[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1754 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1754

  To require that a portion of the amounts made available for housing 
  programs for the homeless be used for activities designed to serve 
          primarily homeless veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 3, 1997

Mr. Metcalf (for himself and Mr. Stump) 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 activities designed to serve 
          primarily homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

    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 
        designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans. 
        Such activities shall, to the extent possible, be integrated 
        and coordinated with services made available by the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs.
            ``(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 satisfaction of the Secretary, and the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs concurs in the determination, 
        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.
            ``(3) Reports by grantees.--Each metropolitan city, urban 
        county, State, and Indian tribe for which assistance under this 
        subtitle is provided for a fiscal year shall submit a report to 
        the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such 
        fiscal year describing each project and activity funded with 
        such assistance that is designed to serve primarily homeless 
        persons who are veterans, the location of the project or 
        activity, and the amount of such assistance provided for the 
        project or activity.''.

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, after consultation 
        with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 designed to serve 
        primarily homeless persons who are veterans, except that--
                    ``(A) the Secretary shall make assistance available 
                with such amounts only after consultation with and upon 
                the concurrence of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
                    ``(B) projects and services provided with amounts 
                allocated under this paragraph shall, to the extent 
                possible, be integrated and coordinated with services 
                made available by the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
                and
                    ``(C) the Secretary may, with respect to a fiscal 
                year, waive the requirement to reserve amounts under 
                this paragraph or reduce the percentage so reserved if 
                the Secretary determines (based on approvable 
                applications submitted for assistance under this 
                subtitle), and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                concurs in the determination, 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.''.
    (c) Report.--Section 426(c)(4) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11386(c)(4)) is amended by inserting before 
the semicolon at the end the following: ``, which shall include, in the 
case of an applicant carrying out a project designed to serve primarily 
homeless persons who are veterans, reporting to the Secretary and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal year regarding the 
activities funded during such fiscal year with such assistance that are 
designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, the 
location of the project and of such activities, and the amount of such 
assistance provided for the project or such activities.''.

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, after consultation 
        with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 
        designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, 
        which activities shall, to the extent possible, be integrated 
        and coordinated with services made available by the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs. A grant shall be considered to comply with 
        the requirement under preceding sentence only if the Secretary 
        consults with and obtains the concurrence of the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs in making the grant.
            ``(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), and the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs concurs in the determination, 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.
            ``(3) Reports by recipients.--Each recipient provided 
        assistance under this subtitle for a fiscal year shall submit a 
        report to the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        for such fiscal year describing each facility and activity 
        funded with such assistance that is designed to serve primarily 
        homeless persons who are veterans, the location of the facility 
        or activity, and the amount of such assistance provided for the 
        facility or activity.''.

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

    (a) Selection Criteria.--Section 441(c) of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11401(c)) is amended by striking the 
period at the end of the first sentence and inserting the following: 
``, while ensuring compliance with the requirements under subsection 
(k). The Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, shall establish any criteria for such competition necessary to 
ensure 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 designed 
        to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, which 
        assistance shall, to the extent possible, be integrated and 
        coordinated with services made available by the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs. Assistance shall be considered to comply with 
        the requirement under preceding sentence only if the Secretary 
        consults with and obtains the concurrence of the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs in allocating the assistance.
            ``(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), and the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs concurs in the determination, 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.
            ``(3) Reports by recipients.--Each applicant that receives 
        assistance under this section for a fiscal year shall submit a 
        report to the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        for such fiscal year describing each dwelling unit occupied by 
        a homeless person who is a veteran that is assisted with such 
        assistance, the location of the dwelling unit, and the amount 
        of such assistance provided for the dwelling unit.''.

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, after consultation 
        with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 
        designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, 
        which assistance shall, to the extent possible, be integrated 
        and coordinated with services made available by the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs. Assistance shall be considered to comply 
        with the requirement under preceding sentence only if the 
        Secretary consults with and obtains the concurrence of the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs in providing the assistance.
            ``(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), and the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs concurs in the determination, 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.
            ``(3) Reports by recipients.--Each recipient provided 
        assistance under this subtitle for a fiscal year shall submit a 
        report to the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        for such fiscal year describing assistance funded with such 
        amounts that is designed to serve primarily homeless persons 
        who are veterans, the location of the housing or activity so 
        assisted, and the amount of such assistance provided for the 
        housing or activity.''.

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) designed 
                to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, 
                which activities shall, to the extent possible, 
be integrated and coordinated with services made available by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. A grant shall be considered to comply 
with the requirement under preceding sentence only if the Secretary 
consults with and obtains the concurrence of the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs in providing the grant.
                    ``(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), and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs concurs 
                in the determination, 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.
                    ``(C) Reports by recipients.--Each eligible 
                organization receiving a grant under this section for a 
                fiscal year shall submit a report to the Secretary and 
                the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal year 
                describing assistance funded with such amounts that is 
                designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are 
                veterans, the location of the housing or activities so 
                assisted, and the amount of such amounts provided for 
                the housing or activities.''.

SEC. 9. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ANNUAL REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title IV of the Stewart B. McKinney 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C 11361), as amended by section 2 of 
this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 403. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND REPORTS REGARDING ACTIVITIES 
              BENEFITING HOMELESS VETERANS.

    ``(a) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary, after consultation with 
and upon the concurrence of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall 
carry out a program to provide technical advice, training, and outreach 
activities necessary to facilitate and encourage the funding, with 
grant amounts under this title, of projects and activities designed to 
serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans. The program shall 
include--
            ``(1) providing notice of availability of amounts set-aside 
        under this title for eligible activities designed to serve 
        primarily homeless persons who are veterans to agencies and 
        organizations who are qualified or could qualify as grantees 
        for such amounts and project sponsors for such activities;
            ``(2) increasing participation, by agencies and 
        organizations interested in carrying out eligible activities 
        designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, 
        in developing plans required under section 401;
            ``(3) providing assistance to increase the capability of 
        such agencies and organizations in developing plans and 
        applications for grants under this title and activities funded 
        with such grant amounts (including providing assistance in 
        integrating and coordinating such activities with services made 
        available by the Department of Veterans Affairs).
    ``(b) Annual Reports.--Not later than 6 months after the conclusion 
of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
Congress and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding activities and 
assistance provided with grant amounts under this title that are 
designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans. The 
report shall analyze the extent of compliance with the requirements 
under this title to reserve amounts for such activities and assistance 
and shall summarize the reports regarding such assistance and 
activities submitted under sections 413(f)(3), 426(c)(4), 434(e)(3), 
441(k)(3), 455(d)(3), and 491(c)(4)(C) by grant recipients. After 
submitting each report under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding any 
recommendations of such Secretary in response to the report.''.
    (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 402 (as added by section 2(b) of 
this Act) the following new item:

``Sec. 403. Technical assistance and reports regarding activities 
                            benefiting homeless veterans.''.
                                 <all>