Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-110
§5548 Payments to Ensure Continuing Availability of Goods and Services During the Coronavirus Emergency
Title 2 › CHAPTER 55 — HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › SUBCHAPTER III — CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER › § 5548
Summary
During an emergency, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House may pay vendors different amounts or accept different payment terms than their contracts so the House keeps getting needed goods and services. The payments need approval from the Committee on House Administration and can only be made if money is available. This rule applies for fiscal year 2020 and every year after.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §5548
The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Authorization to make payments
Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subsection (b), during an emergency situation, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives may make payments under contracts with vendors providing goods and services to the House in amounts and under terms and conditions other than those provided under the contract in order to ensure that those goods and services remain available to the House throughout the duration of the emergency.
(b)Conditions
(1)Approval required
The Chief Administrative Officer may not make payments under the authority of subsection (a) without the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.
(2)Availability of appropriations
The authority of the Chief Administrative Officer to make payments under the authority of subsection (a) is subject to the availability of appropriations to make such payments.
(c)Applicability
This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section is from the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations, which is div. B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definition For definition of “coronavirus”, see section 23005 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 162b of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 5548
Title 2, The Congress
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110