§5581 — Title 2 The Congress | U.S. Code

Summary

Allows the House of Representatives to take part in international parliamentary groups, welcome members of foreign legislatures and permanent foreign government officials to the United States, and hold meetings with senior U.S. officials and other dignitaries to discuss matters about U.S. relations with other countries. Paying for these activities comes from the House’s accounts until a law says otherwise. The House may spend what is needed but not more than $40,000 in any calendar year. Payments must be on vouchers signed by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and approved by the Committee on House Oversight.

Title 2, §5581

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is the purpose of this section to enable the House of Representatives more properly to discharge and coordinate its activities and responsibilities in connection with participation in various interparliamentary institutions, to facilitate the interchange and reception in the United States of members of foreign legislative bodies and permanent officials of foreign governments, and to enable the House of Representatives to host meetings with senior United States Government officials and other dignitaries in order to discuss matters relevant to United States relations with other countries.

(b)For payment of expenses incurred in carrying out subsection (a) of this section, there shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives, until otherwise provided by law, such sums as may be necessary but not to exceed $40,000 in any calendar year. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and approved by the Committee on House Oversight.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 130–1 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Section is based on section 1 of House Resolution No. 1047, Ninety-fifth Congress, Apr. 4, 1978, which was enacted into permanent law by Pub. L. 95–391.

Amendments

2003—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–83 substituted “$40,000” for “$80,000”. 1998—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–275 substituted “$80,000” for “$55,000”. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “applicable accounts of the House of Representatives” for “contingent fund of the House” and “House Oversight” for “House Administration”. 1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Committee on Foreign Affairs” for “Committee on International Relations”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.

§5581 Participation by House in Interparliamentary Institutions; Reception of Members of Foreign Legislative Bodies and Foreign Officials; Meetings with Government Officials