FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20463

 MEMORANDUM

TO: The Commission

FROM: Office of Commission Secretary 

DATE: April 4, 2023

SUBJECT: Ex Parte Communication Advisory Opinion 2023-01 

(Diaz Barragán)

 

Transmitted herewith is an ex parte communication regarding the above 

matter.

Attachment

 
From: Dara Lindenbaum

To: Neven Stipanovic; Commission Secretary Office; Commissioners Office; Lisa Stevenson

Subject: Fwd: Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán)

Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 4:26:17 PM

Attachments: image001.png

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Correspondence to FEC re ECMOs and AOR 2023-01 (Diaz Barragan) (Apr 4 2023).pdf

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From: Hays, Caleb 

Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 4:00:10 PM

To: Dara Lindenbaum ; Sean Cooksey 

Cc: Allen Dickerson ; Trey Trainor ; Ellen Weintraub

; Shana Broussard ; Duane Pugh ;

Monahan, Tim ; Schwalb, Janet ;

Carney, Ryan ; O'Keefe, Kevin 

Subject: Re: Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán)

Chair Lindenbaum and Vice Chair Cooksey:

Please see the attached correspondence from Rep. Bryan Steil, Chairman of the U.S. House

Committee on House Administration, with respect to Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01

(Diaz Barragán).1

Caleb Hays

----------

[1] See Ex Parte Communication Advisory Opinion 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán) (March 29,

2023), https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/aos/2023-01/202301C_1.pdf.

From: Hays, Caleb 

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 3:55 PM

To: Allen Dickerson 

Subject: Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán)

Commissioner Dickerson,

Please be advised that correspondence with respect to Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01

(Diaz Barragán) is forthcoming from the U.S. House Committee on House Administration.

Caleb Hays

—

Caleb J. Hays

General Counsel & Deputy Staff Director
Committee on House Administration
JOSEPH D. MORELLE, NEW YORK 

RANKING MINORITY MEMBER

TERRI A. SEWELL, ALABAMA 

DEREK KILMER, WASHINGTON 

NORMA J. TORRES, CALIFORNIA 

JAMIE FLEET 

MINORITY STAFF DIRECTOR 

BRYAN STEIL, WISCONSIN 

CHAIRMAN

BARRY LOUDERMILK, GEORGIA 

H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, VIRGINIA

GREGORY F. MURPHY, NORTH CAROLINA

STEPHANIE I. BICE, OKLAHOMA

MIKE CAREY, OHIO

ANTHONY D’ESPOSITO, NEW YORK

LAUREL M. LEE, FLORIDA

TIM MONAHAN 

STAFF DIRECTOR 

One Hundred Eighteenth 

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives 

COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

1309 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515–6157

(202) 225–8281 | CHA.HOUSE.GOV

April 4, 2023

The Hon. Dara Lindenbaum The Honorable Sean J. Cooksey

Chair Vice-Chair

Federal Election Commission Federal Election Commission

1050 First Street, N.W. 1050 First Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20463 Washington, D.C. 20463

Re: Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán)

Dear Chair Lindenbaum and Vice-Chair Cooksey:

As Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration, which has jurisdiction 

over congressional member organizations, the expenditure of official funds in support of Members’ official 

activities,

1 and in the interest of ensuring Members of Congress have sufficient notice of the complex regulation 

in this area, I write concerning Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 made by Representative Nanette Diaz 

Barragán with respect to the use of campaign funds for officeholder expenses.2

In a February 2, 2023, letter submitted by counsel, Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán requested from the 

Commission an advisory opinion regarding whether her principal campaign committee, Barragán for Congress,

may pay for ordinary and necessary travel expenses for members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), 

an eligible congressional member organization,3 to attend official Caucus events.

4 Ms. Diaz Barragán serves as 

Chair of the CHC.5

While the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the federal agency charged with regulating the use of federal 

campaign funds, the facts and circumstances of this request involve the use of campaign funds by an eligible 

congressional member organization, a matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee on House Administration.6

While the Commission may determine that that the Federal Election Campaign Act, as amended, permits the use 

of regulated campaign funds to pay for official duties,7 without separate action by the Committee on House 

1 Clause 7(d) of Rule X of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, 

https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules118.house.gov/files/documents/Rules%20and%20Resources/118-House-RulesClerk.pdf. Further, among other purposes, Clause 1(k)(15) of Rule X of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives also delegates 

to the Committee on House Administration authority to regulate for official purposes the “use of campaign contributions [by] 

candidates for office of Representative, of Delegate, and of Resident Commissioner.”

2 Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán), https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/aos/2023-01/202301R_1.pdf. 3 Sarah J. Eckman, Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) and Informal Member Groups (IN11036, Version 6; Mar. 21, 

2023), U.S. Congressional Research Service. (CMOs are "caucuses, working groups, or task forces . . . [that] enable Members to raise 

awareness about a particular topic and exchange information or ideas with colleagues . . . ."). 4 Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán) at 2. 5 Id.

6 As noted by Rep. Diaz Barragán in her request, the Committee on Ethics also maintains related jurisdiction over the matter at hand. 

Advisory Opinion Request 2023-01 (Diaz Barragán) at 3. 7 Sec. 301(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act, codified at 52 U.S.C. § 30114(a)(2). 
The Hon. Dara Lindenbaum 

The Hon. Sean J. Cooksey 

April 4, 2023 

Page 2 of 3 

Administration to approve the use of campaign funds by eligible congressional member organizations and to 

determine that the activities in question are official in nature with respect to eligible congressional member 

organizations, such decision will have no force or effect with respect to Members of the United States House of 

Representatives. 

First, the Committee on House Administration regulates the operations of eligible congressional member 

organizations pursuant to its authority to set regulations pertaining to the use of the Member’s Representational 

Allowance (MRA).8 The Committee has a long-standing prohibition on the use of any campaign funds by such 

organizations.9

Because eligible congressional membership organizations are not member offices, the Committee on House 

Administration must establish separately regulations to authorize and govern the use of the MRA for this purpose, 

and that regulatory authority extends to all aspects of an eligible congressional member organization’s operations. 

Those regulations are contained within the Eligible Congressional Member Organizations Handbook. In relevant 

part, the Handbook holds generally that “campaign funds may not pay for an [eligible congressional member 

organization]’s official and representational expenses.”10

Second, as creations of Congress intended to further legislative purposes, eligible congressional member 

organizations themselves may engage only in those “official and representational” activities specifically 

authorized by the Handbook.

11 Yet the Committee on House Administration has not determined that “ordinary 

and necessary travel expenses for Members of Congress solely to attend official [eligible congressional member 

organization] events” are official in nature. 

The Committee on House Administration is the final authority for determining which activities qualify as 

“official” for Members of the U.S. House and therefore for what purposes official funds drawn from the U.S. 

House of Representatives accounts at the U.S. Treasury may be expended.12 If the Committee determines an 

activity is not official, no official funds may be expended in support; similarly, if the Committee determines an 

activity is not official, the provisions of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives permitting the use of 

campaign funds to defray the costs of official activity do not apply.13 Therefore, unless and until the Committee 

on House Administration makes such a determination, neither official nor campaign funds may be used for such 

purposes—nor may the eligible congressional member organization engage in such activities using funds from 

other sources. 

Absent subsequent action by the Committee on House Administration, no eligible congressional member 

organization may use campaign funds to support its activities, travel or otherwise. 

8 2 U.S.C. § 5341(d). 9 Eligible Congressional Member Organization Handbook [hereinafter, Handbook] 2 (Feb. 10, 2021), https://cha.house.gov/sites/evosubsites/republicans-cha.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2021_117th_eligible_congressional_member_organizations_2_16.pdf. 10 Handbook 2. See 2 U.S.C. § 5341. 11 Id. 12 Clause 1(k) of Rule X of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. 13 Rule XXIV of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Hon. Dara Lindenbaum 

The Hon. Sean J. Cooksey 

April 4, 2023 

Page 3 of 3 

I appreciate your attention to this matter. Should you have questions or require additional information, please 

contact Caleb Hays, Committee on House Administration General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director. 

Sincerely, 

Bryan Steil 

Chairman 

Committee on House Administration 

BGS/js/cjh

Enclosure: Eligible Congressional Member Organizations Handbook

CC: The Hon. Joseph D. Morelle, Ranking Member, Committee on House Administration 

The Hon. Laurel Lee, Chair, Subcommittee on Elections, Committee on House Administration 

The Hon. Terri Sewell, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Elections, Committee on House 

Administration 

The Hon. Michael Guest, Chairman, Committee on Ethics 

The Hon. Susan Wild, Ranking Member, Committee on Ethics 

The Honorable Members of the Federal Election Commission 
Eligible Congressional 

Member Organizations 

Handbook

Committee on House 

Administration

Bryan Steil, Chairman Joseph Morelle, Ranking Member

118

th Congress

United States House of Representatives
The Committee on House Administration has issued 

the following regulations to ensure that Members 

of the United States House of Representatives utilize

official resources to support the conduct of the

official representational duties on behalf of the 

district from which he or she is elected.

Chairman Bryan Steil 

ADOPTED FEBRUARY 10, 2021

All citations to the House Rules refer to the Rules of the House of Representatives

For additional assistance, please contact the Committee at 202-225-2061.
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION: ELIGIBLE

CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER

ORGANIZATIONS...........................................1

GENERAL ........................................................1

Registration ..................................................1

Membership ..................................................1

Funding and Resources ................................1

Expenses .......................................................2

Budgeting and Disclosure.............................3

Disbursements ..............................................3

Incidental Use ...............................................3

Overspending................................................3

STAFF ...............................................................4

General .........................................................4

Employee Ceiling ..........................................5

Contractors ...................................................5

Civilian Annuitant .......................................5

Waivers .........................................................5

Detailees .......................................................5

Interns ..........................................................5

Appointment.................................................6

Dual Compensation ......................................6

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)................6

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) .......6

Financial Disclosure.....................................6

Lump Sum Payments ...................................6

Pay Adjustments...........................................7

Payroll Schedule ...........................................7

Rates of Compensation.................................7

Terminations ................................................7

Leave.............................................................7

OFFICE EXPENSES.......................................8

Appliances.....................................................8

Decorating Expenses ....................................8

Deposits ........................................................8

Drug Testing.................................................8

Dues ..............................................................8

Educational Expenses...................................8

Employment-Related Expenses..................... 8

Food and Beverage Expenses ....................... 9

Framing ........................................................ 9

Furniture ...................................................... 9

Gifts and Donations...................................... 9

Greetings ...................................................... 9

Late Fees....................................................... 9

Mass Transit Benefit........................................ 9

Official Meetings ............................................... 9

Parking ......................................................... 9

Publications .................................................. 9

Staff Meetings ............................................10

Supplies ......................................................10

Telecommuting ...........................................10

Telecommunications...................................10

Audio and Video Expenses .........................10

Stationery ...................................................11

Use of Stationery ........................................11

Business Cards ...........................................11

Equipment..................................................11

COMMUNICATIONS.................................... 12

Press Conferences....................................... 12

Inside Mail.................................................. 12

Electronic Communications........................ 12

Subscribed Emails ......................................13

Non-subscribed Emails ...............................13

Websites......................................................13

Website Content..........................................14

Name (URL)................................................14

TRANSPORTATION.....................................15

General .......................................................15

Officially Leased Vehicles..............................15

Expired Appropriations ..............................15

Tax Exempt Letters ....................................15

Work Product and Assets of the ECMO .....15

MODIFICATIONS.........................................16

Additional Changes ....................................16
Committee on House Administration

1

REGISTRATION

MEMBERSHIP

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION:

Eligible Congressional 

Member Organizations

The following regulations of the Committee 

on House Administration, collectively known 

as the Eligible Congressional Member

Organizations Handbook (“ECMO Handbook”), 

govern all expenditures from the Members’ 

Representational Allowance (MRA).

The Handbook regulations are guidelines that 

assist Members of ECMOs in determining 

whether expenses are reimbursable. Therefore, 

the Handbook contains broad descriptions of 

reimbursable expenses, but is not an exhaustive 

list of such expenses.

Questions about reimbursement of an expense 

should be directed to the Committee on House 

Administration at x52061 prior to incurring 

the expense.

Administrative, financial and non-legislative 

support services (e.g., equipment purchases, 

technology standards and services, office 

supplies, room reservation and set-up) are 

acquired through the Office of the House Chief 

Administrative Officer (“CAO”). For further 

information about the CAO’s services, please 

refer to HouseNet, the House intranet 

(housenet.house.gov) or the CAO’s services office, 

First Call, at x58000.

The Handbook is a collection of regulations 

issued by the Committee on House 

Administration. In drafting these regulations, 

the Committee consults with other committees 

of the House, House leadership, Member office 

staff, and the Officers of the House.

GENERAL

For the 117th Congress, CMOs that meet 

certain criteria established by the House Rules 

may register with the Committee on House 

Administration as Eligible Congressional 

Member Organizations (ECMO). To do so, 

ECMOs must provide the following information:

1. Name

2. Statement of Purpose

3. Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of 

the ECMO

4. Employees designated to work on issues 

related to the ECMO (minimum of three 

employees are required).

CMOs must register through a letter to the 

Chairperson of the Committee on House 

Administration. CMOs granted ECMO status 

will be informed by the Chairperson of the 

Committee on House Administration.

The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of 

an ECMO must be a Member of the House. 

Members of both the House and Senate may 

participate in ECMOs. The participation of

Senators in an ECMO does not impact the scope 

of authorized ECMO activities in any regard.

Unlike Member and committee offices, ECMOs 

are not entitled to specific numbers of staff 

positions. An ECMO may acquire staff 

positions and the resources to fund the 

positions only by written agreement between a 

participating ECMO Member and the ECMO 

Chairperson. All agreements must be filed 

with the Committee on House Administration. 

Neither ECMOs nor individual Members may 

accept goods, funds, or services from private

organizations or individuals to support an ECMO.
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

2

When an expense is incurred, the Chairperson 

of an ECMO must determine the primary 

purpose for the expenditure. Is the primary 

purpose for the expenditure official and 

representational of the ECMO? Or is it 

primarily related to personal, campaignrelated political party, campaign, Member 

office or committee activities? Only expenses 

the primary purpose of which are official and 

representational of an ECMO and which are 

incurred in accordance with the Handbook are 

reimbursable.

1. An ECMO’s funds derived from Members’ 

MRAs pursuant to an agreement may only 

be used for official and representational 

expenses of the ECMO.

2. The Chairperson of an ECMO may expend 

personal funds in support of official and 

representational duties.

3. The MRA and/or ECMO funds may not 

be used to pay for any expenses related to

activities or events that are primarily social 

in nature.

4. The ECMO funds may not pay for personal 

expenses.

5. The ECMO funds may not pay for campaign 

expenses.

6. The ECMO funds may not pay for campaignrelated political party expenses.

7. The ECMO funds may not pay for committee 

expenses.

8. Committee resources may not pay for 

an ECMO’s official and representational 

expenses.

9. Except where authorized by the Committee 

on Ethics, campaign funds may not pay for 

an ECMO’s official and representational 

expenses.

10. A Member may not maintain, or have 

maintained for his or her use, an unofficial 

office account for the purpose of defraying 

or reimbursing ordinary and necessary

expenses incurred in support of an ECMO’s 

official and representational duties.

11. An ECMO may not accept from any private 

source in-kind support having monetary 

value for an official activity.

12.The Chairperson of an ECMO is personally 

responsible for the payments of any official 

and representational expenses incurred that 

exceed the provided ECMO funds or that 

are incurred but are not reimbursable under 

these regulations.

13. Unless specifically authorized by an 

applicable provision of federal law, House 

Rules, or Committee Regulations, no 

Member, relative of the Member, or anyone 

with whom the Member has a professional or 

legal relationship may directly benefit from 

the expenditure of ECMO funds.

14.The ECMO funds are available for services 

provided and expenses incurred from 

January 3 of one year through January 2 

of the following year. All expenses incurred 

will be charged to the allowance available 

on the date the services were provided or

the expenses were incurred. Upon the death, 

resignation, or expulsion of a Member who

is an ECMO Chairperson, an ECMO ViceChairperson shall assume the duties of an 

ECMO Chairperson until such time as a new 

ECMO Chairperson is elected.

15. Requests to obligate prior year funds 

after January 2 of the succeeding year 

will be considered by the Committee when 

a Chairperson of an ECMO provides 

documentation demonstrating a bona fide 

intent to obligate the prior year’s funds 

during the applicable year.

16.The ECMO funds are not transferable 

between years.

17. ECMOs may not use official resources to 

misrepresent their current official positions 

or titles within the House.

18.Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1913, ECMO 

funds may not be used for certain 

activities in the absence of authorization

EXPENSES
Committee on House Administration

3

BUDGETING AND DISCLOSURE

DISBURSEMENTS

INCIDENTAL USE

OVERSPENDING

by Congress. Contact the Committee on 

House Administration at x52061 for more 

information.

Within 30 days of authorization from the 

Committee on House Administration to operate 

as an ECMO for a respective Congress, an 

authorized Member acting as an agent of an 

ECMO must submit to the Members of that 

respective ECMO and the Committee on House 

Administration:

1. The proposed amount of annual dues per 

Member for that session of Congress; and

2. An annual proposed budget outlining the use 

of those dues for that session of Congress. To 

assist in this process, the Office of Finance 

sends each ECMO monthly statements 

showing year-to-date expenditures

and obligated amounts. The quarterly 

expenditures reflected in these statements 

are compiled and published as the Quarterly 

Statement of Disbursements, which is a 

public document.

This notification must occur prior to any 

collection of dues from the applicable accounts of 

the House. An ECMO may, by ratification of a 

majority of its Members, require approval of the 

proposed dues and budget as a condition prior to 

the collection of dues.

Each ECMO must submit to the Committee 

on House Administration, by the 18th of 

each month, a report signed by the ECMO 

Chairperson on the activities of the ECMO 

during the preceding month. The monthly 

report must include the following:

1. Statement of expenses for the month and 

year to date. An ECMO must reconcile 

its figures with the Monthly Financial

Statement prior to submitting the monthly 

reports.

2. List of ECMO employees, job titles, and 

gross monthly salaries (a copy of the monthly 

Payroll Certification Form is acceptable).

3. Certification by the Chairperson of the 

reporting ECMO that the report is available 

to Members of the ECMO for examination.

Monthly reports for each ECMO will be 

available for public inspection at the Committee 

on House Administration.

Disbursements from an ECMO are made on 

a reimbursement or direct payment basis and 

require specific documentation and an ECMO 

Chairperson’s certification as to accuracy and

compliance with applicable federal laws, House 

Rules, and Committee regulations.

Reimbursements and payments from ECMO 

funds may be made only to an ECMO 

Chairperson, the ECMO’s employees, or a 

vendor providing services to support the 

operation of an ECMO’s official duties.

Incidental personal use of equipment and 

supplies owned or leased by, or the cost of which 

is reimbursed by the House of Representatives, 

is permitted only when such use is negligible in 

nature, frequency, time consumed, and expense.

For example, limited use of government 

resources to access the Internet, to send or 

receive personal email, or to make personal 

phone calls is permissible, so long as the 

use meets the above criteria, and otherwise

conforms with the Regulations of the Committee 

on House Administration and the Code of 

Official Conduct (House Rule XXIII).

Each ECMO office may adopt a more restrictive 

incidental use policy.

Each ECMO Chairperson is personally 

responsible for the payment of any official and 

representational expenses incurred that exceed 

available ECMO funds. If an ECMO incurs an 

obligation to the U.S. House of Representatives 

and the amount of the obligation incurred 

exceeds the ECMO’s funds, the Chairperson
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

4

GENERAL

of the ECMO shall pay the obligation from 

personal funds. If an ECMO Chairperson fails 

to pay the obligation voluntarily, the CAO

will deduct the amount owed from any pay, 

mileage, or expense money due to the ECMO 

Chairperson in the case of a sitting Member or 

through an administrative offset or legal action 

in the case of a former Member. The Office of 

Finance will notify an ECMO Chairperson

if that ECMO is projected to overspend the 

available ECMO funds.

Contact the Office of Finance at x57474 or the 

Committee on House Administration at x52061 

for assistance with accounting and budgeting.

Staff

No ECMO has hiring authority without the 

contribution of a staff position, or “hiring 

slots,” by a participating ECMO Member. Once

contributed to an ECMO by an ECMO Member, 

an ECMO Chairperson will enjoy authority

to hire, establish the terms and conditions of 

employment, and terminate the employment of 

ECMO staff made possible by the contribution of 

the hiring slot by an ECMO Member.

These terms and conditions must be consistent 

with applicable federal laws and House Rules. 

Personnel actions affecting employment 

positions in the House of Representatives must 

be free from discrimination based on race, color, 

religion, sex (including marital or parental 

status), sexual orientation, gender identity, 

disability, age, national origin, or service in the 

military.

1. Personnel actions affecting employment 

positions in the House of Representatives 

must be free from discrimination based on 

race, color, religion, sex (including marital or 

parental status), sexual orientation, gender 

identity, disability, age, national origin, or 

service in the military.

2. A Member or ECMO may not retain an 

employee on payroll who does not perform 

official duties commensurate with the 

compensation received for the offices of the 

employing authority. (House Rule XXIII, 

clause 8(a)).

3. “Employee” means an individual appointed 

to a position of employment in the House of 

Representatives by an authorized employing 

authority including individuals receiving pay 

disbursed by the CAO and individuals in a 

Leave Without Pay or furlough status.

4. “Staff” refers collectively to employees who 

serve in the office of an ECMO.

5. Annual rates of pay may not exceed the 

amount specified in the Speaker’s Pay Order.
Committee on House Administration

5

CIVILIAN ANNUITANT

WAIVERS

DETAILEES

6. Total compensation in any month including 

any lump sum and regular pay, student 

loan program payments, (including cash 

reimbursement for accrued annual leave) 

may not exceed 1/12th of the maximum rate 

of pay specified in the Speaker’s Pay Order.

7. Retroactive pay adjustments are not 

authorized.

8. Government contributions to retirement, 

life insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, transit

benefits, Student Loan Repayment Program, 

and health benefits programs are not 

charged to the MRA or ECMO funds.

9. Each month, an ECMO will receive a Payroll 

Certification Form from the Office of Payroll 

and Benefits that lists the annual pay and 

gross pay earned for each employee. If an 

employee is a relative of a current Member

of Congress, the nature of the relationship 

to the Member must be noted on the Payroll 

Certification Form. An ECMO Chairperson 

must certify the information and return the 

form to the Office of Payroll and Benefits no 

later than the 5th day of the month. Contact 

the Office of Payroll and Benefits at x51435 

for payroll forms.

ECMO Chairpersons are advised to consult 

the Committee on House Administration when 

entering into such contracts.

If an ECMO employs a federal civil service 

annuitant, the amount of the annual annuity, 

when added to the annual rate of pay at which 

the employee is to be paid by the ECMO, may 

not exceed the highest rate of basic pay as 

authorized by the Speaker’s Pay Order. The 

combined total of the civil service annuity and 

the amount of the salary will be charged to 

the ECMO.

ECMO offices will not be granted waivers of 

applicable annuity reductions or pay reductions.

The term “detailee” means a non-Congressional 

federal employee assigned to a committee for a 

period of up to one year.

Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. § 4301(f), detailees may 

not be assigned to a ECMO office.

An ECMO may employ staff only pursuant 

to an agreement between an ECMO Member 

contributing a hiring slot and the ECMO 

Chairperson.

ECMOs may contract with firms or individuals 

only for general, non-legislative and nonfinancial, office services (e.g., equipment 

maintenance, systems integration, data entry, 

staff training, photography, custodial services, 

and web services) for a specified time period 

not to exceed the calendar year. Such contracts 

are reimbursable. Such contractors are not 

employees of the House and are ineligible for 

government-provided personnel benefits.

Contractors do not require a staff slot.

Only paid interns may be the subject of an 

agreement between a Member office and 

an ECMO.

Interns participating in the House Paid 

Internship Program are eligible for placement 

with an ECMO, provided the ECMO does not 

employ more than one intern in any 120-day 

period. Interns performing duties for an ECMO 

must be employed by a Member who belongs

to the ECMO and are subject to same to the 

same federal laws and regulations, House Rules, 

House regulations, and Ethics regulations as 

interns who may be paid with MRA funds and 

program participants performing duties for 

Members’ offices.

CONTRACTORS

EMPLOYEE CEILING INTERNS
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

6

DUAL COMPENSATION

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA)

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

The official appointment of each employee 

requires the ECMO Chairperson’s signature 

on the Payroll Authorization Form. Required 

payroll forms must be received by the Office 

of Payroll and Benefits no later than two days 

before the appointment. Adjustments to a

payroll appointment (e.g. pay adjustments, title 

changes, furlough status, terminations, etc.) 

must also be made on the appropriate forms.

Such forms are due at Payroll and Benefits 

by the 5th day of the month in which the 

adjustment is effective.

The aggregate gross annual salary of an 

employee receiving payment from the House 

who is also receiving payment from the U.S. 

Senate, Architect of the Capitol, or any other 

department or agency of the U.S. Government, 

may not exceed the gross annual rate 

established by 5 U.S.C. § 5533. For the current 

applicable dual compensation rate, contact the 

Office of Payroll and Benefits at x51435.

As employing offices, ECMOs are subject 

to the FLSA as applied to the House of 

Representatives through the Congressional

Accountability Act of 1995. Therefore, ECMO 

Chairpersons are responsible for assuring 

compliance with the minimum-wage/maximumhour provisions of the FLSA. In cases where 

non-exempt ECMO staff may be shared with 

other employing offices, an ECMO Chairperson 

must coordinate the other office to ensure 

compliance with the FLSA. For further 

information please contact the Committee or the 

Office of House Employment Counsel.

ECMO staff may be considered as jointly 

employed by the ECMO and the SCMO Member 

who contributed the hiring slot corresponding to 

the ECMO staff person. In such cases, the joint 

employers may agree to become “primary” and 

“secondary” for purposes of fulfilling

FMLA obligations to the employees. To 

understand FMLA obligations fully, please 

contact the Committee or the Office of House 

Employment Counsel.

Members and employees receiving basic pay at 

a rate equal to or greater than 120 percent of 

the minimum pay for GS-15 for at least 60 days 

during any calendar year must file a Financial 

Disclosure Statement upon appointment, 

termination, and annually on May 15th, in 

addition to regular reports of certain securities 

transactions throughout the year on Periodic 

Transaction Reports.

Ordinary and necessary expenses incurred 

by an ECMO and its employees, in support 

of the filing of reports consistent with the 

provisions of the Ethics in Government Act, 

are reimbursable.

In accordance with Committee on House 

Resolution 110-07, “Each House employee 

who is simultaneously employed by three or 

more House employing authorities for more 

than 60 days during a calendar year must 

file a Financial Disclosure Statement under 

5 U.S.C. app § 101 et seq. by May 15 of each 

year.” This statement is required regardless

of total compensation for the year. Contact the 

Committee on Ethics at x57103 for guidance 

concerning the current applicable rate of pay 

and other information regarding Financial 

Disclosure requirements.

As employing offices, ECMOs are subject 

to the FMLA as applied to the House of 

Representatives through the Congressional 

Accountability Act of 1995. Applicable

regulations provide that in some circumstances,

An ECMO Chairperson may authorize a lump 

sum payment to an employee for any purpose 

consistent with the following:

1. Payments must be consistent with House 

Rule XXIII, clause 8(a), which requires

FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT (FMLA) LUMP SUM PAYMENTS

APPOINTMENT
Committee on House Administration

7

PAYROLL SCHEDULE

RATES OF COMPENSATION

TERMINATIONS

LEAVE

that employees perform official duties 

commensurate with the compensation 

received. Employees may not be compensated 

from public funds to perform non-official, 

personal, campaign-related political party, or 

campaign activities on behalf of the ECMO, 

a Member, the employee, or anyone else;

2. A lump sum payment may not be more than 

the monthly pay of the employee receiving 

the lump sum payment;

3. Lump sum payments may be for services 

performed during more than one month;

4. ECMOs may provide lump sum payments 

for accrued annual leave only if such leave 

was accrued in accordance with written 

personnel policies established prior to the 

accrual of such leave;

5. Total compensation in any month including 

any lump sum payment, student loan 

payments, and regular pay (including cash 

reimbursement for accrued annual leave) 

may not exceed 1/12th of the maximum rate 

of pay specified in the Speaker’s Pay Order;

6. Lump sum payments will be disclosed 

separately in the Quarterly Statement 

of Disbursements;

7. Lump sum payments are considered as 

part of "rate of pay" under the Speaker’s 

Pay Order;

8. Lump sum payments are considered 

“supplemental wages” for taxation 

purposes; and

9. Lump sum payments are not considered as 

part of “basic pay” for purposes of calculating 

Thrift Savings Plan, life insurance, or 

federal pensions.

Contact the Committee on Ethics at x57103 

for information on the treatment of lump-sum 

payments with regard to financial disclosure, 

post-employment restrictions, and outside 

earned income limitations.

An ECMO Chairperson may adjust, in any 

month, an employee’s pay to reflect exceptional, 

meritorious, or less than satisfactory service.

Such adjustments must be received by the 

Office of Payroll and Benefits on or before the 

5th day of the month in which the adjustment is 

to be effective.

Retroactive pay adjustments are not authorized.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 5505, the monthly payroll 

is based on a 30-day pay period. Payment is 

made on the last business day of the month.

An ECMO Chairperson is responsible for 

adhering to the applicable minimum wage 

provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act 

($7.25 per hour as of July 24, 2009).

Interns are not employees for purposes of 

compliance with the minimum wage and 

overtime provisions of the Fair Labor 

Standards Act.

The maximum rate of pay is established for 

Member offices by the Speaker’s Pay Order.

Terminations must be made on a Payroll 

Authorization Form and submitted to the Office 

of Payroll and Benefits as soon as the date of 

termination is known. If the termination notice 

is received by Payroll and Benefits after the 5th 

day of the month during which the termination 

becomes effective, the payroll for that month 

may have already been processed.

The ECMO Chairperson determines the 

terms and conditions of employment, including

provisions for leave (e.g., annual, administrative, 

and sick).

Contact the Office of House Employment 

Counsel at x57075 for model leave policies.

PAY ADJUSTMENTS
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

8

APPLIANCES

DECORATING EXPENSES

DEPOSITS

DRUG TESTING

DUES

EMPLOYMENT-RELATED EXPENSES

Office Expenses

Ordinary and necessary expenses for small 

appliances (microwaves, coffee makers, etc.) 

for use in the ECMO offices are reimbursable. 

Equipment, including appliances, with a 

purchase price over $500 must be added to the

ECMO’s inventory by contacting CAO First Call 

at x58000

Decorations of nominal value (e.g., frames, 

bookends, flags, seals, rugs, etc.) for ECMO 

offices are reimbursable.

Contact the Committee on House 

Administration at x52061 for a list of 

government agencies that provide wall 

decorations free of charge.

Security and other deposits are not 

reimbursable and must be paid from the ECMO 

Chairperson’s personal funds. Each ECMO 

Chairperson should notify vendors that any 

return of deposits should be made to the ECMO 

Chairperson.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to 

drug testing, in accordance with an ECMO’s 

written drug-testing policy, are reimbursable.

Offices should consult with the Office of 

House Employment Counsel at x57075 when 

establishing drug-testing policies.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 5946, dues, membership 

fees, assessments, and annual fees are not 

reimbursable.

Ordinary and necessary expenses for ECMO 

employees to attend vendor-sponsored 

conferences, seminars, briefings, professional 

training, and informational programs related to 

the official duties are reimbursable.

1. ECMO Members or employees may not 

be reimbursed for expenses to attend 

educational programs in order to obtain a

primary, secondary, graduate, postgraduate, 

or professional degree.

2. Expenses associated with acquiring or

maintaining professional certification or 

licensing are not reimbursable, except for 

basic first-aid, CPR, or notary certifications.

3. Informational programs are events in 

which interaction with participants relates 

to official business, including but not 

limited to discussions about the federal 

role of government in various issue areas, 

or are discussions of policy matters, etc. 

Information programs should not be 

primarily social in nature, including but 

not limited to awards events not related

to official business, galas or balls that are 

primarily social, or other events in which

official interaction is more incidental than is 

the primary purpose.

4. Travel and lodging expenses are not 

reimbursable with the exception of 

local parking and transport within the 

Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to 

filling employment vacancies are reimbursable.

The following expenses are not reimbursable:

1. Transportation to and from employment 

interviews; or

2. Relocation expenses upon acceptance or 

termination of employment; or

3. Relocation expenses incidental to a change in 

duty station.

EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES
Committee on House Administration

9

GIFTS AND DONATIONS

GREETINGS

LATE FEES

MASS TRANSIT BENEFIT

OFFICIAL MEETINGS

PARKING

PUBLICATIONS

Except where noted, an ECMO Chairperson 

and employees may be reimbursed for food and 

beverage expenses incidental to an official and 

representational meeting that includes one

or more person(s) who are not a Member or 

employee of the House.

An ECMO may have its Members and 

employees reimbursed for food and beverage 

expenses no more than two times per year for 

legislative planning session meetings involving 

Members and staff.

ECMO Members and employees may not be 

reimbursed for food and beverage expenses 

related to social activities or social events (e.g., 

hospitality, receptions, entertainment, holiday 

or personal celebrations, and swearing-in or 

inauguration day celebrations).

ECMO Members and employees may not be 

reimbursed for the cost of alcoholic beverages.

Framing services for items to be displayed in 

Washington, D.C., offices are reimbursable. In 

Washington, D.C., when an ECMO uses the

in-House framing service provided by the CAO, 

costs will be automatically charged to

the ECMO.

Furniture (e.g., furniture, rugs, carpet, 

draperies, repairs, etc.) is supplied and 

maintained by the CAO for Washington, D.C., 

ECMO offices through First Call at x58000 

without charge to the ECMO. Furniture is not 

reimbursable for ECMO offices.

ECMO funds may be used to procure or 

reimburse the cost of items such as desks 

(standing and traditional), office chairs, 

and desk lamps necessary for remote work

situations, subject to any applicable telework 

requirements. ECMOs are required to maintain 

an inventory of items used in remote work

locations. The purchase of any single item 

exceeding $250.00 is subject to preapproval by 

the Committee on House Administration.

No gifts or donations are reimbursable by 

an ECMO.

Expenses related to the purchase or distribution 

of greetings, including holiday celebrations, 

condolences, and congratulations for personal 

distinctions (wedding anniversaries, birthdays, 

etc.), are not reimbursable.

Ordinary and necessary fees related to late 

payments incurred beyond the control of an 

ECMO Chairperson are reimbursable.

ECMO staff working in Washington, D.C. are 

eligible for transit benefits. For information 

regarding this benefit, please contact Office of 

Payroll and Benefits at x51435.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to 

conducting official meetings are reimbursable. 

These expenses include, but are not limited to, 

chairs, tables, audio/video equipment, etc.

Please see the Committee on House 

Administration website for the House Parking

Policy.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to 

purchasing or subscribing to publications, 

including but not limited to research materials, 

reference books, informational brochures, 

electronic services, or periodicals are 

reimbursable.

FURNITURE

FRAMING

FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXPENSES
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

10

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SUPPLIES

TELECOMMUTING

All invoices for subscriptions received by the 

Office of Finance through the close of business 

January 2 will be debited from the current 

ECMO year. Subscriptions beginning on 

January 1 or 2 may be debited from either 

allowance year, as directed by an ECMO

Chairperson.

Subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals 

may exceed an ECMO Chairperson’s term.

Subscriptions that exceed an ECMO 

Chairperson’s term in office will be assigned to 

the ECMO Chairperson’s successor.

and other telecommunications devices, are 

reimbursable to the ECMO when in compliance 

with the Committee on House Administration

telecommuting policy.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to 

the official use, including periodic or flat service 

fees, of telecommunications lines (voice and 

data) in the residence of an ECMO Chairperson 

or employee are not reimbursable.

ECMO Members and ECMO staff may attend 

staff meetings (e.g., staff retreats, internal staff 

development, legislative planning sessions,

etc.) at a Member-authorized location in the 

Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for 

official purposes, and may seek reimbursement 

for expenses relating to attendance at such 

meetings, provided that such expenses are 

otherwise consistent with all other Handbook

regulations. ECMO staff may not be reimbursed 

for lodging expenses where staff meetings

are held.

The ECMO funds may not be used for social 

events or activities.

Office supplies to support the conduct of the 

ECMO’s official duties are reimbursable.

The Office Supply Store (“OSS”) is located 

in Room B-217 Longworth at x53321. OSS

issues each ECMO an Account Card for official 

purchases, which may only be used by an 

ECMO Chairperson and/or staff. The cost of 

all items purchased with the Account Card is 

charged to the ECMO.

Ordinary and necessary expenses incurred 

to facilitate telecommuting by ECMO staff, 

including provision of portable computers

Ordinary and necessary expenses related 

to audio and video recording and materials,

including but not limited to the following, are 

reimbursable:

1. Filming related to the appearance of an 

ECMO Chairperson or an ECMO’s employee 

at an official event; or

2. Recordings and transcripts of commercial 

broadcasts related to an ECMO for in-office 

use; or

3. Recordings that are produced by an ECMO 

or recordings that are provided to an ECMO 

and authorized by the providing entity to be 

reproduced for official distribution; or

4. Video teleconferencing services incurred in 

support of an ECMO’s official duties.

Except where authorized, the costs related to 

purchasing television broadcast time are not 

reimbursable. ECMOs are subject to copyright 

laws when utilizing outside materials.

In Washington, D.C., the House Recording 

Studio is available for audio and video services. 

Contact the House Recording Studio at x53941 

for information on services, charges, and 

availability.

There are certain election-related restrictions 

on mass communications. Please consult the 

Committee on House Administration prior to 

use of any video or audio services.

Printing and Production

STAFF MEETINGS

AUDIO AND VIDEO EXPENSES
Committee on House Administration

11

USE OF STATIONERY

BUSINESS CARDS

EQUIPMENT

Printed materials produced by an ECMO are 

reimbursable when they are in compliance 

with the Franking Regulations. Reimbursable 

printing and production expenses include, but 

are not limited to:

1. Administrative papers (casework tracking 

forms, personnel record forms, etc.)

2. Legislative papers (bills, drafts, summaries, 

amendments, etc.)

3. Business cards for the ECMO Chairperson 

and their employees

4. Stationery

Printed materials are prohibited from use as an 

unsolicited mass communication by the ECMO. 

Items not distributed as a mass communication 

are not required to meet Franking content 

standards, but the content must be official.

Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. § 734, ordinary and 

necessary expenses associated with the 

printing and production of official stationery 

are reimbursable. Official stationery may be 

procured from the Government Publishing 

Office.

Contact the Congressional Printing 

Management Division at 202-512-0224 and 

the Office of Publication Services at x65200 for 

stationery requests.

Additional stationery requests (writing paper, 

bond, etc.) are reimbursable.

Official stationery must contain the following 

information:

1. ECMO’s name;

2. ECMO Chairperson’s name; and

3. Congress of the United States, House of 

Representatives, or comparable language.

Official stationery may include professional 

license(s).

Official stationery may not contain the 

following information:

1. Seals other than the Great Seal, 

Congressional Seal, or State Seal

2. Member’s political party identification

3. Slogans

4. Private entity information or endorsement

5. Campaign contact information (e.g., address, 

phone number, email address)

6. Greetings

7. Picture or likeness of the Member

8. Family crest

Official stationery may be used only for a letter 

or other document the content of which must 

be official in nature. Content must comply with 

the Franking Regulations. However, an ECMO 

may not use the Frank. Contact the Franking 

Commission at x60647 for information on 

content of official correspondence.

Contact the Committee on Ethics at x57103 for 

information on the use of official stationery.

Ordinary and necessary expenses for business 

cards for an ECMO Chairperson and employees 

are reimbursable. Business cards must contain 

the name of the employing authority and 

accurately describe the position to which the 

employee has been appointed.

Business cards may be obtained through Office 

Supply Service at x53321.

Ordinary and necessary expenses for equipment 

for use by an ECMO are reimbursable subject 

to Committee regulations. For all questions 

relating to equipment and equipment-related 

issues, refer to the Guide to Outfitting and 

Maintaining an Office available at (cha.house.

gov). For further information relating to any of 

the CAO’s services, please refer to HouseNet or 

call First Call at x58000.

STATIONERY
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

12

PRESS CONFERENCES

INSIDE MAIL

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Communications

1. Electronic

Members may devote a section of their 

official website to ECMO issues.

2. Stationery

ECMO funds may be used to print or pay for 

stationery for an ECMO.

3. Inside Mail

A Member may use inside mail to 

communicate information related to 

an ECMO.

4. Prohibition on Frank

ECMOs may not use the Frank, nor may a 

Member lend his or her Frank to an ECMO.

A Member may use their official resources 

aside from the Frank for communications 

related to the purpose of an ECMO. Any 

such communications must still comply with 

Franking Regulations.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to 

conducting an official press conference are 

reimbursable.

1. Inside Mail is a delivery service for the 

transmittal of interoffice communications 

provided by House Postal Operations, 

pursuant to the regulations established by 

the Committee on House Administration. 

Inside mail service is available among offices 

in the Capitol, the House and Senate Office 

Buildings, the Library of Congress, the 

White House, the State Department, and the 

Social Security Administration.

2. Inside mail is provided to support the 

conduct of the official business of Members, 

committees, Officers of the House, and 

Congressional Staff Organizations.

3. Inside mail service may not be used to 

circulate letters which are personal or

campaign-related, or which constitute 

commercial advertising except when postage 

is paid for with personal expenses.

4. All mail to be delivered via inside mail 

should be clearly marked “Inside Mail” and 

should be deposited in an Inside Mailbox.

5. Authorized items for circulation of inside 

mail include:

a. A Dear Colleague or similar 

correspondence relating to the official and 

representational business of the Member. 

This correspondence must be on official 

letterhead and signed by the Member.

b. A position paper, report, legislative 

analysis, or any material published 

or produced by another individual or

organization that a Member wishes to 

circulate. This correspondence must be 

accompanied by a signed cover letter on 

official letterhead. A copy of the cover 

letter must be attached to each item to 

be distributed.

c. Mail in a reusable blue U.S. House of 

Representatives Inside Mail envelope.

d. Mail produced by Congressional Staff 

Organizations registered with the 

Committee on House Administration.

Dear Colleague letters and similar 

correspondence must be transmitted to House 

Postal Operations, in the appropriate quantity, 

with a cover letter signed by the Member, 

indicating to whom the mailing should be 

distributed. For information regarding these 

procedures, contact House Postal Operations 

at x63764.

Ordinary and necessary expenses related 

to electronic communications (Internet, fax 

machines, etc.) are reimbursable.

• No unsolicited mass communications 

are allowed.

• All official electronic communications 

must comply with House information
Committee on House Administration

13

SUBSCRIBED EMAILS

NON-SUBSCRIBED EMAILS

WEBSITES

technology and security policies as 

approved by the Committee on House 

Administration.

• All official electronic communications 

sent to an email list of 100 or more 

individuals must include a usable 

opt-out in the body of the email that

enables an individual to opt-out from the 

Member’s email list. Opt-out requests 

must be honored. These mailings much 

comply with IT Policy 007.0 - Email List 

Management Policy as approved by

the Committee.

A subscribed email is an email sent to 

individuals who have taken a willful action to 

subscribe to an ECMO’s email list. ECMOs 

must notify individuals who subscribe to email 

updates that the individual is authorizing

the ECMO to send regular email updates 

from the ECMO to the individual’s email

account. All email updates to subscribers must 

contain an option that enables the individual 

to unsubscribe from the email list. ECMOs 

may send subscribed email updates without 

obtaining an advisory opinion, but the contents 

must still adhere to Franking regulations.

If each email address used in a mass 

communication was not obtained with an 

individual subscribing for subscribed email 

updates, then an ECMO may not send the 

communication until those email addresses 

obtained without consent are removed.

An ECMO Chairperson may request a URL 

for an ECMO, provided that the request 

complies with the ECMO domain name 

regulations issued by the Committee on House 

Administration. Web pages using such a URL 

need not have the same design or layout as the 

Web site of the sponsoring Member. An ECMO 

may also be hosted on the sponsoring 

Member’s website.

Internet sites paid for with official funds 

(websites) are a series of centrally maintained 

Web pages, accessible to the public via the 

Internet and stored on a specific host. The home 

page is the first accessible page for that site.

1. Ordinary and necessary expenses associated 

with the creation and continued operation of 

websites, in support of an ECMO’s official 

duties, are reimbursable.

2. Except as noted in item 6, below, ECMO 

websites must be located in the HOUSE. 

GOV host-domain and must be hosted in 

conformance with the regulations issued by 

the Committee on House Administration.

3. ECMO websites may be maintained by either 

House Information Resources (HIR), the 

ECMO office, or a private vendor authorized 

to provide Web services to the House in 

compliance with the regulations issued by 

the Committee on House Administration.

4. ECMOs’ websites may link to Member 

and Committee websites, but Member or 

Committee websites may not be located on 

websites paid for by an ECMO.

5. Members may include information within 

their Website about ECMO issues and 

activities. All ECMO references within a 

Website must relate to the Member’s official 

and representational duties.

6. In addition to their official HOUSE.GOV 

website, an ECMO may establish profiles, 

pages, channels or any similar presence 

on third-party sites that allow individuals 

or organizations to offer information about 

themselves to the public (Social Media 

Accounts). ECMO-controlled content on

Social Media Accounts is subject to the same 

requirements as content on ECMO websites.

7. Websites should be compliant with the 

accessibility standards set out in § 508 

of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the

World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content 

Accessibility Guidelines.

8. Websites may link to non-government 

sites, so long as the link content relates to
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

14

an ECMO’s official duties and the content 

would not otherwise violate any other 

House rules, regulations, or federal laws. 

Internet resources may not contain content 

that misrepresents an ECMO or Member’s 

current role in Congress.

9. For ECMOs internet social media accounts, 

an ECMO Chairperson should ensure their 

social media URLs and account names 

reflect their position. Departing ECMO 

Chairpersons may not maintain their official 

social media pages/sites after they leave

the Chairperson of an ECMO; however, 

they may retain their personal accounts 

provided the name (and other identifying 

information) of such accounts clearly do not

convey the impression that the former ECMO 

Chairperson is still a head of the ECMO, or 

that the account is an official account of

the House.

The URL name for an official Website located in 

the HOUSE.GOV domain must be recognizably 

derivative or representative of the name of the 

ECMO office sponsoring the Website and comply 

with the regulations issued by the Committee 

on House Administration.

The URL name for an official Website located in 

the HOUSE.GOV domain may not:

1. Be a slogan.

2. Imply in any manner that the House 

endorses or favors any specific commercial 

product, commodity, or service.

3. Be deceptive and must accurately represent 

the ECMO’s name.

A Member may use personal funds to purchase 

a personalized URL as a locating address, so 

long as it points back and resolves to the official 

website address.

The content of an ECMO Website:

1. The official content of any material posted 

by an ECMO on any website must be in 

compliance with Federal law and House 

Rules and Regulations applicable to official 

communications and germane to the conduct 

of the Member’s official and representational 

duties. Accessing a website (whether by 

using a link or by other means) is to be 

treated as a "solicited communication" from 

an ECMO office.

2. May not include personal (outside of 

incidental references), political party (except 

for political party affiliations), or campaign 

information.

3. May not include grassroots lobbying or solicit 

support for an ECMO’s position.

4. May not generate, circulate, solicit, or 

encourage signing petitions.

5. May not include any advertisement for any 

private individual, firm, or corporation, or 

imply in any manner that the government 

endorses or favors any specific commercial 

product, commodity, or service.

NAME (URL)

WEBSITE CONTENT
Committee on House Administration

15

WORK PRODUCT AND 

ASSETS OF THE ECMO

Transportation

Transportation by ECMO staff for nominal taxi 

and parking fees within the Washington, D.C., 

Metropolitan Area is reimbursable up to

$2,000 annually.

Living expenses and commuting expenses 

are not reimbursable, except in extraordinary

circumstances (e.g., extreme weather conditions, 

staff working beyond availability of mass 

transit or rideshare arrangements, etc.) when 

an ECMO receives written authorization from 

the Committee. "Living expenses" include 

meals, housing, and other personal expenses 

incurred at the ECMO’s employee’s residence

or duty station. "Commuting expenses" are 

transportation expenses incurred by an ECMO 

employee while commuting between their 

residence and duty station.

The Salaries and Expenses appropriation for the 

House of Representatives, which includes ECMO 

funds, is withdrawn two years after the year for 

which the funds were originally appropriated.

This occurs on September 30 of the year.

In the unlikely event an office requests 

reimbursement for an official and 

representational expense incurred during a 

year for which the appropriation has been 

withdrawn, the Office of Finance will determine 

if an amount sufficient to pay the expense would 

have been available if the appropriation had

not been withdrawn. If no funds would have 

been available, then the expense is the personal 

liability of the Member.

If the expense would have been payable had it 

been timely submitted, notwithstanding the 

expired appropriation, then the expense may 

be paid from a currently available allowance, 

if available.

No ECMO funds may be used for expenses 

related to the lease of a vehicle in support of the 

conduct of official duties of the ECMO.

Seeking Reimbursement: Vouchers

For information related to submitting vouchers 

for reimbursement, please refer to the Voucher 

Documentation Standards available on 

HouseNet.

Reimbursement and Direct Payment

Disbursements from the ECMO funds are paid 

on a reimbursement basis or by direct payment 

(to vendors) and require:

1. The ECMO Chairperson’s signature, 

certifying that the expense was incurred in 

support of the ECMO’s official duties.

2. Supporting documentation (receipt, lease, 

bill etc.).

To avoid paying unnecessary taxes, please 

contact the Office of the General Counsel at 

x59700 for tax exempt letters applicable to 

each state.

Work product and data produced, acquired 

or developed during the normal course of the 

ECMO activities remain the property of the

ECMO. The ECMO or the ECMO Chairperson 

may develop internal rules or regulations for 

the management, dissemination and transfer of 

this work product and data. Opt-in subscriber 

lists may not be transferred to other House 

entities, including the personal office of the 

ECMO Chairperson. Upon dissolution, the work 

product and data of the ECMO transfers to the 

final Chairperson.

The ECMO Chairperson may authorize 

purchases of office equipment and software from 

the ECMO account. The CAO will manage the

OFFICIALLY LEASED VEHICLES TAX EXEMPT LETTERS

EXPIRED APPROPRIATIONS

GENERAL
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office

16

ADDITIONAL CHANGES

equipment inventory of the ECMO Chairperson 

according to the same regulations that apply to 

a Member’s Washington, D.C., office as outlined 

in the Guide To Outfitting and Maintaining an 

Office, with the following exceptions: (1)

ECMOs may only acquire equipment on a 

onetime payment plan; (2) committees may not 

transfer equipment to an ECMO Chairperson’s 

inventory; (3) during a transition, the 

succeeding ECMO Chairperson will inherit all 

the items assigned to the previous Chairperson’s 

ECMO inventory; and (4) upon dissolution of

the ECMO, the equipment assets of the ECMO 

transfer to the House.

Modifications

The Chairperson of the Committee is 

authorized to make technical and conforming 

modifications to the ECMO Handbook, and to 

make other modifications with the concurrence 

of the Ranking Minority Member of the 

Committee and notification to all members of 

the Committee. In the event changes are made 

pursuant to this clause, the Chairperson shall 

notify all ECMO offices by suitable means.

The Chairperson of the Committee on House 

Administration, with the concurrence of the 

Ranking Minority Member, is authorized to 

waive certain provisions of these regulations 

as they may deem necessary. In the event 

waivers are made pursuant to this clause, the 

Chairperson shall notify the other Members of 

the Committee when such a waiver is made.