The bill would let Members of Congress, including House delegates and the Resident Commissioner, receive per diem payments for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses when they travel between their designated residence and the Washington Metropolitan Area to vote. Members whose designated residence is in that area would not qualify. Lodging payments would require the member to vote in person on every vote held in their chamber that day. Meal and incidental payments could also cover qualifying travel days immediately before or after. Payments would use rates set under General Services Administration rules and could not cover expenses paid through other congressional allowances. The House and Senate committees would issue rules for administering the payments.
The bill concerns travel expenses for Members of Congress. It does not describe a direct change to services or benefits for the public.
The bill sets payment amounts using applicable General Services Administration per diem rates. It does not state a total cost. It directs the committees to follow existing rules, as far as practicable, that keep these payments from being treated as the member’s earned income for tax purposes.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.