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Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish improvements and structural alterations as part of home health services for disabled veterans.

Introduced May 7, 2025

Latest action (May 7, 2025) Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Referred to
Veterans' Affairs Committee
Policy area
Armed Forces and National Security
Issues
Defense

Summary
  • Increases the maximum amount the Department of Veterans Affairs may furnish for home improvements and structural alterations to $6,800 for veterans who previously applied with a non-service-connected disability later determined to be service-connected, and $10,000 for veterans applying on or after enactment.
  • Requires the dollar amounts for home improvements and structural alterations to be increased annually on the first day of each fiscal year by the percentage increase in the residential home cost of construction index, or to remain the same if the index does not increase.
  • Limits the number of improvements or structural alterations the VA may furnish to any veteran to a maximum of three.
  • Does not provide additional benefits to veterans who exhausted their eligibility for home improvements and structural alterations prior to enactment of this Act.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
3 cosponsors

Actions (2)
  1. May 7, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · senate
  2. May 7, 2025 Introduced in Senate

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 7, 2025

Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish improvements and structural alterations as part of home health services for disabled veterans.

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 “Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act”.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION TO AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH IMPROVEMENTS AND STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AS PART OF HOME HEALTH SERVICES FOR DISABLED VETERANS.

(a) Increase.—Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of section 1717 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “in the case of a veteran” before the em dash; and

(2) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:

“(A) who first applied for benefits under this paragraph for a non-service-connected disability before the date of the enactment of the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act and whose disability the Secretary determines is service-connected after such date, $6,800; or

“(B) who first applied for benefits under this paragraph on or after the date of the enactment of the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act, $10,000.”.

(b) Adjustment for Inflation; Cap on Benefits.—Such subsection is further amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraphs:

“(3) On the first day of each fiscal year, the dollar amounts in effect under paragraph (2) shall—

“(A) increase by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the residential home cost of construction index established under section 2102(e)(3) of this title increased during the previous fiscal year; or

“(B) if such index did not increase during such previous fiscal year, remain the same.

“(4) The Secretary may not furnish more than three improvements or structural alterations under paragraph (2) to a veteran.”.

(c) Rule of Construction.—A veteran who, before the date of the enactment of this Act, exhausted the eligibility of such veteran for benefits under section 1717 of title 38, United States Code, shall not be entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by this Act. <all>

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