H.R.274 — Modernizing Government Travel Act
May 16, 2017
Summary
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to prescribe regulations to provide for the reimbursement of federal employees traveling on official business for the use of a transportation network company (e.g., Uber or Lyft) or innovative mobility technology. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall prescribe such regulations with respect to judicial branch employees.
The bill revises GSA’s reporting requirements regarding official travel.
Bill summaries are authored by CRS.
One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and seventeen
An Act
To provide for reimbursement for the use of modern travel services by Federal employees traveling on official Government business, 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 “Modernizing Government Travel Act”.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE REIMBURSEMENT FOR USE OF MODERN TRAVEL SERVICES.
(a) In General. — Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall prescribe regulations under section 5707 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the reimbursement for the use of a transportation network company or innovative mobility technology company by any Federal employee traveling on official business under subchapter I of chapter 57 of such title, except that the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall prescribe such regulations with respect to employees of the judicial branch of the Government.
(b) Definitions. — In this section:
(1) INNOVATIVE MOBILITY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY. — The term “innovative mobility technology company” means an organization, including a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, or any other entity, that applies technology to expand and enhance available transportation choices, better manages demand for transportation services, or provides alternatives to driving alone.
(2) TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY. — The term “transportation network company” —
(A) means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity, that uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers affiliated with the entity in order for the driver to transport the rider using a vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the driver to a point chosen by the rider; and
(B) does not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool arrangement that is not intended to generate profit for the driver.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
Section 5707(c) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“(c )(1) Not later than November 30 of each year, the head of each agency shall submit to the Administrator of General Services, in a format prescribed by the Administrator and approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget —
“(A) data on total agency payments for such items as travel and transportation of people, average costs and durations of trips, and purposes of official travel;
“(B) data on estimated total agency payments for employee relocation; and
“(C ) an analysis of the total costs of transportation service by type, and the total number of trips utilizing each transportation type for purposes of official travel.
“(2) The Administrator of General Services shall make the data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) publicly available upon receipt.
“(3) Not later than January 31 of each year, the Administrator of General Services shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate —
“(A) an analysis of the data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) for the agencies listed in section 901(b) of title 31 and a survey of such data for each other agency; and
“(B) a description of any new regulations promulgated or changes to existing regulations authorized under this section.”.
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