[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2966 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2966
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the authority
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transport individuals to and
from facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection
with rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, and care, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 3, 2019
Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Hoeven, Mr.
Manchin, and Ms. Collins) 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 make permanent the authority
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transport individuals to and
from facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection
with rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, and care, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. 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:
``(h)(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(h) 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.
SEC. 3. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM FACILITIES OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 111A(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''.
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS FOR VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.
Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is
amended by striking ``through 2020'' and inserting ``through 2022''.
SEC. 5. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS
PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR
VETERANS.
Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
the Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2019, the Secretary shall
develop and establish a national protocol for the administration of
medical examinations for volunteer drivers to participate in the
program described in paragraph (1).
``(B) In developing the protocol required by subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall consult with such persons as the Secretary determines
have an interest in the program described in paragraph (1).
``(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol by first
conducting a one year pilot program using the protocol.
``(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by clause (i),
the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and make such changes to
the protocol as the Secretary considers appropriate.
``(iii) After making changes to the protocol under clause (ii), the
Secretary shall implement the protocol in phases during the course of
one year.''.
SEC. 6. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT ON
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VETERANS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the program the establishment of which was facilitated under
section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code.
(b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) A description of the program described in subsection
(a), including descriptions of the following:
(A) The purpose of the program.
(B) The activities carried out under the program.
(2) An assessment of the sufficiency of the program with
respect to the purpose of the program.
(3) An assessment of the cost effectiveness of the program
in relation to alternatives.
(4) An assessment of the health benefits for veterans who
have participated in the program.
(5) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing of
employees of the department who are responsible for
facilitating the maintenance of the program.
(6) An assessment, with respect to the purpose of the
program, of the number of vehicles owned by and operating in
conjunction with the program.
(7) An assessment of the awareness and usage of the program
by veterans and their families.
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