[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3400 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 219
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3400
[Report No. 119-263]
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to assign physicians of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to temporarily serve as traveling physicians in the territories
and possessions of the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2025
Ms. King-Hinds (for herself, Mr. Moylan, and Mrs. Radewagen) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
September 10, 2025
Additional sponsors: Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Strickland, Ms.
McBride, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Vindman,
Mr. Hernandez, Ms. Lee of Nevada, and Mr. Case
September 10, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 14,
2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to assign physicians of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to temporarily serve as traveling physicians in the territories
and possessions of the United States, 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 ``Territorial Response and Access to
Veterans' Essential Lifecare Act'' or the ``TRAVEL Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS ASSIGNMENT OF TRAVELING PHYSICIANS TO
SERVE TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7415. Traveling physicians
``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary may assign a physician
appointed under section 7401 or section 7431 of this title to serve as
a traveling physician for a period of not more than one year at a time.
A physician assigned to serve as a traveling physician under this
section may be assigned to provide health care to veterans residing in
American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, or any other territory or possession of the United States at
Department facilities or other approved facilities located in such
territory or possession.
``(2) The Secretary may assign multiple physicians to serve as
traveling physicians under this section and may assign each such
physician to serve in a specific territory or possession.
``(b) Coordination of Care.--In providing care under this section,
traveling physicians shall coordinate with non-Department medical
providers to the extent practicable and necessary to ensure high
quality and coordinated care for veterans receiving hospital care and
medical services.
``(c) Pay.--In addition to pay under section 7431 of this title,
the Secretary shall provide a relocation or retention bonus to
traveling physicians under this section. Such relocation or retention
bonus shall be substantially similar to a relocation or retention bonus
offered under section 7410(a) of this title, as the Secretary considers
appropriate.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
7414 the following new item:
``7415. Traveling physicians.''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Title 38, United States
Code, is further amended as follows:
(1) In section 7410(a)(1), by--
(A) by striking ``retention allowances'' and
inserting ``retention bonuses''; and
(B) by striking the second comma after ``section
7401(1) of this title''; and
(2) In section 7431(e)(5)(B), by striking ``retention
allowances'' and inserting ``retention bonuses''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting ``December 31, 2032''.
Union Calendar No. 219
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3400
[Report No. 119-263]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to assign physicians of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to temporarily serve as traveling physicians in the territories
and possessions of the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 10, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed