Comments on Proposed Amendments to the Foreign Affairs Manual

GAO was requested to comment on whether a proposed amendment to the Foreign Affairs Manual provisions concerning family visitation travel would be consistent with the Fly America Act guidelines. The proposed amendment would allow the official who authorizes family visitation travel to formulate a routing using less U.S. air carrier service if he determines that the routing constitutes a serious risk to the health or welfare of an unaccompanied child. GAO believes that the proposed amendment is consistent with the guidelines which allow use of foreign air carrier service if U.S. air carrier service cannot provide the foreign transportation needed.