Veterans who rely on transportation through the Department of Veterans Affairs to reach their health care appointments no longer have to fear losing their rides at the end of the year, Reps. Rick Larsen, WA-02, and Mac Thornberry, TX-13, said last week.

The House passed a bill that contained a provision championed by Larsen and Thornberry to extend the Veterans Transportation Service Program, which was set to expire at the end of 2015.

Earlier this year, Larsen and Thornberry introduced the Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015. The bill would permanently reauthorize the Veterans Transportation Service program and provide mileage reimbursement for combat veterans traveling to receive counseling and care from Veterans Centers.

It would also reauthorize a grant program to provide transportation options to highly rural veterans seeking medical care.

While the House-passed bill last week (S. 2082) is not as comprehensive as Larsen and Thornberry’s Act, they said it is an important step forward to make sure veterans can access the care they need.

The Veterans Transportation Service program provides funding to local VA facilities to hire transportation coordinators and purchase vehicles that VA-trained staff can use to connect more veterans to the care they need.

The cost-effective program helps save money on ambulance costs and mileage reimbursements.