Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1733
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:08:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act (H.R. 1733) aims to broaden access to transportation services for veterans in rural and highly rural areas by expanding and updating a grant program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This program funds innovative ways to help veterans reach medical appointments and other care, addressing challenges like long distances and limited public transit in remote locations.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: The program now covers veterans in both "rural" and "highly rural" areas, using definitions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system, which classifies areas based on population density and commuting patterns.
- New Grant Recipients: Eligible organizations are expanded to include county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations, in addition to state veterans service agencies and other nonprofits.
- Grant Limits: The maximum grant amount is set at $60,000 per recipient, but can increase to $80,000 if funds are needed to buy a vehicle that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements—federal rules ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.
- Funding Mechanism: Instead of fixed annual amounts, the program receives "such sums as may be necessary," allowing flexible federal funding based on need.
- Administration: Grants support creative transportation solutions, like rideshares or shuttles, tailored to local needs in rural settings.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 307 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, which previously focused only on "highly rural" areas and had stricter limits:
- Scope Broadening: Adds "rural" areas to the program's reach, potentially including more communities.
- Recipient Updates: Introduces county and tribal groups as grantees, and simplifies language from "awarded" organizations to general "recipients."
- Financial Adjustments: Raises the grant cap from prior levels (not specified in the bill but implied by context) and ties extra funding to ADA compliance for vehicles. It also shifts from capped funding ($3 million per year through 2022) to open-ended appropriations, removing expiration and enabling ongoing support.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA gains flexibility in funding and partnerships, which could streamline grant distribution but may increase administrative workload for reviewing more applications from diverse recipients like tribal organizations.
- On Citizens: Veterans in rural and highly rural areas—estimated at over 3 million nationwide—could see improved access to healthcare, reducing missed appointments due to travel barriers. This may enhance overall veteran health outcomes and quality of life.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. veteran services.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, especially those in remote areas facing transportation challenges.
- Veterans Service Organizations: State, county, and tribal groups that can now apply for and receive grants to provide services.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for managing the expanded program, including grant awards and oversight.
- Rural Communities: Local governments and tribes in less populated areas that support veteran transportation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance with the ADA by incentivizing accessible vehicles, potentially reducing future disability discrimination lawsuits. The use of USDA's RUCA system provides a clear, data-driven standard for eligibility, minimizing disputes over area classifications.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I to spend for the general welfare, particularly supporting veterans as a protected group under laws like the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. No apparent conflicts with federalism, though it encourages state, county, and tribal involvement.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan support for rural issues (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) and addresses equity gaps in veteran care, which could influence future VA budgets. The open-ended funding may spark debates on fiscal responsibility during appropriations processes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
Cosponsors (19)
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (3 pages)