S. 784 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 27, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands transportation aid for rural veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers grants to help veterans get transportation to medical appointments. Right now, this program mainly helps veterans in highly rural areas. This bill would expand it to reach more rural areas too, and it would let county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations apply for the grants. The bill also increases the maximum grant amount from current levels to $60,000, or up to $80,000 if a vehicle needs to be purchased to meet disability access requirements.
How it affects you
If you're a veteran living in a rural area, this could make it easier to get to VA medical appointments. Currently, the program is limited mostly to veterans in the most remote areas, so this expansion would help more rural veterans access transportation assistance. County veterans service organizations and tribal organizations in your area could also apply for grants to help veterans like you get the medical care you need.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 27, 2025)
Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act
This bill expands and makes permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that provides transportation options to veterans for medical purposes.
First, the bill expands the program to cover transportation for veterans in rural areas, in addition to veterans in highly rural areas (who are already eligible under the program).
The bill also authorizes the VA to award such grants to county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations to assist veterans with transportation for medical care.
Further, the bill increases the maximum grant amount to $60,000. However, if a grant recipient is required to purchase a vehicle to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, such grant amount may be increased to not more than $80,000.
Finally, the bill defines rural and highly rural in the same manner as the terms are given under the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system of the Department of Agriculture. RUCA uses population density and commuting patterns to assign designations.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 784
A BILL
Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act
Sponsor: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) · Introduced Feb 27, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 21, 2025: “Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.”