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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3637 Introduced in House (IH)]

104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3637

   To amend chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, and title 31, 
 United States Code, to provide employees who transfer in the interest 
 of the Government more effective and efficient delivery of relocation 
allowances by reducing administrative costs and improving services, and 
                          for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 1996

   Mr. Horn (for himself and Mr. Fox of Pennsylvania) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
                          Reform and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To amend chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, and title 31, 
 United States Code, to provide employees who transfer in the interest 
 of the Government more effective and efficient delivery of relocation 
allowances by reducing administrative costs and improving services, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Travel Reform and Savings Act of 
1996''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
                      TITLE I--RELOCATION BENEFITS

Sec. 101. Modification of allowance for seeking permanent residence 
                            quarters.
Sec. 102. Modification of temporary quarters subsistence expenses 
                            allowance.
Sec. 103. Modification of residence transaction expenses allowance.
Sec. 104. Authority to pay for property management services.
Sec. 105. Authority to provide employment assistance services to the 
                            spouse of a transferring employee.
Sec. 106. Authority to transport a privately owned motor vehicle within 
                            the continental United States.
Sec. 107. Authority to pay limited relocation allowances to an employee 
                            who is performing an extended assignment.
Sec. 108. Authority to pay a home marketing incentive.
Sec. 109. Conforming amendments.
                   TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Repeal of the long-distance telephone call certification 
                            requirement.
Sec. 202. Transfer of authority to issue regulations.

                      TITLE I--RELOCATION BENEFITS

SEC. 101. MODIFICATION OF ALLOWANCE FOR SEEKING PERMANENT RESIDENCE 
              QUARTERS.

    Section 5724a of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 5724a. Relocation expenses of employees transferred or 
              reemployed
    ``(a) An agency shall pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government, a per diem allowance or 
the actual subsistence expenses, or a combination thereof, of the 
immediate family of the employee for en route travel of the immediate 
family between the employee's old and new official stations.
    ``(b)(1) An agency may pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government between official stations 
located within the United States--
            ``(A) the expenses of transportation, and either a per diem 
        allowance or the actual subsistence expenses, or a combination 
        thereof, of the employee and the employee's spouse for travel 
        to seek permanent residence quarters at a new official station; 
        or
            ``(B) the expenses of transportation, and an amount for 
        subsistence expenses in lieu of a per diem allowance or the 
        actual subsistence expenses or a combination thereof, 
        authorized in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
    ``(2) Expenses authorized under this subsection may be allowed only 
for one round trip in connection with each change of station of the 
employee.''.

SEC. 102. MODIFICATION OF TEMPORARY QUARTERS SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES 
              ALLOWANCE.

    Section 5724a of title 5, United States Code, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c)(1) An agency may pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government--
            ``(A) actual subsistence expenses of the employee and the 
        employee's immediate family for a period of 60 days while 
        occupying temporary quarters when the new official station is 
        located within the United States as defined in subsection (d) 
        of this section; or
            ``(B) an amount for subsistence expenses instead of the 
        actual subsistence expenses authorized in subparagraph (A) of 
        this paragraph.
    ``(2) The period authorized in paragraph (1) of this subsection for 
payment of expenses for residence in temporary quarters may be extended 
up to an additional 60 days if the head of the agency concerned or his 
or her designee determines that there are compelling reasons for the 
continued occupancy of temporary quarters.
    ``(3) The regulations implementing paragraph (1)(A) shall prescribe 
daily rates and amounts for subsistence expenses per individual.''.

SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF RESIDENCE TRANSACTION EXPENSES ALLOWANCE.

    (a) Expenses of Sale.--Section 5724a of title 5, United States 
Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d)(1) If an employee of an agency transfers in the interest of 
the Government between official stations that are both located within 
the United States, the agency shall pay to or on behalf of the 
employee--
            ``(A) expenses of the sale of the residence (or the 
        settlement of an unexpired lease) of the employee at the old 
        official station; and
            ``(B) expenses of purchase of a home at the new official 
        station that are required to be paid by the employee.
    ``(2) If an employee of an agency transfers in the interest of the 
Government from a post of duty located outside the United States to an 
official station within the United States (other than the official 
station within the United States from which the employee was 
transferred when assigned to the foreign tour of duty), the agency 
shall pay to or on behalf of the employee--
            ``(A) expenses required to be paid by the employee for the 
        sale of the residence (or the settlement of an unexpired lease) 
        of the employee at the old official station from which the 
        employee was transferred when he or she was assigned to the 
        post of duty located outside the United States; and
            ``(B) expenses required to be paid by the employee for the 
        purchase of a residence at the new official station within the 
        United States.
    ``(d)(1) An agency shall pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government, expenses of the sale of 
the residence (or the settlement of an unexpired lease) of the employee 
at the old official station and purchase of a home at the new official 
station that are required to be paid by the employee, when the old and 
new official stations are located within the United States.
    ``(2) An agency shall pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government from a post of duty located 
outside the United States to an official station within the United 
States (other than the official station within the United States from 
which the employee was transferred when assigned to the foreign tour of 
duty)--
            ``(A) expenses required to be paid by the employee for the 
        sale of the residence (or the settlement of an unexpired lease) 
        of the employee at the old official station from which the 
        employee was transferred when he or she was assigned to the 
        post of duty located outside the United States; and
            ``(B) expenses required to be paid by the employee for the 
        purchase of a residence at the new official station within the 
        United States.
    ``(3) Reimbursement of expenses under paragraph (2) of this 
subsection shall not be allowed for any sale (or settlement of an 
unexpired lease) or purchase transaction that occurs prior to official 
notification that the employee's return to the United States would be 
to an official station other than the official station from which the 
employee was transferred when assigned to the post of duty outside the 
United States.
    ``(4) Reimbursement for brokerage fees on the sale of the residence 
and other expenses under this subsection may not exceed those 
customarily charged in the locality where the residence is located.
    ``(5) Reimbursement may not be made under this subsection for 
losses incurred by the employee on the sale of the residence.
    ``(6) This subsection applies regardless of whether title to the 
residence or the unexpired lease is in the name of the employee alone, 
in the joint names of the employee and a member of the employee's 
immediate family, or in the name of a member of the employee's 
immediate family alone.
    ``(7)(A) In connection with the sale of the residence at the old 
official station, reimbursement under this subsection shall not exceed 
10 percent of the sale price.
    ``(B) In connection with the purchase of a residence at the new 
official station, reimbursement under this subsection shall not exceed 
5 percent of the purchase price.
    ``(8) For purposes of this subsection, the term `United States' 
means the several States of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, the territories and possessions of the United States, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and the areas and installations in the Republic of Panama made 
available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 
1977 and related agreements (as described in section 3(a) of the Panama 
Canal Act of 1979).''.
    (b) Relocation Services.--Section 5724c of title 5, United State 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5724c. Relocation services
    ``Under regulations prescribed under section 5737, each agency may 
enter into contracts to provide relocation services to agencies and 
employees for the purpose of carrying out this subchapter. An agency 
may pay a fee for such services. Such services include, but need not be 
limited to, arranging for the purchase of a transferred employee's 
residence.''.

SEC. 104. AUTHORITY TO PAY FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

    Section 5724a of title 5, United States Code, is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (d) (as added by section 103), by 
        redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9), and by inserting 
after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:
    ``(8) An agency may pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government, expenses of property 
management services, instead of expenses under paragraph (2) or (3) of 
this subsection, for sale of the employee's residence.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) An agency may pay to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government, the expenses of property 
management services when the employee transfers to a post of duty 
outside the United States as defined in subsection (d) of this section. 
Such payment shall terminate upon return of the employee to an official 
station within the United States as defined in subsection (d) of this 
section.''.

SEC. 105. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO THE 
              SPOUSE OF A TRANSFERRING EMPLOYEE.

    Section 5724a of title 5, United States Code, as amended by section 
104, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(f) An agency may pay, to or on behalf of an employee who 
transfers in the interest of the Government, the expenses of employment 
assistance services for the employee's spouse.''.

SEC. 106. AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT A PRIVATELY OWNED MOTOR VEHICLE WITHIN 
              THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 5727 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(c) Under regulations prescribed under section 5737, the 
privately owned motor vehicle or vehicles of an employee, including a 
new appointee or a student trainee for whom travel and transportation 
expenses are authorized under section 5723, may be transported at 
Government expense to a new official station of the employee when the 
agency determines that it is advantageous and cost effective to the 
Government.''; and
            (3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``subsection (b) of this section'' and by inserting 
        ``subsection (b) or (c) of this section''.
    (b) Availability of Appropriations.--
            (1) New appointees.--Section 5722(a) of title 5, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (2) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the expenses of transporting a privately owned motor 
        vehicle to the extent authorized under section 5727.''.
            (2) New appointees and student trainees.--Section 5723(a) 
        of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (B) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the 
                end of paragraph (2); and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the expenses of transporting a privately owned motor 
        vehicle to the extent authorized under section 5727(c);''.

SEC. 107. AUTHORITY TO PAY LIMITED RELOCATION ALLOWANCES TO AN EMPLOYEE 
              WHO IS PERFORMING AN EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5736. Relocation expenses of an employee who is performing an 
              extended assignment
    ``(a) Under regulations prescribed under section 5737, an agency 
may pay to or on behalf of an employee assigned from his or her 
official station to a duty station for an extended period of time, the 
following expenses in lieu of payment of expenses authorized under 
subchapter I of this chapter:
            ``(1) Travel expenses to and from the assignment location 
        in accordance with section 5724.
            ``(2) Transportation expenses of the immediate family and 
        household goods and personal effects to and from the assignment 
        location in accordance with section 5724.
            ``(3) A per diem allowance for the employee's immediate 
        family to and from the assignment location in accordance with 
        section 5724a(a).
            ``(4) Travel and transportation expenses of the employee 
        and spouse to seek residence quarters at the assignment 
        location in accordance with section 5724a(b).
            ``(5) Subsistence expenses of the employee and the 
        employee's immediate family while occupying temporary quarters 
        upon commencement and termination of the assignment in 
        accordance with section 5724a(c).
            ``(6) An amount, in accordance with section 5724a(g), to be 
        used by the employee for miscellaneous expenses related to 
        change of station where movement or storage of household goods 
        is involved.
            ``(7) The expenses of transporting a privately owned motor 
        vehicle or vehicles to the assignment location in accordance 
        with section 5727.
            ``(8) An allowance as authorized under section 5724b of 
        this title for Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred 
        on reimbursement of expenses paid under this section or on 
        services provided in kind under this section.
            ``(9) Expenses of nontemporary storage of household goods 
        and personal effects as defined in section 5726(a). The weight 
        of the household goods and personal effects stored under this 
        subsection, together with the weight of property transported 
        under section 5724(a), may not exceed the total maximum weight 
        which could be transported in accordance with section 5724(a).
            ``(10) Expenses of property management services.
    ``(b) An agency shall not make payment under this section to or on 
behalf of the employee for expenses incurred after termination of the 
temporary assignment.
    ``(c) When an employee is paid travel and transportation expenses 
under this section, the duty station shall be considered the employee's 
official station.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 5735 the following new item:

``5736. Relocation expenses of an employee who is performing an 
                            extended assignment.''.

SEC. 108. AUTHORITY TO PAY A HOME MARKETING INCENTIVE.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5756. Home marketing incentive payment
    ``(a) Under such regulations as the Administrator of General 
Services may prescribe, an agency may pay to an employee who transfers 
in the interest of the Government an amount, not to exceed a maximum 
payment amount established by the Administrator in consultation with 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to encourage the 
employee to aggressively market his or her residence at the old 
official station when--
            ``(1) the residence is entered into a program established 
        under a contract in accordance with section 5724c of this 
        chapter, to arrange for the purchase of the residence;
            ``(2) the employee finds a buyer who completes the purchase 
        of the residence through the program; and
            ``(3) the sale of the residence to the individual results 
        in a reduced cost to the Government.
    ``(b) For fiscal years 1997 and 1998, the Administrator shall 
establish a maximum payment amount of 5 percent of the sales price of 
the home.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the 
following:

``5756. Home marketing incentive payment.''.

SEC. 109. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Section 5724a of title 5, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(g) An employee who is reimbursed under subsections (a) through 
(f) of this section or section 5724(a) of this title is entitled to an 
amount for miscellaneous expenses--
            ``(1) not to exceed 2 weeks' basic pay, if he or she has an 
        immediate family; or
            ``(2) not to exceed 1 week's basic pay, if he or she does 
        not have an immediate family.
However, the amounts may not exceed amounts determined from the maximum 
rate for GS-13.
    ``(h) A former employee separated by reason of reduction in force 
or transfer of function who within 1 year after the separation is 
reemployed by a nontemporary appointment at a different geographical 
location from that where the separation occurred may be allowed and 
paid the expenses authorized by sections 5724, 5725, 5726(b), and 5727 
of this title, and may receive the benefits authorized by subsections 
(a) through (g) of this section, in the same manner as though he or she 
had been transferred in the interest of the Government without a break 
in service to the location of reemployment from the location where 
separated.
    ``(i) Payments for subsistence expenses, including amounts in lieu 
of per diem or actual subsistence expenses or a combination thereof, 
authorized under this section shall not exceed the maximum payment 
allowed under regulations which implement section 5702 of this title.
    ``(j) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall be implemented under 
regulations issued under section 5737.''.
    (b) Section 3375 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``section 5724a(a)(1) 
        of this title'' and inserting ``section 5724a(a) of this 
        title'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``section 5724a(a)(3) 
        of this title'' and inserting ``section 5724a(c) of this 
        title''; and
            (3) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``section 5724a(b) of 
        this title'' and inserting ``section 5724a(g) of this title''.
    (c) Section 5724(e) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``section 5724a(a), (b) of this title'' and inserting 
``section 5724a(a) through (g) of this title''.
    (d) Section 707 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``Section 
        5724a(a)(3)'' and inserting ``Section 5724a(c)''; and
            (2) in subsection (a)(7), by striking ``Section 
        5724a(a)(4)'' and inserting ``section 5724a(d)''.
    (e) Section 501 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (g)(2)(A), by striking ``5724a(a)(1)'' 
        and inserting ``5724a(a)''; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(2)(A), by striking ``5724a(a)(3)'' 
        and inserting ``5724a(c)''.
    (f) Section 925 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299c-4) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by striking ``5724a(a)(1)'' 
        and inserting ``5724a(a)''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by striking ``5724a(a)(3)'' 
        and inserting ``5724a(c)''.

SEC. 110. GENERAL DEFINITION OF UNITED STATES.

    Section 5721 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``and'' after the semicolon at the end of paragraph (4), by striking 
the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ``; and'', and by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) except for purposes of subsections (c), (d), and (e) 
        of section 5724a of this title, `United States' means the 
        several States and the District of Columbia.''.

                   TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. REPEAL OF THE LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALL CERTIFICATION 
              REQUIREMENT.

    Section 1348 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the last sentence of subsection (a)(2);
            (2) by striking subsection (b); and
            (3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (b) and (c), respectively.

SEC. 202. AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE USE OF THE TRAVEL CHARGE CARD.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of General Services may require 
that Federal employees use the travel charge card established pursuant 
to the United States Travel and Transportation Payment and Expense 
Control System or any Federal contractor-issued travel charge card 
issued for all payments of expenses of official Government travel. The 
Administrator may exempt payments from any requirement established 
under the preceding sentence in any case in which--
            (1) it is in the best interest of the United States to do 
        so; or
            (2) payment through a travel charge card is impractical or 
        imposes unreasonable burdens or costs on Federal employees or 
        their agencies.
    (b) Limitation on Restriction on Disclosure.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1113 of the Right to Financial 
        Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3413) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following new subsection:
    ``(q) Nothing in this title shall apply to the disclosure of any 
financial record or information to a Government authority in 
conjunction with a Federal contractor-issued travel charge card issued 
for official Government travel.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) is 
        effective as of October 1, 1983, and applies to any records 
        created pursuant to the United States Travel and Transportation 
        Payment and Expense Control System or any Federal contractor-
        issued travel charge issued for official Government travel.

SEC. 203. PREPAYMENT AUDITS OF TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES.

    (a) In General.--(1) Section 3322 of title 31, United States Code, 
is amended in subsection (c) by inserting after ``classifications'' the 
following: ``if the Administrator of General Services has determined 
that verification by prepayment audit conducted pursuant to section 
3726(c) of this title will not adequately protect the interests of the 
Government''.
    (2) Section 3528 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (A) in subsection (a)(3) by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end, in subsection (a)(4)(C) by striking the 
        period at the end and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the 
end of subsection (a) the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) verifying transportation rates, freight 
        classifications, and other information provided on a Government 
        bill of lading or transportation request, unless the 
        Administrator of General Services has determined that 
        verification by a prepayment audit conducted pursuant to 
        section 3726(a) of this title will not adequately protect the 
        interests of the Government.'';
            (B) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting after ``deductions'' 
        the following: ``and the Administrator of General Services has 
        determined that verification by a prepayment audit conducted 
        pursuant to section 3726(a) of this title will not adequately 
        protect the interests of the Government''; and
            (C) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting after ``agreement'' 
        the following: ``and the Administrator of General Services has 
        determined that verification by prepayment audit will not 
        adequately protect the interests of the Government''.
    (3) Section 3726 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (A) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Each agency which receives a bill from a carrier or freight 
forwarder for transporting an individual or property for the United 
States Government shall verify its correctness (to include 
transportation rates, freight classifications, or proper combinations 
thereof), using prepayment audit or other means suitable to the 
circumstances, prior to payment in accordance with the requirements of 
this section and regulations prescribed by the Administrator of General 
Services. The Administrator of General Services may exempt bills from 
an audit or review, and determine that bills are exempt from a 
prepayment audit or verification based on cost-effectiveness, public 
interest, or other factors the Administrator deems appropriate. 
Expenses for prepayment audits shall be funded by the agency's 
appropriations used for the transportation services. The audit 
authority provided to agencies by this section is subject to oversight 
by the Administrator.'';
            (B) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), 
        and (g) in order as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and 
        (i), respectively;
            (C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(b) The Administrator may conduct pre- or postpayment audits of 
transportation bills from any Federal agency. The number and types of 
bills audited shall be based on the Administrator's judgment.
    ``(c) The Administrator shall adjudicate transportation claims 
which cannot be resolved by the agency procuring the transportation 
services, or the carrier or freight-forwarder presenting the bill. A 
claim under this section shall be allowed only if it is received by the 
Administrator not later than 3 years (excluding time of war) after the 
later of the following dates:
            ``(1) The date of accrual of the claim.
            ``(2) The date payment for the transportation is made.
            ``(3) The date a refund for an overpayment for the 
        transportation is made.
            ``(4) The date a deduction under subsection (d) of this 
        section is made.'';
            (D) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``subsection (c)'' and inserting ``subsection (e)'', and by 
        adding at the end the following new sentence: ``This reporting 
        requirement expires December 31, 1998.''; and
            (E) in subsection (i)(1), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
become effective 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 204. REIMBURSEMENT FOR TAXES ON MONEY RECEIVED FOR TRAVEL 
              EXPENSES.

    (a) In General.--Title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 5706b the following new section:
``Sec. 5706c. Reimbursement for taxes incurred on money received for 
              travel expenses
    ``(a) Under regulations prescribed pursuant to section 5707 of this 
title, the head of an agency or department, or his or her designee, may 
use appropriations or other funds available to an agency for 
administrative expenses, for the reimbursement of Federal, State, and 
local income taxes incurred by an employee or by an employee and such 
employee's spouse (if filing jointly), for any travel transportation 
reimbursement made to an employee for which reimbursement or an 
allowance is provided.
    ``(b) Reimbursements as used under this subsection shall also 
include an amount equal to all income taxes for which the employee and 
spouse, as the case may be, would be liable due to the reimbursement 
for the taxes referred to in the first sentence of this subsection. In 
addition, reimbursements as used under this subsection shall 
also include penalties and interest, for the tax years 1993 and 1994 
only, as a result of agencies failing to withhold the appropriate 
amounts for tax liabilities of employees affected by the change in the 
deductibility of travel expenses made by Public Law 102-486.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5706b the following new item:

``5706c. Reimbursement for taxes incurred on money received for travel 
                            expenses.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section shall be effective as of January 
1, 1993.

SEC. 205. TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REGULATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
``Sec. 5737. Regulations
    ``(a) Except as specifically provided in this subchapter, the 
Administrator of General Services shall prescribe regulations necessary 
for the administration of this subchapter.
    ``(b) The Administrator of General Services shall prescribe 
regulations necessary for the implementation of section 5724b of this 
subchapter in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury.
    ``(c) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations 
necessary for the implementation of section 5735 of this subchapter.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code, is further amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 5736 the following new item:

``5737. Regulations.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 5722 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``Under such regulations as the 
President may prescribe'', and inserting ``Under regulations prescribed 
under section 5737 of this title''.
    (2) Section 5723 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``Under such regulations as the President may prescribe'', and 
inserting ``Under regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this 
title''.
    (3) Section 5724 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (A) in subsections (a) through (c), by striking ``Under 
        such regulations as the President may prescribe'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``Under regulations prescribed under 
        section 5737 of this title'';
            (B) in subsections (c) and (e), by striking ``under 
        regulations prescribed by the President'' and inserting ``under 
        regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this title''; and
            (C) in subsection (f), by striking ``under the regulations 
        of the President'' and inserting ``under regulations prescribed 
        under section 5737 of this title''.
    (4) Section 5724b of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``Under such regulations as the President may prescribe'' and 
inserting ``Under regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this 
title''.
    (5) Section 5726 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``as the President may 
        by regulation authorize'' and inserting ``as authorized under 
        regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this title''; and
            (B) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ``Under such 
        regulations as the President may prescribe'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``under regulations prescribed under 
        section 5737 of this title''.
    (6) Section 5727(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``Under such regulations as the President may prescribe'' and 
inserting ``Under regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this 
title''.
    (7) Section 5728 of title 5, United States Code, is amended in 
subsections (a), (b), and (c)(1), by striking ``Under such regulations 
as the President may prescribe'' each place it appears and inserting 
``Under regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this title''.
    (8) Section 5729 of title 5, United States Code, is amended in 
subsections (a) and (b), by striking ``Under such regulations as the 
President may prescribe'' each place it appears and inserting ``Under 
regulations prescribed under section 5737 of this title''.
    (9) Section 5731 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President'' 
and inserting ``in accordance with regulations prescribed pursuant to 
section 5737 of this title''.

SEC. 206. EFFECTIVE DATE; ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS.

    (a) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Regulations.--The Administrator of General Services shall issue 
regulations implementing the amendments made by this Act by not later 
than the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (a).
                                 <all>
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