110th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 994

To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the deductible and change the method of determining the mileage reimbursement rate under the beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 27, 2007

Mr. TESTER (for himself and Mr. SALAZAR) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the deductible and change the method of determining the mileage reimbursement rate under the beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary 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 `Disabled Veterans Fairness Act'.

SEC. 2. VETERANS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM.

    (a) Elimination of Deductible-

      (1) ELIMINATION- Section 111 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c).

      (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking `Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and notwithstanding' and inserting `Notwithstanding'.

    (b) Determination of Mileage Reimbursement Rate-

      (1) DETERMINATION- Paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of such section is amended to read as follows:

    `(1) In determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section, the Secretary shall use the mileage reimbursement rates for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business, as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5.'.

      (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Subsection (g) of such section is further amended by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).

    (c) Source of Funds- Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    `(i) Amounts for payments under this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department specifically for such payments.'.

    (d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to travel expenses incurred after the expiration of the 90-day period that begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.

END