Bill > HR1733

This bill expands and modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs' transportation grant program to better serve veterans in rural and highly rural areas. Specifically, the bill broadens the types of organizations eligible to receive grants to include county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations. It increases the maximum grant amount from an unspecified previous limit to $60,000, with the possibility of increasing the grant to $80,000 if the recipient needs to purchase a vehicle to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bill also updates the definitions of "rural" and "highly rural" to use the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system from the Department of Agriculture, which provides a more precise geographical classification. Additionally, the bill removes the previous funding cap of $3,000,000 for fiscal years 2010-2022 and replaces it with language allowing "such sums as may be necessary," which provides more flexible funding for the program. The goal is to improve transportation options for veterans who live in areas with limited access to healthcare facilities, ensuring they can more easily receive necessary medical care.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1733/all-info