Better Foreign Policy Through Better Pet Policy Act

Bill: 118-hr-3384
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3]
Introduced: 2023-05-16
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Appropriations

Aviation and airports

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Latest action: action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Better Foreign Policy Through Better Pet Policy Act</strong></p><p>This bill authorizes the federal government to pay a foreign air carrier to transport a pet accompanying a federal employee's international travel in certain situations. </p><p>Under current law, the official air transportation of federal employees, their dependents, and their property must be purchased from a U.S. flag air carrier (or authorized affiliate), subject to limited exceptions.</p><p>Under this bill, if no U.S. flag air carrier is willing or able to a transport a pet accompanying a federal employee's international travel, the federal government may pay a foreign air carrier to provide for the transportation of the traveling employee, their accompanying dependents and property,&nbsp;and up to three pets. The bill caps such payments at the amount that would have been paid to a U.S. flag air carrier for the same travel and specifies that the federal employee must pay any difference.&nbsp;</p><p>Dogs and cats are covered under this bill, with other animals subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation.</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3384 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2023 Mr. Phillips (for himself, Mr. Green of Tennessee , Ms. Titus , Ms. Salazar , Ms. Sánchez , Ms. Norton , and Mr. Castro of Texas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to permit the use of Federal funds to pay for travel costs of Federal personnel and their pets, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Better Foreign Policy Through Better Pet Policy Act . 2. Fly America Act exception Section 40118 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (h) Certain transportation of domesticated animals (1) In general Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), an appropriation to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government may be used to pay for the transportation of Federal personnel, dependent of the Federal personnel, and in-cabin or accompanying checked baggage or cargo, by a foreign air carrier when— (A) the transportation is from a place— (i) outside the United States to a place in the United States; (ii) in the United States to a place outside the United States; or (iii) between two places outside the United States; and (B) no air carrier holding a certificate under section 41102 is willing and able to transport up to three domesticated animals accompanying such Federal personnel or dependent. (2) Limitation An amount paid pursuant to paragraph (1) for transportation by a foreign air carrier may not be greater than the amount that would otherwise have been paid had the transportation been on an air carrier holding a certificate under section 41102 had that carrier been willing and able to provide such transportation. If the amount that would otherwise have been paid to such an air carrier is less than the cost of transportation on the applicable foreign air carrier, the Federal personnel shall pay the difference of such amount. (3) Definition In this subsection: (A) Domesticated animal The term domesticated animal means a dog or a cat, or any other animal the Secretary deems appropriate for reimbursement under this section. (B) Federal personnel The term Federal personnel means any officer or employee of the United States Government, including any member of the uniformed services (as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 5), the Foreign Service, and any Peace Corp volunteer. (C) Peace corps volunteer The term Peace Corps volunteer means an individual described in section 5(a) of the Peace Corps Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2504(a) ). .