CHAPTER 53 —HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERS
SUBCHAPTER I—MEMBER PAY
SUBCHAPTER II—EMPLOYEES
SUBCHAPTER III—EXPENSES AND ALLOWANCES
SUBCHAPTER I—MEMBER PAY
§5301. Representatives' and Delegates' salaries payable monthly
Representatives and Delegates-elect to Congress, whose credentials in due form of law have been duly filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, in accordance with the provisions of
(R.S. §38; Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 130, §1,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
R.S. §38 derived from act Mar. 3, 1873, ch. 226, §1,
§5302. Salaries payable monthly after taking oath
Each Member and Delegate, after he has taken and subscribed the required oath, is entitled to receive his salary at the end of each month.
(R.S. §39.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
R.S. §39 derived from Res. Mar. 29, 1867, No. 18,
§5303. End-of-the-month salary payment schedule inapplicable to Senators
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Provisions of subsec. (c) of section 112 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective in the case of compensation payable for months after December 1981, see section 112(e) of
§5304. Salaries of Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners elected for unexpired terms
The salaries of Representatives in Congress, Delegates from Territories, and Resident Commissioners, elected for unexpired terms, shall commence on the date of their election and not before.
(July 16, 1914, ch. 141, §1,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
§5305. Disposition of unpaid salary and other sums on death of Representative or Resident Commissioner
When any individual who has been elected a Member of, or Resident Commissioner to, the House of Representatives dies after the commencement of the Congress to which he has been elected, any unpaid balance of salary and other sums due such individual shall be paid to the person or persons surviving at the date of death, in the following order of precedence, and such payment shall be a bar to the recovery by any other person of amounts so paid:
First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by such individual in writing to receive such unpaid balance and other sums due filed with the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and received by the Chief Administrative Officer prior to such individual's death;
Second, if there be no such beneficiary, to the widow or widower of such individual;
Third, if there be no beneficiary or surviving spouse, to the child or children of such individual, and descendants of deceased children, by representation;
Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of such individual, or the survivor of them;
Fifth, if there be none of the above, to the duly appointed legal representative of the estate of the deceased individual, or if there be none, to the person or persons determined to be entitled thereto under the laws of the domicile of the deceased individual.
(July 2, 1954, ch. 455, title I, §105,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
1996—
1959—
§5306. Deductions for absence
The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives (upon certification by the Clerk of the House of Representatives) shall deduct from the monthly payments (or other periodic payments authorized by law) of each Member or Delegate the amount of his salary for each day that he has been absent from the House, unless such Member or Delegate assigns as the reason for such absence the sickness of himself or of some member of his family.
(R.S. §40;
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
R.S. §40 derived from act Aug. 16, 1856, ch. 123, §6,
Amendments
2005—
1996—
1981—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Amendment by
§5307. Certification of salary and mileage accounts
Salary and mileage accounts of Representatives and Delegates shall be certified by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and such certificates shall be conclusive upon all the departments and officers of the Government.
(R.S. §§47, 48;
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
R.S. §47 derived from acts July 28, 1866, ch. 296, §17,
R.S. §48 derived from act Sept. 30, 1850, ch. 90, §1,
R.S. §47 constitutes first clause and R.S. §48 constitutes remainder.
Words "mileage accounts" substituted for words "accounts for traveling expenses in going to and returning from Congress" based on text of section 17 of act July 28, 1866, ch. 296,
Amendments
2004—
§5308. Substitute to sign certificates for salary and accounts
The Speaker is authorized to designate from time to time some one from among those appointed by him and appropriated for and employed in his office, whose duty it shall be under the direction of the Speaker to sign in his name and for him all certificates required by
(Nov. 12, 1903, P. Res. No. 1,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
§5309. Disbursement of compensation of House Members by Chief Administrative Officer
The moneys which have been, or may be, appropriated for the compensation and mileage of Members and Delegates shall be paid at the Treasury on requisitions drawn by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, and shall be kept, disbursed, and accounted for by him according to law, and he shall be a disbursing officer, but he shall not be entitled to any compensation additional to the salary fixed by law.
(Oct. 1, 1890, ch. 1256, §3,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
1996—
§5310. Certificate of salary during recess
The Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to sign, during the recess of Congress after the first session and until the first day of the second session, the certificates for the monthly compensation of Members and Delegates in Congress, which certificate shall be in the form in use on August 15, 1876, and shall have the like force and effect as is given to the certificate of the Speaker.
(Aug. 15, 1876, ch. 287, §1,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
SUBCHAPTER II—EMPLOYEES
§5321. Employees of Members of House of Representatives
(a) In general
Under the Members' Representational Allowance, each Member of the House of Representatives may employ not more than 18 permanent employees and a total of not more than 4 additional employees in the following categories:
(1) Interns.
(2) Part-time employees.
(3) Shared employees.
(4) Temporary employees.
(5) Employees on leave without pay.
(b) Benefit exclusion
For purposes of this section, interns and temporary employees shall be excluded from the operation of the following provisions of title 5:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(c) Definitions
As used in this section—
(1) the term "Member of the House of Representatives" means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress;
(2) the term "intern" means, with respect to a Member of the House of Representatives, an individual who serves in the office of the Member for not more than 120 days in a 12-month period and whose service is primarily for the educational experience of the individual;
(3) the term "part-time employee" means, with respect to a Member of the House of Representatives, an individual who is employed by the Member and whose normally assigned work schedule is not more than the equivalent of 15 full working days per month;
(4) the term "temporary employee" means, with respect to a Member of the House of Representatives, an individual who is employed for a specific purpose or task and who is employed for not more than 90 days in a 12-month period, except that the term of such employment may be extended with the written approval of the Committee on House Oversight; and
(5) the term "shared employee" means an employee who is paid by more than one employing authority of the House of Representatives.
(d) Regulations
The Committee on House Oversight shall have authority to prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is comprised of section 104 of
Amendments
1999—
Subsec. (a).
1997—Subsec. (c)(2).
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.
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Employment of Permanent Clerks
House Resolution No. 359, Ninety-sixth Congress, July 20, 1979, as enacted into permanent law by H.R. 7593, as passed the House of Representatives on July 21, 1980, and enacted into permanent law by
House Resolution No. 357, Ninety-first Congress, June 25, 1969, as enacted into permanent law by
§5322. Lyndon Baines Johnson congressional interns
(a) Hiring authority of House Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; allowance for payment of compensation
Until otherwise provided by law and notwithstanding any other provision of law, each Member of, Delegate to, and Resident Commissioner in, the House of Representatives is authorized to hire for two months in any year one additional employee to be known as a Lyndon Baines Johnson congressional intern in honor of the former President. Each such intern shall be a student or a teacher and certified as such under subsection (b) of this section. Each such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall have available for payment of compensation to such intern a total allowance of $1,000, to be payable to such intern at a rate not to exceed $500 per month, out of the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives. Such intern and such allowance shall be in addition to all personnel and allowances made available to such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner under other provisions of law or other authority.
(b) Certification of intern status; filing
No person shall be paid compensation as a Lyndon Baines Johnson congressional intern who does not have on file with the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, at all times during the period of his employment as such intern, an appropriate certificate which is applicable to his intern status, as described below:
(1) if the intern is a student, a certificate that such intern was during the academic year immediately preceding his employment, a bona fide student at a college, university, or similar institution of higher learning; or
(2) if the intern is a teacher, a certificate that such intern was, in the year immediately preceding his employment, a bona fide teacher in government or social studies at a secondary school or a postsecondary school.
(c) Regulations by Committee on House Oversight
The Committee on House Oversight shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is based on section 1 of House Resolution No. 420, Ninety-third Congress, Sept. 18, 1973, which was enacted into permanent law by
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
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.
Effective Date
Section 3 of House Resolution No. 420, Ninety-third Congress, as enacted into permanent law by
§5322a. Allowance for compensation of interns in member offices
(a) Establishment of allowance
There is established for the House of Representatives an allowance which shall be available for the compensation of interns who serve in the offices of Members of the House of Representatives.
(b) Cap on amount available per office
An office of a Member of the House of Representatives may not use more than $20,000 of the allowance under this section during any calendar year.
(c) Benefit exclusion
(d) No effect on payment of interns under Members' Representational Allowance
Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the use of the Members' Representational Allowance for the compensation of interns, as provided under
(e) Definitions
In this section—
(1) the term "intern" has the meaning given such term in
(2) the term "Member of the House of Representatives" means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $8,800,000 for fiscal year 2019, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2019—Subsec. (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2019 Amendment
§5323. Pay of clerical assistants as affected by death of Senator or Representative
When a Senator 1 or Member of the House of Representatives or Delegate or Resident Commissioner dies during his term of office the clerical assistants appointed by him, and then borne upon the pay rolls of the Senate or House of Representatives, shall be continued on such pay rolls in their respective positions and be paid for a period not longer than one month: Provided, That this shall not apply to clerical assistants of standing committees of the Senate or House of Representatives, when their service otherwise would continue beyond such period.
(Feb. 23, 1927, ch. 168, §1,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Inapplicability to Employees of Senate
1 See Inapplicability to Employees of Senate note below.
§5324. Pay of clerical assistants as affected by death or resignation of Member of House
Notwithstanding the provisions of
(Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 600, §1,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
1966—
1952—Joint Res. July 15, 1952, provided retirement credit to employees for time they were separated from employment following death or resignation of a Member and before election of his successor.
1950—Joint Res. Apr. 24, 1950, struck out second sentence which limited continuance of clerical assistants of deceased or resigned House Members on pay roll to six months.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Act Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 600, §4,
§5325. Performance of duties by clerical assistants of dead or resigned Member of House
Any clerical assistants who continue on the House pay rolls under the provisions of
(Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 600, §2,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 3, 1935, see section 4 of act Aug. 21, 1935, set out as a note under
§5326. "Member of the House" defined
As used in
(Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 600, §3,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 3, 1935, see section 4 of act Aug. 21, 1935, set out as a note under
§5327. Termination of service of Members of House
(a) Until otherwise provided by law, for purposes of
(b) The Clerk of the House shall take such action as may be necessary to apply the principles of
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is based on section 1 of House Resolution 804, Ninety-sixth Congress, Oct. 2, 1980, as enacted into permanent law by H.R. 4120, as reported July 9, 1981, which was enacted into permanent law by section 101(c) of
§5328. Authority to prescribe regulations
The Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations for the carrying out of
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is based on section 2 of House Resolution 804, Ninety-sixth Congress, Oct. 2, 1980, as enacted into permanent law by H.R. 4120, as reported July 9, 1981, which was enacted into permanent law by section 101(c) of
Amendments
1996—
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.
§5329. Vouchers
Payments under
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is based on section 3 of House Resolution 804, Ninety-sixth Congress, Oct. 2, 1980, as enacted into permanent law by H.R. 4120, as reported July 9, 1981, which was enacted into permanent law by section 101(c) of
Amendments
1996—
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.
SUBCHAPTER III—EXPENSES AND ALLOWANCES
§5341. Representational allowance for Members of House of Representatives
(a) In general
There is established for the House of Representatives a single allowance, to be known as the "Members' Representational Allowance", which shall be available to support the conduct of the official and representational duties of a Member or Member-elect of the House of Representatives with respect to the district from which the Member or Member-elect is elected.
(b) Merger
The Clerk Hire Allowance, the Official Expenses Allowance, and the Official Mail Allowance, as in effect on the day before September 1, 1995, are merged into the Members' Representational Allowance.
(c) "Member of the House of Representatives" defined
As used in this section, the term "Member of the House of Representatives" means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(d) Regulations
The Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations to carry out this section, including regulations establishing under subsection (a) the official and representational duties during a Congress of a Member-elect of the House of Representatives who is not an incumbent Member re-elected to the ensuing Congress.
(e) Effective date
This section shall take effect on September 1, 1995 and shall apply with respect to official and representational duties carried out on or after that date.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d).
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.
Effective Date of 2020 Amendment
§5342. Reimbursement of transportation expenses for employees in office of House Member
The applicable accounts of the House of Representatives is 1 made available after August 28, 1965, for reimbursement of transportation expenses incurred by not to exceed two employees in the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico) for one round trip each, or incurred by not to exceed one employee for two round trips, in any calendar year between Washington, District of Columbia, and the place of residence of the Member representing the congressional district involved. Such payment shall be made only upon vouchers approved by the Member containing a certification by him that such travel was performed in line of official duty, but the mileage allowed for any such trip shall not exceed the round trip mileage by the nearest usual route between Washington, District of Columbia, and the Member's place of residence in the congressional district involved. The Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives shall make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Amendments
1996—
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.
1 So in original. Probably should be "are".
§5343. Staff expenses for House Members attending organizational caucus or conference
(a) In general
Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under
(b) Per diem expenses of staff person
Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under such
(c) Orientation programs for new Members
With the approval of the majority leader (in the case of a Member or Member-elect of the majority party) or the minority leader (in the case of a Member or Member-elect of the minority party), subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to the attendance of a Member or Member-elect at a program conducted by the Committee on House Administration for the orientation of new members 1 in the same manner as such provisions apply to the attendance of the Member or Member-elect at the organizational caucus or conference.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is based on section 1 of House Resolution No. 10, Ninety-fourth Congress, Jan. 14, 1975, which was enacted into permanent law by
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b).
"(i) the period beginning with the day before the designated date upon which such caucus or conference is to convene and ending with the day after the date of the final adjournment of such caucus or conference; or
"(ii) fourteen days."
Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Amendment by
1 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
§5344. Payments and reimbursements for certain House staff expenses
(a) Payments and reimbursements to staff persons under
(b) Additional funds, if any, for staff allowances and office space for use by Members-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing Congress) shall be authorized by the Committee on House Oversight.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is based on section 2 of House Resolution No. 10, Ninety-fourth Congress, Jan. 14, 1975, which was enacted into permanent law by
Amendments
1996—
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.
§5345. Annotated United States Code for Members of House of Representatives to be paid for from Members' Representational Allowance
(a) In general
The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall, at the request of a Member of the House of Representatives, furnish to the Member, for official use only, one set of a privately published annotated version of the United States Code, including supplements and pocket parts. The furnishing of a set of the United States Code under this section shall be in lieu of any distribution under
(b) "Member of the House of Representatives" defined
As used in this section, the term "Member of the House of Representatives" means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(c) Regulations
The Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Section is comprised of section 107 of
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.
§5346. Transportation of official records and papers to House Member's district
(a) Payment of reasonable expenses from applicable accounts of House; rules and regulations
Effective August 16, 1978, notwithstanding any provision of law and until otherwise provided by law, the applicable accounts of the House shall be available to pay the reasonable expenses of sending or transporting the official records and papers of any Member of the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia to any location designated by such Member in the district represented by the Member.
The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to provide for the most economical means of sending or transporting such documents to insure the orderly and timely delivery to the specified location. The Committee on House Oversight shall have the authority to issue rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.
(b) "Member of the House of Representatives" and "official records and papers" defined
As used in this section—
(1) the term "Member of the House of Representatives" means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress; and
(2) the term "official records and papers" means books, records, papers, and official files which could be sent as franked mail.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
In subsec. (a), "August 16, 1978" substituted for "upon the date of adoption of this resolution" meaning the date of adoption of House Resolution No. 1297, which was agreed to Aug. 16, 1978.
Section is based on House Resolution No. 1297, Ninety-fifth Congress, Aug. 16, 1978, which was enacted into permanent law by
Sections 1 and 2 of House Resolution No. 1297 were redesignated subsecs. (a) and (b) of this section, respectively, for purposes of codification.
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(1).
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.
§5347. Delivery of bills and resolutions
(a) None of the funds made available in any fiscal year may be used to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) unless the Member requests a copy.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(
§5348. Delivery of Congressional Record
(a) None of the funds made available in any fiscal year may be used to deliver a printed copy of any version of the Congressional Record to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress).
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(
§5349. Limitation on printed copies of U.S. Code to House
(a) None of the funds made available in any fiscal year may be to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any edition of the United States Code to all offices of the House of Representatives.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(
§5350. Delivery of reports of disbursements
(a) None of the funds made available in any fiscal year may be used to deliver a printed copy of the report of disbursements for the operations of the House of Representatives under
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(
§5351. Delivery of Daily Calendar
(a) None of the funds made available in any fiscal year may be used to deliver to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) a printed copy of the Daily Calendar of the House of Representatives which is prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(
§5352. Delivery of Congressional Pictorial Directory
(a) None of the funds made available in any fiscal year may be used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Pictorial Directory to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress).
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(