To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an above-the-line deduction for overnight travel expenses of National Guard and Reserve members.

March 19, 2003

Mr. RAMSTAD (for himself, Mr. CRANE, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. SANDLIN, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. BUYER, and Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an above-the-line deduction for overnight travel expenses of National Guard and Reserve members.

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 `National Guard and Reserve Tax Relief Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ABOVE-THE-LINE DEDUCTION FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL EXPENSES OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE MEMBERS.

(a) DEDUCTION ALLOWED- Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to certain trade or business expenses) is amended by redesignating subsection (p) as subsection (q) and inserting after subsection (o) the following new subsection:

`(p) TREATMENT OF EXPENSES OF MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES- For purposes of subsection (a)(2), in the case of an individual who performs services as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States at any time during the taxable year, such individual shall be deemed to be away from home in the pursuit of a trade or business for any period during which such individual is away from home in connection with such service.'.

(b) DEDUCTION ALLOWED WHETHER OR NOT TAXPAYER ELECTS TO ITEMIZE- Section 62(a)(2) of such Code (relating to certain trade and business deductions of employees) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(E) CERTAIN EXPENSES OF MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES- The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, determined at a rate not in excess of the rates for travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with the performance of services by such taxpayer as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period during which such individual is more than 100 miles away from home in connection with such services.'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002.

END