[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17058]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   INDEPENDENT LIVING ENHANCEMENT ACT

  (Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico asked and was given 
permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, on Veterans 
Day, I had the honor of speaking at a veterans ceremony in Albuquerque, 
where I was reminded of our solemn responsibility that we have as 
lawmakers to do everything we can do to stand up for those who stand up 
for us.
  That is why last month I introduced the Veterans' Independent Living 
Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation that will help disabled 
veterans live independently and participate in family and community 
life.
  Currently, only 2,700 veterans in the entire country can enroll in 
the VA's highly successful Independent Living Program each year. When 
you compare that to the 2.6 million veterans of the Iraq and 
Afghanistan wars alone, it is clear that this number is far too low, 
preventing veterans from getting the services and support they need.
  My bill, which has both Democratic and Republican cosponsors, along 
with the support of a dozen different veterans and health 
organizations, would remove this arbitrary cap so that every veteran 
who can participate in it would benefit from the Independent Living 
Program.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to fulfill its responsibility to our 
Nation's veterans and their families and take up this commonsense, 
bipartisan legislation.

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