[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3798 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3798

  To amend title 37, United States Code, to provide the Secretary of 
Defense with the authority to make temporary, emergency adjustments in 
 the monthly rates of the basic allowance for housing and the cost-of-
 living allowance for members of the uniformed services in response to 
            sudden increases in energy and gasoline prices.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 15, 2005

 Ms. Granger introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 37, United States Code, to provide the Secretary of 
Defense with the authority to make temporary, emergency adjustments in 
 the monthly rates of the basic allowance for housing and the cost-of-
 living allowance for members of the uniformed services in response to 
            sudden increases in energy and gasoline prices.

    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 ``Military Family Assistance Act of 
2005''.

SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ADJUSTMENT IN BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING IN RESPONSE 
              TO INCREASED ENERGY COSTS.

    Section 403(b)(4) of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``An adjustment'' and inserting ``(A) 
        Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an adjustment''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) The Secretary may make an emergency adjustment in the rates 
of the basic allowance for housing for a particular military housing 
area in response to a sudden increase in energy costs in the area as a 
result of higher charges for utilities or other causes. An adjustment 
in the rates of the basic allowance for housing under the authority of 
this subparagraph may take effect in advance of the effective date 
specified in subparagraph (A), and, notwithstanding paragraph (6), 
shall remain in effect for a period determined by the Secretary, but 
not to exceed six months. The Secretary shall provide written notice to 
Congress of any rate adjustment made under this subparagraph and the 
reasons for the adjustment.''.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY ADJUSTMENT IN COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE IN RESPONSE TO 
              INCREASED GASOLINE COSTS.

    Section 403b(d) of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such paragraph (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) and clauses (i) and (ii), 
        respectively;
            (2) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The cost-of-living''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) The Secretary may make an emergency adjustment in the amount 
of the cost-of-living allowance otherwise in effect under paragraph 
(1), and establish temporary high cost areas for purposes of this 
section during a fiscal year, in response to a sudden increase in 
gasoline prices in an area. An adjustment in the amount of a cost-of-
living allowance or the establishment of a temporary high cost area 
under the authority of this subparagraph shall take effect on such date 
as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate and shall remain in 
effect for a period determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed six 
months. The Secretary shall provide written notice to Congress of any 
cost-of-living allowance adjustment made or temporary high cost area 
established under this paragraph and the reasons therefor.''.
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