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For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence (202) 225-3527

Washington, D.C. –Today, the Subcommittee on Health considered a number of bills intended to improve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care programs.

Among the measures considered was H.R. 1293, the Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009.  The bill, which was introduced by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer, would provide a significant increase in the amount payable to veterans under VA’s Home Improvement and Structural Alteration (HISA) program.

The HISA program provides grants to veterans who require home adaptations to provide access to in-home medical care.  HISA grants, which are available to veterans with both service-connected and non-service connected disabilities, are used for accessibility modifications such as widening doors or installing handrails.  Service-connected disabled veterans can receive a HISA grant in addition to other VA home adaptations grants.

The current maximum amount of the grant is $4,100 for service-connected veterans and $1,200 for non-service connected veterans.  This amount was established by Congress in 1992 and has not been raised in seventeen years.

“My bill would increase the maximum amount of a HISA grant to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service connected veterans,” Buyer said.  “This increase is long overdue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.  It would have a direct and immediate impact on improving health care and the quality of life for our disabled veterans.” 

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to: 

http://republicans.veterans.house.gov/

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