PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Architect of the Capitol, under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, may build a National Garden showing many kinds of plants, including the rose, on the land between Maryland and Independence Avenues SW, stretching from the Botanic Garden Conservatory to Third Street SW in Washington, D.C. The Architect may also take gifts for the Botanic Garden—such as money, plants, or other property—and use them to run the garden, pay for programs, or to build, equip, and maintain the National Garden. Money gifts received must go to the Treasury and be put into an account called Botanic Garden, Gifts and Donations and accepted only up to amounts approved in appropriation Acts. The Treasury can invest unused funds in U.S. obligations and add earned interest back to the account. The Architect must include these funds in annual budget estimates and may spend them for these purposes after appropriation approval, without following section 6101 of title 41; the funds stay available until spent. The Architect may accept unpaid services, including student assignments, if the person signs a written waiver of claims against the United States except for rights under chapter 81 of title 5. People who donate services are not U.S. employees except for chapter 81 of title 5 purposes, and accepting volunteers must not cut pay or replace garden staff. Gifts accepted count as gifts to the United States for income, estate, and gift tax rules.

Title 2, §2146

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment; gifts

The Architect of the Capitol, subject to the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, is authorized to—

(1)construct a National Garden demonstrating the diversity of plants, including the rose, our national flower, to be located between Maryland and Independence Avenues, S.W., and extending from the Botanic Garden Conservatory to Third Streets, S.W., in the District of Columbia; and

(2)solicit, receive, accept, and hold gifts, including money, plant material, and other property, on behalf of the Botanic Garden, and to dispose of, utilize, obligate, expend, disburse, and administer such gifts for the benefit of the Botanic Garden, including among other things, the carrying out of any programs, duties, or functions of the Botanic Garden, and for constructing, equipping, and maintaining the National Garden referred to in paragraph (1).

(b)Gifts and bequests of money; investment; appropriations

(1)Gifts or bequests of money under subsection (a)(2) shall, when received by the Architect, be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States, who shall credit these deposits as offsetting collections to an account entitled “Botanic Garden, Gifts and Donations”. The gifts or bequests described under subsection (a)(2) shall be accepted only in the total amount provided in appropriations Acts.

(2)The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest any portion of the account designated in paragraph (1) that, as determined by the Architect, is not required to meet current expenses. Each investment shall be made in an interest-bearing obligation of the United States or an obligation guaranteed both as to principal and interest by the United States that, as determined by the Architect, has a maturity date suitable for the purposes of the account. The Secretary of the Treasury shall credit interest earned on the obligations to the account.

(3)Receipts, obligations, and expenditures of funds under this section shall be included in annual estimates submitted by the Architect for the operation and maintenance of the Botanic Garden and such funds shall be expended by the Architect, without regard to section 6101 of title 41, for the purposes of this section after approval in appropriation Acts. All such sums shall remain available until expended, without fiscal year limitation.

(c)Donations of personal services

(1)In carrying out this section and his duties, the Architect of the Capitol may accept personal services, including educationally related work assignments for students in nonpay status, if the service is to be rendered without compensation.

(2)No person shall be permitted to donate his or her personal services under this section unless such person has first agreed, in writing, to waive any and all claims against the United States arising out of or in connection with such services, other than a claim under the provisions of chapter 81 of title 5.

(3)No person donating personal services under this section shall be considered an employee of the United States for any purpose other than for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5.

(4)In no case shall the acceptance of personal services under this section result in the reduction of pay or displacement of any employee of the Botanic Garden.

(d)Tax deductions

Any gift accepted by the Architect of the Capitol under this section shall be considered a gift to the United States for purposes of income, estate, and gift tax laws of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In subsec. (b)(3), “section 6101 of title 41” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts. Section was classified to section 216c 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.

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (b)(2), (3). Pub. L. 105–275 added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3). 1995—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–53 substituted “plants” for “plans”. 1991—Pub. L. 102–229 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Architect of the Capitol, subject to the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, is authorized to— “(1) construct a National Garden demonstrating the diversity of plants, including the rose, our national flower, to be located between Maryland and Independence Avenues, S.W., and extending from the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory to Third Street, S.W., in the District of Columbia; and “(2) accept gifts, including money, plants, volunteer time, planning,

Construction

and installation expenses, assistance and implements, and garden structures, on behalf of the United States Botanic Garden for the purpose of constructing the National Garden described in paragraph (1).”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Funds Available for Constructing, Equipping, and Maintaining National Garden Pub. L. 102–392, title II, § 201, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1716, as amended by Pub. L. 104–53, title II, § 201(a), Nov. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 529; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(2) [title III, § 312], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–120; Pub. L. 107–68, title I, § 135, Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 583, provided that: “(a) Pursuant to section 307E of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1989 (40 U.S.C. 216c) [now 2 U.S.C. 2146], not more than $16,500,000 shall be accepted and not more than $16,500,000 of the amounts accepted shall be available for obligation by the Architect of the Capitol for constructing, equipping, and maintaining the National Garden. “(b) The Architect of the Capitol is authorized to solicit, receive, accept, and hold amounts under section 307E(a)(2) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1989 (40 U.S.C. 216c(a)(2)) [now 2 U.S.C. 2146(a)(2)] in excess of the $16,500,000 authorized under subsection (a), but such amounts (and any interest thereon) shall not be expended by the Architect without approval in appropriation Acts as required under section 307E(b)(3) of such Act (40 U.S.C. 216c(b)(3)) [now 2 U.S.C. 2146(b)(3)].” Renovation of Conservatory of Botanic Garden Pub. L. 102–229, title II, § 209(b), Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1717, provided that under section 2146 of this title, not more than $2,000,000 could be accepted or available for obligation by the Architect for certain preparations for renovation of the Conservatory of the Botanic Garden.

§2146 National Garden