Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) to improve the quality and safety of mobility equipment for disabled veterans was approved by the House of Representatives on Monday.
Under the Veterans Mobility Safety Act, H.R. 3471, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would be directed to establish comprehensive standards for providers of automobile adaptive equipment like wheel chair lifts and altered steering and braking systems.
“America’s disabled veterans made tremendous sacrifices in service to their country, and we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and quality of the mobility equipment they depend on in their daily lives,” Walorski, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said. “This commonsense bill will update the VA’s outdated policies and set comprehensive standards for automobile adaptive equipment providers in order to keep disabled veterans safe.”
Disabled veterans are able to access automotive mobility products through the VA Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE) program, but the VA has not established quality standards for companies that participate in the program.
“Paralyzed veterans who enjoy the independence and opportunity that driving an adaptive vehicle offers will intimately understand the importance of this legislation,” Sherman Gillums, Jr., the executive director of Paralyzed Veterans of America, said. “These vehicles need to be as safe as possible and function properly, and this bill takes us in the right direction to achieve just that. We applaud Rep. Walorski’s leadership and perseverance on this important legislation, and we look forward to its immediate passage in the Senate as well.”
The Veterans Mobility Safety Act would direct the VA to develop AAE standards in collaboration with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and industry representatives.
The measure also includes provisions authored by U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) to enable certified hearing aid specialists to provide care to veterans.