Title 2The CongressRelease 119-73

§6505 Appropriations for contingent expenses of Senate; restrictions

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 65— - SENATE OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL › § 6505

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Senate contingency funds cannot pay for personal services unless the Senate gives specific approval, and they cannot pay for costs that are not directly for routine Senate business; the Government Accountability Office must apply these rules when settling related accounts.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §6505

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Appropriations made for contingent expenses of the Senate shall not be used for the payment of personal services except upon the express and specific authorization of the Senate in whose behalf such services are rendered. Nor shall such appropriations be used for any expenses not intimately and directly connected with the routine legislative business of the Senate, and the Government Accountability Office shall apply the provisions of this section in the settlement of the accounts of expenditures from said appropriations incurred for services or materials.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 68–2 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section, and to section 671 of former Title 31, prior to the enactment of Title 31, Money and Finance, by Pub. L. 97–258, § 1, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 877. Section is based on provisions of proviso on 32 Stat. 26, act of Feb. 14, 1902, ch. 17, the Urgent Deficiency Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1902, as those provisions relate to appropriations for contingent expenses of Senate. Provisions of that proviso relating to appropriations for expenses of House of Representatives are classified to section 5506 of this title.

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–186 amended provisions relating to appropriations for expenses of House. See Codification note above.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

“Government Accountability Office” substituted in text for “General Accounting Office” pursuant to section 8 of Pub. L. 108–271, set out as a note under section 702 of Title 31, Money and Finance, which redesignated the General Accounting Office and any references thereto as the Government Accountability Office. Previously, “General Accounting Office” substituted in text for “accounting officers of the Treasury” pursuant to act June 10, 1921, which transferred powers and duties of Comptroller, six auditors, and certain other employees of the Treasury to General Accounting Office. See section 701 et seq. of Title 31.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 6505

Title 2The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73