31 U.S.C. § 3801 - Definitions

• Cite as: 31 U.S.C. § 3801

(a) For purposes of this chapter-

(1) "authority" means-

(A) an executive department;

(B) a military department;

(C) an establishment (as such term is defined in section 11(2) ¹ of the Inspector General Act of 1978) which is not an executive department;

(D) the United States Postal Service;

(E) the National Science Foundation; and

(F) a designated Federal entity (as such term is defined under section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978);

(2) "authority head" means-

(A) the head of an authority; or

(B) an official or employee of the authority designated, in regulations promulgated by the head of the authority, to act on behalf of the head of the authority;

(3) "claim" means any request, demand, or submission-

(A) made to an authority for property, services, or money (including money representing grants, loans, insurance, or benefits);

(B) made to a recipient of property, services, or money from an authority or to a party to a contract with an authority-

(i) for property or services if the United States-

(I) provided such property or services;

(II) provided any portion of the funds for the purchase of such property or services; or

(III) will reimburse such recipient or party for the purchase of such property or services; or

(ii) for the payment of money (including money representing grants, loans, insurance, or benefits) if the United States-

(I) provided any portion of the money requested or demanded; or

(II) will reimburse such recipient or party for any portion of the money paid on such request or demand; or

(C) made to an authority which has the effect of decreasing an obligation to pay or account for property, services, or money,

except that such term does not include any claim made in any return of tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(4) "investigating official" means an individual who-

(A)

(i) in the case of an authority in which an Office of Inspector General is established by the Inspector General Act of 1978 or by any other Federal law, is the Inspector General of that authority or an officer or employee of such Office designated by the Inspector General;

(ii) in the case of an authority in which an Office of Inspector General is not established by the Inspector General Act of 1978 or by any other Federal law, is an officer or employee of the authority designated by the authority head to conduct investigations under section 3803(a)(1) of this title; or