Sponsored by:
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Benson
SYNOPSIS
Respectfully urges Congress to pass Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging the United States Congress to pass the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act.
Whereas, Currently, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs provides eligible veterans with a one-time grant of approximately $21,400 to assist the veteran in purchasing a new or used automobile and any necessary adaptive equipment, such as special pedals or switches; and
Whereas, Veterans often use the one-time grant in conjunction with VA Special Adaptive Equipment Grants, which help veterans purchase adaptive equipment, such as powered lifts, for an existing automobile to make the vehicle safe and feasible for a veteran with disabilities; and
Whereas, Although eligible veterans can receive multiple special adaptive equipment grants over the course of their lives, they are limited to a single grant to purchase a vehicle; and
Whereas, The current limitation fails to take into account that a veteran with disabilities is likely to need more than one vehicle during the veteran’s lifetime; and
Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average age of a household vehicle is 11.8 years, and a vehicle that has been modified structurally tends to have a shorter useful life; and
Whereas, The average cost to replace a modified vehicle ranges from $20,000 to $80,000 when the vehicle is new and $21,000 to $35,000 when the vehicle is used; and
Whereas, The substantial cost of modified a vehicle, coupled with inflation, present a financial hardship for many veterans with disabilities who need to replace their primary mode of transportation once their vehicle reaches its lifespan; and
Whereas, The bipartisan Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act would ease the financial burden for a veteran with a service-connected severe disability who requires special adaptive equipment to drive a motor vehicle; and
Whereas, Under the bipartisan legislation, eligible veterans have the opportunity to receive a grant to help purchase a new adaptive vehicle once every 10 years instead of the current program which only provides a one-time grant; and
Whereas, The federal legislation would help eligible veterans preserve the freedom and independence that adaptive vehicles provide and ensure that they are able to safely travel to and from work, medical appointments, and family obligations; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for this House to demonstrate its support for this bipartisan legislation and honor our commitment to our veterans by continuing to support their needs, including the needs of veterans with disabilities; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to support veterans with disabilities by passing the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
Currently, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs provide eligible veterans with a one-time grant of approximately $21,400 to assist the veteran in purchasing a new or used automobile and any necessary adaptive equipment, such as special pedals or switches. The one-time grant program fails to take into account that a veteran with disabilities is likely to need more than one vehicle during the veteran’s lifetime. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average age of a household vehicle is 11.8 years, and a vehicle that has been modified structurally tends to have a shorter useful life. The substantial cost of a modified vehicle, coupled with inflation, present a financial hardship for many veterans with disabilities who need to replace their primary mode of transportation once their vehicle reaches its lifespan
The bipartisan Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act would ease the financial burden for a veteran with a service-connected severe disability who requires special adaptive equipment to drive a motor vehicle by providing eligible veterans with the opportunity to receive a grant to help purchase a new adaptive vehicle once every 10 years instead of the current program which only provides a one-time grant.
This House respectfully urges Congress to pass the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans Act, which would support the needs of veterans with disabilities.