II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 996 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2005 Mr. Burns (for himself, Mr. Enzi, and Mr. Thune) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To improve the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Road to Health Care Act of 2005.

2.

Improvement of Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program

(a)

Payments for certain additional medical care

(1)

In general

Section 111(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (G)A veteran whose travel is in connection with treatment or care for a non-service-connected disability at a non-Department facility, if the treatment or care— (i)is provided upon the recommendation of medical personnel of the Department; and (ii)is not available at the Department facility at which such recommendation is made. . (2)

Effective date

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 2005, and shall apply with respect to fiscal years after fiscal year 2005. (b)

Calculation of expenses of travel

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in calculating expenses of travel for purposes of the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall utilize the mileage reimbursement rates for the use on official business of privately owned vehicles, as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5, United States Code. (2)

Definition

In this subsection, the term Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program means the program of payment or reimbursement for necessary expenses of travel of veterans and their beneficiaries prescribed under sections 111 and 1728 of title 38, United States Code, and under any other provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for payment or reimbursement for such travel expenses.