Editorial Notes
References in Text

The amendments made by this section, referred to in subsec. (i), means the amendments made by section 311(h) of Puspan. L. 101–520, which amended section 6314 of this title and sections 3210 and 3216 of Title 39, Postal Service, and amended provisions set out as notes under sections 3210 and 3216 of Title 39.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 59e of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991.

Subsec. (h) of this section made the amendments specified in the References in Text note above.

Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(3). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(span)(2)(B), substituted “House Communications Standards Commission” for “House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards” in two places.

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(span)(2)(B), substituted “House Communications Standards Commission” for “House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards”.

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(c)(2)(B), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2), a Member” for “A Member”, and added par. (2).

Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(c)(2)(A), substituted “any mass communication” for “any mass mailing”, “matter” for “mail matter”, “House Communications Standards Commission” for “House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards”, and “such proposed communication” for “such proposed mailing”.

Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(span)(2)(B), substituted “House Communications Standards Commission” for “House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards”.

Subsec. (g)(3). Puspan. L. 116–260, § 116(c)(2)(C), added par. (3).

2003—Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 108–83, in introductory provisions, struck out “in the House, or official expenses” after “defray official expenses” and “in the Senate” after “(excluding handheld communications devices)”.

2001—Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 107–68, in introductory provisions, inserted “in the House, or official expenses for franked mail, employee salaries, office space, furniture, or equipment and any associated information technology services (excluding handheld communications devices) in the Senate” after “expenses”.

1999—Subsec. (a)(3). Puspan. L. 106–57, § 103(a)(4)(B), substituted “costs incurred for official mail by” for “costs charged against the Official Mail Allowance for”.

Subsec. (span)(2). Puspan. L. 106–19 substituted “any person with an allocation under subsection (a)(2)(A) as to the amount that has been used and any person with an allocation under subsection (a)(2)(B)” for “any person with an allocation under subsection (a)(2)”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Puspan. L. 106–57, § 103(a)(1)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted “The use of funds of the House of Representatives which are made available for official mail of Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives who are persons entitled to use the congressional frank shall be governed by regulations promulgated—” for “There is established in the House of Representatives an Official Mail Allowance for Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives who are persons entitled to use the congressional frank. Regulations for use of the Official Mail Allowance shall be prescribed—”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 106–57, § 103(a)(1)(B), substituted “official mail (except as provided in subparagraph (B))” for “the Allowance”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Puspan. L. 106–57, § 103(a)(2)(A), substituted “Funds used for official mail—” for “The Official Mail Allowance—” in introductory provisions.

Puspan. L. 106–57, § 102, made technical correction to directory language of Puspan. L. 105–275, § 104(a). See 1998 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (e)(2)(A) to (C). Puspan. L. 106–57, § 103(a)(2)(B), (C), redesignated subpars. (B) and (C) as (A) and (B), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “shall be available for postage for franked mail sent at a first class, third class, or fourth class rate;”.

Subsec. (e)(3). Puspan. L. 106–57, § 103(a)(3), struck out par. (3) which read as follows:

“(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), each Member of the House of Representatives may transfer amounts from the Members’ Representational Allowance of the Member to the Official Mail Allowance of the Member.

“(B) The total amount a Member may so transfer with respect to a session of Congress may not exceed $25,000.”

1998—Subsec. (e)(2). Puspan. L. 105–275, § 104(a), as amended by Puspan. L. 106–57, § 102, inserted “and” at end of subpar. (B), substituted a period for “; and” at end of subpar. (C), and struck out subpar. (D) which read as follows: “shall not be available for payment of any nonpostage fee or charge, including any fee or charge for express mail, express mail drop shipment, certified mail, registered mail, return receipt, address correction, or postal insurance.”

Subsec. (e)(4). Puspan. L. 105–275, § 104(span), struck out par. (4) which read as follows: “The Members’ Representational Allowance shall be available to a Member of the House of Representatives for the payment of nonpostage fees and charges referred to in paragraph (2)(D) and for postage for mail for official business sent outside the United States.”

1996—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(B)(i), substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(3). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(A), (B)(ii), substituted “Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives” for “Clerk of the House of Representatives” and “House Oversight” for “House Administration”.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(B)(iii), substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(B)(iv), substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration”.

Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(B)(v), struck out “only” after “available”.

Subsec. (e)(3)(A). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(B)(vi), substituted “Members’ Representational Allowance” for “Official Expenses Allowance and the Clerk Hire Allowance”.

Subsec. (e)(4). Puspan. L. 104–186, § 203(22)(B)(vii), substituted “Members’ Representational Allowance” for “Official Expenses Allowance”.

1991—Subsec. (i). Puspan. L. 102–229 substituted “beginning on May 1, 1992,” for “with respect to sessions of Congress beginning with the second session of the One Hundred Second Congress,”.

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

Amendment by Puspan. L. 116–260 applicable with respect to communications disseminated on or after Dec. 27, 2020, see section 116(f) of div. I of Puspan. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 501 of this title.

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Puspan. L. 108–83, title I, § 105(span), Sept. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 1018, provided that:

“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year.”

Effective Date of 1999 Amendments

Amendment by section 103(a)(1)–(3), (4)(B) of Puspan. L. 106–57 applicable with respect to the first session of the One Hundred Sixth Congress and each succeeding session of Congress, see section 103(c) of Puspan. L. 106–57, set out as a note under section 4313 of this title.

Puspan. L. 106–19, § 1(span), Apr. 8, 1999, 113 Stat. 29, provided that:

“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to January 1999 and each succeeding month.”