[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2119-E2120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SEVERELY INJURED VETERANS' BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 2009

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I join my good friends and 
colleagues, Mike Michaud of Maine and Henry Brown of South Carolina, in 
introducing the Severely Injured Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 
2009. This bill will provide increased benefits to our most severely 
injured veterans.
  Madam Speaker, as servicemembers are returning from the Global War on 
Terror with

[[Page E2120]]

more severe and complex injuries than in previous conflicts, the 
services and benefits that the Department of Veteran Affairs provides 
must change as well in reflection of their needs.
  This bill recognizes this need and provides significant increases for 
these veterans and their families. The bill increases compensation for 
catastrophically injured veterans who are in need of regular aide and 
attendance by fifty percent. Qualifying veterans would receive a 
monthly payment of $7,552, and those in need of the highest level of 
care would receive $8,642.
  We are all aware of the impact of attending to daily personal needs 
such as bathing and eating can have on family caregivers. Increasing 
the rate of the aid and attendance benefit for veterans would support 
family caregivers who experience a loss of income, and allow veterans 
to remain in their homes.
  This legislation would also expand eligibility for aid and attendance 
benefits to include veterans with service connected residuals of severe 
traumatic brain injury (TBI). It would permit these veterans in need of 
constant supervision and assistance to remain in their residences 
rather than being institutionalized.
  More servicemembers of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom are surviving blast head injuries cause by an IED explosion 
than in any previous war. These servicemembers and veterans may not 
have any physical disabilities, but may suffer extreme cognitive 
disabilities as a result. A veteran with severe TIM can require 
constant supervision and assistance to perform all activities of daily 
living. However, current law does not provide veterans with severe TBIs 
with the same level of compensation that is available to veterans with 
severe physical disabilities.
  Further, the bill codifies a U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims ruling that protects non-service connected pension payments for 
elderly, indigent, and severely disabled or house-bound American 
veterans. The bill also increases this benefit by ten percent.
  It would also authorize veterans with severe burns to receive 
specially adapted auto grants.
  Lastly, the bill honors the recipients of our nation's highest award 
for bravely by doubling the monthly pension given to Medal of Honor 
Recipients to $2,000.
  Madam Speaker, this bill makes all of these needed improvements 
without new increases in direct spending. I urge my colleagues to join 
me in improving the lives of these veterans by co-sponsoring this 
bipartisan bill.

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