republic-os/legal/us/code/title-37/chapter-19/section-1011.md

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LegalText	37 U.S.C. § 1011	Mess operation: reimbursement of expenses	us	united_states_code	code_section	37	PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES	19	ADMINISTRATION	1011	37 U.S.C. § 1011	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc37@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t37/s1011	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-37/usc37.xml	435bdfbbc3d79444423d0ae4e33626a02eec7950608683c2886e2b2a42e2868a	e0a35eb7ef12b7ff3b62c2d230c815f864ad090f207afa5aca869467bb414b1c	0935baa3ae89b4f3f737bf5c2e3c9317cc638824aaaf7650b70c4d236b662a89	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

37 U.S.C. § 1011 - Mess operation: reimbursement of expenses

Text

(a) The Secretary of Defense shall, by regulation, establish rates for meals sold at messes to officers, civilians, and enlisted members. Such rates shall be established at a level sufficient to provide reimbursement of operating expenses and food costs to the appropriations concerned, but members of the uniformed services and civilians in a travel status receiving a per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence shall be charged at a rate of not less than $2.50 per day. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Secretary determines that it is in the best interest of the United States, the Secretary may reduce a rate for meals established under this subsection by the amount of that rate attributable to operating expenses.

(b) For the purposes of this section, payment for meals at the rates established under this section may be made in cash or, in the case of enlisted members or civilian employees, by deduction from pay. Members of organized nonprofit youth groups sponsored at either the national or local level, when extended the privilege of visiting a military installation or when residing at a military installation pursuant to an agreement in effect on June 30, 1986, and permitted to eat in the general mess by the commanding officer of the installation, shall pay the commuted ration cost of such meal or meals.

(c) Spouses and dependent children of enlisted members in pay grades E–1, E–2, E–3, and E–4 may not be charged for meals sold at messes in excess of a level sufficient to cover food costs.

(d) When the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish rates for meals sold at Coast Guard dining facilities, provide for reimbursement of operating expenses and food costs to the appropriations concerned, and reduce the rates for such meals when the Secretary determines that it is in the best interest of the United States to do so.

(Added Pub. L. 96–513, title IV, § 413, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2906; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title VIII, § 810(a), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 681; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VI, § 655, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3891; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title III, § 321, Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1413; Pub. L. 104–324, title II, § 214(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3915; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(c), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”. 1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–324 added subsec. (d). 1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “and enlisted members” for “or enlisted members entitled to a per diem transportation allowance determined under section 404(d)(2) of this title” and inserted at end “Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Secretary determines that it is in the best interest of the United States, the Secretary may reduce a rate for meals established under this subsection by the amount of that rate attributable to operating expenses.” 1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–661 inserted “or when residing at a military installation pursuant to an agreement in effect on June 30, 1986,” in second sentence. 1985—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–145 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 1985 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–145 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 813 of Pub. L. 99–145, formerly set out in a Military Family Policy and Programs note under section 113 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective DateSection effective Sept. 15, 1981, but the authority to prescribe regulations under this section effective on Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.