WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (11/1) introduced the “Specially Adaptive Housing Grants Improvements Act of 2005” – legislation that aims to help disabled veterans return to the normalcy of home life by expanding eligibility for VA adaptive housing assistance. Upon introducing the bill, he entered the following statement into the Congressional Record:

“Mr. President, today I introduced the ‘Specially Adapted Housing Grants Improvements Act of 2005’ to help all disabled veterans move home from medical facilities. The bill upgrades eligibility criteria for housing assistance grants to better reflect the needs of today’s veteran community.

“Before discussing the legislation’s merits, I want to acknowledge my House colleague, Representative John Boozman of Arkansas, who serves as Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Congressman Boozman has demonstrated real leadership on this issue through his bill, the ‘Veterans Housing Improvement Act of 2005’ (H.R. 3665). Section 101 of Congressman Boozman’s bill is almost identical to the measure that I have sponsored. The House Veterans Affairs’ Committee recently approved his legislation, and the full House is expected to consider the bill in the near future. I am grateful to Congressman Boozman for his considerable efforts to advance a measure that will help improve the lives of many disabled veterans, and I am happy to advance his efforts here in the Senate with this bill.

“I appreciate the support of my Senate colleagues, Senators Durbin, Vitter, Kerry and Pryor, who have added their names as original cosponsors of the ‘Specially Adaptive Housing Grants Improvements Act of 2005.’ Their endorsement of this bill represents bipartisan agreement on Capitol Hill that Congress must constantly evaluate veterans programs to make certain that our Nation provides responsive support to veterans.

“While representing New Hampshire in the House and Senate, I have worked to ensure that those who served in our armed services receive their hard-earned benefits quickly and in full. Too often, out-of-date and burdensome regulations deny qualified veterans from receiving the benefits to which they are entitled. Whenever possible, it is imperative that we remove red tape that does not take into account the realities faced by today’s veterans.

“Guided by these facts, I have introduced legislation to reform rules that determine requirements for a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that helps many disabled veterans make their homes suitable for occupancy. Currently, a disabled veteran must at least partly own his or her residence to receive VA housing assistance grants to perform necessary residence modifications, such as installing wheelchair ramps or railings. However, many younger veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have not yet had the opportunity to become homeowners. Being ineligible for VA help to modify their homes, these veterans and their families often are compelled to either shoulder the costs of retrofitting their residences or face extended stays in VA medical facilities.

“My bill would establish a 5-year pilot program to allow severely disabled veterans who live temporarily with family to receive up to $10,000 in adaptive housing assistance; less severely disabled veterans could receive a maximum of $2,000. This grant money will help ensure that all disabled veterans--regardless of whether they own property--are able to leave hospitals and return home as quickly as possible.

“Also, mindful that these individuals will likely purchase their own residence, the bill would allow disabled veterans to receive two additional Specially Adaptive Housing Grants to be used for homes that they own in the future. Severely disabled veterans could receive a total of $50,000 to modify residences; less severely disabled veterans would be eligible for a total of $10,000. Only one of the three total grants could be used for a temporary residence, such as a family-owned home.

“America’s veterans have made enormous sacrifices to protect our Nation and the ideals for which it stands. Our country owes a special obligation to those men and women who have become disabled as a result of their service. Under no circumstances should these American heroes be divided into groups of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’

“This Nation can do no less than to ensure that all disabled veterans are returned to the normalcy of home life as quickly and comfortably as possible. The common sense changes put forth in the legislation I have introduced aim to do just that, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure that its provisions become law as soon as possible.”

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