H.R. 1733 — Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act

This section expands and modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs grant program for transportation services for veterans in rural or highly rural areas (previously limited to highly rural areas). Specifically, it (1) adds county veterans service organizations and tribal organizations as eligible grant recipients; (2) sets a maximum grant amount of $60,000, increased to $80,000 for recipients required to purchase a vehicle compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (3) defines the terms rural and highly rural using the Department of Agriculture's Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system; and (4) authorizes such sums as may be necessary (previously, $3 million for each of FY2010 through FY2022). (As background, the program provides grants to state veterans service agencies and certain veterans service organizations to facilitate transportation for eligible veterans to health care appointments.)