119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9316
This bill expands travel assistance benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities living in U.S. territories and Freely Associated States such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Currently, veterans in these areas can only receive travel payment assistance if their disability rating is 30 percent or higher, but this legislation removes that rating requirement for veterans in locations where no Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility exists. The change makes it easier for disabled veterans in remote or underserved areas to access VA healthcare by covering their travel costs to the nearest available VA facility, regardless of their disability rating level. The bill addresses a practical gap in care access for veterans in "medical deserts" where VA services are unavailable locally. No specific funding amount or implementation timeline is included in the legislation.