TRAVEL Act of 2025

Physicians appointed under section 7431 (in addition to section 7401) can now be assigned as traveling physicians, broadening the pool of eligible doctors.

Traveling physicians may now serve at 'other approved facilities' in addition to Department facilities, expanding where veterans can receive care from these physicians.

The list of territories where a physician can serve was changed from 'and any other territory' to 'or any other territory,' clarifying that a single physician is assigned to one location rather than all territories simultaneously.

New subsection (a)(2) allows the Secretary to assign multiple traveling physicians and designate each for a specific territory or possession, giving more flexibility in deployment.

The coordination-of-care requirement now says 'to the extent practicable and necessary' instead of just 'to the extent necessary,' adding a practicality qualifier that softens the obligation somewhat.

The statutory basis for relocation or retention bonuses was changed from title 5 sections 5753 and 5754 to section 7410(a) of title 38, which may affect how bonus amounts are calculated.

A new Section 3 extends the deadline in 38 U.S.C. 5503(d)(7) from November 30, 2031 to December 31, 2032, giving an additional roughly 13 months for certain pension payment limits.

Conforming amendments change the term 'retention allowances' to 'retention bonuses' in sections 7410(a)(1) and 7431(e)(5)(B) to align terminology across the statute.

Fixed a duplicate word ('the the') in the short title provision.