Bill · S. 599· Senate(119-S-599)
DRIVE Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/13/2025
- Last activity
- 5/21/2025 — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
- Sponsored by
- Peter Welch
- Cosponsors
- - 17 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity Act of 2025," aims to change how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles travel payments. It seeks to amend title 38 of the United States Code to increase the mileage rate for health-related travel through the Beneficiary Travel program. The bill changes the fixed rate of 41.5 cents per mile to a rate tied to government employee standards. Additionally, it introduces a requirement for the timely processing of mileage allowances.
Yes
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+7
The bill provides direct economic relief to veterans by increasing mileage reimbursement rates and ensuring timely payments.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+7
The bill increases financial support for veterans' health-related travel and ensures more timely reimbursements.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+7
The bill enhances veteran benefits by increasing travel reimbursement rates and mandating timely payments.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Reimbursement Rates: By amending subsection (g) of section 111, the bill ensures the mileage rate is equal to or greater than the rate used by Government employees on official business. This provides higher reimbursement for those using privately owned vehicles for health-related travel (Section 2(a)).
-
Guaranteed Payment Timelines: The bill adds a new paragraph to subsection (b) requiring that mileage-based allowances be paid no later than 90 days after a request is properly submitted. This creates a standard for the Secretary to ensure payments are processed in a timely manner (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+7
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
- 5/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/25/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island