Sending Office: Honorable Rick Larsen
Sent By:
Ian.O’Keefe@mail.house.gov
Dear Colleague,
Veterans should not have to worry about how to get to their health care appointments. Too often travel is a real burden, especially for veterans in rural communities.
The Rural Veterans Transportation Enhancement Act will make permanent three successful initiatives that help veterans get to their appointments. Not only do these initiatives ease the burden for veterans traveling lengthy distances for care, but
they save taxpayer dollars and reduce the number of missed medical appointments at the VA.
The Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2019
- Expands a pilot program that reimburses veterans and eligible beneficiaries for travelling to Vet Centers for mental health care and counseling.
- Makes permanent the Veterans Transportation Service program, which allows local VA facilities to hire drivers and purchase vehicles to transport veterans to their appointments but is scheduled to expire at the end of FY 2020.
- Extends a grant that allows Veterans Service Organizations and State Veterans Service Agencies to explore new approaches to provide transportation or travel assistance.
- Expedites the certification process for volunteer drivers serving veterans through the Veterans Transportation Service program.
The bipartisan Rural Veterans Transportation Enhancement Act will give veterans peace of mind that they will be able to access the health care they need, regardless of where they live.
If you have questions or would like to cosponsor, please contact Katy Nazaretova (Katy.Nazaretova@mail.house.gov) of Congressman Larsen’s staff or Adam Link (Adam.Link@mail.house.gov)
of Congressman Thornberry’s staff.
Sincerely,
/s /s
Rick Larsen Mac Thornberry
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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