[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CRAIG:
  S. 1265. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand 
eligibility for veterans' mortgage life insurance to include members of 
the Armed Forced receiving specially adapted housing assistance from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to comment on 
legislation I am introducing that will continue a positive trend in the 
provision of benefits to severely injured servicemembers and their 
families by making assistance available when it is needed most. My bill 
would give active duty servicemembers who utilize VA's specially 
adapted housing grant assistance with the ability to also purchase 
Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance, or VMLI, through VA. Under current 
law, the receipt of specially adapted housing grants is the gateway to 
VMLI eligibility. And only those separated from service and legally 
classified as ``veterans'' are able to purchase coverage through VMLI.
  Servicemembers and veterans who are blind, have lost the use of both 
their legs, and who have other severely disabling conditions are 
eligible to receive up to $50,000 in grants from VA to assist with 
needed housing adaptations, such as the widening of doorways, the 
construction of wheelchair ramps, and the installment of handrails. 
Notwithstanding this grant assistance, servicemembers and veterans must 
still pay any underlying mortgage that exists on the modified home. To 
ensure that survivors are not saddled with mortgage debt they cannot 
afford following the death of a severely disabled veteran, VA's VMLI 
program is available. Under VMLI, up to $90,000 of coverage, or 
coverage in the amount of any outstanding mortgage debt, whichever is 
less, is available. Veterans pay premiums at standard mortality rates 
and VA contributes subsidy payments so that all program expenses are 
met.
  Until recently, grants under the specially adapted housing program 
could only be made to individuals who had separated from military 
service. In recognition of what can be an extremely lengthy recovery 
and separation process for those with profoundly disabling conditions, 
in 2004 we in Congress allowed housing grants to be made to active duty 
servicemembers. However, we did not extend the same access to VA's VMLI 
program for those still on active duty, an oversight that my 
legislation would remedy.
  VA estimates that roughly 30 servicemembers per year will receive 
specially adapted housing grants, thus giving rise to VMLI eligibility 
should my bill be enacted. Because it is optional, VA expects only 15 
servicemembers per year to purchase VMLI policies. Therefore, subsidy 
costs associated with my legislation are minimal, less than $500,000 
over 10 years.
  This Congress increasingly is recognizing that the benefits provided 
to our wounded servicemembers need to flow immediately, and that 
outmoded distinctions between ``veteran'' and ``active duty 
servicemember'' mean little when it comes to honoring our commitment to 
them. My legislation continues what I believe is an encouraging trend 
that looks at the career of a military man or woman as a continuum. It 
is a continuum that begins the day they enlist and it ends the day they 
die. Our Government's benefits should reflect that reality.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1265

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR VETERANS' MORTGAGE 
                   LIFE INSURANCE TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES RECEIVING SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
                   ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       Section 2106 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``veteran'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``veteran or member of the Armed Forces'';
       (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``veterans' election'' 
     and inserting ``election of the veteran or member of the 
     Armed Forces'';
       (3) in subsection (f), by inserting ``, members of the 
     Armed Forces,'' after ``veterans''; and
       (4) in subsection (i)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``veteran's 
     indebtedness'' and inserting ``indebtedness of the veteran or 
     member of the Armed Forces''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``veteran's ownership'' 
     and inserting ``ownership of the veteran or member of the 
     Armed Forces''.
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