[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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