---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 3119"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "3119"
heading: "Rehabilitation research and special projects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/3119"
units:
  - "Part III — Readjustment and Related Benefits"
  - "Chapter 31 — Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities"
---

# §3119. Rehabilitation research and special projects

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) shall carry out an ongoing program of activities for the purpose of advancing the knowledge, methods, techniques, and resources available for use in [rehabilitation programs](/usc/38/3101.md?p=7) for [veterans](/usc/38/3701.md?p=b-2). For this purpose, the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) shall conduct and provide support for the development or conduct, or both the development and conduct, of—
  - (1) studies and research concerning the psychological, educational, employment, social, vocational, industrial, and economic aspects of the rehabilitation of [disabled veterans](/usc/38/4101.md?p=3), including new methods of rehabilitation; and
  - (2) projects which are designed to increase the resources and potential for accomplishing the rehabilitation of [disabled veterans](/usc/38/4101.md?p=3).
- (b) For the purpose specified in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) is authorized to make grants to or contract with public or nonprofit agencies, including institutions of higher learning.
- (c) The [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) shall cooperate with the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Director of the Institute of Handicapped Research in the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Education, the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) for [Veterans](/usc/38/3701.md?p=b-2)’ Employment in the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Labor, and the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) of Health and Human Services regarding rehabilitation studies, research, and special projects of mutual programmatic concern.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 96–466, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2184, § 1519; amended Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3119, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 1519 of this title as this section.

1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 802(a)(2) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as a note under section 3100 of this title.