---
kind: "section"
citation: "31 U.S.C. § 1347"
title: "31"
title_heading: "Money and Finance"
number: "1347"
heading: "Appropriations or authorizations required for agencies in existence for more than one year"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/31/1347"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — The Budget Process"
  - "Chapter 13 — Appropriations"
  - "Subchapter III — Limitations, Exceptions, and Penalties"
---

# §1347. Appropriations or authorizations required for agencies in existence for more than one year

- (a) An [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) in existence for more than one year may not use amounts otherwise available for obligation to pay its expenses without a specific appropriation or specific authorization by law. If the principal duties and powers of the [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) are substantially the same as or similar to the duties and powers of an [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) established by executive order, the [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) established later is deemed to have been in existence from the date the [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) established by the order came into existence.
- (b) Except as specifically authorized by law, another [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) may not use amounts available for obligation to pay expenses to carry out duties and powers substantially the same as or similar to the principal duties and powers of an [agency](/usc/31/1101.md?p=1) that is prohibited from using amounts under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 925.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 1347(a) | 31:696(1st, 2d sentences). | June 27, 1944, ch. 286, § 213, 58 Stat. 387. |
| 1347(b) | 31:696(last sentence). |  |

In the section, the word “agency” is substituted for “agency or instrumentality” because of section 101 of the revised title and for consistency. The words “amounts otherwise available for obligation” are substituted for “any appropriation or fund made available by this or any other Act”, and the words “duties and powers” are substituted for “functions”, for consistency in the revised title.

In subsection (a), the words “After January 1, 1945” are omitted as executed. The words “including those established by Executive order” are omitted the first time they appear as surplus. The words “from the date . . . came into existence” are substituted for “during the existence” for clarity.

In subsection (b), the word “amounts” is substituted for “appropriations” for consistency in the revised title.