Bill would let federal travelers keep frequent flier miles

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., has introduced legislation to allow federal employees to keep frequent flier miles earned on official travel. The bill, H.R. 2456 would lift a ban that has kept most federal employees from using frequent flier miles earned during official travel for personal use. Under the new legislation, which Burton co-sponsored with Rep. Connie Morella, R-Md., federal workers could keep the miles as long as they were obtained under the same terms as provided to the general public and cost the government no extra money. The bill would also be retroactive, allowing federal employees to use miles earned prior to the bill's enactment. According to Burton, who is chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, changing the current policy helps level the playing field for retaining and recruiting employees to the federal workforce. "The private sector commonly allows its employees to keep the frequent flier miles they receive while on business travel," Burton said. "This gives private companies, including government contractors, a competitive edge over federal agencies in attracting and retaining skilled employees." In a recent report, the General Accounting Office found that most agencies don't collect and use employees' frequent flier miles because of the administrative burden they present. The agency recommended that Burton introduce legislation easing the restriction.

The Bush administration added language in its proposed fiscal 2002 defense authorization bill that repeals restrictions on the personal use of frequent flier miles for both military and civilian employees.