What This Bill Does
This bill stops the government from paying for airline tickets above coach class (basic economy) when Members of Congress and legislative branch employees travel on official business. The bill allows some exceptions when federal travel rules permit higher classes of service.
Who It Affects
Members of Congress (Senators, Representatives, Delegates and Resident Commissioners), officers of legislative branch offices and employees of legislative branch offices.
Key Provisions
• Government funds cannot pay for airline accommodations above coach class for Members of Congress or legislative branch employees on official travel (Sec. 2(a))
• Coach-class accommodations means the basic lowest-fare class offered by airlines, which may be called tourist class, economy class, or single class when only one class exists (Sec. 2(d)(1))
• Some exceptions apply if federal travel regulations would allow higher classes for regular government agency employees (Sec. 2(b))
• The rule does not apply to legislative branch employees already subject to federal travel regulations as of the bill's enactment (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
Starting in fiscal year 2024 and beyond, government money for official travel by Members of Congress and legislative branch employees must be used only for coach-class airline seats, with limited exceptions based on existing federal travel rules.
Important Definitions
Coach-class accommodations: the basic, lowest-fare class offered by airlines, sometimes called tourist class or economy class.
Member of Congress: a Senator, Representative, Delegate or Resident Commissioner.
Effective Date
Fiscal year 2024 and each succeeding fiscal year (Sec. 2(e))
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 2589
To prohibit the use of funds made available for the official travel expenses
of a Member of Congress or other officer or employee of any office
in the legislative branch for airline accommodations which are not coach-
class accommodations.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 13, 2023
Ms. CRAIG introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on House Administration
A BILL
To prohibit the use of funds made available for the official
travel expenses of a Member of Congress or other officer
or employee of any office in the legislative branch for
airline accommodations which are not coach-class accom-
modations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Tax Dollars for
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First-Class Flights Act’’.
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•HR 2589 IH
SEC. 2. PROHIBITING USE OF FUNDS FOR OFFICIAL TRAV-
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EL EXPENSES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
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AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES FOR
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AIRLINE ACCOMMODATIONS OTHER THAN
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COACH CLASS.
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(a) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in subsection
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(b), no funds appropriated or otherwise made available for
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the official travel expenses of a Member of Congress or
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other officer or employee of any office in the legislative
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branch may be used for airline accommodations which are
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not coach-class accommodations.
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(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Funds described in subsection (a)
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may be used for airline accommodations which are not
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coach-class accommodations for an individual described in
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subsection (a) if the use of the funds for such accommoda-
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tions would be permitted under sections 301–10.121
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through 301–10.125 of title 41 of the Code of Federal
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Regulations if the individual were an employee of an agen-
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cy which is subject to chapter 301 of such title.
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(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act
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may be construed to affect any officer or employee of an
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office of the legislative branch which, as of the date of
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the enactment of this Act, is subject to chapter 301 of
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title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
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(d) DEFINITIONS.—
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•HR 2589 IH
(1) COACH-CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS.—In this
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Act, the term ‘‘coach-class accommodations’’ means
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the basic class of accommodation by airlines that is
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normally the lowest fare offered regardless of airline
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terminology used, and (as referred to by airlines)
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may include tourist class or economy class, as well
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as single class when the airline offers only one class
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of accommodations to all travelers.
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(2) MEMBER OF CONGRESS.—In this Act, the
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term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means a Senator or a
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Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commis-
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sioner to, the Congress.
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(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with
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respect to fiscal year 2024 and each succeeding fiscal year.
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Æ
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