I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3407 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2009 Mr. Buyer (for himself, Mr. Michaud, and Mr. Brown of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009.

2.

Increase in rate of special monthly compensation for severely injured veterans

Section 1114(r) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), by striking $1,893 and inserting $2,840; and (2)in paragraph (2), by striking $2,820 and inserting 4,230.

3.

Eligibility of disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces with severe burn injuries for automobiles and adaptive equipment

(a)

Eligibility

Paragraph (1) of section 3901 is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A)— (A)in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking or (iii) below and inserting (iii), or (iv); and (B)by adding at the end the following new clause: (iv)A severe burn injury (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary). ; and (2)in subparagraph (B), by striking or (iii) and inserting (iii), or (iv). (b)

Stylistic Amendments

Such section is further amended— (1)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking chapter— and inserting chapter:; (2)in paragraph (1)— (A)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking means— and inserting means the following:; (B)in subparagraph (A)— (i)in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking any veteran and inserting Any veteran; (ii)in clauses (i) and (ii), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and (iii)in clause (iii), by striking or and inserting a period; and (C)in subparagraph (B), by striking any member and inserting Any member.

4.

Increase in non-service-connected disability pension for certain veterans of a period of war

Section 1521(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)by striking $4,340 and inserting 4,774; and (2)by striking $5,441 and inserting $5,985.

5.

Eligibility of veterans with traumatic brain injury for aid and attendance benefits

Section 1114(o) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after prosthetic appliances, the following: or if the veteran has suffered traumatic brain injury,.

6.

Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase Medal of Honor special pension

(a)

Authority To increase rate of special pension

Subsection (a) of section 1562 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)by inserting (1) after (a); and (2)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2)(A)Subject to the availability of appropriations for this purpose in advance in an appropriations Act, the Secretary may increase the rate of the special pension otherwise in effect under paragraph (1) by not more than $1,000. (B)The Secretary may not increase the rate of a special pension under subparagraph (A) after the Secretary has expended all the funds specifically provided for such purpose in an appropriations Act. (C)The authority under subparagraph (A) expires on September 30, 2013. . (b)

Conforming amendment

Subsection (f)(1) of such section is amended by striking this section and inserting subsection (a)(1).

7.

Extension of provisions relating to pensions for certain hospitalized veterans

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2011 and inserting September 30, 2021.

8.

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on September 30, 2011.