31 U.S.C. § 3331: Substitute checks

payable on demand; that does not bear interest; drawn by an authorized disbursing official or agent of the United States Government; and the amount of which is deposited with the Treasury or another account available for payment; and does not include coins and currency of the Government. When the Secretary of the Treasury is satisfied that an original check is lost, stolen, destroyed in any part, or is so defaced that the value to the owner or holder is impaired, the Secretary may issue a substitute check to the owner or holder of the original check. Except as provided in subsection (c) or (f) of this section, the substitute check is payable from the amount available to pay the original check. using the current date; and drawn on the account of the drawer of the original check or another account available for payment of the substitute. may be paid only if the original check has not been paid; shall include information necessary to identify the original check; is deemed to be an original check; and is paid under the same conditions as the original check; and does not relieve a disbursing or certifying official from liability to the Government for payment resulting from erroneously issuing the original check. Before issuing a substitute check under this section, the Secretary may require the owner or holder of the original check to agree to indemnify the Government with security in the form and amount the Secretary decides is necessary. The Secretary may waive any provision of this section as may be necessary to ensure that claimants receive timely payments. Under conditions the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may delegate duties and powers of the Secretary under this section to the head of an agency. Consistent with a delegation from the Secretary under this subsection, the head of an agency may delegate those duties and powers to an officer or employee of the agency.