[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1222-S1223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Murkowski, and Mrs. 
        Boxer):
  S. 472. A bill to increase the mileage reimbursement rate for members 
of the armed services during permanent change of station and to 
authorize the transportation of additional motor vehicles of members on 
change of permanent station to or from nonforeign areas outside the 
continental United States; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. BEGICH. Mr President, last week I had the privilege to travel to 
the Army's National Training Center to see the 1st Stryker Brigade 
Combat Team from Alaska train. I was amazed at what our soldiers do to 
prepare for the defense of our country.
  Despite their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in May, these Arctic 
Warriors were not thinking about themselves. They were thinking about 
their families. Over and over I heard how important their family's 
security and support system was to them, especially as they prepared to 
deploy.
  To help out our military families today I am pleased to introduce the 
Service Members Permanent Change of Station Relief Act with my 
cosponsors Senator Patty Murray, Senator Barbara Boxer, and Senator 
Lisa Murkowski. This bill will improve financial security for our 
military families by increasing reimbursement for out-of-pocket 
expenses they often incur during government directed moves.
  First, the bill will provide reimbursement to military families for 
costs incurred transporting a second car on a change of permanent duty 
station to or from Alaska, Hawaii or Guam. As with their counterparts 
in civilian life, many military families today own and rely on a second 
vehicle to work, take care of their children and meet day-to-day needs 
of the family. By doing this, we can save our military families $2,000 
in personal expenses they pay to transport a second car.

[[Page S1223]]

  Additionally, the bill increases the gas mileage reimbursement rate 
to $.51 per mile during a move to allow for compensation of all costs 
and depreciation resulting from use of a personal vehicle for a 
government move.
  Our military families make great personal sacrifices for our country. 
Providing the Arctic Warriors and other military members a little peace 
of mind about the financial security of their families is the least we 
can do. I ask my colleagues to cosponsor this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 472

       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 ``Service Members Permanent 
     Change of Station Relief Act''.

     SEC. 2. MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
                   UNIFORMED SERVICES FOR TRAVEL RELATED TO CHANGE 
                   OF PERMANENT STATION.

       Section 404(d)(1)(A) of title 37, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``monetary allowance'' and all that 
     follows through the period at the end and inserting the 
     following: ``monetary allowance in place of the cost of 
     transportation--
       ``(i) in the case of a member for whom travel has been 
     authorized in connection with a change of a change of 
     permanent station or for travel described in paragraph (2) or 
     (3) of subsection (a), at the business standard mileage rate 
     set by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to section 
     1.274.5(j)(2) of title 26, Code of Federal Regulations; and
       ``(ii) in the case of a member's dependent for whom such 
     travel has been authorized, at the rate provided in section 
     5704 of title 5.''.

     SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION OF ADDITIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE OF MEMBERS 
                   ON CHANGE OF PERMANENT STATION TO OR FROM 
                   NONFOREIGN AREAS OUTSIDE THE CONTINENTAL UNITED 
                   STATES.

       (a) Authority to Transport Additional Motor Vehicle.--
     Subsection (a) of section 2634 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking the sentence following paragraph (4);
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) as 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D), respectively;
       (3) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) One additional motor vehicle of a member (or a 
     dependent of the member) may be transported as provided in 
     paragraph (1) if--
       ``(A) the member is ordered to make a change of permanent 
     station to or from a nonforeign area outside the continental 
     United States and the member has at least one dependent of 
     driving age who will use the motor vehicle; or
       ``(B) the Secretary concerned determines that a replacement 
     for the motor vehicle transported under paragraph (1) is 
     necessary for reasons beyond the control of the member and is 
     in the interest of the United States and the Secretary 
     approves the transportation in advance.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Such subsection 
     is further amended--
       (1) by striking ``his dependents'' and inserting ``a 
     dependent of the member'';
       (2) by striking ``him'' and inserting ``the member'';
       (3) by striking ``his)'' and inserting ``the member)'';
       (4) by striking ``his new'' and inserting ``the member's 
     new''; and
       (5) in paragraph (1)(C), as redesignated by subsection 
     (a)--
       (A) by striking ``clauses (1) and (2)'' and inserting 
     ``subparagraphs (A) and (B)''; and
       (B) by inserting ``or'' after the semicolon.

     SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
     January 1, 2012, and apply with respect to a permanent change 
     of station order issued on or after that date to a member of 
     the uniformed services.
                                 ______