AUTHORIZED ABSENCES OF MEMBERS FOR WHICH LODGING EXPENSES AT TEMPORARY DUTY LOCATION MAY BE PAID.

SEC. 651. AUTHORIZED ABSENCES OF MEMBERS FOR WHICH LODGING EXPENSES AT TEMPORARY DUTY LOCATION MAY BE PAID.(a) Absences Covered by Allowance.—Section 404b of title 37, United States Code, is amended—(1) in subsection (a), by striking “while the member is in an authorized leave status” and inserting “during an authorized absence of the member from the temporary duty location”;(2) in subsection (b)—(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “taking the authorized leave” and inserting “the authorized absence”; and(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “immediately after completing the authorized leave” and inserting “before the end of the authorized absence”;(3) in subsection (c), by striking “while the member was in an authorized leave status” and inserting “during the authorized absence of the member”; and(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(d) Authorized Absence Defined.—In this section, the term ‘authorized absence’, with respect to a member, means that the member is in an authorized leave status or that the absence of the member is otherwise authorized under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.”.(b) Clerical Amendments.—(1) Section heading.—The heading of such section is amended to read as follows:“§ 404b. Travel and transportation allowances: payment of lodging expenses at temporary duty location during authorized absence of member” .(2) Table of sections.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by striking the 119 STAT. 3312 item relating to section 404b and inserting the following new item: “404b. Travel and transportation allowances: payment of lodging expenses at temporary duty location during authorized absence of member.”.