Travel Assistance for Veterans Bill Introduced
Veterans living in the Northern Mariana Islands and the Freely Associated States face significant barriers to accessing VA health care because there is not a single VA medical facility in the region. Many must travel to another U.S. territory or state for treatment, but current law limits beneficiary travel reimbursements to veterans with a disability rating of at least 30 percent. To help close this gap, I introduced H.R. 9316, the Travel Assistance for Veterans in Medical Deserts Act, which would allow veterans in the CNMI and the Freely Associated States to qualify for beneficiary travel benefits regardless of whether they meet the 30 percent disability threshold. By reducing out-of-pocket travel expenses, the bill would make it easier for veterans to obtain timely medical care and improve health outcomes for those living far from VA services. This piece of legislation has been cosponsored by Ranking Member Takano making it bipartisan and supported by committee leadership. Thank you Ranking Member Takano for your support!