Subject to and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, a Senator and the employees in his office shall be reimbursed under this section for travel expenses incurred by the Senator or employee while traveling on official business within the United States. The term “travel expenses” includes actual transportation expenses, essential travel-related expenses, and, where applicable, per diem expenses (but not in excess of actual expenses). A Senator or an employee of the Senator shall not be reimbursed for any travel expenses (other than actual transportation expenses) for any travel occurring during the sixty days immediately before the date of any primary or general election (whether regular, special, or runoff) in which the Senator is a candidate for public office (within the meaning of section 431(b) 1
In the case of the death of any Senator, the chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration may certify for such deceased Senator for any portion of such sum already obligated but not certified to at the time of such Senator’s death, and for any additional amount which may be reasonably needed for the purpose of closing such deceased Senator’s State offices, for payment to the person or persons designated as entitled to such payment by such chairman.
For purposes of subsections (a) and (e) of this section, an individual who is selected by a Senator to serve on a panel or other body to make recommendations for nominees to one or more Federal judgeships or to one or more service academies or one or more positions of United States Attorney or United States Marshal shall be considered to be an employee in the office of that Senator with respect to travel and official expenses incurred in performing duties as a member of such panel or other body, and shall be reimbursed (A) for actual transportation expenses and per diem expenses (but not exceeding actual travel expenses) incurred while traveling in performing such duties within the Senator’s home State or between that State and Washington, District of Columbia, and each of the service academies, (B) for official expenses incurred in performing such duties. For purposes of this subsection and subsection (a) of this section, “official expenses” means expenses of the type for which reimbursement may be made to an employee in the office of a Senator when traveling on business of a committee of which that Senator is a member, and, for accounting purposes, such expenses shall be treated as expenses for which reimbursement may be made under subsection (a)(4) of this section.
Whenever a Senator or an employee in his office has incurred an expense for which reimbursement may be made under this section, the Secretary of the Senate is authorized to make payment to that Senator or employee for the expense incurred, subject to the same terms and conditions as apply to reimbursement of the expense under this section.
Whenever a Senator or employee of his office plans an official business trip with respect to which reimbursement for travel expenses is authorized under the preceding provisions of section (a), the Senator (or such an employee who has been designated by the Senator to do so) may, prior to the commencement of such trip and in accordance with applicable regulations of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, obtain from any moneys in the contingent fund of the Senate which are available to him for purposes specified in subsection (a)(6) of this section, such advance sum as he shall certify (and be accountable for), to the Secretary of the Senate, to be necessary to defray some or all of the expenses to be incurred on such trip which expenses are reimbursable under the preceding provisions of this section. The receipt by any Senator for any sum so advanced to him or his order out of the contingent fund of the Senate by the Secretary of the Senate shall be taken and passed by the accounting officers of the Government as a full and sufficient voucher; but it shall be the duty of such Senator (or employee of his office, as the case may be), as soon as practicable, to furnish to the Secretary of the Senate a detailed voucher of the expenses incurred for the travel with respect to which the sum was so advanced, and make settlement with respect to such sum.
Section consists of subsecs. (a) to (j) of section 506 of Pub. L. 92–607, as amended. Original subsecs. (h) and (i) which made certain amendments and repeals to sections of this title that contained the provisions now covered by this section, and subsec. (j) which amended earlier appropriations not classified to the Code, were redesignated as subsecs. (i) to (k) by Pub. L. 95–391, title I, § 108(a),
Subsec. (f) related to a reduction of allowances for fiscal year 1973.
The 1982 amendments by Pub. L. 97–276 are based on sections 103 and 106(a) of S. 2939, Ninety-seventh Congress, 2d Session, as reported
1999—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 106–57, § 1[(a)], amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: “subject to subparagraph (B), in case the Senator represents Alabama, $183,565, Alaska, $252,505, Arizona, $197,409, Arkansas, $168,535, California, $470,272, Colorado, $187,366, Connecticut, $161,691, Delaware, $127,384, Florida, $302,307, Georgia, $211,784, Hawaii, $279,648, Idaho, $163,841, Illinois, $267,000, Indiana, $195,391, Iowa, $171,340, Kansas, $168,912, Kentucky, $176,975, Louisiana, $186,714, Maine, $148,205, Maryland, $172,455, Massachusetts, $196,819, Michigan, $235,846, Minnesota, $187,742, Mississippi, $168,587, Missouri, $198,365, Montana, $161,857, Nebraska, $160,550, Nevada, $171,208, New Hampshire, $142,497, New Jersey, $207,754, New Mexico, $166,721, New York, $328,586, North Carolina, $212,711, North Dakota, $150,225, Ohio, $262,252, Oklahoma, $181,913, Oregon, $189,258, Pennsylvania, $267,240, Rhode Island, $138,637, South Carolina, $171,731, South Dakota, $151,838, Tennessee, $192,508, Texas, $353,911, Utah, $168,959, Vermont, $136,315, Virginia, $193,935, Washington, $213,887, West Virginia, $149,135, Wisconsin, $191,314, Wyoming, $153,016, plus”.
Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 106–57, § 1(b), substituted “the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii)(I)” for “that part of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) that is not specifically allocated for official mail expenses” and “the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii)(II)” for “the part of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) that is allocated for official mail expenses”.
1998—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 105–275, § 1(a), amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: “subject to subparagraph (B), in case the Senator represents Alabama, $182,567, Alaska, $251,901, Arizona, $197,079, Arkansas, $168,282, California, $468,724, Colorado, $186,350, Connecticut, $160,903, Delaware, $127,198, Florida, $299,746, Georgia, $210,214, Hawaii, $279,512, Idaho, $163,335, Illinois, $266,248, Indiana, $194,770, Iowa, $170,565, Kansas, $168,177, Kentucky, $177,338, Louisiana, $185,647, Maine, $147,746, Maryland, $173,020, Massachusetts, $195,799, Michigan, $236,459, Minnesota, $187,702, Mississippi, $168,103, Missouri, $197,941, Montana, $161,725, Nebraska, $160,361, Nevada, $171,096, New Hampshire, $142,394, New Jersey, $206,260, New Mexico, $166,140, New York, $327,955, North Carolina, $210,946, North Dakota, $149,824, Ohio, $259,452, Oklahoma, $181,761, Oregon, $189,345, Pennsylvania, $266,148, Rhode Island, $138,582, South Carolina, $170,451, South Dakota, $151,450, Tennessee, $191,954, Texas, $348,681, Utah, $168,632, Vermont, $135,925, Virginia, $193,467, Washington, $214,694, West Virginia, $147,772, Wisconsin, $191,569, Wyoming, $152,438, plus”.
Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 105–275, § 1(b), substituted “that part of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) that is not specifically allocated for official mail expenses” for “the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii)” and inserted before period at end “; and the part of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) that is allocated for official mail expenses shall be recalculated in accordance with regulations of the Committee on Rules and Administration”.
1997—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 105–55 amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: “subject to subparagraph (B), in case the Senator represents Alabama, $68,000, Alaska, $176,000, Arizona, $81,000, Arkansas, $70,000, California, $122,000, Colorado, $76,000, Connecticut, $57,000, Delaware, $47,000, Florida, $72,000, Georgia, $68,000, Hawaii, $200,000, Idaho, $80,000, Illinois, $91,000, Indiana, $68,000, Iowa, $71,000, Kansas, $71,000, Kentucky, $67,000, Louisiana, $72,000, Maine, $62,000, Maryland, $52,000, Massachusetts, $66,000, Michigan, $76,000, Minnesota, $72,000, Mississippi, $70,000, Missouri, $73,000, Montana, $80,000, Nebraska, $72,000, Nevada, $82,000, New Hampshire, $58,000, New Jersey, $62,000, New Mexico, $77,000, New York, $98,000, North Carolina, $64,000, North Dakota, $71,000, Ohio, $82,000, Oklahoma, $75,000, Oregon, $85,000, Pennsylvania, $81,000, Rhode Island, $56,000, South Carolina, $62,000, South Dakota, $72,000, Tennessee, $68,000, Texas, $102,000, Utah, $80,000, Vermont, $57,000, Virginia, $58,000, Washington, $88,000, West Virginia, $57,000, Wisconsin, $71,000, Wyoming, $75,000, plus”.
1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–90, § 7(a)(1), (3)–(5), substituted “payment (including reimbursement)” for “payment” in introductory provisions, substituted “Payment” for “Reimbursement to a Senator and his employees” and “paid or reimbursed” for “reimbursed” in second sentence, and substituted “payment” for “reimbursement” in last sentence.
Subsec. (a)(3) to (5), (7) to (9). Pub. L. 102–90, § 7(a)(2), struck out “reimbursement to each Senator for” at beginning of pars. (3), (4), and (7) to (9) and in par. (5) direction to strike such language was executed by striking out “reimbursements to each Senator for” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1990—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–520, § 4(c), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “stationery and other office supplies procured for use for official business;”.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101–520, § 311(h)(2), which directed that par. (3) be amended by striking out “postage on,” and all that follows through “Senate, and”, could not be executed because those words do not appear in par. (3) as amended generally by Pub. L. 101–163 which in part restated provisions directed to be stricken by Pub. L. 101–520, § 311(h)(2), as subpar. (A). See 1990 and 1989 Amendment notes below.
Pub. L. 101–520, § 11, struck out subpar. (A) which read as follows: “postage on, and fees and charges in connection with, mail matter sent through the mail under the franking privilege in excess of amounts provided from the appropriation for official mail costs, upon certification by the Senate Sergeant at Arms and subject to such regulations as may be promulgated by the Committee on Rules and Administration,”.
Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 101–520, § 8, amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: “subject to subparagraph (B), in case the Senator represents Alabama, $53,000, Alaska, $137,000, Arizona, $63,000, Arkansas, $54,000, California, $95,000, Colorado, $59,000, Connecticut, $44,000, Delaware, $36,000, Florida, $56,000, Georgia, $53,000, Hawaii, $156,000, Idaho, $62,000, Illinois, $71,000, Indiana, $53,000, Iowa, $55,000, Kansas, $55,000, Kentucky, $52,000, Louisiana, $56,000, Maine, $48,000, Maryland, $40,000, Massachusetts, $51,000, Michigan, $59,000, Minnesota, $56,000, Mississippi, $54,000, Missouri, $57,000, Montana, $62,000, Nebraska, $56,000, Nevada, $64,000, New Hampshire, $45,000, New Jersey, $48,000, New Mexico, $60,000, New York, $76,000, North Carolina, $50,000, North Dakota, $55,000, Ohio, $64,000, Oklahoma, $58,000, Oregon, $66,000, Pennsylvania, $63,000, Rhode Island, $43,000, South Carolina, $48,000, South Dakota, $56,000, Tennessee, $53,000, Texas, $79,000, Utah, $62,000, Vermont, $44,000, Virginia, $45,000, Washington, $68,000, West Virginia $44,000, Wisconsin, $55,000, Wyoming, $58,000, plus”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 101–520, § 9(a), inserted “or one or more positions of United States Attorney or United States Marshal” after “one or more service academies”.
1989—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101–163 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “postage on, and fees and charges in connection with, mail matter sent through the mail under the franking privilege in excess of amounts provided from the appropriation for official mail costs, upon certification by the Senate Sergeant at Arms and subject to such regulations as may be promulgated by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and reimbursement to each Senator for costs incurred in the preparation of required official reports, and the acquisition of mailing lists to be used for official purposes, and in the mailing, delivery, or transmitting of matters relating to official business;”.
1988—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–458, § 13, inserted “postage on, and fees and charges in connection with, mail matter sent through the mail under the franking privilege in excess of amounts provided from the appropriation for official mail costs, upon certification by the Senate Sergeant at Arms and subject to such regulations as may be promulgated by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and” before “reimbursement”.
Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 100–458, §§ 8(a), 14(a), made identical amendments, striking out “, but only (A) in the case of expenses for the period commencing
1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–137, § 1(b)(1), amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting provisions authorizing payments from the Senate contingent fund for former provisions authorizing such payments.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–137, § 1(b)(2), designated existing provisions of par. (1) as subpar. (A) of par. (1), substituted “Except as is otherwise provided in the succeeding paragraphs of this subsection and subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph,” for “Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection,”, added pars. (2) and (3), and redesignated former par. (2) as subpar. (B) of par. (1).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–137, § 1(b)(4), amended subsection (e) generally, substituting provisions relating to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by Senators and employees for former provisions relating to reimbursement of those expenses.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–137, § 1(b)(3), struck out “(1)” after “(h)”, substituted “(a)(4)” for “(a)(5)”, and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “The amount of official expenses incurred by individuals selected by a Senator for which reimbursement may be made under this subsection shall not exceed $500 each calendar year, and the total amount of expenses incurred by such individuals for which reimbursement may be made under this subsection shall not exceed $3,000 each calendar year.”
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 100–137, § 1(b)(5), substituted “(a)(6)” for “(a)(8)”.
1985—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 99–65 amended par. (6) generally, substituting “for telephone service charges officially incurred outside Washington, District of Columbia, which are based on the amount of time the service is used” for “reimbursement to each Senator for telephone service charges officially incurred outside Washington, District of Columbia”.
1983—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–181 inserted references to Secretary of Conference of Majority and Secretary of Conference of Minority.
Pub. L. 98–51 inserted provisions authorizing reimbursement for essential travel-related expenses and defined those expenses for purposes of this subsection.
1982—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 97–276 substituted “equal to twenty percent thereof” for “equal to ten percent thereof”. See Codification note above.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 97–257 substituted “(2) In the event that the term of office of a Senator begins after the first month of any such calendar year or ends (except by reason of death, resignation, or expulsion) before the last month of any such calendar year, the aggregate amount available to such Senator for such year shall be the aggregate amount computed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, divided by 12, and multiplied by the number of months in such year which are included in the Senator’s term of office, counting any fraction of a month as a full month.” for “(2) In any such calendar year in which a Senator does not hold the office of Senator at least part of each month of that year, the aggregate amount available to the Senator shall be the aggregate amount, computed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, divided by 12, and multiplied by the number of months the Senator holds such office during that year, counting any fraction of a month as a full month.”
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 97–276 added subsec. (j). See Codification note above.
1981—Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 97–19 inserted provisions which authorized reimbursement out of contingent fund of Senate to each Senator for expenses for additional office equipment.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–51 struck out subsec. (c) which provided that aggregate of payments made to or on behalf of a Senator under this section not exceed at any time during each calendar year one-twelfth of the amount computed under subsection (b)(1) of this section multiplied by the number of months (counting a fraction of a month as a month) elapsing from the first month in that calendar year in which the Senator held the office of Senator through the date of payment.
1980—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 96–304, § 103, substituted “costs incurred in the mailing or delivery of” for “air mail and special delivery postage for expenses incurred in the mailing of postal”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–304, § 102(a), substituted “prescribed by the Committee on Rules and Administration” for “in effect under section 5702 of title 5 for employees of agencies”.
Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 96–304, § 104, substituted “to an employee in the office of a Senator when traveling on business of a committee of which that Senator is a member” for “under subsection (a)(9) when such expenses are incurred by or on behalf of a Senator”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 96–304, § 101, added subsec. (i).
1978—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–240 inserted reference to President pro tempore and Deputy President pro tempore.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 95–391 added subsec. (h).
1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–94, § 112(a), in par. (1) struck out provision requiring authorization by the Committee on Rules and Administration in the manner prescribed by such Committee, in par. (7) struck out “and” at end thereof, in par. (8) substituted provisions requiring reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by the Senator and employees in his office subject to the provisions of subsec. (e) of this section, for provisions authorizing reimbursement of actual travel expenses incurred by the Senator in travel-on official business between Washington, D.C. and the State he represents and within such State, and travel expenses incurred by employees in the Senator’s office subject to the provisions of subsec. (e) of this section, added par. (9), and in text following par. (9) inserted provisions relating to reimbursement of expenses incurred under par. (9).
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 95–94, § 112(b), substituted provisions setting forth criteria for determination of total amount of expenses authorized to be paid to or on behalf of a Senator under this section for calendar year 1977 or any calendar year thereafter, for provisions setting forth criteria for determination of total amount of expenses authorized to be paid to or on behalf of a Senator under this section for calendar year 1973 or any calendar year thereafter.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–94, § 112(c), substituted provisions setting forth prerequisites, conditions, and amounts of reimbursement for actual transportation expenses and per diem expenses, but not exceeding actual travel expenses, incurred by a Senator or employee in his office while traveling on official business within the United States, for provisions setting forth prerequisites, conditions, and amounts of reimbursement for per diem and actual transportation expenses incurred, or actual travel expenses incurred, by an employee in a Senator’s office, including employees authorized by Senate Resolution 60, 94th Congress, and former section 72a–1c of this title, for round trips made by the employee on official business by the nearest usual route between Washington, D.C. and the home State of the Senator involved, and in traveling within the State.
1975—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 94–59, § 103(1), substituted “travel expenses incurred by employees” for “actual transportation expenses incurred by employees”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–59, § 103(2), inserted new administrative provisions covering the payment of travel expenses of employees in Senators’ offices for round trips between Washington, D.C., and the Senators’ home States, inserted references to Senate Resolution 60, 94th Congress, agreed to
1974—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 93–371 struck out par. (4) which related to rental charges for office space at not more than three places designated by the Senator in the State he represents. See section 59 of this title.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–371 struck out provisions setting forth the maximum allowable amount for rental payments for office space occupied by the Senator in State he represents. See section 59 of this title.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–371 struck out subsec. (d) which authorized the Sergeant at Arms to secure for each Senator home State office space at not more than three places designated by the Senator in such home State. See section 59 of this title.
1973—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 93–145 inserted “newspapers,” after “subscriptions to”.
Pub. L. 106–57, title I, § 1[(a)],
Pub. L. 106–57, title I, § 1(c),
Pub. L. 105–275, title I, § 1(a),
Pub. L. 105–55, title I, § 3(a),
Pub. L. 102–90, title I, § 7(c),
Pub. L. 101–520, title I, § 4(d),
Pub. L. 101–520, title I, § 8,
Pub. L. 101–520, title I, § 9(b),
Amendment by section 311(h)(2) of Pub. L. 101–520 applicable with respect to sessions of Congress beginning with the first session of the One Hundred Second Congress, see section 59e(i) of this title.
Pub. L. 100–458, title I, §§ 8(b), 14(b),
Pub. L. 100–137, § 1(b)(1)–(5),
Pub. L. 99–65, § 2,
Pub. L. 98–181, title I, § 1204(b),
Section 103(b) of S. 2939, as reported
Section 106(b) of S. 2939, as reported
Pub. L. 97–257, title I, § 104(b),
Pub. L. 97–51, § 122,
Pub. L. 96–304, title I, § 101,
Pub. L. 96–304, title I, § 103,
Pub. L. 96–304, title I, § 104,
Pub. L. 95–391, title I, § 108(b),
Pub. L. 95–240, title II, § 208,
Pub. L. 95–94, title I, § 112(f),
Amendment by Pub. L. 93–371 effective on and after
Pub. L. 93–145, § 101,
For provisions increasing each of the figures contained in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii) of this section by $50,000 effective
Pub. L. 103–69, title I, § 2,
Pub. L. 101–163, title I, § 5(b),