Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act

Bill: 117-s-4721
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2022-08-02
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-08-02
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act</strong></p> <p>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).</p> <p>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.<br> </p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4721 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 2, 2022 Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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 (1) In general Paragraph (2) of section 1717(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in clause (i), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (ii) in clause (ii)— (I) by inserting and before the date of the enactment of the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act after May 5, 2010, ; and (II) by striking ; and and inserting ; or ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) in the case of a veteran who first applies for benefits under this paragraph on or after the date of the enactment of the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act , $10,000; and . (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (ii) in clause (ii)— (I) by inserting and before the date of the enactment of the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act after May 5, 2010, ; and (II) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) in the case of a veteran who first applies for benefits under this paragraph on or after the date of the enactment of the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act , $5,000. . (2) Applicability A veteran who exhausts the eligibility of the 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 paragraph (1). (b) Adjustment for inflation Section 1717(a) of title 38, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) On an annual basis, the Secretary shall increase the dollar amounts in effect under paragraph (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 amounts in effect under paragraph (2) during the previous fiscal year. .