Veterans who live in Georgia with few, or no, transportation options will benefit if the Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act is passed in Congress.
It calls for the Department of Veteran Affairs to expand successful programs that provide transportation services and reimbursement for their travel to VA facilities for veterans living in rural areas.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga) announced the legislation Feb. 18 while meeting with reporters following his tour of the Uptown Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center.
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Ossoff said the legislation, if passed, would increase transportation services that are available for veterans in rural areas, helping them get to VA medical centers and satellite facilities.
“One of the things I’ve heard so frequently from veterans in Georgia as it it’s difficult to access facilities, especially when they’re 45 minutes or an hour or an hour and a half away,” he said. So, I’m working with a bipartisan group of senators. We have sponsored together legislation to expand access to transportation for veterans in rural areas to get to facilities like this one here in Augusta.”
Included in the provisions it would make the Veterans Transportation Service permanent. It allows local VA facilities to purchase vehicles and hire drivers to transport veterans. The bill also creates a pilot program to reimburse veterans and eligible beneficiaries for travel to centers for mental health care and counseling and establishes a pilot program expanding public transportation to facilities that serve veterans.
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Ossoff was in Augusta to tour the Uptown VA facility and meet with its director, Dr. Robin Jackson.
“I want to work closely with the VA to make sure that all Georgia veterans are getting the care and benefits that they’ve earned,” he said. “I’ve met with representatives of local veterans’ groups, had the opportunity to look at some of the expansions and work being done here. What I’ve seen here today is encouraging. What I’ve seen here today is that veterans in the Augusta area have access to a world class facility, and a team that’s really committed to doing their best to serve those who have sacrificed in the defense of our country.”
Ossoff has also toured Fort Gordon twice to examine on-post housing used by soldiers and their families.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
