; and (ii) an adopted child; and (B) does not include a stepchild. (2) Order of precedence A death gratuity paid under subsection (b) with respect to an employee shall be paid in the following order of precedence: (A) (i) To the beneficiary designated to receive the gratuity by the employee in a signed and witnessed writing that is received by the agency employing the employee before the date of the death of the employee. (ii) A designation, change, or cancellation of beneficiary in a will, or another document not described in clause (i), shall have no force or effect for the purposes of that clause. (B) If there is no beneficiary described in subparagraph (A), to the surviving spouse of the employee. (C) If neither subparagraph (A) nor (B) applies, to the children of the employee (including the descendant of any deceased child by representation) such that each such child receives an equal amount of the gratuity. (D) If none of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) applies, to the surviving parents of the employee such that each such surviving parent receives an equal amount of the gratuity. (E) If none of subparagraphs (A) through (D) applies, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the employee. (F) If none of subparagraphs (A) through (E) applies, to the person entitled, under the laws of the State in which the employee is domiciled, as of the date on which the employee dies, to receive the payment. . (2) Repeal of death gratuity payment authority Section 651 of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act, 1997 ( 5 U.S.C. 8133 note) is repealed. (3) Technical and conforming amendments The table of sections for chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (A) by striking the item relating to subchapter VII and inserting the following: SUBCHAPTER VII—PAYMENTS TO MISSING PERSONS AND PAYMENTS FOR DISABILITY OR DEATH