TRANSPORTATION ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION AIRCRAFT OF CERTAIN Veterans’ ADMINISTRATION BENEFICIARIES

SEC. 1250. TRANSPORTATION ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION AIRCRAFT OF CERTAIN Veterans’ ADMINISTRATION BENEFICIARIES (a) In General.—(1) Chapter 157 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “§ 2641. Transportation of certain veterans on Department of Defense aeromedical evacuation aircraft “(a) The Secretary of Defense may provide transportation on an aircraft operating under the aeromedical evacuation system of the Department of Defense for the purpose of transporting a veteran to or from a Veterans’ Administration medical facility. “(b) Transportation under this section shall be provided in accordance with an agreement entered into between the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs. Such an agreement shall provide that transportation may be furnished to a veteran on an aircraft referred to in subsection (a) only if— (1) the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs notifies the Secretary of Defense that the veteran needs or has been furnished medical care or services in a Veterans’ Administration facility and the Administrator requests such transportation in connection with the travel of such veteran to or from the Veterans’ Administration facility where the care or services are to be furnished or were furnished to such veteran; (2) there is space available for the veteran on the aircraft; (3) there is an adequate number of medical and other service attendants to care for all persons being transported on the aircraft. “(c) A veteran is not eligible for transportation under this section unless the veteran is a primary beneficiary within the meaning of clause (A) of section 5011(g)(5) of title 38. “(d)(1) A charge may not be imposed on a veteran for transportation provided to the veteran under this section. (2) An agreement under subsection (b) shall provide that the Veterans’ Administration shall reimburse the Department of Defense for any costs incurred in providing transportation to veterans under this section that would not otherwise have been incurred by the Department of Defense. “(e) In this section, the term ‘veteran’ has the meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 38.”. 101 STAT. 1168 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “2641. Transportation of certain veterans on Department of Defense aeromedical evacuation aircraft.” (b) Implementation Deadline.—The Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall enter into an agreement required by section 2641 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.