House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week announced reforms to congressional delegation travel rules.

In a letter sent May 13 to House committee chairs, Pelosi provided a "restatement of rules concerning the authorization by chairmen of travel by members and staff," the first such changes in 30 years. The revised rules disallow business and first class bookings for domestic and international travel on commercial carriers unless flights are longer than 14 hours; request that foreign travel "be authorized only when it is necessary to facilitate the work of the committee"; and require committee members to request travel authorizations in writing and estimate airline ticket costs.