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Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021

Introduced: August 6, 2021 Introduced by: Larsen, Rick Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 9, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Aug 6, 2021
Introduced in House
Aug 6, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021

This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transportation benefits for certain veterans.

First, the bill makes permanent the authority for the VA to transport any person to or from a VA facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for an examination, treatment, or care.

The bill also permanently extends the authorization of appropriations for grants provided to state veterans service agencies and veterans service organizations to transport highly rural veterans for medical care.

The bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study fraud, waste, and abuse of benefits under the VA beneficiary travel program and report the findings to Congress. The GAO must also study and report on (1) the efficacy of the current mileage reimbursement rate under the program in mitigating the financial burden of transportation costs for traveling to and from VA medical facilities for care, (2) the origins of the amount of the deductible and its impact on the efficacy of the benefits provided in mitigating the financial burden on veterans seeking medical care, and (3) recommendations for how this program or another program could further encourage veterans to seek medical care.

The bill also requires the VA to implement various pilot programs related to transportation benefits for veterans for specified purposes.

What's happening now September 9, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2627 Identical bill Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4961: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4961/
MLA
"H.R. 4961: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4961/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4961, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4961/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4961: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4961/)
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