119 HR 3400 IH: the Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-05-14 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3400IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 14, 2025Ms. King-Hinds (for herself, Mr. Moylan, and Mrs. Radewagen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assign physicians of the Department of Veterans Affairs to temporarily serve as traveling physicians in the territories and possessions of the United States, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the the Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare Act or the TRAVEL Act of 2025.

2.

Department of Veterans assignment of traveling physicians to serve territories and possessions

(a)

In general

Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

7415.

Traveling physicians

(a)

In general

The Secretary may assign a physician appointed under section 7401 of this title to serve as a traveling physician for a period of not more than one year. A traveling physician shall provide health care to veterans residing in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States at Department facilities located in such territories and possessions. (b)

Coordination of care

In providing care under this section, traveling physicians shall coordinate with non-Department medical providers to the extent necessary to ensure high quality and coordinated care for veterans receiving hospital care and medical services. (c)

Pay

In addition to pay under section 7431 of this title, the Secretary shall provide a relocation or retention bonus to traveling physicians under this section. A relocation or retention bonus under this subsection shall be substantially similar to a relocation or retention bonus offered under sections 5753 and 5754, respectively, of title 5, as the Secretary considers appropriate.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7414 the following new item: 7415. Traveling physicians..