[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17421]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   VETERANS TRAVEL PROGRAM REFORM ACT

  (Mr. WALZ of Minnesota asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a new 
bill, the Veterans Travel Program Reform Act of 2008. I'm proud to be 
joined by my colleague from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) in introducing 
this legislation.
  Many of our veterans incur significant costs traveling to and from VA 
facilities to receive their health care treatment. This is especially 
true because of skyrocketing gas prices, and it's a big problem in 
rural areas like southern Minnesota.
  While some veterans are reimbursed for their travel, the rate they 
receive is way below what Members of this body receive when we travel 
in our cars. That is simply wrong. What's more, current law requires 
the VA Secretary to raise the deductible that veterans have to pay when 
the mileage reimbursement goes up.
  Many of our veterans travel--and travel long distances--and end up 
paying for it out of their own pocket. This bill would fix these 
problems by making it more generous and fair in the reimbursement. It 
would set the mileage rate at the same rate that other Members of 
Congress and other Federal employees receive. It would eliminate the 
deductible, and it would eliminate the restrictions on eligibility so 
more of our veterans would be able to receive that.
  Mr. Speaker, our veterans served us, now it's time we serve them. I 
urge my colleagues to join me.

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