---
type: "LegalText"
title: "20 U.S.C. § 53a"
description: "Authorization of appropriations"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 20
title_name: "EDUCATION"
chapter_number: "3"
chapter_name: "SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES"
section: "53a"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 53a"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc20@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t20/s53a"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-20/usc20.xml"
source_hash: "20649406944b72cf9fd8c9e42b2fe0ad85a8ef71c756a0b98d3c2b3f5f42e16e"
raw_snapshot_hash: "6022872c5d6a3398d1728f82f8cefcb58db9f5ff548e2a636450be1e4a8bb052"
text_hash: "b93131b75c04c82661d85b4e042c58e59e867cf4c1717ad315ce15ca22883423"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 20 U.S.C. § 53a - Authorization of appropriations

## Text

Appropriations are authorized for the maintenance of the Astrophysical Observatory and the making of solar observations at high altitudes; for repairs and alterations of buildings and grounds occupied by the Smithsonian Institution in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; and for preparation of manuscripts, drawings, and illustrations for publications.

(Aug. 22, 1949, ch. 494, § 2, 63 Stat. 623.)