Bill Overview
Title: DRIVE Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to adjust the mileage rate for beneficiary travel to or from a VA facility in relation to vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Such rate must be adjusted to be at least equal to the mileage reimbursement rate for vehicles that are privately owned by government employees on official business.
Sponsors: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans who utilize VA travel benefits for specific services
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill focuses on veterans who utilize VA facilities for vocational rehabilitation and other services.
- There are approximately 19 million veterans in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as of recent data.
- Not all veterans use VA facilities or travel regularly for vocational rehabilitation or other services, so the directly impacted population will be a subset of this group.
- The bill impacts veterans who are eligible and utilize beneficiary travel from the VA for specified purposes like counseling, examination, and treatment.
- The total number of veterans with service-connected disabilities is around 5 million, which could represent a portion of those likely affected, given they might more frequently use such services.
Reasoning
- The DRIVER Act primarily affects veterans who utilize VA travel benefits, which is roughly estimated according to statistics on veterans with service-connected disabilities. Not all veterans travel regularly for the specified services, thus the impact is most intense on this subgroup.
- With a target population estimate of around 5 million, we recognize various factors at play: only a portion of veterans regularly undertake travel to VA facilities for the services mentioned by the bill.
- The budget constraints mean not every veteran will receive the policy benefits immediately or equally. Considering the average reimbursement for travel benefits, the budget needs to cater to those veterans making frequent and regular travels for treatment or rehabilitation.
- The interviews will reflect both veterans directly impacted and other individuals to account for possible indirect impacts or perceptions of policy necessity. Each interview will include a broad range of perspectives from different backgrounds.
- Both direct and indirect impacts are captured, as some veterans may not travel enough to notice a difference immediately, while others will experience significant improvement in financial relief.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, unemployed (Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really help me out. Traveling to the VA for treatments can be expensive, especially since I'm not currently working.
- Having the additional reimbursement would allow me to afford more frequent visits, which are necessary for my rehabilitation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired veteran (New York)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honestly, the change won't affect me much as I don't travel that often to the VA.
- It's great for those who need it, but I'm quite satisfied with how things are.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran, mechanic (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional mileage reimbursement means more saved money in my pocket, reducing stress over travel costs.
- This change would be very welcome in my efforts to manage expenses tighter.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Veteran, teacher (Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good change, but I won't benefit directly as I rarely use the VA facilities.
- I'm glad my fellow veterans who depend more on these services will have easier access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran, freelance artist (Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Travel expenses eat into my income significantly, so this bill would help alleviate some financial pressure.
- This would allow me to improve my quality of life over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired veteran (Ohio)
Age: 73 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't drive myself anymore, so the mileage rate doesn't affect me, but I can appreciate the necessity for those who still travel frequently.
- If the VA can continue and extend support, more of my vet friends might stay healthier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Veteran, administrative assistant (Nevada)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I travel biweekly for psychological counseling at the VA, so any increase in mileage reimbursement will be quite helpful.
- This could certainly lessen the financial burden related to commuting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Veteran, part-time consultant (Virginia)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is good and much needed for my peers, though I might not feel the difference as intensely right away.
- However, consistently raising the reimbursed amount speaks volumes about veteran respect and acknowledgment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran, IT specialist (Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the importance, but I rely on employer benefits instead and do not foresee utilizing this often.
- It's an important measure nonetheless for those without similar advantages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Veteran, retired nurse (Illinois)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Good initiative; veterans who often visit the VA would greatly benefit from this.
- Perhaps this could encourage more veterans to consistently seek care services they might avoid due to travel costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $200000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $250000000)
Year 3: $200000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $250000000)
Year 5: $200000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $250000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $250000000)
Year 100: $200000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $250000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy does not apply to all veterans, only those using specific travel benefits.
- Mileage rates are dependent on changes to the rate approved for government employees.
- Potential wider benefits to the local economies where veterans reside may not be wholly captured in direct fiscal estimates.
- The VA will need to allocate resources towards implementing this adjustment within administrative processes.