Skip to main content

Bilirakis Introduces Legislation to Allow Space Available Travel Benefit for Disabled Veterans

February 9, 2017

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Vice Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, recently introduced the Special Priority on Aircrafts and Coverage Equity Act (SPACE-A), H.R. 936, to allow Veterans who have a service connected disability to utilize a travel benefit currently extended to retired military members. Right now, 100% disabled Veterans are considered ineligible for the Space Available Travel benefit, which permits military retirees to travel on military aircraft when there is extra space onboard.

“The Space Available Travel program is a benefit rightfully extended to all military retirees, yet it excludes those who are 100% disabled. The brave men and women who served our country, and returned home injured, have already paid a big price on our behalf. If there is space available for travel on a military aircraft, there is no reason our Veterans who are 100% disabled shouldn’t be on that flight. I will continue to stand up for our nation’s heroes to ensure they are treated with the dignity they have earned and deserve,” said Bilirakis.

H.R. 936 has received support from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Military Retiree Association, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the National Federation of the Blind, and the Blinded Veterans Association.