February 13, 2025
Ms. Brownley (for herself, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Ms. Norton, Mr. Obernolte, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. Lieu, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the mileage rate offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through their Beneficiary Travel program for health related travel, 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 Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity Act of 2025
or the DRIVE Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Payments or allowances by Department of Veterans Affairs for beneficiary travel
(a) Minimum payment amount
Subsection (g) of section 111 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
(g)
The Secretary shall ensure that the mileage rate described in subsection (a) is equal to or greater than the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when no Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5.
(b) Timely processing of allowances
Subsection (b) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5)
If, with respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary exercises the authority under this section to make any payments, the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that an allowance based on mileage paid under subsection (a) is paid not later than 90 days after the date on which a request for such allowance is properly submitted to the Secretary in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary.
(c) Conforming amendments
Such section is further amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking (at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile)
and inserting (at a rate determined in accordance with subsection (g))
; and
(2)
in subsection (b)(1), by striking and notwithstanding subsection (g)(2) of this section
.