Title 2 — The CongressRelease 119-73not60
§5542 Regulations for Safe Handling of Mail Matter
Title 2 › Chapter 55— HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter III— CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER › § 5542
Summary
With approval of the Committee on House Administration, the Chief Administrative Officer must set rules letting the CAO handle mail sent to the House or to entities that agree, to protect people from exposure. Actions under those rules cannot be used for civil or criminal liability. "Handle" covers collecting, isolating, testing, opening, disposing, and destroying. Applies to fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §5542
The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives shall implement regulations under which the Chief Administrative Officer shall be authorized to handle any mail matter delivered by the United States Postal Service or any other carrier to the House of Representatives, or to any other entity with whom the Chief Administrative Officer has entered into an agreement to receive mail matter delivered to the entity, in such manner as the Chief Administrative Officer deems necessary to ensure the safety of any individuals who may come into contact with, or otherwise be exposed to, such mail matter.
(b)No action taken under the regulations implemented pursuant to this section may serve as a basis for civil or criminal liability of any individual or entity.
(c)As used in this section, the term “handle” includes but is not limited to collecting, isolating, testing, opening, disposing, and destroying.
(d)This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was formerly classified to section 117j–1 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005, which is div. G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 5542
Title 2 — The Congress
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60