The reimbursement rate will increase from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents for mileage traveled to or from a VA facility. The normally charged deductable freezes immediately, but would lower from $15.54 to $6.00 per round trip effective January 9, 2009.

Rodriguez said "As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am proud of the work we have done to put veterans travel reimbursement on par with that of federal employees."

The 2009 Appropriations Act that Congress passed earlier this year provided funding to increase the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement rate to 41.5 cents per mile and provided instructions to freeze the deductible.