Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced the introduction of the Veterans Access to Transit Act (H.R. 6451), legislation to establish a Department of Transportation (DOT) pilot program to provide veterans with public transportation to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and veterans organizations.

“Local veterans have told me consistently that lack of transportation is a significant barrier to health care, especially in rural and island communities,” said Rep. Larsen. “Introducing this bill is one important step toward ensuring Northwest Washington’s 47,000 veterans can access timely, quality health care.”

In his time in Congress, Rep. Larsen has hosted more than 70 forums to hear directly from Northwest Washington state veterans about their needs, including five roundtables in September. Last month, he published ‘Listening to Veterans in Northwest Washington,’ a report capturing local veterans’ most pressing challenges and outlining policy recommendations for Congress and VA to address these concerns.

Rep. Larsen recently submitted this report to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC) to ensure Northwest Washington veterans’ voices impact the policy-making process.

“This fall, I met with veterans and service providers in Everett, Bellingham, Burlington, Oak Harbor and Lummi Nation,” said Rep. Larsen in a letter to HVAC. “Based on those conversations, I wrote a report that analyzes the challenges veterans in my district are facing, based on the four pillars that guide my work in veterans’ policy: health care, housing, education and employment. I look forward to working with the Committee to ensure veterans in Washington’s Second District have access to timely health care, affordable housing, high-quality education and fulfilling employment opportunities.”

Rep. Larsen also shared ‘Listening to Veterans in Northwest Washington’ with VA Secretary Doug Collins.

“At these [September] roundtables, veterans raised concerns about a wide range of issues… [including] specific challenges related to transportation, health care and housing, which I look forward to working with VA to address,” said Rep. Larsen in a letter to Secretary Collins. “While the local Puget Sound VA representatives continue to be great partners in serving the veterans of Northwest Washington state, VA leadership must make a stronger commitment to engaging with veterans directly, including through forums like these roundtables.”

You can access the full text of the Veterans Access to Transit Act HERE.

You can access the full text of Rep. Larsen’s letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins HERE.

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