Title 31Money and FinanceRelease 119-73

§3104 Certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills

Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - PUBLIC DEBT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - BORROWING AUTHORITY › § 3104

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Treasury can borrow money for government spending and can buy, redeem, and make refunds as the law allows. When borrowing, the Secretary may issue two kinds of short-term government IOUs: certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills. The Secretary can set rules for issuing them and for redeeming them early. Their payment date cannot be more than one year after the issue date. Treasury bills issued this way cannot be used before they mature to pay principal or interest on debts of foreign governments that the United States holds.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §3104

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Treasury may borrow on the credit of the United States Government amounts necessary for expenditures authorized by law and may buy, redeem, and make refunds under section 3111 of this title. For amounts borrowed, the Secretary may issue—
(1)certificates of indebtedness of the Government; and
(2)Treasury bills of the Government.
(b)The Secretary may prescribe conditions for issuing certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills under section 3121 of this title and conditions under which the certificates and bills may be redeemed before maturity. Notwithstanding section 3121(a)(5) of this title, the payment date of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills may not be more than one year after the date of issue.
(c)Treasury bills issued under this section may not be accepted before maturity to pay principal or interest on obligations of governments of foreign countries that are held by the United States Government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3104(a)31:754(a)(1st, 2d sentences).Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, § 5(a)(less form of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills, finality), 40 Stat. 290; Apr. 4, 1918, ch. 44, § 4, 40 Stat. 504; Mar. 3, 1919, ch. 100, § 3, 40 Stat. 1311; restated June 17, 1929, ch. 26, 46 Stat. 19; Feb. 4, 1935, ch. 5, §§ 2, 3, 49 Stat. 20. 3104(b)31:754(a)(3d sentence)(less form of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills, finality). 3104(c)31:754(a)(last sentence). In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “In addition to the bonds and notes authorized by section 752, 753, and 757c of this title” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “subject to the limitation imposed by section 757b of this title” are omitted as surplus. The words “for expenditures authorized by law” are substituted for “for the purposes of this Act . . . and to meet public expenditures authorized by law” for clarity and because they are inclusive. The words “under section 3111 of this title” are substituted for “at or before maturity, of any outstanding bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness or Treasury bills of the United States” because of the restatement. The words “at not less than par” are omitted as superseded by section 3 of the Public Debt Act of 1942 (ch. 205, 56 Stat. 189), restated in section 3121 of the revised title. The text of 31:754(a)(2d sentence) is omitted as superseded by section 3121(a) of the revised title. In clause (1), the words “and at such rate or rates of interest, payable at such time or times as he may prescribe” are omitted because they are superseded by section 3121(a), (b)(1), and (c) of the revised title. In clause (2), the words “on a discount basis and payable at maturity without interest” are omitted because they are superseded by section 3121(a) of the revised title. The words “of the Government” are added for consistency. In subsection (b), the words “terms and” after “upon such” are omitted as surplus. The words “for issuing . . . under section 3121 of this title” are substituted for “subject to such terms and conditions” because of the restatement. The words “Notwithstanding section 3121(a)(5) of this title” are substituted for “shall be payable at such time” for clarity because the section cited contains the general authority to which subsection (c)(last sentence) of this section is an exception. In subsection (c), the words “account of” are omitted as surplus.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 3104

Title 31Money and Finance

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73