WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 784 · 119th Congress

Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act

IntroducedArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedFeb 27, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
Passed HouseNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, May 21, 2025: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86. It would change 1 section of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

S. 784 would change 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the Senate (Feb 27, 2025).

Public Law 111-163 An earlier law, changed directly

  • §307 new · Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(2), Sec. 2(3), Sec. 2(4) · see the words
What the words would change: every change, in place (9)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. Public Law 111-163changedby S. 784 Sec. 2(1)

    The bill says: in the section heading, by inserting "rural or" before "highly";

  2. Public Law 111-163(a)changedby S. 784 Sec. 2(2)

    The bill says: by inserting "rural or" before "highly" each place it appears;

  3. Public Law 111-163(a)(2)renumberedby S. 784 Sec. 2(2)

    The bill says: by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);

  4. Public Law 111-163(a)(2)added (B)by S. 784 Sec. 2(2)

    (B) County veterans service organizations.

    The bill says: by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):

  5. Public Law 111-163(a)(2)added (D)by S. 784 Sec. 2(2)

    (D) Tribal organizations.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

  6. Public Law 111-163(a)(3)changedby S. 784 Sec. 2(2)

    The bill says: in paragraph (3), by striking "A State veterans service agency or veterans service organization awarded" and inserting "A recipient of"; and

  7. Public Law 111-163(a)changedby S. 784 Sec. 2(2)

    (4) Maximum amount.—(A) In general.— Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $60,000.(B) Additional amount to purchase a vehicle.— The amount of a grant under this section to a recipient may be increased to an amount not to exceed $80,000 if the recipient is required to purchase a vehicle to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) in carrying out this section.

    The bill says: by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following new paragraph (4):

  8. Public Law 111-163(c)changedby S. 784 Sec. 2(3)

    The bill says: in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

  9. Public Law 111-163(d)changedby S. 784 Sec. 2(4)

    The bill says: in subsection (d), by striking "$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2022" and inserting "such sums as may be necessary".

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act

This bill expands and makes permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that provides transportation options to veterans for medical purposes.

First, the bill expands the program to cover transportation for veterans in rural areas, in addition to veterans in highly rural areas (who are already eligible under the program).

The bill also authorizes the VA to award such grants to county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations to assist veterans with transportation for medical care.

Further, the bill increases the maximum grant amount to $60,000. However, if a grant recipient is required to purchase a vehicle to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, such grant amount may be increased to not more than $80,000.

Finally, the bill defines rural and highly rural in the same manner as the terms are given under the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system of the Department of Agriculture. RUCA uses population density and commuting patterns to assign designations.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in Senate, Feb 27, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. May 21, 2025Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.Senate
  2. Feb 27, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Senate
  3. Feb 27, 2025Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

Cosponsors

  • Susan M. Collins R-ME
  • Alex Padilla D-CA
  • Jacky Rosen D-NV