119-hr5277

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5277 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5277

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments or 
allowances that individuals, including veterans service organizations, 
 receive for transportation of veterans to or from facilities of the 
 Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 10, 2025

 Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments or 
allowances that individuals, including veterans service organizations, 
 receive for transportation of veterans to or from facilities of the 
 Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

 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 ``Heroes Earned Affordable Lifts Act'' 
or the ``HEAL Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS OR ALLOWANCES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 
 VETERANS TO OR FROM DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.

    (a) Milage Reimbursement Rate.--

Section 111 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``at a rate of 41.5 
 cents per mile'' and inserting ``at the rate prescribed under 
 subsection

    (g) '';

    (2) in subsection

    (b)

    (1) , by striking ``Except as provided 
 in subsection
            (c) of this section and notwithstanding 
 subsection

    (g)

    (2) of this section or'' and inserting 
 ``Notwithstanding''; and

    (3) by amending subsection

    (g) to read as follows:
 ``

    (g) The Secretary shall set the mileage rate under subsection

    (a) to be equal to the rate for a privately owned automobile when no 
Government vehicle is available, as prescribed by the Administrator of 
General Services under 

section 5707

    (b) of title 5.''.

    (b) Prohibition on Certain Deductible Payments.--

Section 111
            (c) of 
such title is amended to read as follows:
 ``
            (c) The Secretary may not require a deductible for travel for 
examination, treatment, or care under this section.''.
            (c) Veterans Service Organizations.--

    (1) Section 111

    (e)

    (2)
        (B) of such title is amended--
        (A) by striking ``subparagraph is'' and all that 
 follows and inserting ``subparagraph is--''; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
 ``
            (i) a provider of personal care services for such veteran 
 who is approved under paragraph

    (6) of 

section 1720G

    (a) of this 
 title or designated under paragraph

    (7) of such 

section 1720G

    (a) ;
 ``
            (ii) a veterans service organization that provides 
 transportation for such veteran under 

section 111A of this 
 title; or
 ``
            (iii) a veterans service agency of a local government, 
 including an employee or a volunteer of such agency, that 
 provides transportation for such veteran.''.

    (2) Section 111A

    (b) of such title is amended--
        (A) by striking ``veterans' service'' and inserting 
 ``veterans service''; and
        (B) by striking ``, without reimbursement from the 
 Department,'' and inserting ``(reimbursable by the 
 Department only to the extent allowable under 

section 111 of this title)''.
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