article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Government Travel Cost Reduction Act''. SEC. 2. BUSINESS ACCOUNTS FOR AIR TRAVEL BY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. (a) In General.--Chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5709 the following new section: ``Sec. 5710. Business accounts for air travel ``(a) The General Services Administration or any agency entering into a contract with an air carrier for travel on official business-- ``(1) subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), shall include as a term of such contract that such air carrier shall-- ``(A) establish a separate air travel business account for any employee, designated by the head of the agency employing such employee, for travel on official business by such employee on such air carrier; ``(B) deposit any award or bonus by such air carrier awarded to such employee for travel on official business into the employee's air travel business account; and ``(C) apply any such award or bonus from such employee's air travel business account to any travel on official business by such employee on such air carrier except that such awards or bonuses shall not be used for seating upgrades; and ``(2) may include as a term of such contract, as an alternative to the term required under paragraph (1), that such air carrier shall-- ``(A) establish an air travel business account for any office or administrative unit of an agency, as designated by the head of such agency, for travel on official business by employees of such office or administrative unit on such air carrier; ``(B) deposit any award or bonus by such air carrier awarded to any employee of such office or administrative unit for travel on official business into the air travel business account of such office or administrative unit; and ``(C) apply any such award or bonus from the air travel business account of such office or administrative unit to any travel on official business by any employee of such office or administrative unit except that such awards or bonuses shall not be used for seating upgrades. ``(b) All air travel business accounts established under this section shall be separate from any personal account of an employee. Any award or bonus from an air travel business account may be used only for travel on official business except that such awards shall not be used for seating upgrades. ``(c) To the greatest extent practicable, the General Services Administration shall include the term described under subsection (a)(2) in a contract to maximize travel costs savings. ``(d) The General Services Administration shall promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include a requirement that, to the greatest extent practicable to maximize travel costs savings, employees shall-- ``(1) travel on official business with air carriers awarding awards and bonuses for official business travel, regardless of whether such travel is on an air carrier under a contract described under this section; and ``(2)(A) participate in any program of such air carrier awarding awards and bonuses; and ``(B) use such awards and bonuses for only official business travel except that such awards shall not be used for seating upgrades.''. (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5709 the following new item: ``5710. Business accounts for air travel.''. SEC. 3. APPLICATION TO THE CONGRESS. (a) In General.--No later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on Administration of the House of Representatives shall promulgate regulations relating to Members of Congress and any employee whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, respectively, that-- (1) require any Member of the Senate, officer of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, or officer of the House of Representatives who enters into a contract with an air carrier for travel on official business by a Member or employee-- (A) subject to the provisions of subparagraph (B), shall include as a term of such contract that such air carrier shall-- (i) establish a separate air travel business account for any Member or employee, designated by the applicable Member or employing committee or office of such employee, for travel on official business by such Member or employee on such air carrier; (ii) deposit any award or bonus by such air carrier awarded to such Member or employee for travel on official business into the Member's or employee's air travel business account; and (iii) apply any such award or bonus from such Member's or employee's air travel business account to any travel on official business by such Member or employee on such air carrier except that such awards or bonuses shall not be used for seating upgrades; and (B) may include as a term of such contract, as an alternative to the term required under subparagraph (A), that such air carrier shall-- (i) establish an air travel business account for any committee or office as designated by the applicable Member, committee, or office, for travel on official business by Members or employees of such committee or office on such air carrier; (ii) deposit any award or bonus by such air carrier awarded to any Member or employee of such committee or office for travel on official business into the air travel business account of such committee or office; and (iii) apply any such award or bonus from the air travel business account of such committee or office to any travel on official business by any Member or employee of such committee or office except that such awards or bonuses shall not be used for seating upgrades; and (2) to the greatest extent practicable to maximize travel costs savings, require committees and offices (including Members' offices)-- (A) to enter into contracts with air carriers awarding awards and bonuses for official business travel; and (B) to require Members and employees to-- (i) travel on official business with air carriers awarding awards and bonuses for official business travel, regardless of whether such travel is on an air carrier under a contract described under this section; and (ii)(I) participate in any program of such air carrier awarding awards and bonuses; and (II) use such awards and bonuses for only official business travel except that such awards or bonuses shall not be used for seating upgrades. (b) Separate Business Accounts.--All air travel business accounts established under this section shall be separate from any personal account of a Member or employee. Any award or bonus from an air travel business account may be used only for travel on official business except that such awards or bonuses shall not be used for seating upgrades. (c) Committee and Office Accounts.--To the greatest extent practicable, any Member of Congress or officer of the Congress entering into a contract as provided under this section shall include the term described under subsection (a)(1)(B) to maximize costs savings.
summary: Government Travel Cost Reduction Act - Amends Federal law governing air travel of Federal employees and Members of Congress to mandate that a Federal or congressional agency include in its contract with an air carrier: (1) the establishment of a separate air travel business account for employees travelling on official agency business; and (2) deposit into the employee's air travel business account any travel bonuses awarded by the carrier.