Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) testified to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on her legislation to support disabled veterans, H.R. 3304, the Care Access Resources (CARS) for Vets Act.  This legislation expands the eligibility for service-disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified for their disabilities. Currently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a grant program, the Automobile and Special Adaptive Equipment Grant Program, that provides service-connected disabled veterans with a one-time payment to adapt their vehicle for their medical needs if their disability prevents them from driving.  The CARS for Vets Act authorizes the VA to provide eligible veterans with an additional vehicle if 10 years have elapsed since they received their previously covered vehicle to adapt for the limited life cycles of vehicles. 

There are more than 300,000 veterans in the Houston area, and according to the City of Houston’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Houston has the second-largest veteran population in the United States.  

You can watch Congresswoman Fletcher’s full testimony here.  Remarks as prepared for delivery are available below:  

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to testify today before the Committee about how we can support our country’s veterans and the priorities for my district in Houston. 

More than 300,000 veterans call the Houston area home.  According to the City of Houston’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Houston has the second-largest veteran population in the United States. 

I support the priorities the Chairman has announced for the Committee, and I come before you today to bring attention to one proposal in particular in the effort to modernize and meet the needs of our diverse veteran population. 

Ensuring that disabled veterans can live independent and mobile lives is of great importance. 

In my community and in communities across the country, independence and mobility are tied to transportation generally and to cars in particular.  For disabled veterans, driving a car can present unique challenges.  

Fortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs has a successful grant program, the Automobile and Special Adaptive Equipment Grant Program, that makes it possible for service-disabled veterans to purchase cars and adapt them to meet their specific needs. 

This program, however, only allows for a one-time payment for one vehicle.  If veterans need to replace their cars over time, as is the usual course, the program is not available for subsequent purchases, and veterans pay for the modifications themselves, often many thousands of dollars.

As you know, Chairman Takano, last week I introduced H.R. 3304, the Care Access Resources for Vets Act, or CARS for Vets Act, with you to address this issue.

This legislation builds on the success of the VA’s current program.  It allows program participants to purchase additional vehicles to meet their needs every 10 years.  Thatway, even if the lifecycle of a veteran’s adapted car expires and it needs to be replaced, veterans can continue to rely on the VA’s grant program. 

This Committee has estimated that nearly 60,000 veterans would benefit from the CARS for Vets Act in the next 10 years.

Thank you again Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Bost for this opportunity to testify, for your consideration of this bill that will bring meaningful assistance to those who have served us all, and for all you do to support our veterans.