Should Taxpayer Dollars Not Fund Travel by Federal Officials That Violates Travel Regulations? (H.R. 3879)

What is H.R. 3879?

(Updated October 20, 2018)

This bill — known as the Taxpayers DIME Act — would prohibit the use of funds for travel expenses of senior federal officials that violate the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). Agencies would be required to submit quarterly reports to Congress on travel by senior federal officials on government aircraft. The Office of Government Ethics would be required to produce a report suggesting ways to strengthen the FTR, which would be provided to Congress and made publicly available.

The bill’s full title is the Taxpayers Don’t Incur Meaningless Expenses Act of 2017.

Argument in favor

Governmental officials shouldn’t be wasting taxpayer dollars using government and private jets to travel the country in an unofficial capacity. This bill strengthens rules against such wasteful spending and promotes transparency.

Argument opposed

There are already regulations against this in place, so there’s no need for legislation — it’s a matter of bureaucrats finding the willpower to hold themselves accountable and enforce their own rules.

Impact

Federal officials traveling using government resources; federal agencies; and the OGE.

Cost of H.R. 3879

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) introduced this bill to increase transparency and oversight of government travel and strengthen existing rules against wasteful air travel by officials that violates federal travel regulations:

“Taxpayers are rightfully outraged by the disturbing practice of government officials wasting their hard-earned dollars on government and private jets to travel the country. It is time to put an end to this. The Taxpayers DIME Act strengthens rules against wasteful government spending and brings greater transparency to how agency resources for government travel are used or abused. Those who serve the American people, regardless of political affiliation, must be held to the highest ethical standard, and I will continue pushing for greater transparency and accountability in Washington.”

This legislation has the support of six cosponsors in the House, all of whom are Democrats.

Of Note: Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price resigned after it was revealed he spent more than $400,000 on charter jets between May and September.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) Press Release
  
• The Hill