228 
(2) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘the member’’; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned shall give the dependents 
of a member described in paragraph (1) a period of not 
less than three years, beginning on the date of the death 
of the member, during which to select a home for the pur-
poses of the travel and transportation allowances authorized 
by this section.’’. 
(b) CERTAIN OTHER DECEASED MEMBERS.—Sub-
section (g)(3) of such section is amended in the first sen-
tence— 
(1) by striking ‘‘he exercises it’’ and inserting 
‘‘the member exercises the right or entitlement’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘his baggage and household ef-
fects’’ and inserting ‘‘the baggage and household ef-
fects of the deceased member’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘his surviving dependents or, if’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the surviving dependents at any time 
before the end of the three-year period beginning on 
the date on which the member accrued that right or 
benefit. If’’.
229 
SEC. 643. TRANSPORTATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS INCI-
DENT TO REPATRIATION OF MEMBERS HELD 
CAPTIVE. 
(a) ALLOWANCES AUTHORIZED.—Chapter 7 of title 37, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
411i the following new section: 
‘‘§ 411j. Travel and transportation allowances: trans-
portation of family members incident to 
repatriation of members held captive 
‘‘(a) ALLOWANCES AUTHORIZED.—(1) The Secretary 
concerned may provide the travel and transportation allow-
ances described in subsection (c) to not more than three 
family members of a member of the uniformed services 
who— 
‘‘(A) is serving on active duty; 
‘‘(B) was officially carried or determined to be 
absent in a missing status (as defined in section 551 
of this title); and 
‘‘(C) is repatriated to a site in or outside the 
United States. 
‘‘(2) In circumstances determined to be appropriate by 
the Secretary concerned, the Secretary may waive the limi-
tation on the number of family members of a member pro-
vided travel and transportation allowances under this sec-
tion.
230 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.—(1) In this section, the term 
‘family member’ has the meaning given that term in section 
411h(b) of this title. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned may also provide the 
travel and transportation allowances to an attendant who 
accompanies a family member if the Secretary determines 
that— 
‘‘(A) the family member is unable to travel unat-
tended because of age, physical condition, or other jus-
tifiable reason; and 
‘‘(B) no other family member who is receiving 
the allowances under this section is able to serve as 
an attendant for the family member. 
‘‘(3) If no family member is able to travel to the repa-
triation site, the Secretary concerned may provide the trav-
el and transportation allowances to not more than two per-
sons who are related to the member (but who do not satisfy 
the definition of family member) and are selected by the 
member. 
‘‘(c) ALLOWANCES DESCRIBED.—(1) The transpor-
tation authorized by subsection (a) is round-trip transpor-
tation between— 
‘‘(A) the home of the family member (or the home 
of an attendant or other person provided transpor-
231 
tation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection 
(b)); and 
‘‘(B) the location of the repatriation site or other 
location determined to be appropriate by the Sec-
retary concerned. 
‘‘(2) In addition to the transportation authorized by 
subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may provide a per 
diem allowance or reimbursement for the actual and nec-
essary expenses of the travel, or a combination thereof, but 
not to exceed the rates established under section 404(d) of 
this title. 
‘‘(d) PROVISION OF ALLOWANCES.—(1) The transpor-
tation authorized by subsection (a) may be provided by any 
of the following means: 
‘‘(A) Transportation in-kind. 
‘‘(B) A monetary allowance in place of transpor-
tation in-kind at a rate to be prescribed by the Secre-
taries concerned. 
‘‘(C) Reimbursement for the commercial cost of 
transportation. 
‘‘(2) An allowance payable under this subsection may 
be paid in advance. 
‘‘(3) Reimbursement payable under this subsection 
may not exceed the cost of government-procured commercial 
round-trip air travel.
232 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretaries concerned shall 
prescribe uniform regulations to carry out this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 411i the following 
new item: 
‘‘411j. Travel and transportation allowances: transportation of family members 
incident to repatriation of members held captive.’’. 
SEC. 644. INCREASED WEIGHT ALLOWANCES FOR SHIP-
MENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF SENIOR 
NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 
(a) INCREASE.—The table in section 406(b)(1)(C) of 
title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
items relating to pay grades E–7 through E–9 and insert-
ing the following new items: 
‘‘E–9 .......................................................................................
13,000 
15,000
E–8 .........................................................................................
12,000 
14,000
E–7 .........................................................................................
11,000 
13,000’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2006, and apply 
with respect to an order in connection with a change of 
temporary or permanent station issued on or after that 
date.