---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 3161"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "3161"
heading: "Purpose"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/3161"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Public Buildings and Works"
  - "Part A — General"
  - "Chapter 31 — General"
  - "Subchapter V — Volunteer Services"
---

# §3161. Purpose


It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote and provide opportunities for individuals who wish to volunteer their services to [state](/usc/40/3501.md?p=3) or local governments, [public agencies](/usc/40/3501.md?p=1), or nonprofit charitable organizations in the construction, repair, or alteration (including painting and decorating) of [public buildings](/usc/40/3301.md?p=a-5) and [public works](/usc/40/3501.md?p=2) that at least partly are financed with federal financial assistance authorized under certain federal programs and that otherwise might not be possible without the use of volunteers.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1153.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 3161 | 40:276d. | Pub. L. 103–355, title VII, § 7302, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3382. |