Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102

§5547 Emergency Expenditures for Meals, Refreshments, and Other Support and Maintenance

Title 2 › CHAPTER 55 — HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › SUBCHAPTER III — CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER › § 5547

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Starting on February 20, 2003, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House may use available funds to commit and spend money for meals, drinks, and other support for House members, officers, and employees when the Officer decides it is needed to respond to emergencies that protect people’s lives or property. It does not take away any other power the Chief Administrative Officer already has to spend money on those same items for House members, officers, and employees.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §5547

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)At any time on or after February 20, 2003, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives may incur obligations and make expenditures out of available appropriations for meals, refreshments, and other support and maintenance for Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives when, in the judgment of the Chief Administrative Officer, such obligations and expenditures are necessary to respond to emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.

(b)Nothing in this section may be construed to affect any other authority of the Chief Administrative Officer to incur obligations and make expenditures for the items and services described in subsection (a) for Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 130k of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003, which is div. H of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 5547

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102