December 9, 2009

CBCA 1645-TRAV

In the Matter of DAVID SWEAZY

David Sweazy, Saylorsburg, PA, Claimant.

Allan Kaczor, Supervisor, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Rome, NY, appearing for Department of the Army.

McCANN, Board Judge.

David Sweazy (claimant) has submitted a request for review of the determination by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS or agency), that he was not entitled to laundry expenses while on temporary duty (TDY) to Weisbaden, Germany. For the reasons set forth below, we sustain the agency=s determination.

Background

Claimant is employed as a civilian employee of the United States Army at the Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. He went on TDY to Weisbaden from April 17 to May 23, 2009. While on temporary duty he incurred $252.40 in laundry expenses, to which he claims entitlement.

In support of his claim, Mr Sweazy cites to page 23 of the Federal Travel Handbook, which states:

Laundry Expenses

The expenses incurred for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing at a TDY location are reimbursable as a miscellaneous travel expense. However, the employee must incur a minimum of 4 consecutive nights lodging on official travel to qualify for this reimbursement. Laundry and dry cleaning expenses have not been removed from foreign per diem rates established by the State Department, or from non-foreign area per diem rates established by the Defense Department. Separate claims for laundry and dry cleaning expenses incurred in foreign areas and non-foreign areas are not allowed.

The Federal Travel Handbook is published by Federal Handbooks, a private company. The Federal Travel Handbook is not an official publication of the United States Government or any of its agencies. Accordingly, we give its contents no weight.

Appendix G of the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), which are applicable to civilian employees of the Department of Defense, states in pertinent part:

Laundry/ Dry-Cleaning Expenses. (Civilian Employee Only)

. . . .

2. Not Reimbursable for OCONUS [Outside the Continental United States] Travel. Laundry dry cleaning and/or pressing of clothing is not a separately reimbursable travel expense for OCONUS travel. It is part of the incidental expense allowance included within the per diem rates/AEA [actual expense allowance] authorized/approved for OCONUS travel.

Under appendix G of the JTR, therefore, claimant is not entitled to his laundry expenses. The agency correctly applied the regulations to the facts of this case. The claim is denied.

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R. ANTHONY McCANN

Board Judge