# 119-hr-5277: HEAL Act

119-hr-5277, HEAL Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5277
- As of: 2026-08-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5277
- Congress: 119
- Title: HEAL Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-09-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-01

## Summary

**Match VA mileage reimbursement to the federal per-mile rate and ban travel deductibles.** The bill would also expand who can be paid to transport veterans and clarify when the Department of Veterans Affairs can reimburse outside groups. - Veterans and families: Would replace the fixed 41.5 cents per mile rate with the rate the General Services Administration sets for privately owned cars when no government vehicle is available. It would prohibit any deductible for travel reimbursed under this program for examination, treatment, or care. - Providers and local agencies: Would allow approved personal care providers, veterans service organizations that provide transportation, and local government veterans service agencies and their employees or volunteers to receive payments or provide transportation services. - VA operations: Would tie the mileage rate to GSA guidance for privately owned autos and make wording changes in Section 111A to clarify when the Department may reimburse outside groups under Section 111.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] (R-FL), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] (R-NJ), 2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Better VA travel help for veterans: benefit, medium. If enacted, veterans who travel for VA care would get an updated mileage rate. The rate would match the private car rate set by the General Services Administration. This replaces the fixed 41.5 cents per mile. VA would be barred from charging a travel deductible. VA could pay approved caregivers, v…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5277 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5277)

## Related
- [119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6644)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5277 (as of 2026-08-01).