The Secretary may transport any person to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.

(1) The Secretary may transport any person to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.

(2) The authority granted by paragraph (1) shall expire on September 30, 2020.

The Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the Secretary of Transportation and appropriate representatives of veterans’ service organizations, shall take all appropriate steps to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of a program under which such organizations, or individuals who are volunteering their services to the Department, would take responsibility for the transportation, without reimbursement from the Department, to Department facilities of veterans (primarily those residing in areas which are geographically accessible to such facilities) who seek services or benefits from the Department under chapter 17 or other provisions of this title.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 112–260, title II, § 202(a), (b), Jan. 10, 2013, 126 Stat. 2423, 2424; Pub. L. 113–59, § 6, Dec. 20, 2013, 127 Stat. 662; Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, § 401, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, § 401, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 534; Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, § 401, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 939; Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 401, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1164; Pub. L. 115–251, title I, § 161, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3171.)