Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102

§1851 Gratuities for Survivors of Deceased Employees

Title 2 › CHAPTER 28 — ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL › SUBCHAPTER III — PERSONNEL › Part B — Compensation › § 1851

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Until Congress changes the law, the House can make a one-time payment from its funds to the widow, widower, or legal heirs of any Architect of the Capitol employee who was assigned to the House when they died. The House Committee on Oversight must approve the payment on a voucher signed by its chair and follow uniform rules, and the amount cannot exceed what the family of a similarly situated Senate employee would get.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §1851

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Until otherwise provided by law, there is authorized to be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives, on vouchers signed by the chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, a gratuity to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law, of each deceased employee under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol who was assigned to duty in the House of Representatives at the time of his death. The payment of each such gratuity shall be in accordance with uniform rules and regulations adopted by the Committee on House Oversight except that no such gratuity shall be in excess of that payable to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law of any deceased employee under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol having a comparable length of service, who was assigned to similar duties in the Senate at the time of his death.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 166b–4 of former Title 40, prior to the enactment of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by Pub. L. 107–217, § 1, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062. Section is based on House Resolution No. 291, June 18, 1963, which was enacted into permanent law by Pub. L. 88–454.

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “applicable accounts” for “contingent fund” and substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 1851

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102