Introduction of A Bill to Authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Collect Overpayment of Specially Adapted Housing Assistance

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs' Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program offers grants to assist veterans with service-connected disabilities with the purchase, construction, or modification of their homes to meet their unique needs.

The SAH program provides for an increased quality of life by allowing veterans to live independently in their homes. Unfortunately, there have been cases where veterans have been unsatisfied with the quality of work provided. Currently, VA does not have the explicit authority to recover SAH funds even if it determines there has been substandard work.

To address this situation, my bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine whether SAH overpayments have occurred as a result of a breach of contract and to recover such funds in the same manner as any other debt due to the United States. To prevent any financial burden for veterans and their families who receive an overpayment through no fault of their own, the bill requires VA to waive the overpayment.

My legislation will allow for more accountability and discourage individuals from breaching SAH contract.

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