2 U.S.C. § 1873 — Acceptance of travel expenses from non-Federal sources

(a) Acceptance of expenses. Despite any other law, the Architect of the Capitol may accept payment from a non-Federal source, or authorize an Office employee to accept it for the Office, for an employee’s or the employee’s spouse’s travel, subsistence, and related expenses for attending a meeting or similar function connected with the employee’s official duties. Cash accepted this way must be credited to the appropriation that applies to those expenses. If the payment is in kind, the employee’s Government entitlement for those expenses must be reduced proportionally.

(b) Prohibition on other sources. Unless this section or section 7342 of title 5 allows it, the Office and its employees may not accept payment for the expenses described in subsection (a). An employee who violates that rule: (1) may, in addition to any other legal penalty, be required to repay the accepted amount for deposit in the Treasury’s general fund; and (2) if the employee makes that repayment, is not entitled to Government payment for those expenses.

(c) Effective date. This section applies to fiscal year 2019 and every later fiscal year.