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Especially in areas such as West Virginia, it can be difficult for veterans to find transportation to veterans' centers and Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and five other senators want to make it easier for them.
A bill introduced by the senators would improve access to transportation services such as those operated by the Disabled American Veterans and other organizations. VA health care facilities would be able to continue hiring drivers and purchasing vehicles to transport veterans. And a program that reimburses veterans for travel costs they incur would be expanded.
Veterans who live in rural areas such as West Virginia and Southeast Ohio sometimes can find local organizations, even friends and neighbors, to transport them to health care facilities. But those options are not always available -- and urgent health care needs must be addressed quickly.
The Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2019 should be enacted.
Remember this is the lifelong healthcare our veterans were promised, in return for being willing to give everything for their country.
It does them no good if they cannot access it.
We think most Americans agree with Manchin that aiding veterans in rural areas "is just common sense."