Summary

The Administrator of the Veterans Administration requested GAO's opinion on whether in the absence of a specific provision for increasing medical research travel funds, any limitation on travel expense within the amount earmarked by Congress was intended in the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1957.

GAO found that Congress did not intend medical research funds to be subject to a limitation applicable to the entire appropriation. Accordingly, GAO advised the Administrator of the Veterans Administration to revise the limitation control to conform to the maximum amount authorized in the appropriation for travel expenses of employees.