[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 164 (Monday, October 31, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S6923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, 
        Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Pryor, Ms. Snowe 
        and Mr. Tester):
  S. 1768. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize 
space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve 
components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is 
eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired 
members, and dependents; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce an amended 
version of S. 542, the National Guard, Reserve, ``Gray Area'' Retiree, 
and Surviving Spouse Space-available Travel Equity Act.
  The original legislation, S. 542, has been modified slightly. The 
modification will ensure the Department of Defense retains the 
authority to issue regulations to implement the bill.
  The underlying intent of the legislation has not changed. The bill 
will provide reserve component members and retired reserve component 
members the ability to travel overseas and travel with their dependents 
when there is space-available on a military aircraft. Additionally, the 
bill will ensure surviving spouses of retired members or members killed 
in the line of duty to retain space-available travel privileges after 
the death of their loved one.
  Members and retirees of the National Guard and Reserve, their 
families, and surviving military spouses make great sacrifices for our 
Nation. However, too often these individuals do not receive the 
benefits they have earned for their service.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in giving parity to our reserve 
component members, reserve component retirees and surviving military 
spouses. The no-cost legislation is endorsed by the National Guard 
Association of the United States.
  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. 1768

       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 ``National Guard, Reserve, 
     `Gray Area' Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available 
     Travel Equity Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE MEMBERS, GRAY-AREA RETIREES, 
                   WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS OF RETIRED MEMBERS, AND 
                   DEPENDENTS FOR SPACE-AVAILABLE TRAVEL ON 
                   MILITARY AIRCRAFT.

       (a) Eligibility.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 157 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 2641b the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2641c. Space-available travel on Department of Defense 
       aircraft: reserve members, reserve members eligible for 
       retired pay but for age; widows and widowers of retired 
       members; and dependents

       ``(a) Reserve Members.--A member of a reserve component 
     holding a valid Uniformed Services Identification and 
     Privilege Card shall be provided transportation on Department 
     of Defense aircraft, on a space-available basis.
       ``(b) Reserve Retirees Under Applicable Eligibility Age.--A 
     member or former member of a reserve component who, but for 
     being under the eligibility age applicable to the member 
     under section 12731 of this title, otherwise would be 
     eligible for retired pay under chapter 1223 of this title 
     shall be provided transportation on Department of Defense 
     aircraft, on a space-available basis.
       ``(c) Widows and Widowers of Retired Members.--
       ``(1) In general.--An unremarried widow or widower of a 
     member of the armed forces described in paragraph (2) shall 
     be provided transportation on Department of Defense aircraft, 
     on a space-available basis.
       ``(2) Members covered.--A member of the armed forces 
     referred to in paragraph (1) is a member who--
       ``(A) is entitled to retired pay;
       ``(B) is described in subsection (b);
       ``(C) dies in the line of duty while on active duty and is 
     not eligible for retired pay; or
       ``(D) in the case of a member of a reserve component, dies 
     as a result of a line of duty condition and is not eligible 
     for retired pay.
       ``(d) Dependents.--A dependent of a member or former member 
     described in subsection (a) or (b) or of an unremarried widow 
     or widower described in subsection (c) holding a valid 
     Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card shall be 
     provided transportation on Department of Defense aircraft, on 
     a space-available basis, if the dependent is accompanying the 
     member.
       ``(e) Scope.--Space-available travel required by this 
     section includes travel to and from locations within and 
     outside the continental United States.
       ``(f) Definition of Dependent.--In this section, the term 
     `dependent' has the meaning given that term in section 1072 
     of this title.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 2641b the following new item:

``2641c. Space-available travel on Department of Defense aircraft: 
              reserve members, reserve members eligible for retired pay 
              but for age; widows and widowers of retired members; and 
              dependents.''.

       (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe 
     regulations to implement section 2641c of title 10, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a).

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