ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES RELOCATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES.

SEC. 1134. ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES RELOCATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES. (a) In General.—Subsection (a) of section 5524a of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking “(a) The head” and inserting “(a)(1) The head”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(2) The head of each agency may provide for the advance payment of basic pay, covering not more than 4 pay periods, to an employee who is assigned to a position in the agency that is located— “(A) outside of the employee’s commuting area; and “(B) in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any territory or possession of the United States.” . (b) Conforming Amendments.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting “or assigned” after “appointed”; and (2) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) by inserting “or assignment” after “appointment”; and (B) by inserting “or assigned” after “appointed”. (c) Clerical Amendments.— (1) Section heading.—The heading of such section is amended by inserting “and employees relocating within the United States and its territories” after “appointees”. (2) [5 U.S.C. 5501] Table of sections.—The item relating to such section in the table of sections of chapter 55 of such title is amended to read as follows: “5524a. Advance payments for new appointees and employees relocating within the United States and its territories.” .