PER DIEM COMMITTEE
CHARTER

I. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

A. ESTABLISHMENT

Pursuant to an agreement between the Secretaries of the Uniformed Services and the Department of Defense and Department of Defense Directive 5154.29, this Charter is promulgated to establish a joint Department of Defense Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance Committee, (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") and to assign its objectives and scope of activity.

B. PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the Committee is to ensure that uniform travel and transportation regulations are issued pursuant to Title 37, United States Code, other applicable laws, and decisions of the Comptroller General of the United States, for members of the seven Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health Service). In connection with civilian employees of the Department of Defense, the primary purpose of the Committee is to issue uniform regulations implementing the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), Statutory requirements, Executive orders, and decisions of the Comptroller General of the United States. The objective of these regulations shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, fair and equitable reimbursement of uniformed members and civilian personnel.

C. SCOPE OF ACTIVITY

1. The Committee shall operate under the policy guidance of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), the Secretary of Defense designee for coordinating travel and transportation matters. Changes in policy which increase or decrease allowances for a substantial number of personnel, involve substantial additional expenditures of funds, or create new basic entitlements, are referred to ASD (FMP) for policy approval prior to promulgation.

2. When the implementation of a proposed Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) change would be impracticable for a non-DoD Service, a separate change applicable to that Service only will be published in the JFTR.

3. The Committee's responsibility in prescribing uniform travel and transportation regulations involves the following entitlements:

a. Uniformed Service members per diem, travel, and transportation allowances;

b. Station allowances (Overseas Housing Allowance, Interim Housing Allowance, Temporary Lodging Allowance, and Cost of Living Allowance);

c. Variable Housing Allowance; and

d. Department of Defense civilian employee entitlements authorized by the Federal Travel Regulations.

In addition to responsibility for these entitlements, the Committee has oversight responsibility to ensure uniform application of travel and transportation allowances .

II. ORGANIZATION

A. The Committee shall be composed of a Chairman, and a member from the Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Transportation, Commerce, and Health and Human Services. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Military Personnel Policy) shall be the permanent Chairman. The Secretary of each Military Department will appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary to be a member of the Committee. The Chief of Personnel, U.S. Coast Guard, will represent the Secretary of Transportation; the Surgeon General of the United States will represent the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps will represent the Secretary of Commerce.

B. Each Committee member, except the Chairman, shall have an equal vote in matters pertaining to members of the Uniformed Services. The Committee Chairman shall vote only in case of a tie. In matters pertaining to civilian employees of the Department of Defense, only the Army, Navy, and Air Force members of the Committee shall vote, with each having an equal vote.

Committee members shall designate an alternate to represent their Departments during their absences. The action of the alternate shall be binding upon the Committee member and his or her

Department. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy) shall advise the Chairman on DoD civilian employee matters.

III. ADVISORY PANELS

A. A Military Advisory Panel (MAP) and a Civilian Advisory Panel (CAP) are hereby established. The MAP shall consist of a representative from each of the seven Uniformed Services. The CAP shall consist of a civilian representative from each of the Department of Defense Services, and a representative from the Office, Secretary of Defense. Each member of the respective Panel shall have an equal vote.

B. The MAP and CAP shall generate and evaluate issues pertaining to per diem, travel, and transportation allowances; station allowances; variable housing allowances. In addition, they shall periodically assess the adequacy of current travel policy and regulations in providing fair and equitable treatment for uniformed and civilian personnel represented by the MAP and CAP who travel and develop proposed solutions for Committee review and decision.

IV. COMMITTEE STAFF

The day-to-day operations of the Committee shall be conducted by a Committee staff under the direction of a Director, who shall be a Colonel or Captain (Navy). Military positions will normally be rotated triennially among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

V. COMMITTEE COUNSEL

The position of Legal Counsel to the Committee is hereby established. The Counsel may be either military or civilian and will provide legal support to the Committee.

VI. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

The Department of the Army is the Administrative Agent for the Committee and shall provide all administrative support required by the Committee.

VII. ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS MANUAL

Detailed organization and functions of the Committee, Committee Staff, Committee Counsel, and Advisory Panels are contained in a Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance Committee Organization and Functions Manual. This manual and all future changes thereto will be staffed with Committee members through the MAP and CAP.