To provide a per diem allowance for Members of Congress for the costs of lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred because of travel to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area in order to cast votes in Congress, and for other purposes.

Per diem for Members traveling to vote

If enacted, House and Senate Members, including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, who travel on official business to the Washington area to cast votes could receive per diem for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. Lodging per diem would apply only on days the chamber holds votes and the Member records every vote in person. Members whose designated residence is inside the Washington Metropolitan Area (D.C.; Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax County, VA; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, MD) would not qualify for lodging per diem. Meals and incidental per diem would cover the lodging day and, if the Member travels on the lodging day, the day before (travel to) and the day after (travel from). Per diem amounts would match federal employee GSA rates for the area. Members could not claim per diem for costs already paid from the House Members’ Representational Allowance or the Senate Official Personnel and Office Expense Account. House and Senate committees would set rules to implement this and aim to keep payments non-taxable; those rules would replace current Member travel rules. The policy would apply starting in the 119th Congress and in later Congresses.