INCREASE IN BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING AND EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY LODGING EXPENSES AUTHORITY FOR AREAS SUBJECT TO MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION OR FOR INSTALLATIONS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN INCREASE IN PERSONNEL LEVELS.

SEC. 609. INCREASE IN BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING AND EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY LODGING EXPENSES AUTHORITY FOR AREAS SUBJECT TO MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION OR FOR INSTALLATIONS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN INCREASE IN PERSONNEL LEVELS.(a) Temporary Basic Allowance for Housing Increase Authorized.—Section 403(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(7)(A) Under the authority of this paragraph, the Secretary of Defense may prescribe a temporary increase in the rates of basic allowance for housing otherwise prescribed for a military housing area or a portion of a military housing area if the military housing area or portion thereof—“(i) is located in an area covered by a declaration by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) that a major disaster exists; or“(ii) contains one or more military installations that are experiencing a sudden increase in the number of members of the armed forces assigned to the installation.“(B) The Secretary of Defense shall base the amount of the increase to be made in the rates of basic allowance for housing for an area on a determination by the Secretary of the amount by which the costs of adequate housing for civilians have increased in the area by reason of the disaster or the influx of military personnel, except that the increase may not exceed the amount equal to 20 percent of the rate of basic allowance for housing otherwise prescribed for the area.“(C) A member may be paid a basic allowance for housing at a rate increased under this paragraph only if the member certifies to the Secretary concerned that the member has incurred increased housing costs in the area by reason of the disaster or the influx of military personnel.“(D) Subject to subparagraph (E), an increase in the rates of basic allowance for housing in an area under this paragraph 119 STAT. 3290 shall remain in effect until the effective date of the first adjustment in rates of basic allowance for housing made for the area pursuant to a redetermination of housing costs in the area under this subsection that occurs after the date of the increase under this paragraph.“(E) An increase in the rates of basic allowance for housing for an area may not be prescribed under this paragraph or continue after December 31, 2008.”.(b) Temporary Extension of Temporary Lodging Expenses Authority.—Section 404a(c) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(3) Whenever the conditions described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) of section 403(b)(7) of this title exist for a military housing area or portion thereof, the Secretary concerned may increase the period for which subsistence expenses are to be paid or reimbursed under this section in the case of a change of permanent station described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) in the same military housing area or portion thereof to a maximum of 20 days.”.(c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to months beginning on or after September 1, 2005.