Military finance offices would be directed to reimburse service members for off-base housing expenses during long-term temporary duty under a new bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Our service members and their families make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe. They shouldn’t be faced with unnecessary stress or financial burdens when a service member is on temporary assignment that could last for months,” Rounds said in introducing the bill on Wednesday.
Specifically, the bill would codify in law the provisions of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) regulation and would repeal what the senators called “burdensome” DOD requirements for service members and civilian employees that require them to seek affordable lodging while on assignments rather than DOD or the individual service making the assignment.
Rounds said that ensuring active-duty service members are not denied reimbursements for off-base housing expenses when they are assigned to long-term temporary assignments “is but one small step we can take to improve the quality of life for the men and women who are selflessly defending our country.”
For example, if an Air Force service member had to attend a six-month training course at an out-of-state or out-of-country base, the service member would have the option under this bill to take along his or her family members and live on or off the base in housing and be reimbursed for the rental costs.
Providing such options, according to lawmakers, not only supports the military members, but improves the government’s retention rates of these skilled individuals.
Rounds introduced the bill with U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), who also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
A companion bill, H.R. 2036, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), was introduced April 6 in the House Armed Services Committee. The bill would prohibit any reduction in the amount of the per diem allowance to which members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps or civilian employees of the DOD are entitled based on the duration of temporary duty assignments or official travel, and for other purposes, including off-base housing. The bill has been referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.