[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4132 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4132

  To require that a portion of the amounts made available for housing 
  programs for the homeless be used for housing for homeless veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 23, 1996

 Mr. Metcalf introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Banking and Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require that a portion of the amounts made available for housing 
  programs for the homeless be used for housing for homeless veterans.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Robert Stodola Homeless Veterans 
Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title IV of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11361 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 402. DEFINITION OF VETERAN.

    ``For purposes of this title, the term `veteran' has the meaning 
given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 101(b) of 
the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 401 the following new item:

``Sec. 402. Definition of veteran.''.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM.

    Section 413 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11373) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(f) Veterans' Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each metropolitan city, urban county, 
        State, and Indian tribe for which assistance under this 
        subtitle is provided shall ensure that not less than 20 percent 
        of the total amount received by the city, county, State, or 
        tribe in each fiscal year shall be used for eligible activities 
        benefiting homeless persons who are veterans.
            ``(2) Exception.--Upon the request of a metropolitan city, 
        urban county, State, or Indian tribe, the Secretary may, with 
        respect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under paragraph 
        (1) or reduce the percentage under such paragraph for the city, 
        county, State, or tribe if the city, county, State, or tribe 
        demonstrates to the Secretary that, but for such waiver or 
        reduction, amounts of assistance under this subtitle for the 
        city, county, State, or tribe will remain unused for an 
        unreasonable period of time.''.

SEC. 4. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.

    (a) Selection Criteria.--Section 426(b) of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11386(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(7) such factors as the Secretary considers necessary to 
        ensure compliance with the requirements under section 
        429(b)(4); and''.
    (b) Veterans' Share.--Section 429(b) of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11389(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) not less than 20 percent shall be allocated for use 
        only for projects and supportive services benefiting homeless 
        persons who are veterans; except that the Secretary may, with 
        respect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under this 
        paragraph or reduce the percentage if the Secretary determines 
        (based on approvable applications submitted for assistance 
        under this subtitle) that, but for such waiver or reduction, 
        amounts appropriated for such fiscal year to carry out this 
        subtitle will remain unused for an unreasonable period of 
        time.''.

SEC. 5. SAFE HAVENS FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Selection Criteria.--Section 434(c) of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11394(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(7) such factors as the Secretary considers necessary to 
        ensure compliance with the requirements under subsection (e); 
        and''.
    (b) Veterans' Share.--Section 434 of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(e) Veterans' Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--In making grants to applicants under 
        this subtitle, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 20 
        percent of the amount made available for each fiscal year to 
        carry out this subtitle is used for eligible activities 
        benefiting homeless persons who are veterans.
            ``(2) Exception.--The Secretary may, with respect to a 
        fiscal year, waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or 
        reduce the percentage under such paragraph if the Secretary 
        determines (based on approvable applications submitted for 
        assistance under this subtitle) that, but for such waiver or 
        reduction, amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry 
        out this subtitle will remain unused for an unreasonable period 
        of time.''.

SEC. 6. SECTION 8 PROGRAM FOR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY DWELLINGS.

    (a) Selection Criteria.--The first sentence of section 441(c) of 
the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11401(c)) is 
amended by inserting before the period the following: ``, while 
ensuring compliance with the requirements under subsection (k)''.
    (b) Veterans' Share.--Section 441 of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(k) Veterans' Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--In allocating amounts to applicants 
        under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less 
        than 20 percent of the amounts made available for each fiscal 
        year to carry out this section are used for assistance 
        benefiting homeless persons who are veterans.
            ``(2) Exception.--The Secretary may, with respect to a 
        fiscal year, waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or 
        reduce the percentage under such paragraph if the Secretary 
        determines (based on approvable applications submitted for 
        assistance under this section) that, but for such waiver or 
        reduction, amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry 
        out this section will remain unused for an unreasonable period 
        of time.''.

SEC. 7. SHELTER PLUS CARE PROGRAM.

    (a) Selection Criteria.--Section 455(a) of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11403d(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(9) such factors as the Secretary considers necessary to 
        ensure compliance with the requirements under subsection (d); 
        and''.
    (b) Veterans' Share.--Section 455 of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(d) Veterans' Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--In providing assistance to applicants 
        under this subtitle, the Secretary shall ensure that not less 
        than 20 percent of the amount made available for each fiscal 
        year to carry out this subtitle is used for rental assistance 
benefiting homeless persons who are veterans.
            ``(2) Exception.--The Secretary may, with respect to a 
        fiscal year, waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or 
        reduce the percentage under such paragraph if the Secretary 
        determines (based on approvable applications submitted for 
        assistance under this subtitle) that, but for such waiver or 
        reduction, amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry 
        out this subtitle will remain unused for an unreasonable period 
        of time.''.

SEC. 8. RURAL HOMELESSNESS GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 491(c) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 11408(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(4) Veterans' share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In awarding grants under 
                subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
                ensure that not less than 20 percent of the amount made 
                available for the fiscal year for such grants is used 
                for eligible activities under subsection (b) benefiting 
                homeless persons who are veterans.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The Secretary may, with respect 
                to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under 
                subparagraph (A) or reduce the percentage under such 
                subparagraph if the Secretary determines (based on 
                approvable applications submitted for grants under this 
                section) that, but for such waiver or reduction, 
                amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry 
                out this section will remain unused for an unreasonable 
                period of time.''.

SEC. 9. INNOVATIVE HOMELESS INITIATIVES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Comprehensive Homeless Initiative.--Section 2(c)(5) of the HUD 
Demonstration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 11301 note) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(F) provides that not less than 20 percent of the 
                total amount received by the recipient shall be used 
                for projects and activities benefiting homeless persons 
                who are veterans; except that, upon the request of a 
                jurisdiction, the Secretary may, with respect to a 
                fiscal year, waive the requirement under this 
                subparagraph or reduce the percentage for such 
                recipient jurisdiction if the recipient demonstrates to 
                the Secretary that, but for such waiver or reduction, 
                assistance amounts under this subsection for the 
                recipient for such fiscal year will remain unused for 
                an unreasonable period of time.''.
    (b) Innovative Project Funding.--
            (1) Selection criteria.--Section 2(d)(3) of the HUD 
        Demonstration Act of 1993 is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
                subparagraph (F); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) such factors as the Secretary considers 
                necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements 
                under paragraph (4); and''.
            (2) Veterans' share.--Section 2(d) of the HUD Demonstration 
        Act of 1993 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(4) Veterans' share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In awarding assistance under 
                this subsection for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
                ensure that not less than 20 percent of the amount made 
                available for the fiscal year for such assistance is 
                used for projects and activities benefiting homeless 
                persons who are veterans.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The Secretary may, with respect 
                to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under 
                subparagraph (A) or reduce the percentage under such 
                subparagraph if the Secretary determines (based on 
                approvable applications submitted for assistance under 
                this subsection) that, but for such waiver or 
                reduction, amounts made available for such fiscal year 
                to carry out this subsection will remain unused for an 
                unreasonable period of time.''.
    (c) Definition.--Section 2(b) of the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(7) For purposes of this title, the term `veteran' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United 
        States Code.''.
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