Emergency Justification

Talking Paper

on

Application and Reporting Requirements to Receive Grants under 38 CFR 77

RIN 2900-AP07

In December 2013, Congress passed Public Law 113-59 that mandated during FY2014 that the existing adaptive sports grant program managed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) under the United States Paralympics Integrated Adaptive Sports Program be transition to a competitive Adaptive Sports Grant managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Under these circumstances, VA was required to develop 38 CFR Part 77, Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces, issue a Notice of Funding Availability, conduct the entire grant application, assessment, evaluation, and award notification processes, and complete grant award documents no later than September 30, 2014 in order to implement the FY2014 Adaptive Sports Grant program.

If FY2014 Adaptive Sports Grant program funds are not obligated by September 30, 2014, these funds cannot be used to provide adaptive sports activities for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Because adaptive sports activities established under the United States Paralympics Integrated Adaptive Sports Program currently exist, these adaptive sports programs also will cease until factors delaying implementation of the Adaptive Sports Grant program are resolved.

Under the transition, VA requires authority to implement application and reporting requirements mandated by 38 USC 521A and necessary for adaptive sports grant implementation. Request emergency processing of application and reporting requirements approval in order to implement 38 CFR Part 77 and prevent loss of the authorized and appropriated FY2014 funding for Adaptive Sports Grant programs.