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31 U.S.C. § 3729 — False claims
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Liability for Certain Acts.—**
(1) **In general.—** — Subject to paragraph (2), any person who—
(A) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
(B) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
(C) conspires to commit a violation of subparagraph (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), or (G);
(D) has possession, custody, or control of property or money used, or to be used, by the Government and knowingly delivers, or causes to be delivered, less than all of that money or property;
(E) is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying receipt of property used, or to be used, by the Government and, intending to defraud the Government, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true;
(F) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the Government, or a member of the Armed Forces, who lawfully may not sell or pledge property; or
(G) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government,
is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 ([28 U.S.C. 2461](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title28-section2461&num=0&edition=prelim) note; Public Law 104–410 11 So in original. Probably should be “101–410”.
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-31/section-3729-false-claims--7dca1c518b.md
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Source location: Title 31, Chapter 37, § 3729; chapter-037-claims.md
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**(a) Liability for Certain Acts.—**
(1) **In general.—** — Subject to paragraph (2), any person who—
(A) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
(B) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
(C) conspires to commit a violation of subparagraph (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), or (G);
(D) has possession, custody, or control of property or money used, or to be used, by the Government and knowingly delivers, or causes to be delivered, less than all of that money or property;
(E) is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying receipt of property used, or to be used, by the Government and, intending to defraud the Government, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true;
(F) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the Government, or a member of the Armed Forces, who lawfully may not sell or pledge property; or
(G) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government,
is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 ([28 U.S.C. 2461](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title28-section2461&num=0&edition=prelim) note; Public Law 104–410 11 So in original. Probably should be “101–410”.), plus 3 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person.
(2) **Reduced damages.—** — If the court finds that—
(A) the person committing the violation of this subsection furnished officials of the United States responsible for investigating false claims violations with all information known to such person about the violation within 30 days after the date on which the defendant first obtained the information;
(B) such person fully cooperated with any Government investigation of such violation; and
(C) at the time such person furnished the United States with the information about the violation, no criminal prosecution, civil action, or administrative action had commenced under this title with respect to such violation, and the person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of an investigation into such violation,
the court may assess not less than 2 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person.
(3) **Costs of civil actions.—** — A person violating this subsection shall also be liable to the United States Government for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any such penalty or damages.
**(b) Definitions.—** For purposes of this section—
(1) the terms “knowing” and “knowingly”—
(A) mean that a person, with respect to information—
(i) has actual knowledge of the information;
(ii) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or
(iii) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information; and
(B) require no proof of specific intent to defraud;
(2) the term “claim”—
(A) means any request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money or property and whether or not the United States has title to the money or property, that—
(i) is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States; or
(ii) is made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on the Government’s behalf or to advance a Government program or interest, and if the United States Government—
(I) provides or has provided any portion of the money or property requested or demanded; or
(II) will reimburse such contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded; and
(B) does not include requests or demands for money or property that the Government has paid to an individual as compensation for Federal employment or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual’s use of the money or property;
(3) the term “obligation” means an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment; and
(4) the term “material” means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.
**(c) Exemption From Disclosure.—** Any information furnished pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall be exempt from disclosure under [section 552 of title 5](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section552&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(d) Exclusion.—** This section does not apply to claims, records, or statements made under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Each agency shall make available to the public information as follows:
(1) Each agency shall separately state and currently publish in the Federal Register for the guidance of the public—
(A) descriptions of its central and field organization and the established places at which, the employees (and in the case of a uniformed service, the members) from whom, and the methods whereby, the public may obtain information, make submittals or requests, or obtain decisions;
(B) statements of the general course and method by which its functions are channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available;
(C) rules of procedure, descriptions of forms available or the places at which forms may be obtained, and instructions as to the scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations;
(D) substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted by the agency; and
(E) each amendment, revision, or repeal of the foregoing.
Except to the extent that a person has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof, a person may not in any manner be required to resort to, or be adversely affected by, a matter required to be published in the Federal Register and not so published. For the purpose of this paragraph, matter reasonably available to the class of persons affected thereby is deemed published in the Federal Register when incorporated by reference therein with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register.
(2) Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection in an electronic format—
(A) final opinions, including concurring and dissen
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Actions Under Section 3730.—** Any action under section 3730 may be brought in any judicial district in which the defendant or, in the case of multiple defendants, any one defendant can be found, resides, transacts business, or in which any act proscribed by section 3729 occurred. A summons as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall be issued by the appropriate district court and served at any place within or outside the United States.
**(b) Claims Under State Law.—** The district courts shall have jurisdiction over any action brought under the laws of any State for the recovery of funds paid by a State or local government if the action arises from the same transaction or occurrence as an action brought under section 3730.
**(c) Service on State or Local Authorities.—** With respect to any State or local government that is named as a co-plaintiff with the United States in an action brought under subsection (b), a seal on the action ordered by the court under section 3730(b) shall not preclude the Government or the person bringing the action from serving the complaint, any other pleadings, or the written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information possessed by the person bringing the action on the law enforcement authorities that are authorized under the law of that State or local government to investigate and prosecute such actions on behalf of such governments, except that such seal applies to the law enforcement authorities so served to the same extent as the seal applies to other parties in the action.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 31 U.S.C. § 3732
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Whenever a civil fine, penalty or pecuniary forfeiture is prescribed for the violation of an Act of Congress without specifying the mode of recovery or enforcement thereof, it may be recovered in a civil action.
**(b)** Unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress, whenever a forfeiture of property is prescribed as a penalty for violation of an Act of Congress and the seizure takes place on the high seas or on navigable waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, such forfeiture may be enforced by libel in admiralty but in cases of seizures on land the forfeiture may be enforced by a proceeding by libel which shall conform as near as may be to proceedings in admiralty.
**(c)** If a person is charged in a criminal case with a violation of an Act of Congress for which the civil or criminal forfeiture of property is authorized, the Government may include notice of the forfeiture in the indictment or information pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. If the defendant is convicted of the offense giving rise to the forfeiture, the court shall order the forfeiture of the property as part of the sentence in the criminal case pursuant to to 11 So in original. the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and [section 3554 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section3554&num=0&edition=prelim), United States Code. The procedures in section 413 of the Controlled Substances Act ([21 U.S.C. 853](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section853&num=0&edition=prelim)) apply to all stages of a criminal forfeiture proceeding, except that subsection (d) of such section applies only in cases in which the defendant is convicted of a violation of such Act.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The submission to an agency of a proposal for settlement of costs for any period after such costs have been accrued that includes a cost that is expressly specified by statute or regulation as being unallowable, with the knowledge that such cost is unallowable, shall be subject to the provisions of [section 287 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section287&num=0&edition=prelim) and [section 3729 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3729&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 3748
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
Section, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 684; Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–596, § 8, 98 Stat. 3138, classified offenses as a felony, misdemeanor, or petty offense.
#### Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal of section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of such repeal, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note under [section 3551 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section3551&num=0&edition=prelim).
#### Short Title of 2026 Amendment
Pub. L. 119–73, § 1, Jan. 23, 2026, 139 Stat. 2003, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 28 and 3771A of this title, amending [section 7102 of Title 22](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section7102&num=0&edition=prelim), Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and enacting provisions set out as notes under [section 28 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section28&num=0&edition=prelim) and [section 10110 of Title 34](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title34-section10110&num=0&edition=prelim), Crime Control and Law Enforcement] may be cited as the ‘Trafficking Survivors Relief Act’.”
#### Short Title of 2024 Amendment
Pub. L. 118–78, § 1, July 30, 2024, 138 Stat. 1512, provided that: “This Act [enacting [section 1352 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1352&num=0&edition=prelim) and amending [section 201 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section201&num=0&edition=prelim)] may be cited as the ‘Foreign Extortion Prevention Technical Corrections Act’.”
Pub. L. 118–77, § 1, July
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Responsibilities of the Attorney General.—** The Attorney General diligently shall investigate a violation under section 3729. If the Attorney General finds that a person has violated or is violating section 3729, the Attorney General may bring a civil action under this section against the person.
**(b) Actions by Private Persons.—**
(1) A person may bring a civil action for a violation of section 3729 for the person and for the United States Government. The action shall be brought in the name of the Government. The action may be dismissed only if the court and the Attorney General give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for consenting.
(2) A copy of the complaint and written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information the person possesses shall be served on the Government pursuant to Rule 4(d)(4) 11 So in original. Probably should be a reference to Rule 4(i). of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The complaint shall be filed in camera, shall remain under seal for at least 60 days, and shall not be served on the defendant until the court so orders. The Government may elect to intervene and proceed with the action within 60 days after it receives both the complaint and the material evidence and information.
(3) The Government may, for good cause shown, move the court for extensions of the time during which the complaint remains under seal under paragraph (2). Any such motions may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera. The defendant shall not be required to respond to any complaint filed under this section until 20 days after the complaint is unsealed and served upon the defendant pursuant to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(4) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any extensio
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 31 U.S.C. § 3730
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** A subpena requiring the attendance of a witness at a trial or hearing conducted under [section 3730 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3730&num=0&edition=prelim) may be served at any place in the United States.
**(b)** A civil action under section 3730 may not be brought—
(1) more than 6 years after the date on which the violation of section 3729 is committed, or
(2) more than 3 years after the date when facts material to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by the official of the United States charged with responsibility to act in the circumstances, but in no event more than 10 years after the date on which the violation is committed,
whichever occurs last.
**(c)** If the Government elects to intervene and proceed with an action brought under 3730(b),11 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “section”. the Government may file its own complaint or amend the complaint of a person who has brought an action under section 3730(b) to clarify or add detail to the claims in which the Government is intervening and to add any additional claims with respect to which the Government contends it is entitled to relief. For statute of limitations purposes, any such Government pleading shall relate back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to the extent that the claim of the Government arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the prior complaint of that person.
**(d)** In any action brought under section 3730, the United States shall be required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.
**(e)** Notwithstand
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—**
(1) **Issuance and service.—** — Whenever the Attorney General, or a designee (for purposes of this section), has reason to believe that any person may be in possession, custody, or control of any documentary material or information relevant to a false claims law investigation, the Attorney General, or a designee, may, before commencing a civil proceeding under section 3730(a) or other false claims law, or making an election under section 3730(b), issue in writing and cause to be served upon such person, a civil investigative demand requiring such person—
(A) to produce such documentary material for inspection and copying,
(B) to answer in writing written interrogatories with respect to such documentary material or information,
(C) to give oral testimony concerning such documentary material or information, or
(D) to furnish any combination of such material, answers, or testimony.
The Attorney General may delegate the authority to issue civil investigative demands under this subsection. Whenever a civil investigative demand is an express demand for any product of discovery, the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, or an Assistant Attorney General shall cause to be served, in any manner authorized by this section, a copy of such demand upon the person from whom the discovery was obtained and shall notify the person to whom such demand is issued of the date on which such copy was served. Any information obtained by the Attorney General or a designee of the Attorney General under this section may be shared with any qui tam relator if the Attorney General or designee determine it is necessary as part of any false claims act 11 So in original. Probably should be “law”. investigation.
(2) **Contents and deadlines.—**
(A) Each c
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 31 U.S.C. § 3733
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(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 401 of title 5](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section401&num=0&edition=prelim)) 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 415(a) of title 5](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section415/a&num=0&edition=prelim));
(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 autho
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 31 U.S.C. § 3801
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The submission to an executive agency of a proposal for settlement of costs for any period after those costs have been accrued that includes a cost that is expressly specified by statute or regulation as being unallowable, with the knowledge that the cost is unallowable, is subject to [section 287 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section287&num=0&edition=prelim) and [section 3729 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3729&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 41 U.S.C. § 4308
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