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Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-110

§5542 Regulations for Safe Handling of Mail Matter

Title 2 › CHAPTER 55 — HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › SUBCHAPTER III — CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER › § 5542

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Chief Administrative Officer of the House must, with approval from the Committee on House Administration, create rules that let the Office manage any mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or other carriers to the House or to places with an agreement to get House mail, doing whatever is needed to keep people safe. "Handle" means things like collecting, isolating, testing, opening, disposing of, or destroying mail. No action taken under these rules can be used to make a person or entity legally liable in a civil or criminal case. These rules apply starting in fiscal year 2004 and every fiscal year after.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §5542

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
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)Civil or criminal liability
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)Definition
As used in this section, the term “handle” includes but is not limited to collecting, isolating, testing, opening, disposing, and destroying.
(d)Effective date
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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110