VI. Mixed-Purpose Travel

You may participate in travel with more than one purpose. For example, you may want to extend a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip at personal expense, or you may want to participate in campaign activity at the end of an official trip paid for with House funds. To determine which funds pay for which activity, you should determine which purpose is the primary purpose of the trip.

The funds associated with the primary purpose should pay for the transportation to and from the destination, and the other travel expenses related to that purpose. The funds associated with the secondary purpose should pay for the expenses related to that secondary purpose.

Although you may determine the primary purpose and any additional purposes, you should make that decision in a reasonable manner. Possible ways to make that determination include

• • The number of days devoted to each purpose
  • The main reason for taking the trip
  • Whether you would be in that location if not for the trip

You may also stack trips together that have separate and distinct purposes. If you would like to stack trips, please contact the Committee to determine how to split expenses. You may also need to contact the Committee on House Administration or the FEC.

As discussed in privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel, you may not stack campaign-related travel with privately-sponsored, officially-connected travel. You also may not extend a privately-sponsored, officially-connected trip for a campaign purpose.

Example. You plan to travel to the district for official meetings. During one evening of that trip, you plan to assist with a political fundraiser for your Member. You would like to know whether you may use the MRA to pay for any portion of your travel expenses, including your plane ticket and your hotel room. You should call the Committee on House Administration to ask whether and for what you may use the MRA. You might be able to use your Member’s principal campaign committee funds for any expenses the MRA may not cover. You should also call the FEC’s congressional liaisons to ask whether you could also use principal campaign funds.