Appropriations made for expenses of the House of Representatives shall not be used for the payment of personal services except upon the express and specific authorization of the House in whose behalf such services are rendered. Nor shall such appropriations be used for any expenses not intimately and directly connected with the routine legislative business of the House of Representatives, and the Government Accountability Office shall apply the provisions of this section in the settlement of the accounts of expenditures from said appropriations incurred for services or materials.
(Feb. 14, 1902, ch. 17, §1, 32 Stat. 26; June 10, 1921, ch. 18, title III, §304, 42 Stat. 24; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, §204(45), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1737; Pub. L. 108–271, §8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)
Section is based on provisions of proviso on 32 Stat. 26, act of Feb. 14, 1902, ch. 17, the Urgent Deficiency Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1902, relating to appropriations for contingent expenses of House of Representatives. Provisions of proviso relating to appropriations for expenses of Senate are classified to section 68–2 of this title.
Section was formerly classified to section 671 of Title 31 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 31, Money and Finance, by Pub. L. 97–258, §1, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 877.
1996—Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “expenses of the House” for “contingent expenses of the House”.
“Government Accountability Office” substituted in text for “General Accounting Office” pursuant to section 8 of Pub. L. 108–271, set out as a note under section 702 of Title 31, Money and Finance, which redesignated the General Accounting Office and any references thereto as the Government Accountability Office. Previously, “General Accounting Office” substituted in text for “accounting officers of the Treasury” pursuant to act June 10, 1921, which transferred powers and duties of Comptroller, six auditors, and certain other employees of the Treasury to General Accounting Office. See section 701 et seq. of Title 31.