REIMBURSEMENT OF RENTAL VEHICLE COSTS WHEN MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IS LATE.

SEC. 653. REIMBURSEMENT OF RENTAL VEHICLE COSTS WHEN MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IS LATE. (a) Transportation in Connection With Change of Permanent Station.— Section 2634 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: “(g) If a motor vehicle of a member (or a dependent of the member) that is transported at the expense of the United States under this section does not arrive at the authorized destination of the vehicle by the designated delivery date, the Secretary concerned shall reimburse the member for expenses incurred after that date to rent a motor vehicle for the member’s use, or for the use of the dependent for whom the delayed vehicle was transported. The amount reimbursed may not exceed $30 per day, and the rental period for which reimbursement may be provided expires after 7 days or on the date on which the delayed vehicle arrives at the authorized destination (whichever occurs first).”. (b) Transportation in Connection With Other Moves.— Section 406(h) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(3) If a motor vehicle of a member (or a dependent of the member) that is transported at the expense of the United States under this subsection does not arrive at the authorized destination of the vehicle by the designated delivery date, the Secretary concerned shall reimburse the member for expenses incurred after that date to rent a motor vehicle for the dependent’s use. The amount reimbursed may not exceed $30 per day, and the rental period for which reimbursement may be provided expires after 7 days or on the date on which the delayed vehicle arrives at the authorized destination (whichever occurs first).”. 112 STAT. 2052 (c) Transportation in Connection With Departure Allowances for Dependents.— Section 405a(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting “(1)” after “(b)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(2) If a motor vehicle of a member (or a dependent of the member) that is transported at the expense of the United States under paragraph (1) does not arrive at the authorized destination of the vehicle by the designated delivery date, the Secretary concerned shall reimburse the member for expenses incurred after that date to rent a motor vehicle for the dependent’s use. The amount reimbursed may not exceed $30 per day, and the rental period for which reimbursement may be provided expires after 7 days or on the date on which the delayed vehicle arrives at the authorized destination (whichever occurs first).”. (d) Transportation in Connection With Effects of Missing Persons.— Section 554 of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection: “(i) If a motor vehicle of a member (or a dependent of the member) that is transported at the expense of the United States under this section does not arrive at the authorized destination of the vehicle by the designated delivery date, the Secretary concerned shall reimburse the dependent for expenses incurred after that date to rent a motor vehicle for the dependent’s use. The amount reimbursed may not exceed $30 per day, and the rental period for which reimbursement may be provided expires after 7 days or on the date on which the delayed vehicle arrives at the authorized destination (whichever occurs first).”. (e) Application of Amendments.— (1) Reimbursement for motor vehicle rental expenses may not be provided under the amendments made by this section until after the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress a report containing a certification that the Department of Defense has in place and operational a system to recover the cost of providing such reimbursement from commercial carriers that are responsible for the delay in the delivery of the motor vehicles of members of the Armed Forces and their dependents. The Secretary of Defense shall prepare the report in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, with respect to the Coast Guard. (2) The amendments shall apply with respect to rental expenses described in such amendments that are incurred on or after the date of the submission of the report. The report shall be submitted not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall include, in addition to the certification, a description of the system to be used to recover from commercial carriers the costs incurred under such amendments.