Travel allowance for members of Coast Guard assigned to Alaska

(a) Establishment The Commandant shall implement a policy that provides for reimbursement to eligible members of the Coast Guard for the cost of airfare for such members to travel to the homes of record of such member during the period specified in subsection (e). (b) Eligible members A member of the Coast Guard is eligible for a reimbursement under subsection (a) if— (1) the member is assigned to a duty location in Alaska; and (2) an officer in a grade above O–5 in the chain of command of the member authorizes the travel of the member. (c) Treatment of time as leave The time during which an eligible member is absent from duty for travel reimbursable under subsection (a) shall be treated as leave for purposes of section 704 of title 10, United States Code. (d) Briefing required Not later than February 1, 2027, the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on— (1) the use and effectiveness of reimbursements under subsection (a); (2) the calculation and use of the cost of living allowance for a member assigned to a duty location in Alaska; and (3) the use of special pays and other allowances as incentives for cold weather proficiency or duty locations. (e) Period specified The period specified in this subsection is the period— (1) beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) ending on the later of— (A) December 31, 2026; or (B) the date on which the authority under section 352 of title 37, United States Code, to grant assignment or special duty pay to members of the uniform services terminates under subsection (g) of such section.