US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

14 U.S.C. § 2773

Rations or commutation therefor in money

(a)
Enlisted members of the Coast Guard, civilian officers and civilian crews of vessels, and working parties in the field shall be allowed a ration or commutation thereof in money, in such amount and under limitations and regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
(b)
Money for commuted rations shall be paid, under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, on proper vouchers, or pay rolls, to individuals entitled to receive it, or to the officers designated by the Commandant to administer the financial affairs of the messes in which such individuals may be subsisted.
(c)
Money paid for commuted rations to the designated officer may be deposited in general or limited depositories of public money or in any bank in which deposits are insured. Such funds shall be expended and accounted for under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(d)
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as modifying or changing in any manner the provisions of law pertaining to subsistence allowances for enlisted members, but no ration or commutation thereof shall be allowed an individual receiving a subsistence allowance.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 39363 Stat. 532Pub. L. 98–557, § 15(a)(3)(B)98 Stat. 2865Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 116(b)132 Stat. 4226Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV134 Stat. 4750(, , § 478; , (C), , ; renumbered § 2773, , , ; [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(42), , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Mar. 25, 1940, ch. 7154 Stat. 64June 6, 1940, ch. 257, § 1054 Stat. 248May 31, 1941, ch. 15655 Stat. 221Feb. 7, 1942, ch. 4656 Stat. 71June 26, 1943, ch. 147, § 157 Stat. 211June 22, 1944, ch. 269, § 158 Stat. 316May 29, 1945, ch. 130, § 159 Stat. 216July 12, 1946, ch. 569, § 160 Stat. 531Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 756, § 3160 Stat. 857July 1, 1947, ch. 18661 Stat. 226Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §§ 134, 135 (, title I, ; , ; , title I, § 1, ; , title I, ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , title I, § 101, ).

The provisions of said section 134 are extended to include all persons who might be entitled to receive money for commuted rations, rather than only the officer in charge of the mess.

The last proviso of said section 135 is eliminated, because experience during the past 2 years shows that it may react detrimentally on enlisted men in time of rising food costs.

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(42)(A)2021—Subsec. (b). , substituted “individuals” for “persons” in two places.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(42)(B)Subsec. (d). , substituted “an individual” for “a person”.

Pub. L. 115–282section 478 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 98–5571984—Subsecs. (a), (d). substituted reference to enlisted members for reference to enlisted men.