118 S2193 IS: Fly Pet Exception for Traveling Swiftly Act U.S. Senate 2023-06-22 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.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2193IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 22, 2023Mr. Booker introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationA BILLTo amend title 49, United States Code, to permit the use of Federal funds to pay for travel costs of Federal personnel and their pets, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fly Pet Exception for Traveling Swiftly Act or the Fly PETS Act.

2.

Fly America Act exception

Section 40118 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:(h)

Certain transportation of domesticated animals

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), an appropriation to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government may be used to pay for the transportation of Federal personnel, dependent of the Federal personnel, and in-cabin or accompanying checked baggage or cargo, by a foreign air carrier when—(A)the transportation is from a place—(i)outside the United States to a place in the United States;(ii)in the United States to a place outside the United States; or(iii)between two places outside the United States; and(B)no air carrier holding a certificate under section 41102 is willing and able to transport up to three domesticated animals accompanying such Federal personnel or dependent.(2)

Limitation

An amount paid pursuant to paragraph (1) for transportation by a foreign air carrier may not be greater than the amount that would otherwise have been paid had the transportation been on an air carrier holding a certificate under section 41102 had that carrier been willing and able to provide such transportation. If the amount that would otherwise have been paid to such an air carrier is less than the cost of transportation on the applicable foreign air carrier, the Federal personnel shall pay the difference of such amount.(3)

Definition

In this subsection:(A)

Domesticated animal

The term domesticated animal means a dog or a cat, or any other animal the Secretary deems appropriate for reimbursement under this section.(B)

Federal personnel

The term Federal personnel means any officer or employee of the United States Government, including any member of the uniformed services (as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 5), the Foreign Service, and any Peace Corp volunteer.(C)

Peace corps volunteer

The term Peace Corps volunteer means an individual described in section 5(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(a))..