Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 26, 2015

Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to transport individuals to and from VA facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, or care.

Treats Vet Centers (centers for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans) as VA facilities for purposes of providing payment of actual expenses of travel or allowance for travel to or from a VA facility.

Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 29, 2016
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
Jun 3, 2015
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-201.
Feb 26, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Feb 26, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 26, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.603 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.603, 114th Congress: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/603

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-02-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s603/BILLS-114s603is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:50:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.603 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.603 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.603, 114th Congress: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/603

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-02-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s603/BILLS-114s603is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:50:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.603 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.603 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.603, 114th Congress: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/603

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-02-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s603/BILLS-114s603is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:50:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.603 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.603 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.603, 114th Congress: Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/603

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-02-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s603/BILLS-114s603is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:50:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.603 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.