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

31 U.S.C. § 3104

Certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills

(a)
section 3111 of this title The Secretary of the Treasury may borrow on the credit of the United States Government amounts necessary for expenditures authorized by law and may buy, redeem, and make refunds under . For amounts borrowed, the Secretary may issue—
(1)
certificates of indebtedness of the Government; and
(2)
Treasury bills of the Government.
(b)
section 3121 of this titlesection 3121(a)(5) of this title The Secretary may prescribe conditions for issuing certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills under and conditions under which the certificates and bills may be redeemed before maturity. Notwithstanding , the payment date of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills may not be more than one year after the date of issue.
(c)
Treasury bills issued under this section may not be accepted before maturity to pay principal or interest on obligations of governments of foreign countries that are held by the United States Government.

Pub. L. 97–25896 Stat. 939(, , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

3104(a)

31:754(a)(1st, 2d sentences).

Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, § 5(a)(less form of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills, finality), 40 Stat. 290; Apr. 4, 1918, ch. 44, § 4, 40 Stat. 504; Mar. 3, 1919, ch. 100, § 3, 40 Stat. 1311; restated June 17, 1929, ch. 26, 46 Stat. 19; Feb. 4, 1935, ch. 5, §§ 2, 3, 49 Stat. 20.

3104(b)

31:754(a)(3d sentence)(less form of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills, finality).

3104(c)

31:754(a)(last sentence).

section 757b of this titlesection 3111 of this title56 Stat. 189In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “In addition to the bonds and notes authorized by sections 752, 753, and 757c of this title” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “subject to the limitation imposed by ” are omitted as surplus. The words “for expenditures authorized by law” are substituted for “for the purposes of this Act . . . and to meet public expenditures authorized by law” for clarity and because they are inclusive. The words “under ” are substituted for “at or before maturity, of any outstanding bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness or Treasury bills of the United States” because of the restatement. The words “at not less than par” are omitted as superseded by section 3 of the Public Debt Act of 1942 (ch. 205, ), restated in section 3121 of the revised title. The text of 31:754(a)(2d sentence) is omitted as superseded by section 3121(a) of the revised title. In clause (1), the words “and at such rate or rates of interest, payable at such time or times as he may prescribe” are omitted because they are superseded by section 3121(a), (b)(1), and (c) of the revised title. In clause (2), the words “on a discount basis and payable at maturity without interest” are omitted because they are superseded by section 3121(a) of the revised title. The words “of the Government” are added for consistency.

section 3121 of this titlesection 3121(a)(5) of this titleIn subsection (b), the words “terms and” after “upon such” are omitted as surplus. The words “for issuing . . . under ” are substituted for “subject to such terms and conditions” because of the restatement. The words “Notwithstanding ” are substituted for “shall be payable at such time” for clarity because the section cited contains the general authority to which subsection (c)(last sentence) of this section is an exception.

In subsection (c), the words “account of” are omitted as surplus.