109th CONGRESS
2d Session

H. R. 4791

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance available to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and to provide for annual increases in such amount.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 16, 2006

Ms. HERSETH (for herself, Mr. CASE, Mr. EVANS, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. FILNER, Mr. STRICKLAND, Ms. CARSON, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, and Mr. FARR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance available to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and to provide for annual increases in such amount.

    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 `Disabled Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act'.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO DISABLED VETERANS FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING.

    Section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

      (1) in subsection (a), by striking `$50,000' and inserting `$60,000, as increased under subsection (c),'; and

      (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking `$10,000.' and inserting `$12,000, as increased under subsection (c).'.

SEC. 3. INDEX OF AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO REFLECT INCREASE IN COST OF RESIDENTIAL HOME CONSTRUCTION.

    Section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is further amended--

      (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and

      (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):

    `(c)(1) Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in 2007), the Secretary shall increase the amounts in effect under subsections (a) and (b)(2) in accordance with this subsection.

    `(2) The increase in amounts under paragraph (1) to take effect on October 1 of any year shall be the percentage by which (A) the residential home cost-of-construction index for the preceding calendar year exceeds (B) the residential home cost-of-construction index for the year preceding that year.

    `(3) The Secretary shall establish a residential home cost-of-construction index for the purposes of this subsection. The index shall reflect a uniform, national average increase in the cost of residential home construction, determined on a calendar year basis. The Secretary may use an index developed in the private sector that the Secretary determines is appropriate for purposes of this subsection.'.

END