592
592 § 9802. Damage by United States vessels; towage and salvage of United States vessels (a) Under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may settle or compromise a claim against the United States for— (1) damage caused by a vessel of, or in the service of, the Department of the Air Force; or (2) compensation for towage and salvage service, including contract salvage, rendered to a vessel of, or in the service of, the Department of the Air Force. (b) If a claim under subsection (a) is settled or compromised for $500,000 or less, the Secretary of the Air Force may pay it. If it is settled or compromised for more than $500,000, he shall certify it to Congress. (c) I n any case where the amount to be paid is not more than $1,000, the Secretary of the Air Force may delegate his authority under subsection (a) to any person in the Department of the Air Force designated by him. § 9803. Admiralty claims by United States (a) Under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may settle, or compromise, and receive payment of a claim by the United States for damage to property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force or property for which the Department has assumed an obligation to respond for damage, if— (1) the claim is— (A) of a kind that is within the admiralty jurisdiction of a district court of the United States; or (B) for damage caused by a vessel or floating object; and (2) the amount to be received by the United States is not more than $500,000. (b) In exchange for payment of an amount found to be due the United States under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force may execute a release of the claim on behalf of the United States. Amounts received under this section shall be covered into the Treasury. (c) I n any case where the amount to be received by the United States is not more than $1,000, the Secretary of the Air Force may delegate his authority under subsections (a) and (b) to any person in the Department of the Air Force designated by him. § 9804. Salvage claims by United States Under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may settle, or compromise, and receive payment of a claim by the United States for salvage services performed by the Department of the Air Force for any vessel. Amounts received under this section shall be covered into the Treasury. § 9805. Reports to Congress The Secretary of the Air Force shall report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives within 20 days after paying a claim in an amount over $3,000 under section
�
