Goodlander’s Bipartisan Legislation to Help Disabled Veterans Passes Committee

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Veterans Affairs Committee passed H.R. 1364, the Automotive Support Services to Improve Safe Transportation (ASSIST) Act. This bipartisan legislation introduced by Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) would help disabled veterans make the vehicle modifications they need to travel safely by giving the VA greater flexibility to offer financial assistance for a wider range of necessary adaptations.

"We have a sacred obligation to ensure that our veterans have the support they need to thrive and enjoy the freedoms they fought for while serving our country in uniform," said Goodlander. "The ASSIST Act is common sense legislation that will cut the red tape that has prevented veterans from getting the equipment they need to travel safely. I'm proud that our legislation has advanced out of the Veterans Affairs Committee, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan solution."

"I introduced the bipartisan ASSIST Act because the men and women who served our country deserve every resource, they need to live full and independent lives," said Barrett. "Today, less than three months later, our committee advanced this commonsense legislation to cut red tape, support disabled veterans, and deliver real results. I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and look forward to this bill getting a vote on the House floor soon."

Currently, the VA is restricted to funding only a limited list of adaptive equipment, such as wheelchair tie-downs, van lifts, and raised roofs. This unintentionally limits, and in many cases prevents all together, some veterans from being able to make necessary modifications to their vehicles such as ramp and kneeling systems, mobility device lifts, and ingress or egress accessibility modifications. The ASSIST Act fixes this gap in assistance and would help ensure veterans are able to continue traveling safely and freely.

The ASSIST Act passed out of committee unanimously and will now go to the House Floor for a vote.

CLICK HEREto read the bill text.

Representative Goodlander, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the bipartisan For Country Caucus, has dedicated her life to serving New Hampshire and our country. Before taking the oath to represent the Second District in the People's House, she served as a senior advisor at the White House where she led the Unity Agenda for the Nation, dedicated to solving five big challenges that unite us as a nation, including meeting our sacred obligation to veterans. Representative Goodlander served as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve for over a decade.

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