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B-288266 1 (2003-01-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacyeo0001 and id is 1 raw text is: I G A 0Comptroller General A- Accountability * Integrity * Reliability of the United States United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548 Decision Matter of: Use of Appropriated Funds to Purchase Light Refreshments at Conferences File: B-288266 Date: January 27, 2003 DIGEST 1. The General Services Administration (GSA), through its travel regulation on conference planning, purports to authorize federal agencies to pay for light refreshments at official government-sponsored conferences where a majority of the attendees are in travel status. 41 C.F.R. § 301-74.11. While GSA is authorized to define subsistence for travelers to include light refreshments, 5 U.S.C. § 5702, GSA does not have the authority to authorize agencies to pay for light refreshments for those not in travel status. 2. The Comptroller General is required to settle the accounts of the United States. 31 U.S.C. § 3526(a). Pursuant to his account settlement authority, the Comptroller General can take exception to an improper transaction and refuse to relieve a certifying officer from personal liability for the amount of money improperly expended. Certifying officers are afforded protection from personal liability by relying on decisions of the Comptroller General concerning the legality of payments disbursing officers may make, or of expenditures covered by vouchers presented to certifying officers for certification. 31 U.S.C. § 3529. Since Congress reposed the authority in the Comptroller General to settle the accounts of the government, certifying officers should not rely on GSA's travel regulation on conference planning to authorize light refreshments at meetings for employees in nontravel status. 3. As a general proposition, absent statutory authority, appropriated funds are not available to feed government employees at their duty station. The Comptroller General has identified other authorities that, in certain circumstances, permit the use of appropriated funds to pay for meals and light refreshments. Agencies (and their accountable officers) should rely on existing, relevant statutory authority as interpreted by the Comptroller General to determine whether they may provide food to federal employees.

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