ending on the hiring date, is a high unemploy-
ment county shall be treated as a member of a 
targeted group for purposes of this subpart. 
‘‘(C) UNEMPLOYED
VETERAN.—For pur-
poses of this paragraph, the term ‘unemployed 
veteran’ has the meaning given such term by 
paragraph (14)(B)(i) without regard to sub-
clause (II) thereof. 
‘‘(D) HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT
COUNTY.— 
The term ‘high unemployment county’ means a 
county for which the unemployment rate for the 
preceding month equals or exceeds the national 
unemployment threshold for such month. 
‘‘(E) NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT THRESH-
OLD.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The national un-
employment threshold is 12 percent. 
‘‘(ii) THRESHOLD INDEXED.—For any 
month beginning after the month in which 
this subparagraph is enacted, the national 
unemployment threshold in subclause (I) 
shall be the percentage in clause (i) (deter-
mined without regard to the application of 
this clause) multiplied by the ratio which 
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the national unemployment rate for such 
month bears to 9.5 percent. 
‘‘(F) UNEMPLOYMENT
RATES.—The na-
tional unemployment rate and the unemploy-
ment rate for a county for any month shall be 
the unadjusted rates for such month deter-
mined by the Current Population Survey con-
ducted by the Bureau of Census for the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to individuals who begin work 
for the employer after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR ELIGIBLE ENTITIES PROVIDING 
TRANSPORTATION TO DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR 
VETERANS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a grant program to award 
grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for 
the purpose of providing transportation options to 
veterans residing in rural areas. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For purposes of the 
grant program under this section, an eligible entity 
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is a government entity and non-profit service pro-
vider, including a State veterans’ service agency, a 
veterans service organization, a local governmental 
authority, and a private non-profit organization. 
(3) USE OF FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant 
under this section shall use the grant to assist vet-
erans in rural areas to travel to Department of Vet-
erans Affairs medical facilities. 
(4) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT.—The amount of a 
grant under this section may not exceed $100,000 
for any fiscal year. 
(5) NO MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The recipi-
ent of a grant under this section shall not be re-
quired to provide matching funds as a condition for 
receiving such grant. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations for— 
(1) evaluating grant applications under this sec-
tion; 
(2) directing Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical facilities to coordinate with recipients of 
such grants to ensure maximum use of transpor-
tation service at the least cost; and 
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(3) coordinating transportation services pro-
vided under this section with existing local transpor-
tation services. 
(c) DEFINITIONS AND SPECIAL RULE.—In this sec-
tion: 
(1) The term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 
means any organization recognized by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs for the representation of vet-
erans under section 5902 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘local governmental authority’’ 
means a local governmental authority as defined in 
5302(a)(6) of title 49, United States Code, that pro-
vides 
public 
transportation 
as 
defined 
in 
5302(a)(10) of title 49, United States Code. 
(3) A veteran is residing in a rural area if the 
veteran— 
(A) resides in a location that is— 
(i) more than 30 miles driving dis-
tance from the nearest Department health 
care facility providing primary care serv-
ices, if the veteran is seeking such services; 
(ii) more than 60 miles driving dis-
tance from the nearest Department health 
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care facility providing acute hospital care, 
if the veteran is seeking such care; or 
(iii) more than 100 miles driving dis-
tance from the nearest Department health 
care facility providing tertiary care, if the 
veteran is seeking such care; or 
(B) in the case of a veteran who resides in 
a location less than the distance specified in 
clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A), as 
applicable, experiences such hardship or other 
difficulties in travel to the nearest appropriate 
Department health care facility that such travel 
is not in the best interest of the veteran, as de-
termined by the Secretary pursuant to regula-
tions prescribed for purposes of this subsection. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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