II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2600 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 7, 2006 Mr. Warner (for himself and Mrs. Clinton) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To equalize authorities to provide allowances, benefits, and gratuities to civilian personnel of the United States Government in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for other purposes.

1.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)As part of the United States effort to bring democracy and freedom to Iraq and Afghanistan, employees of a broad range of Federal agencies are needed to serve in those countries, furnishing expertise to their counterpart agencies in the Government of Iraq and the Government of Afghanistan. (2)While the heads of a number of Federal agencies already possess authority to provide to their personnel serving abroad allowances, benefits, and death gratuities comparable to those provided by the Secretary of State to similarly-situated Foreign Service personnel serving abroad, other agency heads do not possess such authority. (3)In order to assist the United States Government in recruiting personnel to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to avoid inequities in allowances, benefits, and death gratuities among similarly-situated United States Government civilian personnel serving in these countries, it is essential that the heads of all agencies that have personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have the same basic authority with respect to allowances, benefits, and death gratuities for such personnel.

2.

Authority to equalize allowances, benefits, and gratuities of personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

(a)

In general

During any fiscal year, the head of an agency may, in the agency head's discretion, provide to an individual employed by, or assigned or detailed to, such agency allowances, benefits, and gratuities comparable to those provided by the Secretary of State to officers and employees of the Foreign Service under section 413 and chapter 9 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3973; 4081 et seq.), if the duty station of such individual is in Iraq or Afghanistan. (b)

Construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority of the head of an agency under any other provision of law. (c)

Applicability of certain authorities

Section 912(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply with respect to amounts received as allowances or otherwise under this section in the same manner as section 912 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies with respect to amounts received by civilian officers or employees as allowances or otherwise under chapter 9 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980.