109 HR 6035 IH: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the U.S. House of Representatives 2006-09-06 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.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6035 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 6, 2006 Mr. Larsen of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide enhanced travel benefits for veterans traveling to facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rural Veterans Transportation Act of 2006.

2.

Transportation grants for rural veterans service organizations

(a)

Establishment of grant program

Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1730A.

Transportation grant program

(a)

Grant program

(1)The Secretary shall establish a grant program to make grants to State veterans’ service officers and veterans service organizations for the purpose of providing innovative transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas. (2)To be eligible to receive a grant under this section a State veterans’ service officer or veterans service organization shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. (3)The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant to— (A)provide assistance to veterans for traveling to Department medical centers; and (B)otherwise assist in providing medical care to veterans in remote rural areas. (4)A grant under this section shall not exceed $50,000. (5)A recipient of a grant under this section shall not be required to provide matching funds as a condition of receiving such a grant. (b)

Rulemaking

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for— (1)evaluating grant applications under this section; and (2)otherwise administering the program established by this section. (c)

Definition

In this section, the term veterans service organization means any organization named in or approved under section 5902 of this title. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1730 the following new item: 1730A. Transportation grant program. .

3.

Travel reimbursement for veterans receiving treatment at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

Reimbursement

Section 111 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)by striking subsistence), and inserting subsistence at a rate equivalent to the rate provided to Federal employees under section 5702 of title 5),; and (B)by striking traveled, and inserting (at a rate equivalent to the rate provided to Federal employees under section 5704 of title 5),; (2)in subsection (b)(1), by striking subsection (g)(2)(A) of this section or; (3)by striking subsection (g); and (4)by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g). (b)

Authorization of appropriations

Amounts required to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a) shall be specifically appropriated for that purpose.