Both the Lower and Upper houses have failed for the last 20 years to respond to requests from an association of private railways to pay for the free train passes member companies provide to lawmakers.
The Association of Japanese Private Railways said it has been asking both Diet chambers to fork over money for the passes, but neither house has ever processed the requests.
All 722 Diet members have free access to most domestic transportation. Every year, the chambers budget ¥1.3 billion to pay for passes on Japan Railway Group carriers, which are technically private, as well as for Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.