Welch Introduces Bicameral DRIVE Act to Lower Costs for Veterans Traveling to Receive VA Medical Care

Bill is critical for veterans from small and rural communities traveling long distances to receive essential medical care provided by the VA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) introduced the bicameral Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity (DRIVE) Act, legislation to cut costs for more than 8 million veterans enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical care. The DRIVE Act will make it easier for veterans to receive essential health care and ensure the VA’s travel reimbursement rate keeps pace with inflation and gas prices. 

“Our veterans have performed the ultimate public service. To honor that

service, we must ensure that the cost of the war includes the cost of caring for the warrior, and that includes making long-overdue changes to help ensure that veterans traveling from rural and small communities can access the health care they need,” said Senator Welch. “Our bicameral bill improves access to care, lowers costs, and helps improve this out-of-date system for veterans, servicemembers, and their families moving forward.” 

“No veteran should have to decide between their health care and the rising costs of traveling to their appointments,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “The DRIVE Act is an essential step in easing this burden by ensuring that our veterans, especially those in rural areas and those with fixed incomes, are not penalized for seeking the care they have earned and deserve.” 

The DRIVE Act would require the VA to ensure the Beneficiary Travel reimbursement rate is at least aligned with the General Services Administration (GSA) reimbursement rate for federal employees who use their personal vehicles for official business. The bill would also ensure timely processing so that veterans receive their reimbursement within 90 days.  

In addition to Senator Welch, the bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) 

The bill is also cosponsored in the House by Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), and Dina Titus (D-NV-01). 

Learn more about the DRIVE Act. 

Read the full text of the bill.