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Today, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared at the start of the subcommittee’s oversight hearing to review the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (VA) Specially Adapted Housing, Adaptive Automobile, and Adaptive Sports Programs to ensure these programs are efficiently serving the entire disabled veteran community and meeting their needs to live independent, full lives.
Good morning.

The Subcommittee will come to order.

I want to thank our witnesses for being here today to examine VA’s Special Adaptive Housing, Adaptive Automobile, and Adaptive Sports Programs to ensure these programs are effectively serving veterans across the country.

I look forward to continuing the nonpartisan spirit of this Subcommittee with Ranking Member Pappas to ensure VA’s Adaptive Programs are modernized and work for the needs of today’s veterans.

The purpose of today’s hearing is to examine how VA provides the Special Adaptive Housing (SAH) Program, Adaptive Automobiles, and Adaptive Sports Programs to our veterans.

The Special Adaptive Housing Program (SAH) plays an important role in providing customizable adaptations for severely service-connected disabled veterans to adapt their homes to make them more accessible to lead their lives comfortably.

This small but vital program provides these true heroes with the ability to not only stay and live in the home of their choice but to continue to live more independently.

Additionally, VA’s Adaptive Automobile Program provides disabled veterans with vehicle modifications.

Through this program, veterans can safely operate their vehicle independently, hopefully get back into the workforce, and live fulfilling lives.

VA’s Adaptive Sports Program serves thousands of veterans across the country and plays an important role in disabled veterans regaining their independence, bettering their quality of life, and improving their overall mental health and wellness.

This program also provides opportunities for disabled veterans to participate in events such as wheelchair games, golf clinics, and many other sporting events that promote a healthy lifestyle.

This Congress my Subcommittee has championed key legislation regarding VA’s adaptive programs.

HR 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act championed by my friend from the great territory of Guam, Representative Moylan, would cover the shipping cost of the delivery of an adaptive automobile. This legislation passed the house in April.

Additionally, Representative Barrett is leading a bill, HR 1364, the ASSIST Act, which would provide more flexibility for veterans to access the specific adaptive automobile equipment they might need.

Finally, Representative King- Hinds will have a bill on our next legislative hearing to enhance the S.A.H. program.

When President Trump and Secretary Collins stated that it is time to end the Biden era and make VA put veterans first, these are the programs we are talking about improving for the veterans they serve.

Instead of focusing on political theater and soundbites, I will continue to lead this subcommittee towards working together to continue our mission of comprehensive oversight on the programs in our jurisdiction that make a real difference in veterans day to day lives.

I look forward to hearing more about VA’s Adaptive programs and how the Trump administration plans to keep these programs moving forward for today and tomorrow’s service-connected veterans.

I now yield to the Ranking Member for his opening remarks.