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Title 2 — The CongressRelease 119-73

§5548 Payments to ensure continuing availability of goods and services during the coronavirus emergency

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER › § 5548

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Even if other laws say otherwise, during an emergency the House's Chief Administrative Officer may pay vendors different amounts or use different payment terms than the contract says so the House keeps getting needed goods and services. Those payments must be approved by the House Committee on House Administration and can only be made if funds are available from appropriations; this applies to fiscal year 2020 and every year after.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §5548

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subsection (b), during an emergency situation, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives may make payments under contracts with vendors providing goods and services to the House in amounts and under terms and conditions other than those provided under the contract in order to ensure that those goods and services remain available to the House throughout the duration of the emergency.
(b)(1)The Chief Administrative Officer may not make payments under the authority of subsection (a) without the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.
(2)The authority of the Chief Administrative Officer to make payments under the authority of subsection (a) is subject to the availability of appropriations to make such payments.
(c)This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is from the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations, which is div. B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definition For definition of “coronavirus”, see section 23005 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 162b of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 5548

Title 2 — The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73