Congressman Hodes Announces Support for Legislation to Help Veterans with Soaring Gas Prices

For Immediate Release

July 1, 2008

Contact:        Mark Bergman

                202-225-5206

Congressman Hodes Announces Support for Legislation to Help Veterans with Soaring Gas Prices

Concord, NH – Congressman Paul Hodes today announced that he is co-sponsoring the Veterans Travel Equity Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase the mileage reimbursement rate for veterans traveling to receive health care. Congressman Hodes made his announcement after learning last week that the Bush Administration would not support a full service VA Hospital in Manchester and as New Hampshire veterans continue to grapple with record high gas prices.

“With gas prices setting new records again and again this year, it is costing New Hampshire veterans more to drive those long distances to get the care they desperately need,” Congressman Paul Hodes said “Veterans are paying more and drive further to get important medical coverage and that is plain wrong.”

The Veterans Travel Equity Act would increase the mileage reimbursement for veterans seeking health care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities, so that it is the same as the mileage reimbursement rate available to federal employees—currently 50.5 cents per mile.

The bill also eliminates the income and pension eligibility requirements and service-connected disability rating requirements.  Under current law, only veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30 percent or more qualify for or receive the reimbursement.

Also last week, VA Secretary Peake said that the Bush Administration would not be upgrading the Manchester VA to a full service veteran’s hospital. This means that New Hampshire veterans will continue to face longer driving distances to get critical care.

“The Bush Administration is adding insult to injury to New Hampshire veterans by not upgrading the Manchester facility to a full service hospital. The least we can do for New Hampshire veterans is to help with record high gas prices so they can receive the care they have earned,” Hodes added.

Congressman Hodes has also sponsored legislation to create the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman that will help veterans navigate through the vast bureaucracy of the VA system to receive their benefits.