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B-199387 1 (1982-03-23)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadkef0001 and id is 1 raw text is: -'t )A ~ -'-., - - Z. --- V DIECISION TrHE CODMPTrROL.LER GIENEAL oP THi ,LINITM STATUE WAQHINGTONs 3,, 0,0 U0548 FILE: B-199387 DATE: March 23, 1982 MATTER C F:. Ary-Food DIGEST; Served. at Cultural. Awareness Celebration Any way use appropriated fuds to pay fori_ saziples of ethnic foods prepared and served as upart of celebration intended to promote EEOobjectives by increasing employee appre- ciad'#on for cultural heritage of differin4 ethn ic groups, The Asslatu t Comptroller for.Ftnancn and Acounting, _epatment of theArmy, has requested a deisin on whether the Army may expend appropriated funds for food. and disposable dining utensils to be used in preparing and servlng ethnic dishes for saling by participwits in Oakland Army Base's annual, Humanity Week celebration. Although the submission asks .spe1fically whether appropriated funds may be.. used for the no-past 1981 festival, the Army has advised us that a rul ng by our Office is still desired since the same question will arise in conjunction with the 1982 and subsequent celebrations. We conclude that such an expenditura is permissible tinder the conditions and circumstances explained below. The OaklandArmy Base holds a 3-day ethnic heritage festival each year in- celebration of HumanityWeek. Achivities includeper- formances by a band, singer, a=d sev-eralaance tro6pes, and the pre- parati6br of xvatious ethnic dishes f6rsaiUng by participantS in 1981, the Ccmptroller, Military Traffic Management Corrmand, approved the dnterti went e~xpenses on th6 basis qf our decision 60 Camp. 2 Gen. 303_(1991), but declined, tO authorize -payment for- the ingredients to be used in-pre7pating -theetiic _food samples (eslimatei l cost:. $350) and the lplasticpla~es 'and cutlery to be used-in serihg the swrples (estimated cost: $40). 'TheDeputy Comptr6ller, Military-Traffic Man- agement.Co'mardn, iW a memorarnumItohis commander dated May 22, 1981 (a copy of which . ..was Included With't submisslon), argues that the -purchase of. foodstuffs to-providei°[basej personnel during RwtanIty Week with samplings of cuisine of different races, cultures, an ethnic groups ought to -be con'sidered a legitimate part of the base's EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) program. Weddoo qsothDeputy Controller's assertion tbat the goals bf Humanity Week are ephanced ,through the experience 0f tasting the 'food of -n :unfailiar culture. This does not ean that It is permissible 'to provide this experienceat public pense by furnish- ing free meals or refreshments for civilian employees, unless clearly authorized by statute. 57 Comp. Gen. 806 '(1978), and cases cited *

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