other than dishonorable; or

**(B)** is on active duty or must continue to serve after the cessation of hostilities; and

**(4)** has suffered a spinal cord injury or disease, whether or not service connected in origin.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1440.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 170103 | 36:1157. | Aug. 11, 1971, Pub. L. 92–93, § 7, 85 Stat. 318. |

In clause (1), the words “citizen of the United States” are substituted for “American citizen” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

Clause (3)(A) is substituted for “Service with the Armed Forces must have been terminated by discharge or separation from service under conditions other than dishonorable” to eliminate unnecessary words.

Clause (3)(B) is substituted for “, That persons otherwise eligible for membership who are on active duty or who must continue to serve after the cessation of hostilities are also eligible for membership” to eliminate unnecessary words.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .