,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bfbg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,augu/ #e1 #bjba,mr4   
,te/] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,moran7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
improve assi/ance = vet]ans ) travel    
necess>y = c\nsel+1 m5tal heal? s]vices1
 heal? c>e1 & o!rs s]vices furni%$ by ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,rural ,vet]ans ,travel    
,enhancem5t ,act ( #bjba4  #b4 ,mak+    
p]man5t au?ority = secret>y ( vet]ans   
affairs to transport individuals to & f 
dep>tm5t facilities ,section #aaa;,a7a7 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code is     
am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#b72 &  
7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ 7#a74    
#c4 ,p]man5t ext5sion ( au?orization (  
appropriations = grants = vet]ans s]vice
 organizations = transportation ( highly
 rural vet]ans ,section #cjg7;d7 ( !    

,c>egiv]s & ,vet]ans ,omnibus ,heal?    
,s]vices ,act ( #bjaj 7,public ,law     
#aaa-afc2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agaj note7 is  
am5d$ to read z foll[s3  7d7            
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out  
?is section am\nts z foll[s3 7#a7       
#c1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjaj    
?r\gh #bjbb4  7#b7 ,su* sums z may be   
necess>y = fiscal ye> #bjbc & ea* fiscal
 ye> !reaft]4  4  #d4 ,comptroll] ,g5]al
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates report on fraud1     
wa/e1 & abuse ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs b5efici>y travel program  7a7  
,/udy & report requir$ ,n lat] ?an ?ree 
ye>s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates %all-- 7#a7 complete a /udy on   
fraud1 wa/e1 & abuse ( ! b5efits furni%$
 "u section #aaa ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 t may h occurr$ dur+ !    
five-ye> p]iod end+ on ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 &  7#b7 submit to !
 ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      

,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! f9d+s ( ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al
 ) respect to ! /udy complet$ "u        
p>agraph 7#a74  7b7 ,elem5ts ,/udy      
conduct$ "u subsection 7a77#a7 %all cov]
 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! quantity & monet>y   
am\nt ( claims t h be5 adjudicat$ z     
fraudul5t or improp]1 disaggregat$1 to !
 ext5t possible1 by g5]al heal? c>e     
travel & by special mode (              
transportation4  7#b7 ,in/ances (       
pot5tial fraud or improp] paym5ts t may 
h occurr$ b 7 n detect$1 disaggregat$1  
to ! ext5t possible1 by g5]al heal? c>e 
travel & by special mode (              
transportation4  7#c7 ,! ef=ts ( !      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to        
mitigate fraud & ! effectiv5ess ( !     
ef=ts ( ! ,secret>y4  7#d7 ,assessm5t ( 
communication & tra9+ provid$ by !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to        
employees & contractors h&l+ claims fil$
 "u section #aaa ( su* title reg>d+     
fraud4  7#e7 ,su* recomm5dations z !    
,comptroll] ,g5]al may h = fur!r        

mitigation ( fraud1 wa/e1 & abuse4  #e4 
,comptroll] ,g5]al /udy & report on     
effectiv5ess ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs b5efici>y travel program       
mileage reimbursem5t & d$uctible am\nts 
,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll]      
,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all-- 7#a7    
complete a /udy on-- 7,a7 ! efficacy ( !
 curr5t mileage reimbursem5t rate "u    
subsection 7a7 ( section #aaa ( title   
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 9 mitigat+ !  
f9ancial burd5 ( transportation co/s =  
travel+ to & f ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs m$ical facilities = m$ical c>e2
  7,b7 ! orig9s ( ! am\nt ( ! d$uctible 
"u subsection 7c7 ( su* section & its   
impact on ! efficacy ( ! b5efits provid$
 "u su* section 9 mitigat+ f9ancial     
burd5 on vet]ans seek+ m$ical c>e2 &    
7,c7 develop+ su* recomm5dations z !    
,comptroll] ,g5]al may h = h[ ! ?is     
program or ano!r transportation         
assi/ance program c\ld fur!r enc\rage   
vet]ans1 especially l[-income vet]ans1  

to seek m$ical c>e1 especially m5tal    
heal? c>e2 &  7#b7 submit to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! f9d+s ( ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al
 ) respect to ! /udy complet$ "u        
p>agraph 7#a74  #f4 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs transportation pilot program =
 l[ income vet]ans  7a7 ,pilot program  
requir$ ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs %all comm5ce c>ry+ out
 a pilot program to assess ! feasibility
 & advisability ( provid+ paym5ts       
au?oriz$ "u subsection 7a7 ( section    
#aaa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1  
#dh h\rs 9 advance ( travel to eligible 
appo9tm5ts to vet]ans & o!r eligible    
individuals :o are also eligible = a    
d$uction waiv] z provid$ by p>agraphs   
7#c7 & 7#d7 ( subsection 7c7 ( su*      
section4  7b7 ,duration ,! ,secret>y    
%all c>ry out ! pilot program dur+ !    
five-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date ( !     

comm5cem5t ( ! pilot program4  7c7      
,locations ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out ! 
pilot program at n few] ?an five        
locations select$ by ! ,secret>y =      
purposes ( ! pilot program4  7d7 ,report
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days   
aft] ! date ( ! completion ( ! pilot    
program1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to     
,congress a report on ! f9d+s ( !       
,secret>y ) respect to ! pilot program4 
7#b7 ,cont5ts ,! report submitt$ "u     
p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,! numb] ( individuals :o b5efitt$ 
f ! pilot program brok51 disaggregat$ by
 geographic location1 race or e?nicity1 
age1 disability rat+1 & g5d]4  7,b7     
,av]age di/ance travel$ by p>ticipants  
to appo9tm5ts & av]age funds provid$ p] 
appo9tm5t1 disaggregat$ by geographic   
region4  7,c7 ,a description ( any      
imp$im5ts to c>ry+ out ! pilot program4 
7,d7 ,an acc\nt ( paym5ts provid$ =     
travel t did n occur or 0 au?oriz$      
incorrectly4  7,e7 ,an acc\nt ( any     
attempts to retrieve su* paym5t4  7,f7  

,recomm5dations ( ! ,secret>y =         
legislative or adm9i/rative action to   
r$uce improp] paym5ts4  7,g7 ,an        
assessm5t ( ! feasibility & advisability
 ( provid+ paym5ts z describ$ 9         
subsection 7a74  #g4 ,pilot program =   
travel co/ reimbursem5t = access+       
readju/m5t c\nsel+ s]vices  7a7 ,pilot  
program requir$ ,n lat] ?an #ahj days   
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y %all e/abli% & comm5ce a pilot
 program1 )9 ! ,readju/m5t ,c\nsel+     
,s]vices ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?            
,adm9i/ration1 to assess ! feasibility &
 advisability ( pay+ ! actual necess>y  
exp5ses ( travel or all[ances = travel  
to & f ! ne>e/ ,vet ,c5t]4  7b7         
,p>ticipation  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 c>ry+   
out ! pilot program requir$ by          
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all limit  
p>ticipation-- 7,a7 by individuals      
pursuant to p>agraph 7#b72 &  7,b7 by   
,vet ,c5t]s pursuant to p>agraph 7#c74  
7#b7 ,p>ticipation by individuals  7,a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all limit        

p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program (        
individuals to individuals :o are       
eligible = s]vices at a p>ticipat+ ,vet 
,c5t] & exp]i5c+ f9ancial h>d%ip4  7,b7 
,f9ancial h>d%ip ,! ,secret>y %all      
det]m9e ! mean+ ( f9ancial h>d%ip =     
purposes ( subp>agraph 7,a74  7#c7      
,p>ticipation ( ,vet ,c5t]s ,vet ,c5t]s 
p>ticipat+ 9 ! program %all be *os5 by !
 ,secret>y f among ^? s]v+ individuals 9
 areas designat$ by ! ,secret>y z rural 
or highly rural or ,tribal l&s4  7c7    
,travel all[ances & reimbursem5ts  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9 p>agraph   
7#b71 "u ! pilot program requir$ by     
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all provide
 a p>ticipat+ individual a travel       
all[ance or reimbursem5t a m9imum ( #dh 
h\rs be=e ! p>ticipat+ individual is    
s*$ul$ to be at a p>ticipat+ ,vet ,c5t]4
  7#b7 ,special case ,= appo9tm5ts      
s*$ul$ less ?an #dh h\rs 9 advance1     
reimbursem5ts %all be made available "u 
! pilot program = a p>ticipat+          
individual at ! e>lie/ "t possible4  7d7

 ,duration ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out ! 
pilot program requir$ by subsection 7a7 
dur+ ! five-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date (
 ! comm5cem5t ( ! pilot program4  7e7   
,locations ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out ! 
pilot program at n few] ?an five        
locations select$ by ! ,secret>y =      
purposes ( ! pilot program4  7f7 ,annual
 reports  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o  
ye> aft] ! date ( ! comm5cem5t ( ! pilot
 program requir$ by subsection 7a7 & ea*
 ye> !reaft] = ! duration ( ! pilot     
program1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !   
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! f9d+s ( ! ,secret>y )       
respect to ! pilot program4  7#b7       
,cont5ts ,ea* report submitt$ "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,! numb] ( individuals :o b5efitt$ 
f ! pilot program1 disaggregat$ by age1 
race or e?nicity1 & g5d]1 to ! ext5t    
possible4  7,b7 ,! av]age di/ance       
travel$ by ea* individual p] ea* ,vet   

,c5t]4  7,c7 ,! def9ition ( f9ancial    
h>d%ip det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y "u        
subsection 7b77#b77;,b74  7,d7 ,a       
description ( h[ ! funds are di/ribut$4 
7,e7 ,! av]age am\nt ( funds di/ribut$  
p] in/ance1 disaggregat$ by ,vet ,c5t]4 
7,f7 ,a description ( any imp$im5ts to !
 ,secret>y 9 pay+ exp5ses or all[ances  
"u ! pilot program4  7,g7 ,an assessm5t 
( any fraudul5t receipt ( paym5t "u !   
pilot program & ! recomm5dations ( !    
,secret>y = legislative or adm9i/rative 
action to r$uce su* fraud4  7,h7 ,su*   
recomm5dations = legislative or         
adm9i/rative action z ! ,secret>y       
consid]s appropriate ) respect to !     
paym5t ( exp5ses or all[ances4  7g7 ,vet
 ,c5t] def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m ,vet 
,c5t] means a c5t] = readju/m5t c\nsel+ 
& relat$ m5tal heal? s]vices = vet]ans  
"u section #agab;,a ( title #ch1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code4  #h4 ,pilot program on    
grants to improve public transportation 
s]vices = vet]ans  7a7 ,grant program   
requir$ ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date (

 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs %all comm5ce c>ry+ out
 a pilot program to assess ! feasibility
 & advisability ( aw>d+ grants to       
eligible entities to improve public     
transportation s]vices = vet]ans4  7b7  
,duration ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out !  
pilot program dur+ ! five-ye> p]iod     
beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! pilot program 
comm5ces4  7c7 ,locations ,! ,secret>y  
%all c>ry out ! pilot program at n few] 
?an five locations select$ by !         
,secret>y = purposes ( ! pilot program4 
7d7 ,aw>d ( grants  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9    
c>ry+ out ! pilot program1 ! ,secret>y  
%all aw>d grants to eligible entities to
 exp&1 reta91 or e/abli% public         
transportation s]vices t provide vet]ans
 access to locations ( facilities or    
organizations t s]ve vet]ans1 includ+-- 
7,a7 facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs2 &  7,b7 organizations t      
provide s]vices to vet]ans us+ funds    
provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,eligible 
entities ,= purposes ( ?is section1 an  

eligible entity is any ,/ate1 ,tribal1  
c\nty1 or city gov]nm5t t-- 7,a7 is     
provid+ public transportation s]vices z 
( ! date on :i* ! pilot program         
comm5ces2 or  7,b7 has a prov5 ability &
 int5tion to e/abli% public             
transportation infra/ructure4  7#c7     
,int]vals ( paym5t & maximum grant am\nt
 ,! ,secret>y may e/abli% int]vals (    
paym5t = ! adm9i/ration ( grants "u ?is 
section & a maximum grant am\nt to be   
aw>d$1 9 accordance ) ! s]vices be+     
provid$ & ! duration ( su* s]vices4     
7#d7 ,coord9ation & consultation ,9     
aw>d+ grants "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y
 may coord9ate & consult ) ! ,secret>y (
 ,transportation4  7#e7 ,equitable      
di/ribution ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs %all ensure t1 to ! ext5t      
practicable1 grants aw>d$ "u ?is section
 are equitably di/ribut$ across         
geographic regions1 includ+ rural &     
,tribal communities4  7e7 ,grant        
application  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an eligible 
entity seek+ ! aw>d ( a grant "u ?is    

section %all submit to ! ,secret>y an   
application !re= 9 su* =m1 9 su* mann]1 
& conta9+ su* commitm5ts & in=mation z !
 ,secret>y consid]s necess>y to c>ry out
 ?is section4  7#b7 ,cont5ts (          
application ,ea* application submitt$ by
 an eligible entity "u p>agraph 7#a7    
%all conta9 ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a           
description ( ! public transportation   
s]vices t ! entity int5ds to provide "u 
! grant4  7,b7 ,a li/ ( all sites       
access$ by ! public transportation      
s]vices to be provid$4  7,c7 ,! s*$ule (
 su* s]vices4  7,d7 ,a li/ ( ! locations
 ( facilities & organizations t s]ve    
vet]ans t w be access$ by su* s]vices4  
7,e7 ,an e/imate ( ! numb] ( vet]ans t  
w\ld use su* s]vices4  7,f7 ,evid5ce ( !
 ability ( ! entity to provide su*      
s]vices4  7f7 ,notification to vet]ans  
,ea* eligible entity aw>d$ a grant "u   
?is section %all notify vet]ans ( !     
expansion or e/abli%m5t ( public        
transportation s]vices to locations (   
facilities or organizations t s]ve      

vet]ans & t ^? s]vices are available 9  
:ole or 9 "p due to funds provid$ by !  
,dep>tm5t4  7g7 ,report on s]vices      
provid$ ,! ,secret>y %all require ea*   
eligible entity aw>d$ a grant "u ?is    
section to submit to ! ,secret>y a      
report t describes ! expansion1         
ret5tion1 or e/abli%m5t ( public        
transportation s]vices provid$ ) am\nts 
"u su* grant4  7h7 ,report  7#a7 ,9     
g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date on 
:i* ! fir/ grant is aw>d$ "u ?is        
section1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !   
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! s]vices provid$ "u ! pilot  
program4  7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! report       
requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! 
foll[+3 7,a7 ,! geographic location (   
ea* recipi5t ( a grant "u ?is section4  
7,b7 ,! e/imat$ numb] ( vet]ans s]v$ by 
ea* su* grant recipi5t4  7,c7 ,an       
assessm5t ( :e!r use ( facilities ( !   
,dep>tm5t has increas$ due to access to 

public transportation provid$ "u grants 
aw>d$ "u ?is section1 if in=mation = su*
 an assessm5t is available4