Congresman Pete Stauber (MN 08) Efforts to Improve Access to Essential Services
Arrowhead Transit is grateful to Congressman Pete Stauber for his continued advocacy on behalf of rural volunteer drivers. As many of you know, volunteer drivers are critical to ensuring that seniors and individuals in rural communities can access healthcare, grocery shopping, and social opportunities. Congressman Stauber recently testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on January 22, advocating for equitable treatment of these volunteers.
We are pleased to report that Congressman Stauber will be reintroducing the volunteer driver legislation (currently H.R.3032), a move that has the full support of Arrowhead Transit and our communities. As Rep. Stauber shared during his testimony, “If we don’t have volunteer drivers in rural Minnesota, these seniors can’t get to their dental, health appointments, or church.” This echoes the critical need for fair compensation for volunteer drivers, who play an irreplaceable role in the lives of so many.
Currently, volunteer drivers receive only 14 cents per mile in reimbursement, while the business rate is five times higher. Rep. Stauber is pushing to create parity between these rates, ensuring that volunteer drivers are fairly compensated for their invaluable service. “We’re losing volunteer drivers in Rural America, and it’s not fair to our seniors,” Stauber said, stressing how crucial this issue is for maintaining seniors’ independence and access to services.
Arrowhead Transit is grateful for the continued support of Congressman Stauber and his legislative team, including Allie Esau and Sean Sullivan, for their hard work on this bipartisan issue. Though the process is slow, we are encouraged by Stauber’s commitment to advancing this legislation and supporting the volunteer drivers who make such a difference in rural communities.
We stand with Congressman Stauber in his efforts to ensure fair reimbursement for volunteer drivers and to keep rural transit viable and effective for all.
Watch Congressman Stauber’s full testimony
Member Day Hearing on Matters Within the Committee’s Tax Jurisdiction