Travel Assistance for Veterans in Medical Deserts Act

Kimberlyn King-Hinds

Republican · MP · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Mark Takano (D-CA-39)· 2026-06-18

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

2026-06-15

Source: Congress.gov

Veterans with service-connected disabilities who live in U.S. territories or freely associated states like Palau and the Marshall Islands would become eligible for travel payments to help them get to medical appointments, similar to benefits already available to veterans in the 50 states. Currently, these veterans often have to pay their own travel costs to reach VA medical facilities, which can be expensive given the remote locations where they live. The change would help ensure veterans in these areas can access the healthcare they've earned through their military service without facing financial hardship.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9316 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9316 To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the eligibility of veterans with service-connected disabilities who reside in certain territories or the Freely Associated States for payments or allowances for beneficiary travel. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2026 Ms. King-Hinds introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the eligibility of veterans with service-connected disabilities who reside in certain territories or the Freely Associated States for payments or allowances for beneficiary travel. 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 ``Travel Assistance for Veterans in Medical Deserts Act''. SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES WHO RESIDE IN CERTAIN TERRITORIES OR THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FOR PAYMENTS OR ALLOWANCES FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL. Section 111(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)(B)-- (A) by striking ``rated at 30 percent or more.'' and inserting an em dash; and (B) by adding at the end the following new clauses: ``(i) rated at 30 percent or more; or ``(ii) without regard to rating in the case of a veteran who resides in a covered jurisdiction in which no medical facility of the Department is located.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(5) In this subsection: ``(A) The term `covered jurisdiction' means a territory or the Freely Associated States. ``(B) The term `Freely Associated States' has the meaning given such term in subsection (h). ``(C) The term `territory' has the meaning given such term in section 5 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (Public Law 114-187; 48 U.S.C. 2104).''. <all>

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