Daniel Akaka: “today I introduce the Blinded Veterans Paired Organ Act of 2007. This legislation would update the eligibility…”

“today I introduce the Blinded Veterans Paired Organ Act of 2007. This legislation would update the eligibility requirements for certain benefits provided to veterans with a service-connected disability due to blindness. It addresses two areas of veterans' law that heretofore excluded many veterans with severe vision impairment from accessing benefits that could significantly improve the quality of their lives. At a time when great changes are afoot in how this Nation prioritizes the care of its veterans, it is still important that we also remain attentive to the places where small changes can make a large impact. Several of my colleagues, including Senators Brown, Feingold, Hagel, Isakson, and Webb, join me in introducing this legislation. This bill would relax the criteria for vision impairment in two separate areas of veterans' benefits law. The first governs eligibility for disability compensation under what is known as the 'paired organ law.' The second relates to the criteria for blinded veterans seeking VA grants for specially adapted housing.”