Deliver for Veterans Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1267
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-01T20:55:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Deliver for Veterans Act of 2025" aims to expand benefits for disabled veterans by authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover not only the purchase price but also the shipping costs of specially adapted vehicles. This helps ensure eligible individuals can access these vehicles without additional financial burdens related to delivery.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 3902(a) of Title 38, United States Code, which governs VA assistance for adaptive automobiles.
- Coverage of Costs: The VA Secretary is now authorized to pay "the total purchase price of the automobile or other conveyance" and "the total shipping price to deliver the automobile or other conveyance to the eligible person."
- Eligibility: Applies to veterans or other individuals who qualify under current VA rules for adaptive vehicles designed for operation by those with disabilities (e.g., due to service-related injuries).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, VA assistance under Section 3902(a) covered only the purchase price of adaptive vehicles.
- This bill adds explicit authority to include shipping and delivery costs, broadening the financial support without altering eligibility criteria or other aspects of the program.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will need to allocate additional funds for shipping expenses, potentially increasing program costs but streamlining administrative processes for reimbursements. No major operational overhauls are required.
- On Citizens: Eligible disabled veterans (and possibly their families) benefit from reduced out-of-pocket costs for obtaining adaptive vehicles, improving mobility and independence. This could affect thousands of veterans annually who rely on such assistance.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic VA benefits.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Disabled Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, particularly those with service-connected disabilities requiring adaptive vehicles (e.g., hand controls or wheelchair-accessible features).
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Responsible for implementing and funding the expanded coverage.
- Automobile Dealers and Manufacturers: May see indirect benefits through easier VA reimbursements for shipping, potentially increasing participation in the adaptive vehicle program.
- Veterans' Advocacy Groups: Organizations like the Disabled American Veterans could support or monitor implementation to ensure accessibility.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This is a minor, targeted amendment to veterans' benefits law (Title 38, U.S. Code), with no challenges to existing statutes. It aligns with the VA's mandate to support disabled service members and avoids creating new entitlements.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; the bill falls under Congress's authority to provide for veterans' welfare (Article I, Section 8) and does not infringe on individual rights or federalism principles.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan support for veterans' issues, as introduced by Senators Murkowski (R-AK) and Schatz (D-HI). It could set a precedent for incremental expansions of VA benefits without broad fiscal controversy, though funding details would depend on future appropriations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-04-02: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Deliver for Veterans Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-02 — PDF (2 pages)