Title 2The CongressRelease 119-73

§2273 Coins treated as gifts

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 2273

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Coins thrown into fountains on certain federal areas — the grounds listed in 40 U.S.C. 5102, the Capitol Buildings in 40 U.S.C. 5101 (including the Capitol Visitor Center), and the Library of Congress sites in 2 U.S.C. 167j — count as gifts to the United States, and the Architect of the Capitol must collect them. The Architect must first use the money to repay costs for collecting, processing, and keeping those fountains up, and then deposit whatever is left into the Miscellaneous Receipts Account of the Capitol Visitor Center Revolving Fund (section 2231); those funds are available as section 2233(b) allows.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §2273

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, the term “covered grounds” means—
(1)the grounds described under section 5102 of title 40;
(2)the Capitol Buildings defined under section 5101 of title 40, including the Capitol Visitor Center; and
(3)the Library of Congress buildings and grounds described under section 167j of this title.
(b)In the case of any coins in any fountains on covered grounds—
(1)such coins shall be treated as gifts to the United States; and
(2)the Architect of the Capitol shall—
(A)collect such coins at such times and in such manner as the Architect determines appropriate; and
(B)except as provided under subsection (c), deposit the collected coins in accordance with subsection (d).
(c)Any amount collected under this section shall first be used to reimburse the Architect of the Capitol for any costs incurred in the collection and processing of the coins, and maintaining fountains under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. The amount of any such reimbursement is appropriated to the account from which such costs were paid and may be used for any authorized purpose of that account.
(d)The Architect of the Capitol shall deposit coins collected under this section in the Miscellaneous Receipts Account of the Capitol Visitor Center Revolving Fund established under section 2231 of this title.
(e)Amounts deposited in the Miscellaneous Receipts Account of the Capitol Visitor Center Revolving Fund under this section shall be available as provided under section 2233(b) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–103 inserted “, and maintaining fountains under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol” before period at end of first sentence.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 2273

Title 2The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73