H.R.3208: To ensure that the travel and transportation allowances provided in connection with rest and recuperative leave granted to a member of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan cover travel to and from the permanent duty station or home of record of the member, not simply to and from a port of entry in the United States.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 30, 2003

Directs the Secretary of Defense, in the case of a member of the armed forces serving outside the United States in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom who is granted rest and recuperative leave and provided authorized travel and transportation allowances, to pay the member for transportation, or provide transportation for the member, not only between the overseas duty location and the currently authorized locations (a vacation site or a location in the United States), but, at the request of the member, between the currently authorized locations and the member's permanent duty station or home. Makes such allowance retroactive from September 20, 2003.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Hensarling, Jeb [R-TX-5] · R–TX

Committees

Armed Services Committee

42 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 10, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
Oct 10, 2003
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Sep 30, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Sep 30, 2003
Introduced in House
Sep 30, 2003
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 30, 2003 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3208 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3208, 108th Congress: To ensure that the travel and transportation allowances provided in connection with rest and recuperative leave granted to a member of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan cover travel to and from the permanent duty station or home of record of the member, not simply to and from a port of entry in the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3208

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3208/BILLS-108hr3208ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3208 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3208 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3208, 108th Congress: To ensure that the travel and transportation allowances provided in connection with rest and recuperative leave granted to a member of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan cover travel to and from the permanent duty station or home of record of the member, not simply to and from a port of entry in the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3208

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3208/BILLS-108hr3208ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3208 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3208 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3208, 108th Congress: To ensure that the travel and transportation allowances provided in connection with rest and recuperative leave granted to a member of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan cover travel to and from the permanent duty station or home of record of the member, not simply to and from a port of entry in the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3208

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3208/BILLS-108hr3208ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3208 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3208 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3208, 108th Congress: To ensure that the travel and transportation allowances provided in connection with rest and recuperative leave granted to a member of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan cover travel to and from the permanent duty station or home of record of the member, not simply to and from a port of entry in the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/3208

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr3208/BILLS-108hr3208ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:45Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3208 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.