38 USC § 3561 - Authority and duties of Secretary

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s3561"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 3561 - Authority and duties of Secretary"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "3561"
section_name: "Authority and duties of Secretary"
chapter_number: 35
chapter_name: "SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE"
subchapter_number: "VI"
subchapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1200, § 1761; Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(1), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 94–502, title III, § 310(23), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2392; Pub. L. 96–466, title III, § 323(b), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2196; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3561 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)"
---


# § 3561. Authority and duties of Secretary

**(a)** The Secretary may provide the educational and vocational counseling authorized under section 3520 of this title, and may provide additional counseling if the Secretary deems it to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

**(b)** Where any provision of this chapter authorizes or requires any function, power, or duty to be exercised by a State, or by any officer or agency thereof, such function, power, or duty shall, with respect to the Republic of the Philippines, be exercised by the Secretary.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1200, § 1761; Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(1), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 94–502, title III, § 310(23), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2392; Pub. L. 96–466, title III, § 323(b), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2196; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3561 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—, renumbered  as this section.

Subsec. (a). , substituted “3520” for “1720”.

1989— substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

1980—Subsec. (a).  substituted “authorized” for “required” and “may provide additional counseling” for “may provide or require additional counseling”.

1976—Subsec. (a).  substituted “if the Administrator deems” for “if he deems”.

1966—Subsec. (a).  redesignated subsec. (b) as (a) and struck out provisions of former subsec. (a) for audit and review of payments by the GAO as provided by Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 and Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950.

Subsec. (b).  redesignated subsec. (d) as (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (a).

Subsec. (c).  struck out subsec. (c) which provided for use of other Federal agencies. See now, .

Subsec. (d).  redesignated subsec. (d) as (b).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , except as otherwise specifically provided, see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .