---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 715"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "715"
heading: "Congressional testimony by employees: treatment as official duty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/715"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 7 — Employees"
  - "Subchapter I — General Employee Matters"
---

# §715. Congressional testimony by employees: treatment as official duty

- (a) **Congressional Testimony.—** An employee of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) is performing official duty during the period with respect to which the employee is testifying in an official capacity in front of either chamber of Congress, a committee of either chamber of Congress, or a joint or select committee of Congress.
- (b) **Travel Expenses.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall provide travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of [chapter 57](/usc/5/chptIII/sptD/ch57.md) of title 5, to any employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs performing official duty described under [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 114–223, div. A, title II, § 247(b)(1), Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 890.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior sections 715 and 716 were renumbered sections 1915 and 1916 of this title, respectively.