EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

H.R. 4319, Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act, would amend the VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Program in 2 ways:

1. The bill would expand eligibility for adapted housing grants to veterans who have lost a limb and are further impeded from independent living by the limited use of a remaining arm or leg. Current law requires the complete loss or “loss of use” of more than one extremity to be eligible for adapted housing grants. However, many individuals with severely injured extremities retain a modicum of limited use of remaining limbs.  Despite that residual use, such as being able to stand on an injured leg, they still face extreme mobility challenges.  

2. The bill would create a pilot program to encourage the use of adapted housing grants among eligible disabled veterans and service members who reside temporarily in housing owned by a family member. Under the pilot, a grant received to adapt the temporary family home would not count against the veteran when applying for additional grant money later to adapt their own home. The pilot would last for a year, during which time we would be able to evaluate whether this change helps more veterans access this program.

The goal of HR 4319 is to make a good program even better by encouraging its use and helping more severely injured veterans who face great challenges to live easier, independent lives in the comfort of their homes.

Thank you for allowing me to testify today before the Subcommittee about H.R. 4319, which I introduced with the goal of helping more of our most severely disabled veterans and service members achieve a barrier-free living environment following injuries sustained in military service to our country. My bill would allow additional veterans to take advantage of an important VA program to adapt their homes to their disabilities.

The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Program is a Department of Veterans Affairs program that seeks to provide a barrier-free living environment for veterans who are rated permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected conditions. To meet their mobility needs, these grants aid those veterans to adapt their homes to meet their specific mobility issues.

The legislation I introduced, H.R. 4319, Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act, seeks to improve this program by making two changes.

First, my bill would expand eligibility for adapted housing grants to veterans who have lost a limb and are further impeded from independent living by the limited use of a remaining arm or leg. Current law requires the complete loss or “loss of use” of more than one extremity to be eligible for adapted housing grants. However, many individuals with severely injured extremities retain a modicum of limited use of remaining limbs.  Despite that residual use, such as being able to stand on an injured leg, they still face extreme mobility challenges. I believe the quality of life for these disabled individuals would greatly improve were they eligible for adapted housing grants.  I have drafted HR 4319 in broad terms, and I am very interested in VA’s comments and look forward to addressing any suggestions they may have while still meeting the intent of my bill.

The second change my bill seeks to make is to create a pilot program to encourage the use of adapted housing grants among eligible disabled veterans and service members who reside temporarily in housing owned by a family member. As we know, family caretakers often play a critical role in caring for injured service members and veterans. Under the pilot, a grant received to adapt the temporary family home would not count against the veteran when applying for additional grant money later to adapt their own home. The pilot would last for a year, during which time we would be able to evaluate whether this change helps more veterans access this program.

We have an obligation to care for those wounded in service to our country. The VA’s Specially Adapted Housing Grant Program is an important program that greatly improves the quality of life for those who have sacrificed much for our country. I believe H.R. 4319 would make a good program even better by encouraging its use and helping more severely injured veterans who face great challenges to live easier, independent lives in the comfort of their homes.