Views on H.R. 7638

GAO was asked to comment on proposed legislation which would provide full settlement of an Air Force employee's claim for the expenses incurred incident to his transfer from a civilian position with the Department of the Army to a position with the Department of the Air Force. The claim was disallowed because there was no legal authority for reimbursement to him of the amounts claimed. The claim was considered for reporting to Congress under the Meritorious Claims Act, but it did not satisfy the criteria GAO requires for reporting a claim to Congress under the Act. GAO informed the employee that it had previously been necessary to deny reimbursement for similar claims, and that such cases were not deemed appropriate for reporting to Congress under the Act. Enactment of the proposed legislation would result in preferential treatment of the individual over others similarly treated.