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.

This bill would establish a new per diem program to reimburse Members of Congress for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred when traveling to the Washington Metropolitan Area from their designated residences in order to cast votes in Congress. The per diem would apply only on days when the Member travels to Washington for in-person votes and would be aligned with the standard General Services Administration (GSA) per diem rates, treated as not taxable income. The plan includes specific exceptions (e.g., Members already living in the Washington area would not receive these payments, and duplicative payments under existing allowances would be avoided). In practical terms, the bill would create a federally funded reimbursement mechanism that could increase the cost of travel for Members, replace some existing travel reimbursement rules with new regulations, and require House and Senate committees to issue implementing regulations. It would apply to the 119th Congress and all subsequent Congresses. The bill also defines who counts as a “designated residence” and what areas comprise the “Washington Metropolitan Area,” ensuring coverage of parts of D.C., Virginia, and Maryland.