Rep. Julia Brownley (Calif.) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Peter Welch (Vt.) have introduced H.R.1278/S. 592, the Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity (DRIVE) Act to increase the mileage reimbursement rate for veterans receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who are seeking care for service-connected conditions or veterans with service-connected conditions rated at least 30% are among veterans who are eligible for beneficiary travel pay—which may include reimbursement for mileage, tolls and additional expenses, such as meals or lodging.
Unfortunately, the current mileage rates for beneficiary travel do not always cover the actual expenses for gas and associated costs of using a personal vehicle. The difference in the current mileage rate for reimbursement for veterans (41.5 cents) compared to federal employees using personal vehicles for business (62.5 cents) highlights the inadequacy of the rate for veterans’ travel. Such expenses may serve as a barrier to care, especially when gas prices are high.
The DRIVE Act would tie veterans’ mileage reimbursement to the rate government employees receive for using their personal vehicles for government business. DAV supports the DRIVE Act in accordance with Resolution No. 432, which calls for adopting the General Services Administration increased mileage rate for veterans’ beneficiary travel.
Please ask your representative and senators to support H.R. 1278 and S. 592—the DRIVE Act.