II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1191 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 7, 2005 Mr. Salazar introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the VetsRide Act.
2.
Findings
Congress makes the following findings: (1)For many veterans living in rural areas in the United States, the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs medical center is hundreds of miles away. (2)The Department of Veterans Affairs has been unable to adequately provide care for veterans due to budgetary constraints. In 2004, the Department of Veterans Affairs set a goal to build 156 new community-based outpatient clinics by 2012. Budget shortfalls have slowed the building of new clinics and many service networks have postponed opening new clinics indefinitely or reduced staffing at existing clinics. (3)State veteran service officers and private veteran service organizations have moved in to fill the void, providing critically needed transportation services to veterans in rural remote areas. These services are especially important to elderly and infirm veterans who do not have other transportation options. (4)Although such ad hoc veterans travel programs have community support, many suffer from chronic underfunding. Relatively small investments in transportation services can result in significantly better care for our Nation’s most vulnerable veterans.
3.
Transportation grants for rural veterans service organizations
(a)
Grants authorized
(1)
In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas. (2)
Use of funds
Grants awarded under this section may be used by State veterans’ service officers and veterans service organizations to— (A)assist veterans to travel to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and (B)otherwise assist in providing medical care to veterans in remote rural areas. (3)
Maximum amount
The Secretary may not award a grant under this section in an amount in excess of $50,000. (4)
No matching requirement
Grant recipients under this section shall not be required to provide matching funds as a condition for 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 recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code. (d)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out this Act.