I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3720 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the authority 
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transport individuals to and 
from facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with 
rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, and care, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 
Mr. LARSEN of Washington (for himself and Mr. THORNBERRY) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent 
the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
transport individuals to and from facilities of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs in connection with rehabilita-
tion, counseling, examination, treatment, and care, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Veterans Travel 
Enhancement Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF VET CENTERS AS DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES FOR PUR-
POSES OF PAYMENTS OR ALLOWANCES FOR 
BENEFICIARY TRAVEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 111 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(h)(1) Vet Centers shall be treated as Department 
facilities for purposes of providing payment of actual ex-
penses of travel or allowance for travel to or from a De-
partment facility under this section. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘Vet Center’ means 
a center for readjustment counseling and related mental 
health services for veterans under section 1712A of this 
title.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Section 111(h) of such title, as 
added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to travel 
occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 3. MAKING PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TRANSPORT INDI-
VIDUALS TO AND FROM FACILITIES OF DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
Section 111A(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and 
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(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1)’’. 
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS FOR VETERANS 
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPOR-
TATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS. 
Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omni-
bus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 
38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ‘‘through 
2017’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2020’’. 
SEC. 5. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUN-
TEER DRIVERS PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM 
OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VET-
ERANS. 
Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act 
of 2017, the Secretary shall develop and establish a na-
tional protocol for the administration of medical examina-
tions for volunteer drivers to participate in the program 
described in paragraph (1). 
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‘‘(B) In developing the protocol required by subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall consult with such persons 
as the Secretary determines have an interest in the pro-
gram described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol 
by first conducting a one year pilot program using the pro-
tocol. 
‘‘(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by 
clause (i), the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and 
make such changes to the protocol as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
‘‘(iii) After making changes to the protocol under 
clause (ii), the Secretary shall implement the protocol in 
phases during the course of one year.’’. 
SEC. 6. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES 
REPORT 
ON 
TRANSPORTATION 
SERVICES 
FOR VETERANS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the program the establishment of 
which was facilitated under section 111A(b) of title 38, 
United States Code. 
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(b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the program described in 
subsection (a), including descriptions of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The purpose of the program. 
(B) The activities carried out under the 
program. 
(2) An assessment of the sufficiency of the pro-
gram with respect to the purpose of the program. 
(3) An assessment of the cost effectiveness of 
the program in relation to alternatives. 
(4) An assessment of the health benefits for 
veterans who have participated in the program. 
(5) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing 
of employees of the department who are responsible 
for facilitating the maintenance of the program. 
(6) An assessment, with respect to the purpose 
of the program, of the number of vehicles owned by 
and operating in conjunction with the program. 
(7) An assessment of the awareness and usage 
of the program by veterans and their families. 
Æ 
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