H.R. 9050House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program for the transportation of veterans who reside in highly rural areas to medical facilities.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:54 PM UTC

The bill adds a new section 111B to title 38, creating a grant program to help transport veterans who live in highly rural areas to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Grants are awarded to state veterans service agencies or recognized veterans service organizations, with each grant limited to $50,000 and no matching‑fund requirement. Up to $3 million is authorized each fiscal year from 2025 through 2030 to fund the program. “Highly rural area” is defined as counties with fewer than seven people per square mile or certain U.S. territories that the Secretary deems non‑urban.

Key Provisions

Grants may be awarded to state veterans service agencies or recognized veterans service organizations to provide transportation for veterans in highly rural areas
Grants can be used to help veterans travel to VA medical facilities or otherwise support transportation related to health care
Each grant is capped at $50,000 and recipients are not required to provide matching funds
$3 million is authorized annually for fiscal years 2025‑2030 to fund the program
The term “highly rural area” includes counties with fewer than seven residents per square mile and U.S. territories such as Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico (excluding the San Juan area) determined by the Secretary to be non‑urban

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

August 22, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 15, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 15, 2024

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

August 22, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 15, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9050

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 15, 2024

Mrs. Peltola (for herself, Mr. Moylan, and Mr. Horsford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program for the transportation of veterans who reside in highly rural areas to medical facilities.

Establishment of grant program for the transportation of veterans who reside in highly rural areas to medical facilities

(a)

Establishment

Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting, after section 111A, the following new section:

111B.

Grants for the transportation of veterans who reside in highly rural areas to medical facilities

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary shall award grants to entities that provide transportation of veterans who reside in highly rural areas to medical facilities.

(b)

Eligible entities

The following may be awarded a grant under this section:

(1)

A State veterans service agency.

(2)

A veterans service organization.

(c)

Use of funds

A grant under this section may be used to—

(1)

assist a veteran who resides in a highly rural area to travel to a medical facility of the Department; or

(2)

otherwise assist in providing transportation in connection with the provision of health care to a veteran who resides in highly rural area.

(d)

Maximum amount

The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $50,000.

(e)

No matching requirement

An entity awarded a grant under this section shall not be required to provide matching funds as a condition for receiving such grant.

(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to carry out this section.

(g)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term highly rural area means an area located in—

(A)

a county in which fewer than seven individuals reside per square mile; or

(B)

Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico (not including the San Juan Census Designated Place), that the Secretary determines is not urban in character.

(2)

The term veterans service organization means an organization recognized by the Secretary under section 5902 of this title.

(b)

Table of sections

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting, after the item relating to section 111A, the following new item:

111B. Grants for the transportation of veterans who reside in highly rural areas to medical facilities.