118 HR 10356 IH: Foreign Service Orientation Support Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-12-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 10356IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 11, 2024Mr. Castro of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsA BILLTo provide a per diem allowance for newly hired members of the Foreign Service, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Foreign Service Orientation Support Act.

2.

Per diem allowance for newly hired members of the foreign service

(a)

Per diem allowance

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), any newly hired Foreign Service employee who is in initial orientation training, or any other training expected to last less than 6 months in the Washington, DC, area before transferring to the employee’s first assignment overseas or domestically outside the Washington, DC, area shall, for the duration of such training, receive a per diem allowance at the levels prescribed under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (2)

Limitation on lodging expenses

A newly hired Foreign Service employee may not receive any lodging expenses under the applicable per diem allowance pursuant to paragraph (1) if that employee— (A)has a permanent residence in the Washington, DC, area (not including government-supplied housing during such orientation training or other training); and (B)does not vacate such residence during such orientation training or other training. (b)

Definitions

In this section— (1)the term per diem allowance has the meaning given such term in section 5701 of title 5, United States Code; and (2)the term Washington, DC, area means the geographic area within a 50-mile radius of the Washington Monument.