S 2654

110th CONGRESS
2d Session

S. 2654

To provide for enhanced reimbursement of servicemembers and veterans for certain travel expenses.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 14, 2008

Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Mrs. LINCOLN, and Mr. CHAMBLISS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To provide for enhanced reimbursement of servicemembers and veterans for certain travel expenses.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the `Citizen Soldier and Military Veteran Travel Reimbursement Act of 2008'.

SEC. 2. VETERANS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM.

    (a) Repeal of Requirement to Adjust Amounts Deducted From Payments or Allowances for Beneficiary Travel- Section 111(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

      (1) by striking paragraph (5); and

      (2) in paragraph (2), by striking `, except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection,'.

    (b) Determination of Mileage Reimbursement Rate- Section 111(g) of such title is amended--

      (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

    `(1) Subject to paragraph (3), in determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section, the Secretary shall use the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when a Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5.';

      (2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and

      (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):

    `(3) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may modify the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section using a mileage reimbursement rate in excess of that prescribed under paragraph (1).'.

SEC. 3. TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL TO INACTIVE DUTY TRAINING.

    (a) Allowances Authorized-

      (1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 7 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 411j the following new section:

`Sec. 411k. Travel and transportation allowances: long distance travel to inactive duty training performed by members of the reserve components of the armed forces

    `(a) Allowance Authorized- The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member of a reserve component of the armed forces for expenses incurred in connection with round-trip travel in excess of 100 miles to an inactive duty training location, including mileage traveled and lodging and subsistence.

    `(b) Rates of Reimbursement-

      `(1) MILEAGE- In determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid for mileage traveled under this section, the Secretary concerned shall use the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when a Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5.

      `(2) LODGING AND SUBSISTENCE- In determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid for lodging and subsistence under this section, the Secretary concerned shall use the per diem rate as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707 of title 5.

      `(3) AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE AT HIGHER RATES- Subject to the availability of appropriations and the approval of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary concerned may modify the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section using reimbursement rates in excess of those prescribed under paragraphs (1) and (2).

    `(c) Regulations- The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Regulations prescribed by the Secretary of a military department shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense.'.

    (b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 411j the following new item:

      `411k. Travel and transportation allowances: long distance travel to inactive duty training performed by members of the reserve components of the armed forces.'.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to travel expenses incurred after the expiration of the 90-day period that begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.

END