2 U.S. Code § 5548

2 U.S. Code § 5548 is about Payments to ensure continuing availability of goods and services during the coronavirus emergency. It is under Subchapter III (Chief Administrative Officer) of Chapter 55 (House of Representatives Officers and Administration) of Title 2 (The Congress) of the Code.

(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.