According to the VA, roughly 3 in 10 veterans in Georgia live in rural areas
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing a bipartisan bill to help veterans in rural Georgia get to the VA.
Today, Sens. Ossoff and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act to help more veterans in rural areas get transportation to VA health facilities and access the health care benefits they’ve earned.
Sens. Ossoff and Collins’ bipartisan bill would expand eligibility to the VA’s Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program (HRTG), which provides grant funding for Veteran Service Organizations and State Veterans Service Agencies to provide veterans transportation in eligible counties.
The VA’s Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program is currently only available to counties with fewer than 7 people per square mile. The bipartisan bill would expand the VA’s definition to ensure more counties are eligible for the grant program, helping more veterans living in rural areas get transportation to the VA or VA-authorized health care facilities.
The bill would also increase the maximum amount of funding grant recipients are eligible for from $50,000 to $60,000, or up to $80,000 for grantees to purchase an ADA compliant vehicle.
“As I’ve sat down with veterans in rural areas across Georgia, one of their key concerns is lack of transportation,” Sen. Ossoff said. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill with Senator Collins to ensure veterans have more access to transportation services that can bring them to VA clinics and medical centers to get the care they need.”
“In Maine – a large, rural state with one of the highest number of veterans per capita – only veterans living in Piscataquis County are eligible for this important grant program that provides transportation to VA and VA-authorized healthcare facilities,” said Senator Collins. “By expanding program eligibility to include additional highly rural areas, this bipartisan bill would allow veterans in more Maine counties to gain access to these transportation services.”
The House companion bill is being introduced by Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02).
“It’s the responsibility of our federal government to ensure our nation’s heroes are well-supported after returning home and can access the benefits they’ve earned and deserve. As rural veterans across Southwest Washington face challenges accessing care, I’m fighting to make sure they aren’t left behind,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “This bipartisan bill will restore support for free health care transportation services for Skamania County veterans, while newly expanding eligibility to rural communities across Southwest Washington. The VA must uphold its promise to our rural veterans so they can access the care necessary to lead full, healthy lives.”
“After our veterans return home, it is our solemn duty to ensure they have access to the care, support, and benefits they need, no matter what corner of Arizona they live in,” said Ciscomani. “This bipartisan legislation will help better facilitate the transportation of our veterans, especially those in rural communities, so they can get the care they need in a timely and efficient way.”
“Veterans in rural communities should never have to choose between their health and the long, costly journey to access care. In New Mexico and across the country, too many veterans are forced to travel hours just to see a doctor,” said Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02). The bipartisan Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act will expand eligibility for critical transportation services and ensure no veteran is left behind due to where they live. We made a promise to care for those who served, and this legislation helps us keep that promise by breaking down barriers to essential health care.”
The bipartisan bill is backed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).
“Transportation options that many urban dwellers take for granted are non-existent in rural areas. These veterans cannot just “call an Uber” to get to the VA doctor,” said Nancy Springer, Associate Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars. “VFW strongly supports this bill that would expand an already existing grassroots program and help more rural veterans access their earned medical benefits. We applaud Senator Ossoff and Senator Collins for introducing this bill and call for its swift passage.”
“Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) proudly supports the Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act,” said Jose Ramos, WWP’s Vice President of Government and Community Relations. “Rural veterans experience unique challenges that impact their ability for accessing healthcare options through VA. This bill will provide clarity to VA’s definition of “rural” to ensure more areas across the country are eligible for grant programs that support veterans and their transportation needs. We thank Senator Jon Ossoff’s leadership on this issue and the bill’s co-sponsors for their efforts on behalf of the veteran community.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to strengthen benefits and services for Georgia veterans.
Last year, thanks to Sen Ossoff’s bipartisan Access for Veterans to Records Act becoming law, the National Archives cleared a backlog of more than 400,000 records requests, enabling Georgia veterans to more quickly access their records and claim their benefits.
In October, Sen. Ossoff also launched an inquiry with the VA into excessive delays with the VA Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), which decides whether or not veterans are entitled to claimed veterans’ benefits and services.
Click here to read the bipartisan Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act.
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