H.R. 274 would amend federal laws to allow federal employees who use transportation network companies when travelling on official business to be reimbursed for official travel expenses obtained through such companies. Examples of those companies would include Uber, Lyft, and bike-share providers. Under the act the General Services Administration (GSA) and agencies would provide annual reports on the cost of government transportation.
GSA recently issued a bulletin that provides guidance for agencies on using transportation network companies. In addition, GSA has an online tool for travel reporting that agencies can use to track their travel expenses. Because most of the act’s requirements are being implemented under current law, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 274 would cost less than $500,000.
Enacting H.R. 274 also could affect direct spending by agencies not funded through annual appropriations; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. CBO estimates, however, that any net increase in spending by those agencies would be negligible. Enacting H.R. 274 would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 274 would not increase direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 274 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
