# § 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 September 30, 2026.
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**Source Credit**: (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; Pub. L. 108–183, title II, § 213, Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2658; Pub. L. 111–117, div. E, title II, § 228, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3307; Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, § 807(a), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2893; Pub. L. 112–74, div. H, title II, § 234, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 112–191, title II, § 202, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1439; Pub. L. 113–59, § 7, Dec. 20, 2013, 127 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, § 402, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, § 403, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, § 402, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 939; Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 402, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1164; Pub. L. 115–251, title I, § 162, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3171; Pub. L. 116–61, § 3, Sept. 30, 2019, 133 Stat. 1116; Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title II, § 5203, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 750; Pub. L. 117–180, div. E, title II, § 202, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2137; Pub. L. 118–83, div. B, title III, § 333, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1541; Pub. L. 119–37, div. G, title II, § 7204, Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 650.)
## Editorial Notes
### Prior Provisions
Prior section 315 was renumbered .
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 230(a), (b) of this title prior to repeal by .
### Amendments
2025—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2024—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2022—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2020—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2019—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2018—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2017—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2016—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2015—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2014—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2013—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2012—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2011—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2010—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2009—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
2003—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
1999—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
1994—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
1993—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
1992—Subsec. (b). substituted “” for “”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Amendment by effective as if enacted on , see , set out as a note under .
### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
> “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as of
>
> .”
, , , provided that:
### Effect of Amendment
, , , provided that this section shall be carried out as amended by notwithstanding the date described in ().
### Ratification of Maintenance of Office During Lapsed Period
> “Any action of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in maintaining a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in the Republic of the Philippines under
>
> , United States Code, during the period beginning on
>
> , and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act [
>
> ] is hereby ratified with respect to that period.”
, , , provided that: