SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT.

SEC. 444. SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT. (a) In General.—Title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 424 the following: “§424a. Suspension of payment of retired pay of members who are absent from the United States to avoid prosecution “Under procedures prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary may suspend the payment of the retired pay of a member or former member during periods in which the member willfully remains outside the United States to avoid criminal prosecution or civil liability. The procedures shall address the types of criminal offenses and civil proceedings for which the procedures may be used, including the offenses specified in section 8312 of title 5, and the manner by which a member, upon the return of the member to the United States, may obtain retired pay withheld during the member’s absence.”. 116 STAT. 2133 (b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 424 the following: “424a. Suspension of payment of retired pay of members who are absent from the United States to avoid prosecution”.