Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act

This bill, the Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act, would extend and modify the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transportation grant program created to help rural veterans get to healthcare. Key changes include expanding who can receive the grants to include tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations, updating who is considered an eligible recipient, and adjusting funding rules. The bill keeps a per-grant cap but allows a larger grant in counties with many remote (off-road-system) communities. It also makes funding for the program more flexible for fiscal years 2025–2029 by shifting from a fixed annual amount to “such sums as may be necessary.” In short, the bill aims to improve rural veterans’ access to VA healthcare by broadening eligibility, increasing support for particularly remote areas, and providing more flexible funding.