§ 3324. Advances

• (a) Except as provided in this section, a payment under a contract to provide a service or deliver an article for the United States Government may not be more than the value of the service already provided or the article already delivered.
• (b) An advance of public money may be made only if it is authorized by—
  • (1) a specific appropriation or other law; or
  • (2) the President to be made to—
    • (A) a disbursing official if the President decides the advance is necessary to carry out—
      • (i) the duties of the official promptly and faithfully; and
      • (ii) an obligation of the Government; or
    • (B) an individual serving in the armed forces at a distant station if the President decides the advance is necessary to disburse regularly pay and allowances.
• (c) Before the Secretary of the Treasury acts on a requisition for an advance, the Comptroller General shall act on the requisition under section 3522 of this title . The Comptroller General does not countersign a requisition for an advance.
• (d) The head of an agency may pay in advance from appropriations available for the purpose—
  • (1) to the Secretary of the Army, charges for messages sent by the Secretary of the Army for the head of the agency, including charges for—
    • (A) payment of tolls of commercial carriers;
    • (B) leasing facilities for sending messages; and
    • (C) installing and maintaining facilities for sending messages; and
  • (2) charges for a publication printed or recorded in any way for the auditory or visual use of the agency.