---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 4553"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "4553"
heading: "Gratuities for survivors of deceased House employees; computation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/4553"
units:
  - "Chapter 45 — Congressional Pay and Benefits"
  - "Subchapter II — House of Representatives"
  - "Part B — Administration"
---

# §4553. Gratuities for survivors of deceased House employees; computation


The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives is on and after July 2, 1954, authorized to pay, from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives, a gratuity to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law, of each deceased [employee](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) of the House an amount equal to one month’s salary for each year or part of year of the first six years service of such [employee](/usc/2/4558.md?p=2) plus one-half of one month’s salary for each year or part of year of such service in excess of six years to and including the eighteenth year of such service. Service computed hereunder shall include all Federal civilian employment, and military service where such service interrupted Federal civilian employment.


## Source credit

(July 2, 1954, ch. 455, title I, 68 Stat. 403; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 204(70), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1740.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 125 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives” for “Clerk of the House” and “applicable accounts of the House of Representatives” for “contingent fund of the House”.