1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2013”.
Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training.
2. Travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training
Allowances required—
In general— Chapter 8 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 478a the following new section:
“478b. Travel and transportation allowances: long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training performed by members of the reserve components of the armed forces
“(a) Allowance required—The Secretary concerned shall reimburse a member of a reserve component of the armed forces for transportation expenses, including mileage traveled, incurred in connection with the following:
“(1) Round-trip travel in excess of 100 miles to an inactive duty training location, regardless of the method of transportation.
“(2) Round-trip travel of any distance to an inactive duty training location, if such travel requires a commercial method of transportation other than ground transportation.
“(b) Rates of reimbursement
“(1) Mileage—In determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid for mileage traveled under subsection (a)(1), 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) Commercial fare for travel by common carrier—The amount of reimbursement to be paid under subsection (a)(2) for travel covered by that subsection shall be the reasonable commercial fare expense for such travel by common carrier.
“(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.
“(d) Expiration—No reimbursement may be provided under this section for travel that begins after the travel authorities transition expiration date.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 8 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 478a the following new item:
Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (a) 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.