REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES WHEN ACCOMPANYING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

SEC. 617. REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES WHEN ACCOMPANYING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS (a) Members of the Armed Forces.—Section 404 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(h)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a member of the armed forces accompanying a Member of Congress or a congressional employee on official travel may be authorized reimbursement for actual travel and transportation expenses incurred for such travel. “(2) The reimbursement authorized in paragraph (1) may be paid— “(A) at a rate that does not exceed the rate approved for official congressional travel; and 101 STAT. 1097 “(B) only when the travel of the member is directed or approved by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary concerned. “(3) In this subsection: “(A) The term ‘Member of Congress’ means a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. “(B) The term ‘congressional employee’ means an employee of a Member of Congress or an employee of Congress.” (b) Civilian Employees.—(1) Chapter 81 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “§ 1591. Reimbursement for travel and transportation expenses when accompanying Members of Congress “(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary concerned may authorize reimbursement to a civilian employee who is accompanying a Member of Congress or a congressional employee on official travel for actual travel and transportation expenses incurred for such travel. “(b) The allowance provided in subsection (a) may be paid— “(1) at a rate that does not exceed the rate approved for official congressional travel; and “(2) only when the travel of the member is directed or approved by the Secretary concerned. “(c) In this section: “(1) The term ‘Member of Congress’ means a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. “(2) The term ‘congressional employee’ means an employee of a Member of Congress or an employee of Congress. “(3) The term ‘Secretary concerned’ includes the Secretary of Defense with respect to civilian employees of the Department of Defense other than a military department.” (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “1591. Reimbursement for travel and transportation expenses when accompanying Members of Congress.” (c) Effective Dates.—Subsection (h) of section 404 of title 37, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), and section 1591 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (b)), shall apply with respect to travel performed after the date of the enactment of this Act.