Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act

Bill: 118-hr-2818
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2023-04-25
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis

Inflation and prices

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2023-07-18
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-04-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
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: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2818 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 25, 2023 Mr. Bacon (for himself and Mr. Pappas ) 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. .