BREAKING: USA TODAY probe finds huge jump in congressional foreign travel costs, fueled by hundreds of flights over $10K

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser   Taxpayer-funded foreign travel costs for members of Congress and staff nearly doubled in fiscal year 2016, jumping to $19.4 million, up from $11 million the year before, Treasury Department documents show. About 40% of commercial flights booked for lawmakers and their staff had tickets costing more than $10,000. Members of Congress travel abroad to oversee U.S. spending, meet with foreign officials and visit U.S. troops, but Congress does not pay for the trips, so there is no incentive to keep costs down. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, GO TO:   USATODAY.COM     Help | Advertise | Home Delivery | Privacy Policy - Your California Privacy Rights     © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22108