[Request for Advance Decision Concerning Continuing Education Credits for Attendees of HUD Real Estate Seminars]

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requested an advance decision as to whether it may: (1) purchase a state certificate authorizing it to grant continuing education credits for seminars it conducts to meet the state's real estate licensing requirements; and (2) properly use appropriated funds for the proposed expenditure since it would benefit non-government employees. GAO held that an appropriation confers authority to incur expenses necessary to achieve an authorized objective. GAO found that, since HUD activities in conducting the seminars were directly related to the statutory authority that governed HUD interaction with the private sector, the cost of the certificate was a necessary expense. Accordingly, GAO would not question the expenditure.