[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2654 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







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.
                                 <all>