Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 2. VETERANS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM. 
(a) DETERMINATION OF MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT 
RATE.—Subsection (g) of section 111 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g)(1) In determining the amount of any allowance 
or reimbursement to be paid under this section, the Sec-
retary shall use the mileage reimbursement rates for the 
use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees 
on official business, as prescribed by the Administrator of 
General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5. 
‘‘(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations to 
carry out this section, the Secretary may modify the 
amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under 
this section using a mileage reimbursement rate in excess 
of the rate prescribed under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
Secretary shall not make payments under this section for 
travel performed by a special mode of travel unless— 
‘‘(i) the travel by the special mode of travel is 
medically required and is authorized by the Sec-
retary before the travel begins; or 
‘‘(ii) the travel by the special mode of travel is 
in connection with a medical emergency of such a 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
17:03 Aug 02, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6695.IH
H6695
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
nature that the delay incident to obtaining author-
ization from the Secretary to use that mode of travel 
would have been hazardous to the person’s life or 
health. 
‘‘(B) In the case of travel by a person to or from 
a Department facility by special mode of travel, the Sec-
retary may provide payment under this section to the pro-
vider of the transportation by special mode before deter-
mining the eligibility of such person for such payment if 
the Secretary determines that providing such payment is 
in the best interest of furnishing care and services. Such 
a payment shall be made subject to subsequently recov-
ering from such person the amount of the payment if such 
person is determined to have been ineligible for payment 
for such travel. 
‘‘(4) In no event shall payment be provided under this 
section— 
‘‘(A) to reimburse for the cost of travel by pri-
vately owned vehicle in any amount in excess of the 
cost of such travel by public transportation unless— 
‘‘(i) public transportation is not reasonably 
accessible or would be medically inadvisable, or 
‘‘(ii) the cost of such travel is not greater 
than the cost of public transportation; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
17:03 Aug 02, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6695.IH
H6695
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘(B) in excess of the actual expense incurred by 
the person claiming reimbursement, as certified in 
writing by such person.’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF DEDUCTIONS.—Such section is 
further amended by striking subsection (c). 
(c) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—Subsection (b) of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) With respect to any fiscal year, if the Secretary 
exercises the authority provided by subsection (a) to make 
payments, the Secretary shall make the payments avail-
able to or for all persons eligible for examination, treat-
ment, care, rehabilitation, or counseling described in sub-
section (a).’’. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.—Not later than 14 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a report containing an estimate of the additional 
costs incurred by the Department of Veterans Affairs be-
cause of the amendments made by this section. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to travel expenses in-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
17:03 Aug 02, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6695.IH
H6695
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
curred after the expiration of the 90-day period that be-
gins on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
17:03 Aug 02, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6695.IH
H6695
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS