[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 40 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DISABLED VETERANS' AUTOMOBILE ASSISTANCE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998, H.R. 
                                  3618

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 1998

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the Disabled 
Veterans' Automobile Assistance Improvement Act of 1998. Severely 
disabled veterans are eligible for a grant from the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide or assist in providing an automobile 
or other conveyance.
  The original intent of this program was to provide a grant which 
would enable a veteran to actually purchase a motor vehicle. The grant 
currently available is totally insufficient for that purpose. In 1971, 
the average cost of a new car was $3,742 and the VA grant amount was 
$2,800. In 1974, the average cost of a new car was $4,440 and the VA 
grant was raised to $3,300. By 1988, the average cost of a new car had 
increased to $14,065 and the VA grant had increased to $5,500. Today, 
the average cost of a new car is $20,647, but the VA grant remains 
limited to $5,500. These figures dramatically demonstrate the erosion 
of a benefit which is designed to assist disabled veterans in the 
purchase of a motor vehicle.
  The Disabled Veterans' Automobile Assistance Improvement Act of 1998 
will enable disabled veterans to qualify for a grant which will be 
increased to make up for the increased cost of automobiles over the 
last ten years and will index these amounts for future inflation. Our 
severely disabled veterans need assistance with the cost of motor 
vehicles which, due to the extent of the veterans' service-connected 
disabilities, frequently cost far more than the average cost of an 
automobile. This legislation will provide that assistance and I urge my 
colleagues to support this important legislation.

                          ____________________