§ 2613. Acceptance of frequent traveler miles, credits, and tickets; use to facilitate rest and recuperation travel of deployed members and their families
(a)
Authority to Accept Donation of Travel Benefits.—
Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may accept from any person or government agency the donation of travel benefits for the purposes of use under subsection (d).
(b)
Travel Benefit Defined.—
In this section, the term “travel benefit” means frequent traveler miles, credits for tickets, or tickets for air or surface transportation issued by an air carrier or a surface carrier, respectively, that serves the public.
(c)
Condition on Authority to Accept Donation.—
The Secretary may accept a donation of a travel benefit under this section only if the air or surface carrier that is the source of the benefit consents to such donation. Any such donation shall be under such terms and conditions as the surface carrier may specify, and the travel benefit so donated may be used only in accordance with the rules established by the carrier.
(d)
Use of Donated Travel Benefits.—
A travel benefit accepted under this section may be used only for the purpose of—
(e)
Administration.—
(1)
The Secretary shall designate a single office in the Department of Defense to carry out this section. That office shall develop rules and procedures to facilitate the acceptance and distribution of travel benefits under this section.
(2)
For the use of travel benefits under subsection (d)(2) by family members of a member of the armed forces, the Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, limit—
(3)
The Secretary of Defense may, in an exceptional case, authorize a person not described in subsection (d)(2) to use a travel benefit accepted under this subsection to visit a member of the armed forces described in subsection (d)(1) if that person has a notably close relationship with the member. The travel benefit may be used by such person only in accordance with such conditions and restrictions as the Secretary determines appropriate and the rules established by the air carrier or surface carrier that is the source of the travel benefit.
(f)
Services of Nonprofit Organization.—
The Secretary of Defense may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization to use the services of the organization—
(g)
Family Member Defined.—
In this section, the term “family member” has the meaning given that term in section
411h
(b)(1) of title
37.