NMEDA’s advocacy team was proud to once again partner with Paralyzed Veterans of America on a legislative initiative to increase transportation opportunities for disabled veterans. 

Major legislation impacting the Department of Veterans Affairs’ automobile allowance (“auto grant”) and automobile adaptive equipment (“AAE”) program passed Congress just as the 2021-2022 legislative session came to a close.  What began as the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities (AUTO) for Veterans Act in February 2021 culminated with the December 23, 2022, passage of the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act, which included several significant auto mobility-related provisions.   

What do NMEDA members and their U.S. veteran customers need to know?

1. The auto grant will no longer be once-in-a-lifetime. Once the bill is signed into law, VA will immediately be authorized to provide an additional auto grant to eligible veterans if 30 years have passed since they received their first auto grant. 10 years after the bill is signed, that timeframe will decrease, and eligible veterans will be permitted to receive an additional auto grant once 10 years have passed since they received their first auto grant.
2. “Medical Services” will be expanded. The bill directs VA to update its definition of “medical services” to include certain vehicle modifications (e.g., van lifts, raised doors, raised roofs, air conditioning, and wheelchair tiedowns for passenger use) offered through the AAE program.
3. “Adaptive Equipment” will be expanded.  The bill will designate nonarticulating trailers designed to transport powered wheelchairs, powered scooters, or other similar mobility devices as "adaptive equipment.” In other words, VA will now permit the sale and installation of such products.

Are you wondering if there’s more to this story? There certainly is…and you can read all about it in the Winter issue of our Circuit Breaker magazine, which will hit inboxes and mailboxes in early February. In the meantime, you can contact NMEDA’s Director of Government Relations & Public Policy (Amy.Schoppman@nmeda.org) with any questions or comments.