2018 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 47 - Fraud and False Statements
Sec. 1020 - Highway projects

Whoever, being an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, or of any State or Territory, or whoever, whether a person, association, firm, or corporation, knowingly makes any false statement, false representation, or false report as to the character, quality, quantity, or cost of the material used or to be used, or the quantity or quality of the work performed or to be performed, or the costs thereof in connection with the submission of plans, maps, specifications, contracts, or costs of construction of any highway or related project submitted for approval to the Secretary of Transportation; or

Whoever knowingly makes any false statement, false representation, false report, or false claim with respect to the character, quality, quantity, or cost of any work performed or to be performed, or materials furnished or to be furnished, in connection with the construction of any highway or related project approved by the Secretary of Transportation; or

Whoever knowingly makes any false statement or false representation as to a material fact in any statement, certificate, or report submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916 (39 Stat. 355), as amended and supplemented,

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 753; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, §27, 65 Stat. 721; May 6, 1954, ch. 181, §18, 68 Stat. 76; Pub. L. 89–670, §10(f), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 948; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

Based on section 46 of title 23, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Highways (June 19, 1922, ch. 227, §4, par. 6, 42 Stat. 661).

Words "highway, or related," were inserted before "project" in two places for the purpose of description, in view of transfer from title 23.

Words "upon conviction thereof" were omitted as surplusage, because punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured.

Changes in phraseology were made.

The Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916 (39 Stat. 355), referred to in text, is act July 11, 1916, ch. 241, 39 Stat. 355, as amended, which was repealed by Pub. L. 85–767, §2(1), Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 919. See section 101 et seq. of Title 23, Highways.

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $10,000" in last par.

1966—Pub. L. 89–670 substituted "Secretary of Transportation" for "Secretary of Commerce" wherever appearing.

1954—Act May 6, 1954, substituted in second par. "with respect to the character, quality, quantity, or cost of any work performed or to be performed, or materials furnished or to be furnished, in connection with the construction" for "for work or materials for the construction"; and in third par. substituted "as to a material fact in any statement, certificate, or report submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916 (39 Stat. 355), as amended and supplemented" for "in any report required under Title 23, with intent to defraud the United States".

1951—Act Oct. 31, 1951, substituted "Secretary of Commerce" for "Secretary of Agriculture" in first and second pars.

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–670 effective Apr. 1, 1967, as prescribed by President and published in Federal Register, see section 16(a), formerly §15(a), of Pub. L. 89–670 and Ex. Ord. No. 11340, Mar. 30, 1967, 32 F.R. 5453.

The Bureau of Public Roads, which is the principal road building agency of the Federal Government, and which was formerly under the Department of Agriculture, was redesignated the Public Roads Administration and, with its functions, transferred to the Federal Works Agency, and the functions of the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect thereto, were transferred to the Federal Works Administrator, by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1939, §§301, 302, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2727, 53 Stat. 1426, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, §103, 63 Stat. 380, (see Historical and Revision Notes under section 303(b) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works), abolished the Federal Works Agency, transferred its functions, the functions of all agencies thereof, the functions of the Federal Works Administrator, and the functions of the Commissioner of Public Roads, to the Administrator of General Services, and transferred the Public Roads Administration, which it redesignated the Bureau of Public Roads, to the General Services Administration. Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949, eff. Aug. 19, 1949, 14 F.R. 5228, 63 Stat. 1070, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, transferred such bureau and its functions and personnel to the Department of Commerce, and transferred the functions of the Administrator of General Services, with respect thereto, to the Secretary of Commerce, to be performed by him or, subject to his direction and control, by such officers, employees and agencies of the Department of Commerce as he should designate. Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, transferred, with certain exceptions not applicable to this section, all functions of all other officers of the Department of Commerce, and all functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, to the Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in him to authorize their performance, or the performance of any of his functions, by any of such other officers, or by any agency or employee of the Department of Commerce. Section 303(b) of Title 40 was amended generally by Pub. L. 109–313, §2(a)(1), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1734, and, as so amended, no longer relates to the Federal Works Agency and Commissioner of Public Buildings. See 2006 Amendment note under section 303 of Title 40.