Provides a per diem allowance for Members of Congress for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses when traveling to vote, under certain conditions.
Mike Rogers
Representative
AL-3
This bill allows members of Congress to receive a per diem allowance to cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses when traveling to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area to vote. This allowance is not available to members whose residence is in the Washington Metropolitan Area or whose expenses are already covered. To receive the lodging allowance, members must vote in person on each vote held that day, and the allowance amount will be based on GSA rates.
Congress Eyes Daily Allowance for DC Voting Trips, Funded by Taxpayers
This bill proposes a new rule: members of Congress could get a daily allowance, known as a per diem, to cover hotel stays, meals, and other small costs when they travel to the Washington D.C. area specifically to cast votes. The core idea is to reimburse lawmakers for expenses incurred because they had to travel to be present for votes.
The Nuts and Bolts: How It Works
Here's the breakdown: if a Representative or Senator's official residence isn't within the 'Washington Metropolitan Area' (as defined in the bill) and they travel there primarily to vote, they could claim this allowance. However, there's a key condition for getting reimbursed for lodging: the member must actually show up and vote in person on every vote held that day. If they're already getting reimbursed for these costs through other means, they can't double-dip.
The exact dollar amount wouldn't be pulled out of thin air; it would be set according to the standard rates determined by the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal property and travel costs. The bill also tasks the relevant House and Senate committees with creating rules to make sure this allowance isn't treated as taxable income for the members receiving it.
Who Pays, Who Benefits, and What's the Catch?
Let's be direct: taxpayers would fund this per diem. The intended beneficiaries are members of Congress who live far from the Capitol and face significant travel and lodging costs just to participate in votes. Think of a representative from the West Coast compared to one from Maryland – the travel burden is vastly different.
The main requirement—voting in person—seems designed to ensure the allowance is tied directly to legislative duties. It might encourage members to be physically present for votes. However, it also adds a new expense line to the federal budget. While the bill aims to cover necessary costs, questions might arise about the overall cost and whether existing resources are sufficient. This change, if enacted, would kick in starting with the 119th Congress.