Financial assistance — Us Code Code § 1539

Us Code Code § 1539 — Financial assistance. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 1539. Financial assistance

(a) Processing of applications

Within 12 months after October 29, 1992, the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and, after notice and opportunity for public comment, promulgate regulations or guidelines to ensure that a completed application for a grant, contract, or other financial assistance under a nondiscretionary assistance program shall be processed and approved or disapproved within 75 days after submission of the application to the responsible program office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(b) Notification of applicant

Not later than 14 days after the date on which the Secretary of Commerce receives an application for a contract, grant, or other financial assistance provided under a nondiscretionary assistance program administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary shall indicate in writing to the applicant whether or not the application is complete and, if not complete, shall specify the additional material that the applicant must provide to complete the application.

(c) Exemption

In the case of a program for which the recipient of a grant, contract, or other financial assistance is specified by statute to be, or has customarily been, a State or an interstate fishery commission, such financial assistance may be provided by the Secretary to that recipient on a sole-source basis, notwithstanding any other provision of law.

(d) "Nondiscretionary assistance program" defined

In this section, the term "nondiscretionary assistance program" means any program for providing financial assistance—

(1) under which the amount of funding for, and the intended recipient of, the financial assistance is specified by Congress; or

(2) the recipients of which have customarily been a State or an interstate fishery commission.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title IV, §404, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4292.)

About This Section

15 U.S.C. § 1539 is part of Title 15 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 15 U.S.C. § 1539. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

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Common questions

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It addresses "Financial assistance". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

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