[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 850 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 413
116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                 S. 850

  To extend the authorization of appropriations to the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs for purposes of awarding grants to veterans service 
     organizations for the transportation of highly rural veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 14, 2019

 Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, and Ms. Sinema) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                          on Veterans' Affairs

                            February 5, 2020

                Reported by Mr. Moran, with an amendment
                  [Insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To extend the authorization of appropriations to the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs for purposes of awarding grants to veterans service 
     organizations for the transportation of highly rural veterans.

    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 ``Highly Rural Veteran Transportation 
Program Extension Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO 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 ``2020'' and inserting ``2021''.

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. 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 Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension Act, 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. 5. 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 of Veterans Affairs 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.
            (8) An assessment of other options for transportation under 
        the program, such as local taxi companies and ridesharing 
        programs such as Uber and Lyft.
                                                       Calendar No. 413

116th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                 S. 850

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To extend the authorization of appropriations to the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs for purposes of awarding grants to veterans service 
     organizations for the transportation of highly rural veterans.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            February 5, 2020

                       Reported with an amendment