PAYMENT OF LODGING EXPENSES OF MEMBERS DURING AUTHORIZED LEAVE FROM TEMPORARY DUTY LOCATION.

SEC. 635. PAYMENT OF LODGING EXPENSES OF MEMBERS DURING AUTHORIZED LEAVE FROM TEMPORARY DUTY LOCATION.(a) Payment or Reimbursement Authorized.—Chapter 7 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 404a the following new section:“§ 404b. Travel and transportation allowances: lodging expenses at temporary duty location for members on authorized leave“(a) Payment or Reimbursement Authorized.—The Secretary concerned may pay or reimburse a member of the armed forces assigned to temporary duty as described in subsection (b) for lodging expenses incurred by the member at the temporary duty location while the member is in an authorized leave status.“(b) Covered Members.—Subsection (a) applies with respect to a member assigned to temporary duty, for a period of more than 30 days, in support of a contingency operation or in other specific situations designated by the Secretary concerned if the member——“(1) immediately before taking the authorized leave, was performing the temporary duty at a location away from the home or permanent duty station of the member;“(2) was receiving a per diem allowance under section 404(a)(4) of this title to cover lodging and subsistence expenses incurred at the temporary duty location because quarters of the United States were not available for assignment to the member at that location; and“(3) immediately after completing the authorized leave, returns to the duty location.“(c) Payment Limitation.—The amount paid or reimbursed under subsection (a) for a member may not exceed the lesser of—“(1) the actual daily cost of lodging incurred by the member at the temporary duty location while the member was in an authorized leave status; and“(2) the lodging portion of the applicable daily per diem rate for the temporary duty location.” .117 STAT. 1511(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 404a the following new item: “404b. Travel and transportation allowances: lodging expenses at temporary duty location for members on authorized leave.”.