SC Alaska News

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Brian Schatz of Hawaii have reintroduced the Deliver for Veterans Act, aiming to alleviate financial challenges for veterans with disabilities. This legislation proposes changes to an existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program. If passed, the act would allow awarded funds to assist veterans in acquiring an adapted vehicle and cover the costs of transporting the vehicle to its required location.

Senator Murkowski emphasized the need for this modification, particularly for veterans residing in rural Alaska. "Our veterans in rural Alaska deserve the same access to the specialized grant programs and services that they would get if they lived elsewhere in the country," she stated. Alaska's veterans experience significant financial strains when transporting vehicles to remote communities. As the state holds the highest number of veterans per capita, Murkowski highlighted the importance of affordable transportation for handicapped-modified vehicles, which enables veterans to benefit from VA programs effectively.

Senator Schatz also stressed the legislation's fairness, aiming to support veterans regardless of their residence. "Disabled veterans deserve access to every benefit they have earned – regardless of where they live," he said. He considers the bill a measure of basic fairness to help disabled veterans in Hawaii and similar regions receive essential specialized vehicles.

Currently, the VA program provides a stipend of $26,417.20 to eligible veterans to purchase or modify accessible vehicles. However, these funds do not cover vehicle shipping costs, creating a challenge for veterans in states like Alaska and Hawaii. The proposed Deliver for Veterans Act seeks to amend this limitation, enabling the inclusion of shipping expenses within the grant's coverage.