HR 877: Deliver for Veterans Act

HR 877 in plain English: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to include delivery costs when calculating the full purchase price it pays for automobiles or other vehicles provided to certain disabled veterans or service members. Currently, the VA pays up to $26,417.20 (adjusted annually for inflation) or the full purchase price, whichever is less, but delivery costs are excluded from that calculation.

Stated purpose

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover delivery (shipping) costs when purchasing an adapted vehicle for eligible disabled veterans or service members, in addition to the vehicle's purchase price.

Key points

• Requires VA to include delivery costs when paying for vehicles for eligible disabled veterans and service members
• Current VA vehicle benefit is capped at $26,417.20, adjusted annually for inflation
• Closes a gap where delivery costs were previously excluded from the purchase price calculation

Arguments supporters make

• Many disabled veterans live far from dealerships that sell specially adapted vehicles, so without delivery coverage they are forced to pay out of pocket just to receive a benefit they already earned.
• The current law leaves an unintended gap — the VA covers the car but not getting it to the veteran — and this bill closes that gap to make the benefit whole.
• Delivery costs can be significant, especially for veterans in rural or remote areas like Guam, and excluding them puts an unfair financial burden on those with service-connected disabilities.

Arguments opponents make

• Expanding the VA's payment obligation adds to federal spending, and Congress should weigh whether this cost is offset or whether it contributes to budget pressure on veterans' programs or other priorities.
• The existing dollar cap on adaptive vehicle benefits was not automatically raised by this bill, so if delivery costs are folded in, veterans in high-cost situations could find the cap is effectively lower for the vehicle itself.
• Some critics may argue the VA should negotiate directly with dealers or use existing logistics contracts rather than simply broadening open-ended reimbursement to veterans.

Tradeoffs

Covering delivery costs makes the adaptive vehicle benefit more complete for veterans, especially those in remote areas, but it increases federal expenditures without a stated funding offset, creating a tension between fuller benefits and fiscal constraints.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.