Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program
Floor Speech
ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM -- (House of Representatives - May 19, 2009)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on February 25, 2009, I, along with Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, introduced H.R. 1170, which would amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new, assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. H.R. 1170, as amended, would authorize the VA to use up to $2 million per year to provide grants of up to $200,000 to expand research and development in the areas of adaptive technologies that can be used in the VA's Specially Adapted Housing Program.
The goal of VA's specially adapted housing benefit is to enable severely disabled veterans to live in a home with modifications that make daily life and daily living easier--typical adaptations or structural modifications such as ramps, wider halls and doors, grab rails, and lower counters. Yet there are many emerging technologies that lend themselves well to improving the livability of adapted homes. Some examples of possible home modifications are voice recognition and voice-commanded operations, integrated computer-managed functions, alternative human computer interfaces, living environment controls, adaptive feeding equipment, fall prevention devices, and recreation assistance equipment.
Finally, the bill includes a provision that is a result of funding an R&D program. Under this authorization, the VA would retain a 30 percent interest in any patents evolving from the grant.
I truly appreciate Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin in working with me on this very important bipartisan legislation.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, committee Chairman Filner, and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for moving this bill forward in a timely manner, as well thanking our staffs. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1170, as amended.
With that, having no other speakers, I yield back my time.
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