Title 2The CongressRelease 119-73

§1826 Easements for rights-of-way

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › § 1826

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Architect of the Capitol can allow easements (rights-of-way) on the Capitol Grounds and other public lands the Architect controls. The Architect sets the terms and may take money or goods/services instead of money. Easements may not cover more land than needed. All money from easements must go into a special Treasury account for the Architect and can be used only as Congress allows. An easement can be ended for breaking its terms, not being used for 2 years, or abandonment. Before granting an easement the Architect must give written notice and get approval from the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate for Senate property, the House Office Building Commission for House property, or both bodies for other property. These rules apply starting in fiscal year 2008 and after.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §1826

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Architect of the Capitol may grant, upon such terms as the Architect of the Capitol considers advisable, including monetary consideration, easements for rights-of-way over, in, and upon the Capitol Grounds and any other public lands under the jurisdiction and control of the Architect of the Capitol.
(b)No easement granted under this section may include more land than is necessary for the easement.
(c)There is established in the Treasury an easement account for the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol shall deposit in the account all proceeds received relating to the granting of easements under this section. The proceeds deposited in that account shall be available to the Architect, in such amounts and for such purposes provided in appropriations acts.
(d)Subject to subsection (f), the Architect may accept in-kind consideration instead of, or in addition to, any monetary consideration, for any easement granted under this section.
(e)The Architect of the Capitol may terminate all or part of any easement granted under this section for—
(1)failure to comply with the terms of the grant;
(2)nonuse for a 2-year period; or
(3)abandonment.
(f)The Architect of the Capitol may grant an easement for rights-of-way under subsection (a) upon submission of written notice of intent to grant that easement and the amount or type of consideration to be received, and approval by—
(1)the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate for easements granted on property under Senate jurisdiction;
(2)the House Office Building Commission for property under House of Representatives jurisdiction; and
(3)the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the House Office Building Commission for easements granted on any other property.
(g)This section shall apply to fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008, which is div. H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 1826

Title 2The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73