Return Travel of ACTION's Overseas Volunteers Upon Completion of Service

An advance decision was requested as to whether proposed regulations concerning the return travel of ACTION's volunteers upon completion of overseas service are consistent with the intent of Section 5 of the Fly America Act. Under the regulations, the volunteers may elect to receive, in lieu of an air ticket purchased with a Government Transportation Request (GTR), a cash payment equivalent to the cost of economy class jet fare. The act was intended to correct the Government's unfavorable balance of payments deficit. The practice of paying cash in lieu of furnishing GTR's was discontinued in 1969 for the return travel of volunteers in countries designated as "excess" or "near-excess" foreign currency countries. The practice may be continued as long as ACTION takes appropriate measures to determine that its revised regulations ensure compliance with the act.