Bipartisan resolution aiming to cover costs for adaptive vehicles for veterans with disabilities receives support

GUAM—The director of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs appeared before the Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs and testified in favor of Resolution No. 218-37 (COR), which supports legislation in Washington, D.C. that will cover the costs of shipping for adaptive vehicles for qualified veterans with disabilities.

Democrat Senator Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas, the author of Resolution 218-37 and the legislative chairman of the Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs, held a public hearing at the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna on April 11.

Jose San Agustin, director of Guam Office of Veterans Affairs, said that he supports the resolution. “There are over 600-plus one 100% disabled veterans on Guam, which is a significant number,” said San Agustin at the public hearing. “I applaud Delegate James Moylan for addressing this. It is only right that we support H.R. 522 through Resolution 218-37 from Congressman Moylan because veterans with disabilities served in defense of the country and our island. I support this one 100% because we should not burden our veterans who really need this type of service.”

Under federal law, financial assistance is provided to qualified veterans with disabilities to purchase adaptive vehicles or other conveyances.

Currently, such vehicles are not available on Guam, costing thousands of dollars to qualified disabled veterans.

Resolution 218-37 supports H.R. 522, Deliver for Veterans Act, introduced by Guam Delegate James Moylan in the United States House of Representatives, which aims to cover the shipping and delivery expenses of adaptive vehicles provided for veterans with disabilities. “I commend Congressman Moylan for taking up this issue,” said San Nicolas during the public hearing. “The cost of shipping is expensive, especially for those living out here in Guam. I am a veteran and, as lawmakers, we should work to improve the livelihoods of the communities we serve.

Amending the federal law will not only cover shipping costs for adaptive vehicles or other conveyances for disabled veterans, who qualify for financial assistance, but will also help them maintain their independence.”

The bipartisan resolution is co-sponsored by 11 of his legislative colleagues, Sens. Roy A.B. Quinata, Joe S. San Agustin, William Parkinson, Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, Amanda Shelton, Speaker Therese Terlaje, Joanne Brown, Frank Blas, Jr., Chris Barnett, Christopher Duenas, and Jesse Lujan. (PR)