I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2612

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs to provide specially adapted housing assistance to veterans with 

permanent and total service-connected disabilities due to the loss, or 

loss of use of both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the 

arms at and below the elbows. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2003

Mr. MICHAUD (for himself and Mr. EVANS) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide specially adapted 

housing assistance to veterans with permanent and total 

service-connected disabilities due to the loss, or loss of 

use of both upper extremities such as to preclude use 

of the arms at and below the elbows.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Adapted 

5 Housing Expansion Act of 2003’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE SPECIALLY ADAPTED 

2 HOUSING TO CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS. 

3 The text of section 2101 of title 38, United States 

4 Code, is amended to read as follows: 

5 ‘‘(a) ACQUISTION OF HOUSING WITH SPECIAL FEA6 TURES.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary may 

7 assist a disabled veteran described in paragraph (2) in ac8 quiring a suitable housing unit with special fixtures or 

9 movable facilities made necessary by the nature of the vet10 eran’s disability, and necessary land therefor. 

11 ‘‘(2) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the 

12 veteran is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of 

13 this title for a permanent and total service-connected dis14 ability that meets any of the following criteria: 

15 ‘‘(A) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of 

16 use, of both lower extremities such as to preclude lo17 comotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, 

18 or a wheelchair. 

19 ‘‘(B) The disabilty is due to—

20 ‘‘(i) blindness in both eyes, having only 

21 light perception, plus 

22 ‘‘(ii) loss or loss of use of one lower ex23 tremity. 

24 ‘‘(C) The disability is due to the loss or loss of 

25 use of one lower extremity together with—
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1 ‘‘(i) residuals of organic disease or injury; 

2 or 

3 ‘‘(ii) the loss or loss of use of one upper 

4 extremity, 

5 which so affect the functions of balance or propul6 sion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of 

7 braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. 

8 ‘‘(D) The disability is due to the loss, or loss 

9 of use, of both upper extremities such as to preclude 

10 use of the arms at and below the elbows. 

11 ‘‘(3) The regulations prescribed under subsection (c) 

12 shall require that assistance under paragraph (1) may be 

13 provided to a veteran only if the Secretary finds that—

14 ‘‘(A) it is medically feasible for the veteran to 

15 reside in the proposed housing unit and in the pro16 posed locality; 

17 ‘‘(B) the proposed housing unit bears a proper 

18 relation to the veteran’s present and anticipated in19 come and expenses; and 

20 ‘‘(C) the nature and condition of the proposed 

21 housing unit are such as to be suitable to the vet22 eran’s needs for dwelling purposes. 

23 ‘‘(b) ADAPTATIONS TO RESIDENCE OF VETERAN.—

24 (1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall assist 

25 any disabled veteran described in paragraph (2) (other 
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1 than a veteran who is eligible for assistance under sub2 section (a))—

3 ‘‘(A) in acquiring such adaptations to such vet4 eran’s residence as are determined by the Secretary 

5 to be reasonably necessary because of such dis6 ability; or 

7 ‘‘(B) in acquiring a residence already adapted 

8 with special features determined by the Secretary to 

9 be reasonably necessary for the veteran because of 

10 such disability. 

11 ‘‘(2) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the 

12 veteran is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of 

13 this title for a permanent and total service-connected dis14 ability that meets either of the following criteria: 

15 ‘‘(A) The disability is due to blindness in both 

16 eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less. 

17 ‘‘(B) The disability includes the anatomical loss 

18 or loss of use of both hands. 

19 ‘‘(3) Assistance under paragraph (1) may be provided 

20 only to a veteran who the Secretary determines—

21 ‘‘(A) is residing in and reasonably intends to 

22 continue residing in a residence owned by such vet23 eran or by a member of such veteran’s family; or 

24 ‘‘(B) if the veteran’s residence is to be con25 structed or purchased, will be residing in and rea-
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1 sonably intends to continue residing in a residence 

2 owned by such veteran or by a member of such vet3 eran’s family. 

4 ‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—Assistance under this section 

5 shall be provided in accordance with such regulations as 

6 the Secretary may prescirbe.’’.

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