VETERANS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM.

SEC. 401. VETERANS BENEFICIARY TRAVEL PROGRAM.(a) Repeal of Requirement To Adjust Amounts Deducted From Payments or Allowances for Beneficiary Travel.—(1) In general.—Section 111(c) is amended—(A) by striking paragraph (5); and(B) in paragraph (2), by striking “, except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection,”.(2) Reinstatement of amount of deduction specified by statute.—Notwithstanding any adjustment made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under paragraph (5) of section 111(c) of title 38, United States Code, as such paragraph was in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act, the amount deducted under paragraph (1) of such section 111(c) on or after such date shall be the amount specified in such paragraph.(b) Determination of Mileage Reimbursement Rate.—Section 111(g) is amended—(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:“(1) Subject to paragraph (3), in determining the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section, the Secretary shall use the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when a Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5.”;(2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):“(3) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may modify the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section using a mileage reimbursement rate in excess of that prescribed under paragraph (1).”.(c) Report.—Not later than 14 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 122 STAT. 4123 to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing an estimate of the additional costs incurred by the Department of Veterans Affairs because of this section, including—(1) any costs resulting from increased utilization of healthcare services by veterans eligible for travel allowances or reimbursements under section 111 of title 38, United States Code; and(2) the additional costs that would be incurred by the Department should the Secretary exercise the authority described in subsection (g)(3) of such section.(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to travel expenses incurred after the expiration of the 90-day period that begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.