[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3504 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3504
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to
the specially adapted housing program of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2019
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee, and Mr.
Levin of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to
the specially adapted housing program of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ryan Kules Specially Adaptive
Housing Improvement Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PRIORITY IN AWARD OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING GRANTS TO
SERIOUSLY ILL VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Priority for Seriously Ill Veterans.--(1) In providing
assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
seriously ill veterans.
``(2) In this section, the term `seriously ill veteran' shall have
the meaning given such term by the Secretary.''.
(b) Definition of Seriously Ill Veteran.--
(1) In general.--By not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall--
(A) determine the meaning of the term ``seriously
ill veteran'' for purposes of subsection (d) of section
2101 of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a); and
(B) submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate and House of Representatives the meaning
of such term as so determined.
(2) Applicability.--The definition of ``seriously ill
veteran'' as determined under paragraph (1) shall apply for
purposes of such subsection (d) beginning on the date that is
30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives the definition of such term as so determined.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on October 1, 2020, and apply with respect to assistance
provided on or after that date.
SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED.
(a) Increase of Number of Grants Per Veteran.--Section 2102(d)(3)
of such title is amended by striking ``three'' and inserting ``six''.
(b) Increase in Number of Applications Authorized To Be Approved.--
Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking ``30
applications'' and inserting ``120 applications''.
(c) Increase in Maximum Amount of Assistance for Adaptation to
Veteran's Residence.--Section 2102(b)(2) of such title is amended by
striking ``$12,000'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
(d) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for Acquisition of
Housing With Special Features.--Section 2102(d)(1) of such title is
amended by striking ``$63,780'' and inserting ``$98,492''.
(e) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for Adaptations to
Veterans' Residences.--Section 2102(d)(2) of such title is amended by
striking ``$12,756'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
(f) Effective Date and Application.--The amendments made by this
section shall take effect on October 1, 2020. The amendments made by
subsections (c) and (d) shall apply with respect to individuals who
have not received the maximum amount of assistance under section 2101
of title 38, United States Code, before such date.
SEC. 4. PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING
ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
Section 2102 of such title is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(f)(1) Notwithstanding the aggregate amounts specified in
subsection (d), a covered veteran may apply for and receive an
additional amount of assistance under subsection (a) or (b) of section
2101 of this title in an amount that does not exceed half of the amount
specified in subsection (d).
``(2) In this subsection, a covered veteran is a veteran who--
``(A) is described in section 2101(a)(2) of this title;
``(B) first receives assistance under this chapter on or
after October 1, 2020;
``(C) as of the date of the veteran's application for
assistance under paragraph (1), most recently received
assistance under this chapter more than ten years before such
date; and
``(D) lives in a home that the Secretary determines does
not have adaptations that are reasonably necessary because of
the veteran's disability.''.
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