By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H.R. 522, titled "Deliver for Veterans Act," which would cut the cost of shipping adaptive vehicles to Guam.
Under a current program with the Department of Veterans Affairs, disabled
veterans qualify for a grant to obtain an adaptive vehicle. However, because no
such vehicles are available on Guam, veterans would have to shoulder the astronomical costs to ship that vehicle to Guam.
H.R. 522 would incorporate shipping costs into the program, according to Guam Del. James Moylan, the bill’s author.
“This is a great win for many of our veterans who face challenges driving regular
vehicles. If enacted, these veterans can secure adaptive vehicles that can
provide them the independence to drive to their medical appointments, run
errands, or even visit family and friends,” Moylan said.
In the Guam legislature, Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas welcomed the passage of H.R. 522, which he said would address the critical issue of access to resources for disabled Guam veterans who rely on adaptive vehicles.
“Unfortunately, the high costs of shipping to
Guam has made the program inaccessible to many veterans who are unable to shoulder the heavy financial burden of bringing these much-needed vehicles to our island,” said San Nicolas, chair of the military and veteran affairs committee.
“H.R. 522 relieves veterans residing on Guam of the monetary strain associated with transporting the vehicles, and drastically improves their quality of life,” he added.
San Nicolas is the author of a legislative resolution expressing support for H.R. 522.
Last week, the House passed 10 pieces of veterans-related legislation, authored by Rep. Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen, American Samoa’s delegate, including H.R. 9468, the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provides $3 billion in mandatory funding for veteran benefits, addressing a VA shortfall this year.
The House also passed the following bills:
H.R. 6324 – FY 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
H.R. 7777 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2024
H.R. 7100 – Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act
H.R. 4424 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act
H.R. 7816 – Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act
H.R. 7342 – Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2024
H.R. 5464 – To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the "Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic"
H.R. 4190 – Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act
H.R. 2911 – Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2024
H.R. 1432 – SO Equal Tax Treatment Act.
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