**Summary of H.R. 1315**

**Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007**

**Title:** To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide specially
adaptive housing assistance to certain disabled members of the Armed
Forces residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.

**Ms. Herseth Sandlin** of South Dakota introduced H.R. 1315 on March 5,
2007

**H.R. 1315, as amended, would:**

1.  Under current law, a Specially Adaptive Housing (SAH) grant may be
    available to veterans who, are or, will be temporarily residing in a
    home owned by a family member, but does not provide the SAH benefits
    to severely injured active duty servicemembers.

2.  Provides SAH assistance to disabled servicemembers who are in
    transition from active duty to veteran status. This assistance,
    allowable up to \$14,000, may be used to adapt the family member's
    home to meet the veteran's special needs at that time.

3.  Extends from 90 days to 180 days the period following release from
    active duty during which a member of the U.S. Armed Forces shall be
    protected from mortgage foreclosure.

4.  This section would direct the VA Secretary to establish a
    scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in
    blind rehabilitation (Vision Impairment and/or Orientation and
    Mobility) under the "Health Professional Education Assistance
    Program."

5.  Requires students to work for three years in a VA healthcare
    facility, and mandates that the Secretary shall provide financial
    assistance to students enrolled in a program of study leading to a
    degree or certificate in a U.S. state or territory, provided that
    they agree with applicable requirements.

6.  Requires the Department of Labor and the Department of Defense to
    coordinate their sharing of, and reporting on, the complaint data
    filed by Guard and Reservists facing difficulties being rehired.

7.  Requires uniform categories in tracking and reporting the data, and
    requires the departments to specifically report on hiring
    difficulties resulting from service-connected disabilities.

8.  Adds one representative from the National Governor's Association to
    the existing 15 member Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment,
    Training and Employer Outreach within the U.S. Department of Labor.

**Effective Date:** Date of Enactment

**Cost:** The Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 1315
increases direct spending by requiring lenders to reduce interest rats
on mortgages for some military members by an additional 180 days. That
provision would modify the cost of some existing loan guarantees and
would increase direct spending by \$8 million in 2008. In addition, CBO
extimates that implementing H.R. 1315 would result in discretionary
costs of \$2 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming the
availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill would have no
effect on federal revenues.

**Legislative History:**

> Jun. 21, 2007: Legislative hearing held by the Subcommittee on
> Economic Opportunity.
>
> Jun. 29, 2007: Ordered reported by the Subcommittee on Economic
> Opportunity.
>
> Jul. 17, 2007: Ordered reported, as amended, by the Committee on
> Veterans' Affairs. Provisions of H.R. 1240, H.R. 1632, and H.R. 1750
> were incorporated in this bill.
>
> Jul. 27, 2007: Reported, as amended, H. Rept. No. 110-266
>
> Jul. 30, 2007: Passed the House by unanimous voice vote.