Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3304) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide or assist in providing an additional vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain eligible persons, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3304

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act'' or the ``AUTO for Veterans Act''. SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER ADAPTED EQUIPMENT.

Section 3903(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

``(3) The Secretary may provide or assist in providing an eligible person with an additional automobile or other conveyance under this chapter--

``(A) if more than 25 years have elapsed since the eligible person most recently received an automobile or other conveyance under this chapter; or

``(B) beginning on the day that is 10 years after date of the enactment of the AUTO for Veterans Act, if more than 10 years have elapsed since the eligible person most recently received an automobile or other conveyance under this chapter.''. SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TREATMENT OF CERTAIN VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS AS MEDICAL SERVICES.

Section 1701(6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

``(I) The provision of medically necessary van lifts, raised doors, raised roofs, air-conditioning, and wheelchair tiedowns for passenger use.''. SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEE.

(a) Extension.--The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``January 14, 2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``May 16, 2031''. SEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

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Mr. TAKANO. 3304, as amended.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3304, as amended, the AUTO for Veterans Act.

I was proud to join Representative Lizzie Fletcher in introducing H.R. 3304, and I thank her for her tireless work with the veteran community, which has led to this bill being considered on the floor today.

Currently, disabled veterans are only allowed a single grant to modify a vehicle to provide them mobility. This means there are cars that are 25, 30, or even 40 years old on the road because the veteran has no other option.

When you consider that the average life of an automobile is less than 12 years, we are asking veterans to incur additional costs and risks by driving excessively old cars for decades.

The AUTO for Veterans Act finally expands eligibility for disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified for their disabilities more than once in their lifetime.

Upon passage into law, H.R. 3304 would immediately allow veterans who have waited decades to acquire a new vehicle and, after giving those veterans priority, would eventually expand the benefit to cover those veterans who updated their vehicle 10 years ago.

This legislation also expands the definition of ``medical services'' to include certain vehicle modifications so that veterans can attend medical appointments.

This legislation has long been a priority for veterans and is supported by DAV, VFW, PVA, and countless other veterans organizations.

This legislation is fully paid for and delivers for disabled veterans who gave us so much.

I thank the ranking member for his support of this legislation. I know we have both wanted to fix this longstanding problem.

Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker,

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3304, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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