§ 5701. Definitions

§ 5701. Definitions

(1) “agency” means—

but does not include—

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) a military department;

(C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the legislative branch;

(D) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch; and

(E) the government of the District of Columbia;

(i) a Government controlled corporation;

(ii) a Member of Congress; or

(iii) an office or committee of either House of Congress or of the two Houses;

(2) “employee” means an individual employed in or under an agency including an individual employed intermittently in the Government service as an expert or consultant and paid on a daily when-actually-employed basis and an individual serving without pay or at $1 a year;

(3) “subsistence” means lodging, meals, and other necessary expenses for the personal sustenance and comfort of the traveler;

(4) “per diem allowance” means a daily payment instead of actual expenses for subsistence and fees or tips to porters and stewards;

(5) “Government” means the Government of the United States and the government of the District of Columbia; and

(6) “continental United States” means the several States and the District of Columbia, but does not include Alaska or Hawaii.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 94–22, § 2(a), May 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 84; Pub. L. 99–234, title I, § 101, Jan. 2, 1986, 99 Stat. 1756; Pub. L. 101–391, § 5(a)(2), Sept. 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 751.)

In paragraph (1), the word “agency” is substituted for “departments and establishments”. The terms “Executive agency” and “military department” are substituted for “any executive department, independent commission, board, bureau, office, agency, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government, including wholly owned Government corporations” in view of the definitions in sections 105 and 102. The exception of “a Government controlled corporation” is added in subparagraph (i) to preserve the application of this subchapter to “wholly owned Government corporations”.

Paragraph (2) is added for convenience and to eliminate the necessity of referring to “civilian officers and employees of the agencies” elsewhere in the text of the subchapter.

In paragraph (4), the words “for subsistence and fees or tips to porters and stewards” are added on authority of the words “in lieu of their actual expenses of subsistence and all fees or tips to porters and stewards” and “in lieu of subsistence” in former sections 836 and 73b–2, which are carried into sections 5702 and 5703, respectively.

Paragraph (5) is added for convenience and is based in part on former section 835(1)(A) and, insofar as concerns section 5703, on section 18 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, 60 Stat. 811.

Paragraph (6), insofar as concerns section 5703, is based in part on section 18 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, 60 Stat. 811.

The definition of “Member of Congress” in former section 835(4) is omitted as unnecessary in view of the definition of “Member of Congress” in section 2106.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 5707(d) of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XVI, § 1614(a)(1), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2739.

Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–391 substituted “Except as otherwise provided in section 5707(d), for the purpose” for “For the purpose”.

1986—Par. (4). Pub. L. 99–234 amended par. (4) generally, striking out “flat rate” before “payment”.

1975—Par. (2). Pub. L. 94–22 redefined “employee” to include individuals employed intermittently as experts or consultants and paid on a daily when-actually-employed basis, and individuals serving without pay at $1 a year.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment; Regulations

Pub. L. 99–234, title III, § 301, Jan. 2, 1986, 99 Stat. 1760, provided that: “(a) The Administrator of General Services shall promulgate regulations implementing the amendments made by sections 101, 102, 103, 104, and 106 of this Act [enacting sections 5706a and 5734 of this title and amending this section and sections 5702 and 5707 of this title] not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 1986]. The amendments made by title I of this Act [enacting sections 5706a and 5734 of this title and amending this section, sections 5702, 5707, and 5724a of this title, section 476 of Title 2, The Congress, section 2396 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, section 4941 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, section 456 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, section 326 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and section 2477 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] shall take effect on the effective date of such regulations, or 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 1986], whichever occurs first. “(b) The amendments made by section 201 of this Act [enacting section 420 of Title 41, Public Contracts] shall take effect 30 days after the effective date of the amendments made by title I.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–264, § 1, Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2350, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 5706c, 5710, and 5739 of this title, amending sections 5721 to 5724, 5724a, 5725, 5727 to 5729, 5731, and 5732 of this title, section 3413 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and sections 3322, 3528, and 3726 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, section 5706c of this title, and section 3322 of Title 31] may be cited as the ‘Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998’.”

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XVII, § 1701, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2752, provided that: “This title [enacting sections 5737, 5738, and 5756 of this title, amending sections 3375, 5722 to 5724c, 5726 to 5729, and 5731 of this title, section 1348 of Title 31, Money and Finance, section 707 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and sections 290aa and 299c–4 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 5722 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Employee Travel Reform Act of 1996’.”

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–234, § 1, Jan. 2, 1986, 99 Stat. 1756, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 5706a and 5734 of this title and section 420 of Title 41, Public Contracts, amending this section, sections 5702, 5707, and 5724a of this title, section 476 of Title 2, The Congress, section 2396 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, section 4941 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, section 456 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, section 326 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and section 2477 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 420 of Title 41] may be cited as the ‘Federal Civilian Employee and Contractor Travel Expenses Act of 1985’.”

Short Title of 1975 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–22, § 1, May 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 84, provided: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Travel Expense Amendments Act of 1975’.”

Construction

Pub. L. 112–194, § 6, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1451, as amended by Pub. L. 116–117, § 3(b)(1), Mar. 2, 2020, 134 Stat. 133, provided that: “(a) Executive Agency Accounting.—Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 2012 Amendment note set out under section 101 of Title 41, Public Contracts], or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to excuse the head of an executive agency from the responsibilities set out in section 3512 or subchapter IV of chapter 33 of title 31, United States Code. “(b) Personal Information.—Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to require the disclosure of personally identifying information that is otherwise protected from disclosure under section 552a of title 5, United States Code (popularly known as the Privacy Act of 1974).”

[For definition of “executive agency” as used in section 6 of Pub. L. 112–194, set out above, see section 5 of Pub. L. 112–194, set out below.]

Management of Centrally Billed Accounts

Pub. L. 112–194, § 4, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1450, provided that: “(a) Required Internal Controls for Centrally Billed Accounts.—The head of an executive agency that has employees who use a travel charge card that is billed directly to the United States Government shall establish and maintain the following internal control activities:“(1) The executive agency shall ensure that officials with the authority to approve official travel verify that centrally billed account charges are not reimbursed to an employee. “(2) The executive agency shall dispute unallowable and erroneous charges and track the status of the disputed transactions to ensure appropriate resolution. “(3) The executive agency shall submit requests to servicing airlines for refunds of fully or partially unused tickets, when entitled to such refunds, and track the status of unused tickets to ensure appropriate resolution. “(b) Guidance.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2012], the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall review the existing guidance and, as necessary, prescribe additional guidance for executive agencies implementing the requirements of subsection (a).”

[For definitions of “executive agency” and “employee” as used in section 4 of Pub. L. 112–194, set out above, see section 5 of Pub. L. 112–194, set out below.]

eTravel Service

Pub. L. 108–447, div. G, title II, § 209, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3193, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no entity within the legislative branch shall be required to use the eTravel Service established by the Administrator of General Services for official travel by officers or employees of the entity during fiscal year 2005 or any succeeding fiscal year.”

Creditworthiness of Individuals To Be Issued Government Charge Cards

Pub. L. 112–74, div. C, title VII, § 736, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 937, provided that: “Each executive department and agency shall evaluate the creditworthiness of an individual before issuing the individual a government travel charge card. Such evaluations for individually billed travel charge cards shall include an assessment of the individual’s consumer report from a consumer reporting agency as those terms are defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (Public Law 91–508 [Pub. L. 90–321]) [15 U.S.C. 1681a]: Provided, That the department or agency may not issue a government travel charge card to an individual that either lacks a credit history or is found to have an unsatisfactory credit history as a result of this evaluation: Provided further, That this restriction shall not preclude issuance of a restricted-use charge, debit, or stored value card made in accordance with agency procedures to: (1) an individual with an unsatisfactory credit history where such card is used to pay travel expenses and the agency determines there is no suitable alternative payment mechanism available before issuing the card; or (2) an individual who lacks a credit history. Each executive department and agency shall establish guidelines and procedures for disciplinary actions to be taken against agency personnel for improper, fraudulent, or abusive use of government charge cards, which shall include appropriate disciplinary actions for use of charge cards for purposes, and at establishments, that are inconsistent with the official business of the Department or agency or with applicable standards of conduct.”

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations acts:

Pub. L. 111–117, div. C, title VII, § 738, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3214.

Pub. L. 111–8, div. D, title VII, § 741, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 691.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. D, title VII, § 743, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2032.

Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title VIII, § 846, Nov. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2507.

Pub. L. 108–447, div. H, title VI, § 639, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3281.

Pub. L. 108–199, div. F, title VI, § 638, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 358.

Requiring Use of Travel Charge Card