Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 – Increases from: (1) $4,100 to $6,800 the amount authorized to be paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for improvements and structural alterations for homes of veterans with service-connected disabilities of 50% or more; and (2) $1,200 to $2,000 the amount authorized for such purpose for veterans with service-connected disabilities of less than 50%, and certain other veterans.

Bill sponsor: Rep. Stephen Buyer [R-IN4]

Full text of Bill

This bill has been passed in the House. The bill now goes on to be voted on in the Senate. Keep in mind that debate may be taking place on a companion bill in the Senate, rather than on this particular bill. Veterans Business Center Act of 2009 – Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish within the SBA a Veterans Business Center program (program), headed by a Director, to provide entrepreneurial training and counseling to veterans. Authorizes the Director to make grants to each entity designated as a veterans business center. Requires each center to use such funds on veteran entrepreneurial development, counseling of veteran-owned small businesses through one-on-one instruction and classes, and providing government procurement assistance to veterans.

Targets populations where veterans and veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom exceed the national median.
Requires the Director to establish, with respect to veteran-owned small businesses, grant programs for: (1) access to capital; (2) procurement assistance; and (3) service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Authorizes the Director to carry out, every two years, a veterans entrepreneurial development summit.

Requires an annual report from the Administrator to Congress on appointments made to, and activities of, the interagency task force on veteran-owned small businesses.

Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting a housing loan fee from any veteran who, but for the receipt of active service pay, would be entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability.

Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act or COMBAT PTSD Act – Defines “combat with the enemy,” for purposes of proof of service-connection for veterans’ disability compensation, as service on active duty: (1) in a theater of combat operations during a period of war; or (2) in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities.

This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which legislation is considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned.

PTSD Resources:
National Center for PTSD

VetTrauma.org

- Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to grant level-premium term life insurance to veterans under age 65 with service-connected disabilities.

- Reduces from three years to one year the period during which a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist or a local veterans’ employment representative must complete the training program provided by the National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute.

This bill has been passed in the House. The bill now goes on to be voted on in the Senate. Keep in mind that debate may be taking place on a companion bill in the Senate, rather than on this particular bill.

This resolution has been passed in the House, which is the end of the legislative process for simple resolutions. The resolution now takes effect.

This Bill expresses support for the designation of National Brain Injury Awareness Month.