Defence

CRUDE Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025

Continuing Robust and Uninhibited Drilling and Exporting Act or the CRUDE Act This bill limits the President's authority to restrict the export of crude oil from the United States. Currently, the President may restrict the export of oil for up to a year if the President declares a national emergency; the restrictions are sanctions or trade restrictions that apply to countries, persons, or organizations for national security reasons; or the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Energy (DOE), finds and reports to the President that the export of U.S. crude oil has caused sustained material oil supply shortages or sustained oil prices significantly above world market levels that have caused or are likely to cause sustained material adverse employment effects. However, this bill only allows the President to impose such restrictions if the President declares a national emergency based on findings that are jointly issued by Department of Defense, DOE, and Commerce and include the conclusions described above about oil supply shortages or increased oil prices; or  the restrictions are sanctions or trade restrictions that apply to countries, persons, or organization for national security reasons.

Veterans Fellowship Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025

Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025

Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator for each Veteran Integrated Services Network (i.e., regional VA health care administrative areas). Among other duties, such coordinators must ensure the coordination of care between VA clinicians and breast and gynecologic cancer community care providers. Under the bill, veterans are eligible for such care coordination if they are diagnosed with a breast or gynecologic condition and are eligible for health care through the Veterans Community Care Program.

Fairness in Veterans’ Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025

Fairness in Veterans’ Education Act This bill modifies the process for repaying service members and veterans who paid to keep benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but later chose to utilize Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue the repayments with the last monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This requirement has limited the repayments to individuals who are receiving stipends. Under the bill, the VA must make such a repayment before the exhaustion of the individual's entitlement to education assistance.

TAP Promotion Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2025

TAP Promotion Act This bill requires that pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program include a presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also requires the VA to annually report on the presentation to (1) identify veterans service organizations that participate, (2) provide the number of members of the Armed Forces who attend, and (3) provide any recommendations for changes to the presentation.

THE RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 4 March 2025

TO CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF MR. ELBRIDGE A. COLBY TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY

United States · United States Senate · 4 March 2025

Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2025

REP VA Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2025

Representing VA with Accuracy Act or the REP VA Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that any call made to a veteran by a VA employee or contractor regarding VA services or benefits is made from a single, well-known telephone number and uses caller identification that indicates the call is from or on behalf of the VA. The VA must also ensure the Veterans Health Administration has at least one call center in each time zone in the United States to address concerns regarding appointments and referrals for health care.

A resolution condemning the mass terminations of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs carried out with no justification or analysis of the impact on veterans and their families.

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2025

This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the mass terminations of employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs should be condemned. The resolution also expresses that all affected employees should be reinstated.

VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2025

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on the circumstances and causes of the shortfall in funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for FY2024 and the expected shortfall in funding of the Veterans Health Administration in FY2025. The Department of Veterans Affairs must submit such GAO report to Congress.

Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2025

Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act This bill provides disability pay and medical care for members of the National Guard who were physically disabled as a result of state active duty. State active duty includes training or other duty in service to the governor of a state for which the member is not entitled to federal pay, but excludes required drills and field exercises. The bill expands eligibility for Department of Defense retired pay to such members who are physically disabled as a result of state active duty after September 23, 1996. Such pay must be reduced if it is determined to duplicate any other federal or state benefit to such members based on disability. The bill also makes such members eligible for hospital care and medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to treat the disability and any illness or condition arising from the disability. The VA may provide reimbursement for hospital care or medical services provided to such members only after a member or the provider of care has exhausted (without success) all claims and remedies reasonably available against a third party.

VA Home Loan Program Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

VA Home Loan Program Reform Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take certain actions in cases of default on home loans under the VA home loan program and establishes a partial claim program. First, the bill authorizes the VA to pay the holder of a loan guaranteed by the VA an amount necessary to avoid the foreclosure of the loan, provided that the holder of the loan and the veteran obligated on the loan execute documents to ensure the VA obtains a secured interest in the property covered by the loan. The VA must prescribe loss mitigation procedures to help prevent the foreclosure of such a home loan. The VA may not take specified administrative actions (e.g., consent to the modification of loan terms) until the sequence of mitigation options has been completed. Next, the bill establishes a Partial Claim Program under which the VA may make a partial claim (purchase a portion of the indebtedness) on VA loans for primary residences that are in default or at imminent risk of default. Individuals who default on loans for which the VA has made a partial claim under this program must be liable to the VA for any loss resulting from the default. Finally, the VA must report to Congress on its strategy to ensure that veterans who purchase homes under the VA home loan program are not at a disadvantage when attempting to secure representation by a real estate agent or broker.

Veterans Readiness and Employment Transparency Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

SPARE Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act or the SPARE Act This bill prohibits federal departments, agencies, contractors, subcontractors, and grantees from engaging in research and testing using animals.  This prohibition takes effect 3 years after the bill’s enactment for biomedical experimenting and drug testing, and 18 months after enactment for other research including cosmetics and toxicity testing. The prohibition does not apply to clinical veterinary research or certain activities related to military or service animals. Upon an application from a federal entity, contractor, or grantee, Congress may authorize animal research for a limited period if the research relates to an infectious disease or national security, would use animals sparingly, and for which no alternative exists.  The bill establishes a civil penalty for certain violations of the prohibition, and permits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to impose other specified sanctions on violators.  The bill also requires federally funded research facilities that have used animals in research to release any such animal to a specified animal organization or eligible individual within one year of the bill’s enactment, after having consulted with an accredited sanctuary or animal behavioral specialist. The USDA and NIH must make available a public database with information on animals released under these provisions.  Finally, the bill requires the National Science Foundation to establish a competitive grant program to support the transition of animal research to non-animal research, and to establish a program to support the validation and standardization of non-animal research. 

A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans may obtain a physical copy of a form for reimbursement of certain travel expenses by mail or at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that a veteran may obtain a physical copy of the form needed for travel reimbursements at any VA medical facility or, upon request, by mail. The VA must also ensure a veteran may submit the form to any VA medical facility in person or by mail. Such medical facilities must evaluate the form and process any claim associated with the form.

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor during the Korean War.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor committed on November 18, 1952, during the Korean War as a lieutenant in the Navy.

Restoring the VA Home Loan Program in Perpetuity Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed license amendment for the export to Israel of certain defense articles and services.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

This joint resolution prohibits issuance of a license amendment for the export of certain defense articles and services to Israel.

Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

This joint resolution prohibits a proposed foreign military sale of certain defense articles and services to Israel.

Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

This joint resolution prohibits a proposed foreign military sale of certain defense articles and services to Israel.

Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 This bill revives and makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan guarantee program to guarantee loans for a veteran’s purchase of stock or membership in a cooperative housing corporation (i.e., co-op) for the purpose of entitling the veteran to occupy a single family residential unit. For purposes of the administration of such loans, the bill establishes a fee rate of the usual fee plus 3.25% of the total amount of the loan, treats such cooperative housing units as residential property for purposes of imposing restrictions and liabilities, and guarantees up to 25% of the amount of the loan for loans exceeding $144,000.  Additionally, the bill requires the VA to advertise the availability of loan guarantees for cooperative housing unit loans, including by issuing guidance and notifying eligible veterans.

Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2025

This joint resolution prohibits a proposed foreign military sale of certain defense articles and services to Israel.

VetPAC Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

VetPAC Act of 2025 This bill establishes the Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission for purposes of reviewing operations at the Veterans Health Administration and preparing reports with recommendations for Congress based on such review.

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each of its medical centers contains a hygienic lactation space that is not a bathroom and meets other specifications (e.g., must be easy to locate).

Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

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. 

Strategic Ports Reporting Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Strategic Ports Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of State to conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on strategic ports. The report shall contain various elements related to such ports, including (1) a detailed list of all strategic ports owned, operated, or controlled by China or a foreign person of China; (2) a detailed list of all strategic ports owned, operated, or controlled by the United States or a U.S. person; (3) an assessment of the national security and economic interests relevant to each such port; (4) an analysis of actions by China to gain control or ownership of strategic ports; and (5) courses of action to protect strategic ports and maritime infrastructure from Chinese control. The bill also requires the State Department to develop and provide to Congress a global mapping of foreign and domestic ports of importance to the United States because of a capability to provide military, diplomatic, economic, or resource exploitation superiority.

Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act This bill extends for an additional five years the time period during which an eligible Alaska Native veteran may apply for a land allotment under the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program. The program makes Alaska Native veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Vietnam between August 5, 1964, and December 31, 1971, or their heirs eligible to receive up to 160 acres of federal land in Alaska. Under the current program, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management may accept applications through December 29, 2025. This bill extends this time period for an additional five years to December 29, 2030.

A bill to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Guarding Readiness Resources Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Guarding Readiness Resources Act This bill modifies the treatment of funds received by the National Guard Bureau as a reimbursement from a state or other U.S. territory (e.g., Guam) for the use of military property. Specifically, the funds must be credited to (1) the appropriation, fund, or account used in incurring the obligation; or (2) an appropriation, fund, or account currently available for the purposes of which the expenditures were made. Further, the funds may only be used by the Department of Defense for the repair, maintenance, replacement, or other similar functions related directly to assets used by National Guard units while operating under state active duty status.

Pay Our Coast Guard Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Pay Our Coast Guard Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and benefits when there is a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse. Under the bill, a  Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs when (1) a bill providing appropriations for the Coast Guard for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the beginning of that fiscal year, and no joint resolution providing continuing appropriations for the Coast Guard is in effect; and (2) a bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the fiscal year has been enacted before the beginning of the fiscal year, or a joint resolution providing continuing appropriation for DOD is in effect.  If a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs, the bill provides appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and allowances for military members of the Coast Guard who perform active service or inactive-duty training; pay and benefits for certain civilian employees and contract employees; the payment of a death gratuity; payments for travel related to funerals, the dignified transfer of remains, and unit memorial services; and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty. The bill generally provides the appropriations to the Coast Guard until the earlier of (1) the enactment of specified Coast Guard appropriations legislation, or (2) the termination of the availability of appropriations for DOD.

Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 This bill expands the Scott Hannon Initiative for Precision Mental Health, a program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill expands the scope of the initiative by requiring the identification and validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans for repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and other such brain conditions. Currently, the initiative addresses several other conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA must work with the Department of Defense to establish a data-sharing partnership under the initiative. The bill requires the VA to conduct various research studies about repetitive low-level blast exposure under the initiative. The VA must seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to work in tandem with the initiative on validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans and report on the findings at least once every two years. The VA must assess all in progress and planned translational research studies under the initiative and report to Congress on the assessment. Additionally, the VA must report to Congress on the initiative at least once every two years and include recommendations for immediate administrative and legislative action to improve the initiative. The bill authorizes the initiative through FY2034.

Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025 This bill requires the Board of Veterans Appeals to publish a weekly notice of the docket dates of the cases assigned to a board member for a decision that week. The requirement does not apply to cases that have been advanced or remanded. The notice must include a statement that a case assignment appearing on the notice does not require the board to issue a decision regarding the case during that week.

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each of its medical centers contains a hygienic lactation space that is not a bathroom and meets other specifications (e.g., must be easy to locate).

DHS Intelligence and Analysis Oversight and Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Strategic Ports Reporting Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Strategic Ports Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of State to conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on strategic ports. The report shall contain various elements related to such ports, including (1) a detailed list of all strategic ports owned, operated, or controlled by China or a foreign person of China; (2) a detailed list of all strategic ports owned, operated, or controlled by the United States or a U.S. person; (3) an assessment of the national security and economic interests relevant to each such port; (4) an analysis of actions by China to gain control or ownership of strategic ports; and (5) courses of action to protect strategic ports and maritime infrastructure from Chinese control. The bill also requires the State Department to develop and provide to Congress a global mapping of foreign and domestic ports of importance to the United States because of a capability to provide military, diplomatic, economic, or resource exploitation superiority.

Justice for Vaccine Injured Veterans Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Justice for Vaccine Injured Veterans Act of 2025 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for certain conditions that become manifest in a member of the Armed Forces who received a COVID-19 vaccine under orders any time from August 24, 2021, through January 10, 2023. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Specifically, the bill establishes a presumption of service-connection, regardless of whether there is a record of evidence of the condition during a servicemember's period of service, for myocarditis, pericarditis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and any other condition the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines is warranted based on a positive association with the COVID-19 vaccine. Under the bill, if the VA determines an additional condition should be specified, it must submit a notice of such determination to Congress. The VA must also report to Congress every 60 days for four years regarding claims for compensation related to a condition associated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Such reports must be made publicly available.

Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025 This bill expands eligibility for Post-9/11 GI bill benefits and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program by updating terminology related to certain Black veterans. Specifically, the bill explicitly includes the following individuals as eligible veterans under the programs: Black veterans who served on active duty during World War II and can certify they were denied a specific benefit on the basis of race; and the living surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, or other direct descendants of such veterans described above who can certify the veteran was denied a specific benefit on the basis of race. Eligible veterans must apply for educational or home loan benefits within the five-year period after the bill is enacted. The Government Accountability Office must report on the number of individuals who received VA educational or housing loan benefits due to the amendments made by the bill and the total value of such benefits. Finally, the VA must appoint a panel of independent experts to develop recommendations regarding additional benefits and assistance for female and minority members of the Armed Forces.

GUARD VA Benefits Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.

Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to periodically provide Congress with an assessment of threats to the United States posed by the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for terrorism. Generative AI is defined as the class of AI models that emulate the structure and characteristics of input data to generate derived synthetic content, including images, videos, audio, text, and other digital content. The bill also (1) requires DHS to review and disseminate related information gathered by state and major urban area fusion centers and the National Network of Fusion Centers, and (2) requires other federal agencies to share related information with DHS. (A fusion center is a collaborative effort of two or more federal, state, local, or tribal government agencies that combines resources, expertise, or information with the goal of maximizing the ability of such agencies to detect, prevent, investigate, apprehend, and respond to criminal or terrorist activity.)

Copay Fairness for Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Copay Fairness for Veterans Act This bill eliminates veterans' copayments for medication, hospital care, and medical services related to preventive health services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill expands the definition of preventive health services to include (1) evidence-based items or services that have an A or B rating in the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force; (2) immunizations that have a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to the individual involved; and (3) with respect to services for women, the preventive care, screenings, and contraceptives provided for in the Health Resources and Services Administration Preventive Services Guidelines in effect as of December 30, 2022, and any contraceptive approved, granted, or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, any related contraceptive care, and any related services.

PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

TOTAL Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

TRICARE OBGYN Treatment and Access without Lags in Care Act or the TOTAL Care Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement a five-year pilot program under which female beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime may receive obstetrical and gynecological care without a referral. (Generally, the TRICARE Prime program requires a beneficiary to obtain a referral for care through a designated primary care manager.) Under the pilot program, participating female beneficiaries may elect to designate an obstetrical or gynecological care provider under the TRICARE program (i.e., the various programs carried out by DOD, including TRICARE Prime) as an additional designated primary care manager.

Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 This bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse of a veteran who dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) regardless of how long the veteran had such disease prior to death. Under current law, such compensation is paid for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death. For purposes of compensation for a surviving spouse of a veteran who dies from ALS, the spouse must have been married to the veteran for a continuous period of eight years or longer prior to the death of the veteran. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must report on service-connected disabilities the VA determines should be treated in the same manner as ALS for purposes of dependency and indemnity compensation.

BELO’S Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act or BELO’S Act This bill extends eligibility for a free lifetime National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to any individual who is a survivor to a member of the Armed Forces whose death entitles the survivor to (1) a death gratuity (e.g., the servicemember died while on active duty or during inactive duty training), or (2) dependency and indemnity compensation. 

Redesignating the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site".

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

This joint resolution redesignates the memorial to Robert. E. Lee in Arlington National Cemetery as the Arlington House National Historic Site.

VSAFE Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025 or the VSAFE Act of 2025 This bill establishes a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be responsible for fraud and scam prevention, reporting, and incident response plans at the VA. The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through June 23, 2034, under the VA's home loan program.

Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025

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. 

SAVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2025