TRANSPORTATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS INCIDENT TO SERIOUS ILLNESS OR INJURY OF MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.

SEC. 632. TRANSPORTATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS INCIDENT TO SERIOUS ILLNESS OR INJURY OF MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES. (a) Removal of Limitation on Number of Family Members.—Subsection (a)(1) of section 411h of title 37, United States Code, is amended—(1) by striking “two family members” and inserting “three family members”; and(2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: “In circumstances determined to be appropriate by the Secretary concerned, the Secretary may waive the limitation on the number of family members provided travel and transportation under this section.”.(b) Availability of Per Diem.—Such section is further amended—(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting “travel and” before “transportation”; and(2) in subsection (c)—(A) by inserting “(1)” after “(c)”; and(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(2) In addition to the transportation authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may provide a per diem allowance or reimbursement for the actual and necessary expenses of the travel, or a combination thereof, but not to exceed the rates established under section 404(d) of this title.”.(c) Effective Date.—Section 411h of title 37, United States Code, as amended by this section, shall apply to travel and transportation authorized under such section that is provided on or after October 1, 2004, to family members of a member of the Armed Forces who is ill or injured as described in such section.118 STAT. 1957