To require a report on simplifying defense travel.

SA 1601. Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1390, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 429, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:

SEC. 1073. REPORT ON DEFENSE TRAVEL SIMPLIFICATION.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report setting forth a comprehensive plan to simplify defense travel.

(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) A comprehensive discussion of aspects of the Department of Defense travel system that are most confusing, inefficient, and in need of revision.

(2) Critical review of opportunities to streamline and simplify defense travel policies and to reduce travel-related costs to the Department of Defense.

(3) Options to leverage industry capabilities that could enhance management responsiveness to changing markets.

(4) A discussion of pilot programs that could be undertaken to prove the merit of improvements identified in accomplishing actions specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), including recommendations for legislative authority.

(5) Such recommendations and an implementation plan for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate to improve defense travel.