Coach-Only Airfare for Capitol Hill Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-230
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2021-01-06
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations

Aviation and airports

Congressional officers and employees

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Members of Congress

Transportation costs

Travel and tourism
Latest action: action_date: 2021-01-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Coach-Only Airfare for Capitol Hill Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill prohibits funds made available for the official travel of a Member of Congress or other officer or employee of the legislative branch from being used for airline accommodations that are not coach-class accommodations.</p> <p>This prohibition is inapplicable for an individual if the use would be permitted for an employee of an agency subject to specified federal regulations for temporary duty travel allowances.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 230 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 6, 2021 Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To prohibit the use of funds provided for the official travel expenses of Members of Congress and other officers and employees of the legislative branch for airline accommodations which are not coach-class accommodations, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coach-Only Airfare for Capitol Hill Act of 2021 . 2. Prohibiting use of funds for official travel expenses of Members of Congress and legislative branch employees for airline accommodations other than coach-class (a) Prohibition Except as provided in subsection (b), no funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the official travel expenses of a Member of Congress or other officer or employee of any office in the legislative branch may be used for airline accommodations which are not coach-class accommodations. (b) Exceptions Funds described in subsection (a) may be used for airline accommodations which are not coach-class accommodations for an individual described in subsection (a) if the use of the funds for such accommodations would be permitted under sections 301–10.121 through 301–10.125 of title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations if the individual were an employee of an agency which is subject to chapter 301 of such title. (c) Rule of Construction Nothing in this Act may be construed to affect any officer or employee of an office of the legislative branch which, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is subject to chapter 301 of title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (d) Definitions (1) Coach-class accommodations In this Act, the term coach-class accommodations means the basic class of accommodation by airlines that is normally the lowest fare offered regardless of airline terminology used, and (as referred to by airlines) may include tourist class or economy class, as well as single class when the airline offers only one class of accommodations to all travelers. (2) Member of Congress In this Act, the term Member of Congress means a Senator or a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. 3. Effective date This Act shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year.