Veterans Travel Benefits Modernization Act - Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the $6 round-trip deductible paid by veterans in order to receive travel costs necessitated by required VA medical care until the earlier of: (1) one year after the waiver is granted, or (2) the date on which the Secretary determines that the deduction would no longer cause the veteran severe financial hardship.
Makes any waiver granted beginning on January 1, 2011, and ending on June 1, 2012, valid until the earlier of: (1) the birthday of the veteran occurring after June 1, 2012; or (2) the date of the Secretary's determination described above.
Requires the Secretary to revise the Veterans Health Administration Handbook to include such waiver periods.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3350 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3350
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the waiver period
with respect to a deductible made by a veteran for certain travel costs
necessary to receive treatment at facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 3, 2011
Mr. Griffin of Arkansas introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the waiver period
with respect to a deductible made by a veteran for certain travel costs
necessary to receive treatment at facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Travel Benefits
Modernization Act''.
SEC. 2. WAIVER PERIOD FOR DEDUCTIBLE REQUIRED BY VETERANS TO RECEIVE
CERTAIN TRAVEL COSTS.
(a) In General.--Section 111(c)(4) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``(4)(A) The Secretary may waive the deduction requirement of
paragraph (1) in the case of the travel of any veteran for whom the
imposition of the deduction would cause severe financial hardship.
Except as provided by subparagraph (C), any waiver granted under this
subparagraph shall be valid until the date that is the earlier of--
``(i) the date that is one year after the date on which the
waiver is granted; or
``(ii) the date on which the Secretary determines that the
deduction would no longer cause the veteran severe financial
hardship.
``(B) The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations the conditions
under which a finding of severe financial hardship is warranted for
purposes of this paragraph.
``(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), any waiver granted under
this paragraph to a veteran between the period beginning on January 1,
2011, and ending on June 1, 2012, shall be deemed to be valid until the
date that is the earlier of--
``(i) the birthday of the veteran occurring after June 1,
2012; or
``(ii) the date on which the Secretary determines that the
deduction would no longer cause the veteran severe financial
hardship.''.
(b) Clarification in Veterans Health Administration Handbook.--Not
later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall revise the Veterans Health
Administration Handbook to clarify the waiver period of waivers granted
under section 111(c)(4) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by
subsection (a).
(c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to waivers granted under section 111(c)(4) of title
38, United States Code, on or after the date that is 30 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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