Legislation News & Report (TM) 

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Managing America: Veterans

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending August 3, 2007

H.R.1315 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide specially adaptive housing assistance to certain disabled members of the Armed Forces residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.

Housing would be provided to veterans who have a disability that is permanent and total, was received in the line of duty or due to a disease contracted in active military service and is living temporarily in a house of a family member. The household could receive up to $14,000 to adapt the home to the veteran’s disability needs.

The bill also establishes education assistance to professional who want to learn about visual and mobility impairment and be qualified to rehabilitate those afflicted. The graduate would have to serve in a veteran’s facility for the same amount of years the scholarship was awarded. Scholarships may not exceed $15,000 per year full time and three years worth of payments. The program can be spread out over six years.

The bill also give mortgage foreclosure protection for up to 180 days after discharge, establishes a uniform complaint process for veterans who were not reinstated in their civilian jobs after discharge as required by law, and extends adaptive housing benefits to service members not yet discharged.

Sponsor:  Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 30, 3007

Cost to the taxpayers: “Enacting H.R. 1315 would increase direct spending by requiring lenders to reduce interest rates on mortgages for some military members by an additional 180 days. That provision would modify the cost of some existing loan guarantees and would increase direct spending by $8 million in 2008, CBO estimates. In addition, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1315 would result in discretionary costs of $2 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming the availability of appropriated funds”

Earmark Certification:   H.R. 1315, as amended, does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives

## All Rights Reserved. © 2007 TheWeekInCongress.com(TM)

No reproduction, language translation or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.(TM)