II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 696 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 31, 2011 Mr. Tester introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to treat Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities, and for other purposes.

1.

Treatment of Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel

(a)

In general

Section 111 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i)(1)Vet Centers shall be treated as Department facilities for purposes of providing payment of actual expenses of travel or allowance for travel to or from a Department facility under this section. (2)In this subsection, the term Vet Center means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans under section 1712A of this title. . (b)

Applicability

Section 111(i) of such title, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to travel occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.