Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act

[jakeakins]

118th CONGRESS

IN THE SENATEW

Mr. Jones (for himself; with thanks to Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act.

2.

Increase in amount available to disabled veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services

(a)

Increase

Paragraph (2) of section 1717(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking $6,800 and inserting $10,000; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking $2,000 and inserting $5,000.

(b)

Applicability

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a veteran who first applies for benefits under section 1717(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

Clarification

A veteran who exhausts the eligibility of such veteran for benefits under section 1717(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, before the date of the enactment of this Act is not entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a).

3.

Adjustment for inflation

Section 1717(a) of title 38, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(4)

On an annual basis, the Secretary shall increase the dollar amount in effect under subsection (a)(2) by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (United States city average) increased during the 12-month period ending with the last month for which Consumer Price Index data is available. In the event that such Consumer Price Index does not increase during such period, the Secretary shall maintain the dollar amount in effect under subsection (a)(2) during the previous fiscal year.

 

Quote

 

PES

Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act

This bill increases the maximum amount authorized under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant program to $10,000 for veterans with a service-connected disability and $5,000 for those with disabilities that are not service-connected. The HISA grant program provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to veterans' (or service members') primary residence for specified purposes (e.g., allowing for entrance to their home).

The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the dollar amount of the grant in accordance with inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index.