§3327. General authority to issue checks and other drafts

(a) The Secretary of the Treasury may issue a check or other draft on public money in the Treasury to pay an obligation of the United States Government. When the Secretary decides it is convenient to a public creditor and in the public interest, the Secretary may designate a depositary to issue a check or other draft on public money held by the depositary to pay an obligation of the Government. As directed by the Secretary, each depositary shall report to the Secretary on public money paid and received by the depositary.

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that Social Security account numbers (including derivatives of such numbers) are not visible on or through unopened mailings of checks or other drafts described in subsection (a) of this section.

( Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 952 ; Pub. L. 106–433, §2, Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1910 .)

The words "Secretary of the Treasury" are substituted for "Treasurer" because of the source provisions restated in section 321(c) of the revised title. The words "may issue a check or other draft" are substituted for "shall be subject to the draft of" for consistency in the revised title. The words "public money" are substituted for "moneys" because section 10 of the Act of August 6, 1846 (ch. 90, 9 Stat. 61), from which section 3644 of the Revised Statutes is derived, used the term "public money". The words "obligation of the United States Government" are substituted for "on the public account", and the words "may designate a depositary to issue a check or draft on public money held by the depositary to pay an obligation of the Government" are substituted for "is authorized to draw upon any of the depositaries" for clarity and consistency. The words "at such times and in such forms . . . shall be" are omitted as surplus. The words "United States Postal Service" and "Postmaster General" are omitted because of 39:410. The words "report to the Secretary on public money paid and received by the depositary" are substituted for "so drawn upon shall make returns to the Treasury Department" for clarity and consistency.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000-Pub. L. 106–433 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment and Transitional Rule

Pub. L. 106–433, §3, Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1910 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The amendments made by this Act [amending this section] shall apply with respect to all mailings of checks or other drafts issued on or after the date which is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 2000].

"(b) Phase-in of Amendments.-Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall commence procedures to gradually implement the amendments made by this Act in advance of the effective date described in subsection (a). Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the next 2 years, the Secretary shall transmit to each House of the Congress a report describing the manner and extent to which the requirements of the preceding sentence have been carried out."