I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4073 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 16, 2009 Mr. Minnick (for himself, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Boucher, Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mr. Kissell, Mr. Teague, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Michaud, and Mrs. Kirkpatrick of Arizona) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans for certain travel expenses.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act.

2.

Increased payments for travel

(a)

In general

Section 111 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by inserting in accordance with subsection (i) after including lodging and subsistence; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i)(1)Notwithstanding subsection (g)(2)(A), in determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section to a veteran described in paragraph (2) for lodging and subsistence expenses, the Secretary shall use the amount that is equal to the amount that would be payable or reimbursable under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, if such veteran were an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs traveling on official business away from the employee’s home. (2)A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran eligible for payments under subsection (b)(1) if such veteran— (A)is traveling in connection with— (i)treatment or care for a service-connected disability; or (ii)a scheduled compensation and pension examination; and (B)such travel— (i)is more than 150 miles from the residence of the veteran; or (ii)requires lodging and subsistence because of inclement weather, as determined by the Secretary. . (b)

Effective date

Subsection (i) of section 111 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.