[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4284-H4285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TERRITORIAL RESPONSE AND ACCESS TO VETERANS' ESSENTIAL LIFECARE ACT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3400) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assign physicians of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to temporarily serve as traveling physicians in the
territories and possessions of the United States, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3400
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 ``Territorial Response and
Access to Veterans' Essential Lifecare Act'' or the ``TRAVEL
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS ASSIGNMENT OF TRAVELING
PHYSICIANS TO SERVE TERRITORIES AND
POSSESSIONS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 7415. Traveling physicians
``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary may assign a physician
appointed under section 7401 or section 7431 of this title to
serve as a traveling physician for a period of not more than
one year at a time. A physician assigned to serve as a
traveling physician under this section may be assigned to
provide health care to veterans residing in American Samoa,
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, or any other territory or possession of the United
States at Department facilities or other approved facilities
located in such territory or possession.
``(2) The Secretary may assign multiple physicians to serve
as traveling physicians under this section and may assign
each such physician to serve in a specific territory or
possession.
``(b) Coordination of Care.--In providing care under this
section, traveling physicians shall coordinate with non-
Department medical providers to the extent practicable and
necessary to ensure high quality and coordinated care for
veterans receiving hospital care and medical services.
``(c) Pay.--In addition to pay under section 7431 of this
title, the Secretary shall provide a relocation or retention
bonus to traveling physicians under this section. Such
relocation or retention bonus shall be substantially similar
to a relocation or retention bonus offered under section
7410(a) of this title, as the Secretary considers
appropriate.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 7414 the following new item:
``7415. Traveling physicians.''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Title 38, United
States Code, is further amended as follows:
(1) In section 7410(a)(1), by--
(A) by striking ``retention allowances'' and inserting
``retention bonuses''; and
(B) by striking the second comma after ``section 7401(1) of
this title''; and
(2) In section 7431(e)(5)(B), by striking ``retention
allowances'' and inserting ``retention bonuses''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting
``December 31, 2032''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 3400, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3400, as amended,
offered by my colleague on the Veterans' Affairs Committee
Representative King-Hinds.
This bill would give the VA Secretary the power to assign traveling
physicians for up to 1 year at a time in the U.S. territories to
deliver care.
The VA provides healthcare in five U.S. territories in the Pacific
and Atlantic. In the Pacific, the VA has one medical center in
Honolulu, Hawaii. There are three outpatient clinics in American Samoa,
Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. In the Atlantic, the VA has one
medical center in Puerto Rico. There are 10 outpatient clinics across
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Based on the most recent data we have, the VA Pacific system served
7,200 enrolled veterans. The VA Caribbean system serves 61,000 enrolled
veterans. The veterans in these parts of the world are forced to spend
time and money to get their hard-earned care. For example, a veteran in
Guam must travel 4,000 miles for care in Honolulu. A veteran in the
Virgin Islands has to fly to Puerto Rico to receive care at the VA
Medical Center there. The TRAVEL Act would expand the reach of VA care
by putting physicians where the veterans live.
I thank Representative King-Hinds, my friend, for her leadership on
this bill to get veterans in remote parts of the world the healthcare
they have earned. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3400, as
amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 3400, the TRAVEL Act
of 2025, as amended.
The VA estimates that as of June 2023, there were at least 100,000
veterans living in U.S. territories, but it is likely that this number
is even higher. However, only Puerto Rico has a VA Medical Center, and
only American Samoa and Guam have outpatient clinics or CBOCs.
Therefore, veterans living in the territories have limited access to VA
medical care.
While eligible veterans can receive care through the VA's community
care program, access to specialty care, even in the community, is
extremely limited, given the lack of such services in the territories.
This legislation authorizes the VA to appoint traveling physicians to
provide care to veterans residing in American Samoa, Guam, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other territory or
possession of the United States. It will also allow the traveling VA
physician to coordinate with nondepartment medical providers as
necessary to provide care. I thank Representative King-Hinds for
introducing this bill.
Individuals from the territories generally enlist in the military at
higher
[[Page H4285]]
per capita rates than residents of most U.S. States. However, veterans
in the territories have long struggled to access the VA healthcare they
have earned. This legislation could help reduce the rate at which these
veterans must be referred to community providers or endure lengthy
travel to access services at VA medical facilities thousands and
thousands of miles away from home.
Veterans deserve access to the care and benefits they have earned,
regardless of where they live. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
3400, the TRAVEL Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Ms.
King-Hinds).
Ms. KING-HINDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my
bill, H.R. 3400, as amended, the Territorial Response and Access to
Veterans Essential Lifecare Act, otherwise known as the TRAVEL Act of
2025.
This legislation is a vital step toward improving healthcare access
to veterans residing in U.S. territories, including my district, the
Northern Mariana Islands.
Our veterans have served our country with honor, but too many of them
still struggle to receive even the most basic care close to home.
The TRAVEL Act directly addresses the critical shortage of
specialized medical care in remote and underserved areas. It authorizes
the Department of Veterans Affairs to temporarily deploy VA physicians
and medical specialists to the territories. These professionals would
receive travel bonuses and provide much-needed care, helping close
persistent gaps in the VA service network.
When I meet with veterans back home, I often hear the same
heartbreaking stories: long travel, long waits, and feeling forgotten
by the very system meant to care for them. This bill is driven by those
voices. Their needs, their experiences, and their dignity are at the
heart of the TRAVEL Act. This bill brings care to them rather than
asking them to sacrifice even more.
I extend my deep appreciation to the Veterans' Affairs Committee
Chairman Mike Bost and Ranking Member Takano, as well as their
dedicated staff, for their work and support of this legislation. This
bipartisan effort reflects a shared commitment across the aisle and
across the country ensuring that no veteran is left behind, no matter
where they live.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the TRAVEL Act.
{time} 1620
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to vote
``yes'' on H.R. 3400, the TRAVEL Act.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 3400, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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