How Congress Works

Rules of the Senate

FOREIGN TRAVEL

1. (a) Unless authorized by the Senate (or by the President of the United States after an adjournment sine die), no funds from the United States Government (including foreign currencies made available under section 502(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754(b)) shall be received for the purpose of travel outside the United States by any Member of the Senate whose term will expire at the end of a Congress after

(1) the date of the general election in which his successor is elected; or

(2) in the case of a Member who is not a candidate in such general election, the earlier of the date of such general election or the adjournment sine die of the second regular session of that Congress.

(b) The travel restrictions provided by subparagraph (a) with respect to a Member of the Senate whose term will expire at the end of a Congress shall apply to travel by

(1) any employee of the Member;

(2) any elected officer of the Senate whose employment will terminate at the end of a Congress; and

(3) any employee of a committee whose employment will terminate at the end of a Congress.

2. No Member, officer, or employee engaged in foreign travel may claim payment or accept funds from the United States Government (including foreign currencies made available under section 502(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754(b)) for any expense for which the individual has received reimbursement from any other source; nor may such Member, officer, or employee receive reimbursement for the same expense more than once from the United States Government. No Member, officer, or employee shall use any funds furnished to him to defray ordinary and necessary expenses of foreign travel for any purpose other than the purpose or purposes for which such funds were furnished.

3. A per diem allowance provided a Member, officer, or employee in connection with foreign travel shall be used solely for lodging, food, and related expenses and it is the responsibility of the Member, officer, or employee receiving such an allowance to return to the United States Government that portion of the allowance received which is not actually used for necessary lodging, food, and related expenses.