Until otherwise provided by law, there is authorized to be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives, on vouchers signed by the chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, a gratuity to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law, of each deceased employee under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol who was assigned to duty in the House of Representatives at the time of his death. The payment of each such gratuity shall be in accordance with uniform rules and regulations adopted by the Committee on House Oversight except that no such gratuity shall be in excess of that payable to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law of any deceased employee under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol having a comparable length of service, who was assigned to similar duties in the Senate at the time of his death.