No Congressional First Class Flights Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 626 To prohibit the use of official funds for airline accommodations for Members of Congress which are not coach-class accommodations, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 16, 2019 Mr. WITTMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To prohibit the use of official funds for airline accommoda- tions for Members of Congress which are not coach- class accommodations, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Congressional First 4 Class Flights Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:56 Jan 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H626.IH H626 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 626 IH SEC. 2. PROHIBITING USE OF FUNDS FOR OFFICIAL TRAV- 1 EL EXPENSES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 2 FOR AIRLINE ACCOMMODATIONS OTHER 3 THAN COACH-CLASS. 4 (a) PROHIBITION.—No funds appropriated or other- 5 wise made available during a fiscal year for the official 6 travel expenses of a Member of Congress may be used for 7 airline accommodations which are not coach-class accom- 8 modations, unless the use of other than coach-class accom- 9 modations is necessary to accommodate a medical dis- 10 ability or other special need. 11 (b) COACH-CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS DEFINED.—In 12 this section, the term ‘‘coach-class accommodations’’ 13 means the basic class of accommodation by airlines that 14 is normally the lowest fare offered regardless of airline ter- 15 minology used, and (as referred to by airlines) may include 16 tourist class or economy class, as well as single class when 17 the airline offers only one class of accommodations to all 18 travelers. 19 SEC. 3. REGULATIONS. 20 The Committee on House Administration of the 21 House of Representatives (with respect to Representatives 22 in, and Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to, the 23 Congress) and the Committee on Rules and Administra- 24 tion of the Senate (with respect to Senators) shall each 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:56 Jan 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H626.IH H626 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 626 IH promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry 1 out this Act. 2 SEC. 4. MEMBER OF CONGRESS DEFINED. 3 In this Act, the term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means 4 a Senator or a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident 5 Commissioner to, the Congress. 6 SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. 7 This Act shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2020 8 and each succeeding fiscal year. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:56 Jan 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H626.IH H626 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS