31 U.S.C. § 3334 — Cancellation and proceeds distribution of Treasury checks

(a) In General.— (1) The Secretary must provide monthly to each agency that authorizes the issuance of Treasury checks a list of those checks issued for such agency on or after such effective date that have not been paid and have become more than 12 months old during the preceding month, beginning with the fourteenth month following the effective date of this section. (2) Such checks must be canceled by the Secretary and the proceeds of it must be returned to the agency concerned and credited to the appropriation or fund account initially charged for the payment. (b) Checks Issued Before Effective Date.— (1) Not later than 18 months after the effective date of this section, the Secretary must identify and cancel all Treasury checks issued before such effective date that have not been paid under section 3328 of this title. (2) The proceeds from checks canceled pursuant to paragraph (1) must be applied to eliminate the balances in accounts that represent uncollectible accounts receivable and other costs associated with the payment of checks and check claims by the Department of the Treasury on behalf of all payment certifying agencies. Any remaining proceeds must be deposited to the miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury. (c) No Effect on Underlying Obligation.— Nothing in this section must be construed to affect the underlying obligation of the United States, or any agency of it, for which a Treasury check was issued.