Deliver for Veterans Act

Mr. Speaker, I will talk about a significant piece of legislation that would benefit many of our Nation's heroes residing in very remote locations, H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act.

This bill is a significant step forward in ensuring our veterans receive the care, support, and service they not only deserve but that is also legally available. However, obtaining some of these benefits can be challenging because of location.

Currently, a program with the Department of Veterans Affairs allows disabled veterans to receive about $25,000 to purchase an adaptive vehicle. However, veterans residing in remote areas, such as Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, or other jurisdictions throughout the Nation, would have to pay the rates to ship the vehicle to their homes. It would easily cost between $3,000 to $4,000 for a vehicle to be shipped to Guam or Hawaii. I can't imagine the shipping costs if it came from the West Coast.

H.R. 522 addresses this problem by including shipping costs as part of the program. This ensures that a veteran with a disability can obtain an adaptive vehicle from this program and have it delivered to their home.

The legislation would assist many veterans residing in my district of Guam, which has among the Nation's highest number of veterans per capita. H.R. 522 would also benefit veterans residing in other territories, such as the Northern Marianas and American Samoa. Moreover, it would support those residing in noncontiguous States, such as Hawaii and Alaska, and greatly help veterans living in rural communities throughout the Nation.

This legislation needs to be passed. This bill is another step toward closing many gaps of inadequate care for veterans living in remote areas.

I appreciate my colleagues' support in continuing to deliver our promise to those who served. Veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. It is our duty and moral obligation to ensure they receive the highest standard of care and support when they return home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all the Members to support H.R. 522 and work together to give back to our veterans who have already given so much to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 522) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide or assist in providing a vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain eligible persons, to pay expenses associated with the delivery of such vehicle, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 522, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 522 offered by my friend and colleague, Delegate Moylan from Guam.

This bill would allow VA to pay for the shipping price of specially adapted vehicles for disabled veterans.

Currently, service-connected disabled veterans who are unable to drive due to their disability can work with the VA to get an adapted vehicle for their use. Unfortunately, shipping costs are not currently under the program, so it is difficult for a disabled veteran to have an adapted vehicle shipped to them.

While this might not be an issue for some veterans, other veterans are unable to use the program because the resources are not available close to home to make the modifications necessary.

Delegate Moylan's bill would correct this issue by allowing shipping costs to be covered by the VA. At a time when people across the country are feeling the effects of the Biden-Harris economic policies, Congress needs to help veterans stretch their dollars a little further.

This bill would do just that, and it would save potentially thousands of dollars for disabled veterans. I thank the DAV and VFW for their tireless work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 522, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act, as amended.

This bill would make it easier for disabled veterans to obtain the adaptive automobiles they are entitled to through their service- connected disability. If signed into law, this bill would save veterans tens of thousands of dollars on shipping costs of vehicles.

Last Congress, we passed the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act, a bill authored by Ranking Member Mike Levin and Representative Lizzie Fletcher, which expanded the adaptive auto benefit for veterans, allowing them to get a new vehicle if 10 years have passed since using the benefit.

This bill from Representative Moylan builds upon that work by simplifying the process for veterans who require their adaptive vehicle to be shipped. This includes veterans who live in areas such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, there is no greater way to learn how to help those who have fought for our country than to talk to a veteran and those who fight for them every day.

I was glad to discuss the most pressing challenges facing our veterans and their families in eastern North Carolina at a Veteran Service Officers roundtable. Participants shared the barriers for veterans who live in rural communities and their legislative priorities.

Consequently, I signed onto H.R. 196, the Expediting Temporary Ratings for Veterans Act, and H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act.

Our VSOs are vital in assisting veterans with claims, identifying State benefits, and facilitating their transition from Active Duty. VSOs are heroes.