[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 534 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 534
Expressing support for the designation of the day of June 19, 2023, to
commemorate and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Specially Adapted
Housing Grant Program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 21, 2023
Mr. Takano submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of the day of June 19, 2023, to
commemorate and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Specially Adapted
Housing Grant Program.
Whereas, in 1948, in seeking a solution to integrate disabled returning members
of the Armed Forces into civilian life, the 80th Congress sought to
accommodate the many veterans who served and paid a dear price for their
service. The 80th Congress worked to ensure that they were honored and
given the just treatment and respect they desired;
Whereas, on June 19, 1948, to help veterans disabled from war in their housing
needs, President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Specially Adapted
Housing for Disabled Veterans Program (Public Law 80-702), more commonly
known as the ``Specially Adapted Housing Grant Program'';
Whereas such Act was the culmination of the tireless work and advocacy of
Veteran Service Organizations and Members of Congress;
Whereas such Act made available grants to those fit the eligibility of disabled
service veteran to assist them in constructing, purchasing, or
remodeling homes to fit their needs to ensure that disabled Veterans and
Service members enjoy barrier-free living;
Whereas such Act has enhanced veterans' independence at home and their quality
of life with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs having
provided approximately 49,500 grants totaling $1.945 billion since the
program's inception in 1948;
Whereas such Act expressed the duty, responsibility, and desire of a grateful
United States to see to it that those who served on active duty in the
Armed Forces and paid a heavy price for our freedom are assisted with
every opportunity to live with dignity and the respect their service has
earned them;
Whereas Congress enacted subsequent Acts to provide enhanced assistance to new
generations of disabled veterans, including the Veterans Housing Grants
for Disabled (Public Law 86-239), Disabled veterans Mortgage protection
Life Insurance (Public Law 92-95), Veterans Housing Act of 1974 (Public
Law 93-569), Veterans Omnibus Health Care Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-
581), Veterans' Disability Compensation and Housing Benefits Amendments
of 1980 (Public Law 96-385), Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1984
(Public Law 98-543), Veterans' Benefits Improvement and Health Care
Authorization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-576), Veterans' Medical
Programs Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-405), Veterans Benefits Act
of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (Public Law
108-183), Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of
2006 (Public Law 109-233), Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act (Public
Law 112-154), and the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive
Housing Improvement Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-154);
Whereas, since the signing of such Act, the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs' expansion and increase of benefits now cover more disabled
veterans than ever before;
Whereas such expansions increased the section 2101(a) grant from $10,000 in 1948
to over $100,000 today, the increase of the list of covered disabilities
from covering total service-connected disability causing paralysis in
the legs or lower body only towards a broader range of mobility
impairments resulting from permanent and total service-connected
disabilities, and the ability for veterans or servicemembers may use the
SAH and SHA grants up to three times, if total funding does not exceed
grant limits;
Whereas such expansions to the Act improved the ability for disabled veteran
homeowners to modify their home through the increasement of the section
2101(a) grant from $10,000 in 1948 to over $100,000 today;
Whereas such expansions to the Act expanded the eligibility to cover more
disabled veterans than ever before through the increase of the list of
covered disabilities from covering total service-connected disability
causing paralysis in the legs or lower body only towards a broader range
of mobility impairments resulting from permanent and total service-
connected disabilities;
Whereas such expansions to the Act ensured that veterans are ensured constant
support through the ability for veterans or servicemembers to use the
SAH and SHA grants up to 6 times if total funding does not exceed grant
limits;
Whereas this Act and its expansions have helped countless veterans achieve their
homeownership aspirations by accommodating to their disabilities and
fulfilled our desire to honor these disabled veterans as they endured a
steep cost for this county;
Whereas, June 19, 2023, is the 75th Anniversary of the Act being signed into law
by President Harry S. Truman; and
Whereas the day of June 19, 2023, is an appropriate day to designate as ``the
75th Anniversary of the Specially Adapted Housing Grant Program'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the achievements of the 80th Congress with
the Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans Program
(Public Law 80-702) in assisting disabled veterans, increasing
home ownership, and maintaining the promise to care and support
for veterans when they return home, no matter the condition
they are in;
(2) honors those veterans benefitting from the Specially
Adapted Housing program on this Anniversary for the sacrifice
they made for our country, our continued promise to honor their
legacy, and our commitment to maintaining this promise for
future generation to come;
(3) affirms the responsibility of Congress to be faithful
stewards of the Specially Adapted Housing program provided
under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
ensure that such assistance endures as an honorable investment
of public dollars; and
(4) encourages all Americans to celebrate the 75th
Anniversary of the signing of the Specially Adapted Housing for
Disabled Veterans Program (Public Law 80-702) by Harry S.
Truman.
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