[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2627 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2627
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve assistance for
veterans with travel necessary for counseling, mental health services,
health care, and others services furnished by the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 5, 2021
Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Moran) 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 improve assistance for
veterans with travel necessary for counseling, mental health services,
health care, and others services furnished by the Department of
Veterans Affairs, 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 2021''.
SEC. 2. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.
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. 3. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
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 to read as follows:
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section amounts as follows:
``(1) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through
2022.
``(2) Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023
and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT ON FRAUD,
WASTE, AND ABUSE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM.
(a) Study and Report Required.--Not later than three years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall--
(1) complete a study on fraud, waste, and abuse of the
benefits furnished under section 111 of title 38, United States
Code, that may have occurred during the five-year period ending
on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) 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 findings of the Comptroller
General with respect to the study completed under paragraph
(1).
(b) Elements.--Study conducted under subsection (a)(1) shall cover
the following:
(1) The quantity and monetary amount of claims that have
been adjudicated as fraudulent or improper, disaggregated, to
the extent possible, by general health care travel and by
special mode of transportation.
(2) Instances of potential fraud or improper payments that
may have occurred but were not detected, disaggregated, to the
extent possible, by general health care travel and by special
mode of transportation.
(3) The efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
mitigate fraud and the effectiveness of the efforts of the
Secretary.
(4) Assessment of communication and training provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs to employees and contractors
handling claims filed under section 111 of such title regarding
fraud.
(5) Such recommendations as the Comptroller General may
have for further mitigation of fraud, waste, and abuse.
SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTIVENESS OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM
MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT AND DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNTS.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(1) complete a study on--
(A) the efficacy of the current mileage
reimbursement rate under subsection (a) of section 111
of title 38, United States Code, in mitigating the
financial burden of transportation costs for traveling
to and from Department of Veterans Affairs medical
facilities for medical care;
(B) the origins of the amount of the deductible
under subsection (c) of such section and its impact on
the efficacy of the benefits provided under such
section in mitigating financial burden on veterans
seeking medical care; and
(C) developing such recommendations as the
Comptroller General may have for how the this program
or another transportation assistance program could
further encourage veterans, especially low-income
veterans, to seek medical care, especially mental
health care; and
(2) 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 findings of the Comptroller
General with respect to the study completed under paragraph
(1).
SEC. 6. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TRANSPORTATION PILOT PROGRAM FOR
LOW INCOME VETERANS.
(a) Pilot Program Required.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
commence carrying out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of providing payments authorized under subsection (a) of
section 111 of title 38, United States Code, 48 hours in advance of
travel to eligible appointments to veterans and other eligible
individuals who are also eligible for a deduction waiver as provided by
paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (c) of such section.
(b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program
during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement
of the pilot program.
(c) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at
not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of
the pilot program.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with
respect to the pilot program.
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) The number of individuals who benefitted from
the pilot program broken, disaggregated by geographic
location, race or ethnicity, age, disability rating,
and gender.
(B) Average distance traveled by participants to
appointments and average funds provided per
appointment, disaggregated by geographic region.
(C) A description of any impediments to carrying
out the pilot program.
(D) An account of payments provided for travel that
did not occur or was authorized incorrectly.
(E) An account of any attempts to retrieve such
payment.
(F) Recommendations of the Secretary for
legislative or administrative action to reduce improper
payments.
(G) An assessment of the feasibility and
advisability of providing payments as described in
subsection (a).
SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ACCESSING
READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICES.
(a) Pilot Program Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and
commence a pilot program, within the Readjustment Counseling Services
of the Veterans Health Administration, to assess the feasibility and
advisability of paying the actual necessary expenses of travel or
allowances for travel to and from the nearest Vet Center.
(b) Participation.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program required
by subsection (a), the Secretary shall limit participation--
(A) by individuals pursuant to paragraph (2); and
(B) by Vet Centers pursuant to paragraph (3).
(2) Participation by individuals.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall limit
participation in the pilot program of individuals to
individuals who are eligible for services at a
participating Vet Center and experiencing financial
hardship.
(B) Financial hardship.--The Secretary shall
determine the meaning of ``financial hardship'' for
purposes of subparagraph (A).
(3) Participation of vet centers.--Vet Centers
participating in the program shall be chosen by the Secretary
from among those serving individuals in areas designated by the
Secretary as rural or highly rural or Tribal lands.
(c) Travel Allowances and Reimbursements.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), under
the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary
shall provide a participating individual a travel allowance or
reimbursement a minimum of 48 hours before the participating
individual is scheduled to be at a participating Vet Center.
(2) Special case.--For appointments scheduled less than 48
hours in advance, reimbursements shall be made available under
the pilot program for a participating individual at the
earliest time possible.
(d) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program
required by subsection (a) during the five-year period beginning on the
date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(e) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at
not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of
the pilot program.
(f) Annual Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the commencement of the pilot program required by subsection
(a) and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot
program, the Secretary 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
findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program.
(2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) The number of individuals who benefitted from
the pilot program, disaggregated by age, race or
ethnicity, and gender, to the extent possible.
(B) The average distance traveled by each
individual per each Vet Center.
(C) The definition of financial hardship determined
by the Secretary under subsection (b)(2)(B).
(D) A description of how the funds are distributed.
(E) The average amount of funds distributed per
instance, disaggregated by Vet Center.
(F) A description of any impediments to the
Secretary in paying expenses or allowances under the
pilot program.
(G) An assessment of any fraudulent receipt of
payment under the pilot program and the recommendations
of the Secretary for legislative or administrative
action to reduce such fraud.
(H) Such recommendations for legislative or
administrative action as the Secretary considers
appropriate with respect to the payment of expenses or
allowances.
(g) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet Center''
means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health
services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States
Code.
SEC. 8. PILOT PROGRAM ON GRANTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES FOR VETERANS.
(a) Grant Program Required.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
commence carrying out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of awarding grants to eligible entities to improve public
transportation services for veterans.
(b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program
during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the pilot
program commences.
(c) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at
not fewer than five locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of
the pilot program.
(d) Award of Grants.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to expand,
retain, or establish public transportation services that
provide veterans access to locations of facilities or
organizations that serve veterans, including--
(A) facilities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs; and
(B) organizations that provide services to veterans
using funds provided by the Department.
(2) Eligible entities.--For purposes of this section, an
eligible entity is any State, Tribal, county, or city
government that--
(A) is providing public transportation services as
of the date on which the pilot program commences; or
(B) has a proven ability and intention to establish
public transportation infrastructure.
(3) Intervals of payment and maximum grant amount.--The
Secretary may establish intervals of payment for the
administration of grants under this section and a maximum grant
amount to be awarded, in accordance with the services being
provided and the duration of such services.
(4) Coordination and consultation.--In awarding grants
under this section, the Secretary may coordinate and consult
with the Secretary of Transportation.
(5) Equitable distribution.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants
awarded under this section are equitably distributed across
geographic regions, including rural and Tribal communities.
(e) Grant Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking the award of a
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application therefor in such form, in such manner, and
containing such commitments and information as the Secretary
considers necessary to carry out this section.
(2) Contents of application.--Each application submitted by
an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain the
following:
(A) A description of the public transportation
services that the entity intends to provide under the
grant.
(B) A list of all sites accessed by the public
transportation services to be provided.
(C) The schedule of such services.
(D) A list of the locations of facilities and
organizations that serve veterans that will be accessed
by such services.
(E) An estimate of the number of veterans that
would use such services.
(F) Evidence of the ability of the entity to
provide such services.
(f) Notification to Veterans.--Each eligible entity awarded a grant
under this section shall notify veterans of the expansion or
establishment of public transportation services to locations of
facilities or organizations that serve veterans and that those services
are available in whole or in part due to funds provided by the
Department.
(g) Report on Services Provided.--The Secretary shall require each
eligible entity awarded a grant under this section to submit to the
Secretary a report that describes the expansion, retention, or
establishment of public transportation services provided with amounts
under such grant.
(h) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the first grant is awarded under this section, the
Secretary 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 services provided under the
pilot program.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) The geographic location of each recipient of a
grant under this section.
(B) The estimated number of veterans served by each
such grant recipient.
(C) An assessment of whether use of facilities of
the Department has increased due to access to public
transportation provided under grants awarded under this
section, if information for such an assessment is
available.
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