Title 31Money and FinanceRelease 119-73

§1515 Authorized apportionments necessitating deficiency or supplemental appropriations

Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE II— - THE BUDGET PROCESS › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - APPROPRIATION ACCOUNTING › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - APPORTIONMENT › § 1515

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Apportion funds under section 1512 only to show a need for extra money to pay lawful pay raises for civilian workers (including those paid under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 5) and for active and retired military. Otherwise, an official or agency head may show a need for a deficiency or supplemental appropriation only if a law passed after submission of estimates forces extra spending, or an emergency threatens life, property, or immediate welfare and statutory funds are insufficient. If they do, they must send Congress a detailed report at once and include it when asking for the extra funds.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §1515

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An appropriation required to be apportioned under section 1512 of this title may be apportioned on a basis that indicates the need for a deficiency or supplemental appropriation to the extent necessary to permit payment of such pay increases as may be granted pursuant to law to civilian officers and employees (including prevailing rate employees whose pay is fixed and adjusted under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 5) and to retired and active military personnel.
(b)(1)Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, an official may make, and the head of an executive agency may request, an apportionment under section 1512 of this title that would indicate a necessity for a deficiency or supplemental appropriation only when the official or agency head decides that the action is required because of—
(A)a law enacted after submission to Congress of the estimates for an appropriation that requires an expenditure beyond administrative control; or
(B)an emergency involving the safety of human life, the protection of property, or the immediate welfare of individuals when an appropriation that would allow the United States Government to pay, or contribute to, amounts required to be paid to individuals in specific amounts fixed by law or under formulas prescribed by law, is insufficient.
(2)If an official making an apportionment decides that an apportionment would indicate a necessity for a deficiency or supplemental appropriation, the official shall submit immediately a detailed report of the facts to Congress. The report shall be referred to in submitting a proposed deficiency or supplemental appropriation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 1515(a)31:665a.June 5, 1957, Pub. L. 85–48, § 210, 71 Stat. 55. 1515(b)(1)31:665(e)(1).R.S. § 3679(e)(1); Mar. 3, 1905, ch. 1484, § 4(1st par.), 33 Stat. 1257; Feb. 27, 1906, ch. 510, § 3, 34 Stat. 48; Sept. 6, 1950, ch. 896, § 1211, 64 Stat. 767; restated Aug. 28, 1957, Pub. L. 85–170, § 1401, 71 Stat. 440. 1515(b)(2)31:665(e)(2).R.S. § 3679(e)(2); Mar. 3, 1905, ch. 1484, § 4(1st par.), 33 Stat. 1257; Feb. 27, 1906, ch. 510, § 3, 34 Stat. 48; restated Sept. 6, 1950, ch. 896, § 1211, 64 Stat. 767. In subsection (a), the words “On and after June 5, 1957” are omitted as executed. The words “deficiency or supplemental appropriation” are substituted for “supplemental or deficiency estimate of appropriation” for consistency with chapter 11 of the revised title. The words “prevailing rate employees whose pay is fixed and adjusted under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 5” are substituted for “those employees (commonly known as wage-board employees) whose compensation is fixed and adjusted from time to time in accordance with prevailing rates (5 U.S.C. 5102(c)(7), 5341 et seq.)” for consistency with title 5. In subsection (b), the word “apportionment” is substituted for “apportionment or reapportionment” because of section 1512(a)(last sentence) of the revised title. In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words “Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section” are added because of the restatement. The word “appropriation” is substituted for “estimate” for consistency in the revised section. The words “is insufficient” are added for clarity. In subsection (b)(2), the words “proposed deficiency or supplemental appropriation” are substituted for “deficiency or supplemental estimates” for consistency with chapter 11 of the revised title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–202 added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: “An appropriation required to be apportioned under section 1512 of this title may be apportioned on a basis that indicates a necessity for a deficiency or supplemental appropriation to the extent necessary to permit payment of pay increases for prevailing rate employees whose pay is fixed and adjusted under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 5.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 1515

Title 31Money and Finance

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73