DRIVE Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-599
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced: 2025-02-13
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Transportation costs

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2025-05-21
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity Act of 2025 or the DRIVE Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill increases the mileage reimbursement rate available to beneficiaries for travel to or from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Specifically, the bill makes the reimbursement rate for such travel equal to or greater than the mileage reimbursement rate for government employees using private vehicles when no government vehicle is available.</p><p>The bill also requires the VA to ensure that an allowance based on mileage is paid not later than 90 days after the request is properly submitted to the VA.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 599 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 13, 2025 Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Padilla , Ms. Cortez Masto , Ms. Hirono , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Smith , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Booker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the mileage rate offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through their Beneficiary Travel program for health related travel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity Act of 2025 or the DRIVE Act of 2025 . 2. Payments or allowances by Department of Veterans Affairs for beneficiary travel (a) Minimum payment amount Subsection (g) of section 111 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (g) The Secretary shall ensure that the mileage rate described in subsection (a) is equal to or greater than the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when no Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5. . (b) Timely processing of allowances Subsection (b) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) If, with respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary exercises the authority under this section to make any payments, the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that an allowance based on mileage paid under subsection (a) is paid not later than 90 days after the date on which a request for such allowance is properly submitted to the Secretary in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary. . (c) Conforming amendments Such section is further amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking (at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile) and inserting (at a rate determined in accordance with subsection (g)) ; and (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking and notwithstanding subsection (g)(2) of this section .