[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5777-H5778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DELIVER FOR VETERANS ACT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 522) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide or assist in providing a
vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain
eligible persons, to pay expenses associated with the delivery of such
vehicle, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 522
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Deliver for Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
COVERAGE OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DELIVERY OF
AN ADAPTIVE VEHICLE.
Section 3902(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``by paying the total purchase price of the
automobile or other conveyance'' and inserting ``by paying
the total purchase price of the automobile or other
conveyance, and the total shipping price to deliver the
automobile or other conveyance to the veteran''.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``November 15,
2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``November 29,
2031''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 522, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 522 offered by my friend
and colleague, Delegate Moylan from Guam.
This bill would allow VA to pay for the shipping price of specially
adapted vehicles for disabled veterans.
Currently, service-connected disabled veterans who are unable to
drive due to their disability can work with the VA to get an adapted
vehicle for their use. Unfortunately, shipping costs are not currently
under the program, so it is difficult for a disabled veteran to have an
adapted vehicle shipped to them.
While this might not be an issue for some veterans, other veterans
are unable to use the program because the resources are not available
close to home to make the modifications necessary.
Delegate Moylan's bill would correct this issue by allowing shipping
costs to be covered by the VA. At a time when people across the country
are feeling the effects of the Biden-Harris economic policies, Congress
needs to help veterans stretch their dollars a little further.
[[Page H5778]]
This bill would do just that, and it would save potentially thousands
of dollars for disabled veterans. I thank the DAV and VFW for their
tireless work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 522, as amended,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 522, the Deliver
for Veterans Act, as amended.
This bill would make it easier for disabled veterans to obtain the
adaptive automobiles they are entitled to through their service-
connected disability. If signed into law, this bill would save veterans
tens of thousands of dollars on shipping costs of vehicles.
Last Congress, we passed the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement
Act, a bill authored by Ranking Member Mike Levin and Representative
Lizzie Fletcher, which expanded the adaptive auto benefit for veterans,
allowing them to get a new vehicle if 10 years have passed since using
the benefit.
This bill from Representative Moylan builds upon that work by
simplifying the process for veterans who require their adaptive vehicle
to be shipped. This includes veterans who live in areas such as Guam,
Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan), the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I will talk about a significant piece of
legislation that would benefit many of our Nation's heroes residing in
very remote locations, H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act.
This bill is a significant step forward in ensuring our veterans
receive the care, support, and service they not only deserve but that
is also legally available. However, obtaining some of these benefits
can be challenging because of location.
Currently, a program with the Department of Veterans Affairs allows
disabled veterans to receive about $25,000 to purchase an adaptive
vehicle. However, veterans residing in remote areas, such as Guam,
Hawaii, Alaska, or other jurisdictions throughout the Nation, would
have to pay the rates to ship the vehicle to their homes. It would
easily cost between $3,000 to $4,000 for a vehicle to be shipped to
Guam or Hawaii. I can't imagine the shipping costs if it came from the
West Coast.
H.R. 522 addresses this problem by including shipping costs as part
of the program. This ensures that a veteran with a disability can
obtain an adaptive vehicle from this program and have it delivered to
their home.
The legislation would assist many veterans residing in my district of
Guam, which has among the Nation's highest number of veterans per
capita. H.R. 522 would also benefit veterans residing in other
territories, such as the Northern Marianas and American Samoa.
Moreover, it would support those residing in noncontiguous States, such
as Hawaii and Alaska, and greatly help veterans living in rural
communities throughout the Nation.
This legislation needs to be passed. This bill is another step toward
closing many gaps of inadequate care for veterans living in remote
areas.
I appreciate my colleagues' support in continuing to deliver our
promise to those who served. Veterans have sacrificed so much for our
freedoms. It is our duty and moral obligation to ensure they receive
the highest standard of care and support when they return home.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all the Members to support H.R. 522 and work
together to give back to our veterans who have already given so much to
our country.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act, as amended, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 522, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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