United States Department of Agriculture 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 

 

Directive MRP 2301.1 7/23/98 

MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTS 

TO THE AGRICULTURE TRAVEL REGULATIONS 

 

1. PURPOSE 

This Directive transmits the Marketing and Regulatory Program (MRP) Supplements to 

the Agriculture Travel Regulations (ATR's). These supplements provide policy on 

travel for all MRP agencies. 

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS 

This Directive replaces the following Agency-specific directives and instructions 

and all internal memorandums pertaining to travel: 

a. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS): 

(1) AMS Travel Regulations Handbook, dated 9/30/96. 

(2) AMS Directive 467.6, Mileage Allowance for Use of Privately Owned Vehicles, 

dated 7/19/90. 

(3) AMS Directive 462.1, Travel Charge Card Program, dated 6/10/94. 

b. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): 

APHIS Supplements to the Agriculture Travel Regulations, dated 10/3/94. 

c. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration: 

All internal memorandums pertaining to travel are superseded by the attached MRP 

supplements. 

 

3. AUTHORITIES 

This Directive supplements the following laws, rules, and regulations: 

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a. Federal Travel Regulations (FTR's) at 41 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 

Chapters 301, 302, 303, and 304. 

b. Agriculture Travel Regulations (ATR's). 

c. National Finance Center Procedural Manuals. 

d. Decisions of the Comptroller General and the General Services Administration 

Board of Contract Appeals. 

e. Titles III and IV of the United States General Accounting Office Civilian 

Personnel Law Manual. 

4. POLICY 

The intent of the MRP Travel Supplements is to clarify and provide advice and 

guidance to travelers and reviewing and approving officials, not to further 

restrict the laws and regulations of the FTR's and ATR's. The MRP consolidation of 

travel policies effort will assist in administering effective travel management for 

each MRP agency and ensure uniform entitlements for all MRP employees. 

These supplements are the primary source of MRP agencies' travel policies. The 

proper use of these slipsheets is to file the appropriate pages behind each 

comparable ATR Section. 

5. DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY 

The Secretary of Agriculture delegates authority to approve travel to MRP agency 

administrators. Through this effort, MRP agency administrators have redelegated 

signatory authority to approve all types of travel not prohibited by the ATR's. MRP 

delegations of authority to approve travel authorizations are contained in Chapter 

301-1, Exhibit 4. 

6. OVERSIGHT REVIEWS AND UPDATES 

Periodic oversight reviews will be conducted by agency travel coordinators to 

ensure that applicable laws and regulations are being followed in accordance with 

mission area policy, and to determine the need for additional training, policy, or 

guidance for travelers, reviewing and approving officials. 

Interim MRP policy changes and/or updates to the MRP Supplements will be issued in 

the form of MRP Notices and subsequently will be incorporated into the MRP 

Supplements. 

7. OPERATING GUIDELINES 

Operating guidelines for administering travel policies and travel entitlements are 

contained in the MRP Travel Supplements. The Supplements are written to assist 

travelers and approving officials in planning, conducting, and approving official 

Government travel. 

8. INQUIRIES 

General inquiries on procedural matters regarding official Government travel should 

be directed to the appropriate agency administrative office. Requests for policy 

interpretation for complex situations as well as all questions regarding travel 

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policies should be directed to the travel coordinator of the appropriate MRP 

agency. 

/s/ 

Chief Financial Officer 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs 

Attachments (for copies of the attachments, contact the AMS Travel Coordinator). 

 

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