To authorize and improve Operation Hero Miles.

1. Adds SEC. 653. ACCEPTANCE OF FREQUENT TRAVELER MILES, CREDITS, AND TICKETS TO FACILITATE THE AIR OR SURFACE TRAVEL OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES on page 131, between lines 17 and 18

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 653. ACCEPTANCE OF FREQUENT TRAVELER MILES, CREDITS, AND TICKETS TO FACILITATE THE AIR OR SURFACE TRAVEL OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

   Inserted: Section 2608 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (k) as subsections (h) through (l), respectively; and

   Inserted: (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection:

   Inserted: "(g) Operation Hero Miles.--(1) The Secretary of Defense may use the authority of subsection (a) to accept the donation of frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets for air or surface transportation issued by any air carrier or surface carrier that serves the public and that consents to such donation, and under such terms and conditions as the air or surface carrier may specify. The Secretary shall designate a single office in the Department of Defense to carry out this subsection, including the establishment of such rules and procedures as may be necessary to facilitate the acceptance of such frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets.

   Inserted: "(2) Frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets accepted under this subsection shall be used only in accordance with the rules established by the air carrier or surface carrier that is the source of the miles, credits, or tickets and shall be used only for the following purposes:

   Inserted: "(A) To facilitate the travel of a member of the armed forces who--

   Inserted: "(i) is deployed on active duty outside the United States away from the permanent duty station of the member in support of a contingency operation; and

   Inserted: "(ii) is granted, during such deployment, rest and recuperative leave, emergency leave, convalescent leave, or another form of leave authorized for the member.

   Inserted: "(B) In the case of a member of the armed forces recuperating from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during such deployment, to facilitate the travel of family members of the member to be reunited with the member.

   Inserted: "(3) For the use of miles, credits, or tickets under paragraph (2)(B) by family members of a member of the armed forces, the Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, limit--

   Inserted: "(A) eligibility to family members who, by reason of affinity, degree of consanguinity, or otherwise, are sufficiently close in relationship to the member of the armed forces to justify the travel assistance;

   Show 9 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: "(B) the number of family members who may travel; and

   Inserted: "(C) the number of trips that family members may take.

   Inserted: "(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense may, in an exceptional case, authorize a person not described in subparagraph (B) of that paragraph to use frequent traveler miles, credits, or a ticket accepted under this subsection to visit a member of the armed forces described in such subparagraph if that person has a notably close relationship with the member. The frequent traveler miles, credits, or ticket may be used by such person only in accordance with such conditions and restrictions as the Secretary determines appropriate and the rules established by the air carrier or surface carrier that is the source of the miles, credits, or ticket.

   Inserted: "(5) The Secretary of Defense shall encourage air carriers and surface carriers to participate in, and to facilitate through minimization of restrictions and otherwise, the donation, acceptance, and use of frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets under this section.

   Inserted: "(6) The Secretary of Defense may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization to use the services of the organization--

   Inserted: "(A) to promote the donation of frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets under paragraph (1), except that amounts appropriated to the Department of Defense may not be expended for this purpose; and

   Inserted: "(B) to assist in administering the collection, distribution, and use of donated frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets.

   Inserted: "(7) Members of the armed forces, family members, and other persons who receive air or surface transportation using frequent traveler miles, credits, or tickets donated under this subsection are deemed to recognize no income from such use. Donors of frequent traveler miles, credits, or tickets under this subsection are deemed to obtain no tax benefit from such donation.

   Inserted: "(8) In this subsection, the term 'family member' has the meaning given that term in section 411h(b)(1) of title 37.".

   Original wording

   On page 131, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed