[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 739 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 191
107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 739

                          [Report No. 107-82]

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve programs for homeless 
                   veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 6, 2001

Mr. Wellstone (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Dayton, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
 Dorgan, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Reid, 
 Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. Corzine) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

                            October 11, 2001

             Reported by Mr. Rockefeller, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve programs for 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Heather 
French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Findings; definitions.
<DELETED>Sec. 3. National goal to end homelessness among veterans.
<DELETED>Sec. 4. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
<DELETED>Sec. 5. Annual meeting requirement for Interagency Council on 
                            the Homeless.
<DELETED>Sec. 6. Evaluation of homeless programs.
<DELETED>Sec. 7. Changes in veterans equitable resource allocation 
                            methodology.
<DELETED>Sec. 8. Per diem payments for furnishing services to homeless 
                            veterans.
<DELETED>Sec. 9. Grant program for homeless veterans with special 
                            needs.
<DELETED>Sec. 10. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at 
                            risk of homelessness.
<DELETED>Sec. 11. Treatment trials in integrated mental health services 
                            delivery.
<DELETED>Sec. 12. Dental care.
<DELETED>Sec. 13. Programmatic expansions.
<DELETED>Sec. 14. Various authorities.
<DELETED>Sec. 15. Life safety code for grant and per diem providers.
<DELETED>Sec. 16. Transitional assistance grants pilot program.
<DELETED>Sec. 17. Assistance for grant applications.
<DELETED>Sec. 18. Home loan program for manufactured housing.
<DELETED>Sec. 19. Extension of homeless veterans reintegration program.
<DELETED>Sec. 20. Use of real property.

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS; DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following 
findings:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) On the field of battle, the members of the 
        Armed Forces who defend the Nation are honor-bound to leave no 
        one behind and, likewise, the Nation is honor-bound to leave no 
        veteran behind.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs report 
        known as the Community Homeless Assessment, Local Education, 
        and Networking Groups for Veterans (CHALENG) assessment, issued 
        in May 2000, reports that during 1999 there were an estimated 
        344,983 homeless veterans, an increase of 34 percent above the 
        1998 estimate of 256,872 homeless veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Male veterans are more likely to be homeless 
        than their nonveteran peers. Although veterans constitute only 
        13 percent of the general male population, 23 percent of the 
        homeless male population are veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Homelessness among veterans is persistent 
        despite unprecedented economic growth and job creation and 
        general prosperity.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) While there are many effective programs that 
        assist homeless veterans to again become productive and self-
        sufficient members of society, current resources provided to 
        such programs and other activities that assist homeless 
        veterans are inadequate to provide all needed essential 
        services, assistance, and support to homeless 
        veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) If current programs to assist homeless 
        veterans are fully maintained but not expanded, veterans will 
        experience as many as a billion nights of homelessness during 
        the next decade.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) The CHALENG assessment referred to in 
        paragraph (2) reports--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) that Department of Veterans Affairs 
                and community providers were responsible for 
                establishing almost 500 beds for homeless veterans 
                during 2000, including emergency, transitional, and 
                permanent beds; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) that there is a need for about 45,724 
                additional beds to meet current needs of homeless 
                veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) As of February 28, 2001, the Congressional 
        Budget Office forecasts a Federal budget surplus of 
        $313,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and budget surpluses 
        totaling more than $5,610,000,000,000 over the next 10 
        years.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) At least $750,000,000 will be required to 
        establish the 45,724 additional new beds now needed by homeless 
        veterans, according to an informal Department of Veterans 
        Affairs cost estimate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) Even if the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        and its partners created 2,000 additional beds per year for 
        homeless veterans (roughly quadrupling the number of such beds 
        they currently plan to open annually), it would still take more 
        than two decades to provide the necessary additional beds to 
        meet the current needs of homeless veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) Nearly four decades ago, the Nation 
        established a goal of sending a man to the moon and returning 
        him safely to earth within a decade and accomplished that goal, 
        and the Nation can do no less to end homelessness among the 
        Nation's veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The term ``homeless veteran'' means a veteran 
        who--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate 
                nighttime residence; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) has a primary nighttime residence that 
                is--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) a supervised publicly or 
                        privately operated shelter designed to provide 
                        temporary living accommodations (including 
                        welfare hotels, congregate shelters, grant per 
                        diem shelters and transitional housing for the 
                        mentally ill);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) an institution that provides 
                        a temporary residence for individuals intended 
                        to be institutionalized; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) a public or private place 
                        not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a 
                        regular sleeping accommodation for human 
                        beings.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The term ``grant and per diem provider'' means 
        an entity in receipt of a grant under section 3 or 4 of the 
        Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 
        (38 U.S.C. 7721 note).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG 
              VETERANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) National Goal.--Congress hereby declares it to be a 
national goal to end homelessness among veterans within a 
decade.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Cooperative Efforts Encouraged.--Congress hereby 
encourages all departments and agencies of Federal, State, and local 
governments, quasi-governmental organizations, private and public 
sector entities, including community-based organizations, and 
individuals to work cooperatively to end homelessness among veterans 
within a decade.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 546. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a)(1) There is established in the Department the 
Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans (hereinafter in this section 
referred to as the `Committee').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 15 
members appointed by the Secretary from among the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) Veterans service organizations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) Advocates of homeless veterans and other 
        homeless individuals.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) Community-based providers of services to 
        homeless individuals.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) Previously homeless veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(E) State veterans affairs officials.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(F) Experts in the treatment of individuals with 
        mental illness.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(G) Experts in the treatment of substance use 
        disorders.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(H) Experts in the development of permanent 
        housing alternatives for lower income populations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(I) Experts in vocational 
        rehabilitation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(J) Such other organizations or groups as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) the Secretary of Labor (or a representative 
        of the Secretary selected after consultation with the Assistant 
        Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
        Training);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) the Secretary of Defense (or a 
        representative of the Secretary);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        (or a representative of the Secretary); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development (or a representative of the Secretary).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service 
and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a 
term of service may not exceed three years. The Secretary may reappoint 
any member for additional terms of service.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult 
with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision 
by the Department of benefits and services to homeless 
veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
subsection, the Committee shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(i) assemble and review information relating to 
        the needs of homeless veterans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(ii) provide an on-going assessment of the 
        effectiveness of the policies, organizational structures, and 
        services of the Department in assisting homeless veterans; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(iii) provide on-going advice on the most 
        appropriate means of providing assistance to homeless 
        veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) The Committee shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) review the continuum of services provided by 
        the Department directly or by contract in order to define 
        cross-cutting issues and to improve coordination of all 
        services in the Department that address the special needs of 
        homeless veterans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) identify (through the annual assessments 
        under section 1774 of this title and other available resources) 
        gaps in programs of the Department in serving homeless 
        veterans, including identification of geographic areas with 
        unmet needs, and provide recommendations to address those 
        program gaps;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) identify gaps in existing information 
        systems on homeless veterans, both within and outside the 
        Department, and provide recommendations about redressing 
        problems in data collection;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) identify barriers under existing laws and 
        policies to effective coordination by the Department with other 
        Federal agencies and with State and local agencies addressing 
        homeless populations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(E) identify opportunities for enhanced liaison 
        by the Department with nongovernmental organizations and 
        individual groups addressing homeless populations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(F) with appropriate officials of the Department 
        designated by the Secretary, participate with the Interagency 
        Council on the Homeless under title II of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11311 et seq.);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(G) recommend appropriate funding levels for 
        specialized programs for homeless veterans provided or funded 
        by the Department;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(H) recommend appropriate placement options for 
        veterans who, because of advanced age, frailty, or severe 
        mental illness, may not be appropriate candidates for 
        vocational rehabilitation or independent living; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(I) perform such other functions as the 
        Secretary may direct.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the 
Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and 
activities of the Department that relate to homeless veterans. Each 
such report shall include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) an assessment of the needs of homeless 
        veterans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of 
        the Department designed to meet such needs;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) a review of the activities of the Committee; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) such recommendations (including 
        recommendations for administrative and legislative action) as 
        the Committee considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a report 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of 
the report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning 
the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such 
other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers 
appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report 
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary 
of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the 
Secretary since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted 
pursuant to that section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall 
apply to the activities of the Committee under this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the 
Committee.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``546. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 5. MEETINGS OF INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON THE 
              HOMELESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 202(c) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11312(c)) is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its 
Chairperson or a majority of its members, but not less often than 
annually.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. EVALUATION OF HOMELESS PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Evaluation Centers.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall support the continuation within the Department of Veterans 
Affairs of at least one center for evaluation to monitor the structure, 
process, and outcome of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
that address homeless veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Annual Report on Health Care.--The Secretary shall 
submit to Congress on an annual basis a report on programs of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs addressing health care needs of homeless 
veterans. The Secretary shall include in each such report the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Information about expenditures, costs, and 
        workload under the Department of Veterans Affairs program known 
        as the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program 
        (HCHV).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Information about the veterans contacted 
        through that program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Information about processes under that 
        program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Information about program treatment outcomes 
        under that program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Information about supported housing 
        programs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Information about the Department's grant and 
        per diem provider program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Other information the Secretary considers 
        relevant in assessing the program.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Annual Program Assessment.--Section 1774(b) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``annual'' 
        after ``to make an''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following new 
        paragraph:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(6) The Secretary shall review each annual assessment 
under this subsection, and shall consolidate the findings and 
conclusions of those assessments into an annual report which the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. CHANGES IN VETERANS EQUITABLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION 
              METHODOLOGY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Allocation Categories.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall assign veterans receiving the following services to the 
resource allocation category designated as ``complex care'' within the 
Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Care provided to veterans enrolled in the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs program for Mental Health 
        Intensive Community Case Management.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Continuous care in homeless chronically 
        mentally ill veterans programs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Continuous care within specialized programs 
        provided to veterans who have been diagnosed with both serious 
        chronic mental illness and substance use disorders.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Continuous therapy combined with sheltered 
        housing provided to veterans in specialized treatment for 
        substance use disorders.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Specialized therapies provided to veterans 
        with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), including 
        therapies provided by or under the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Specialized outpatient PTSD 
                programs.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) PTSD clinical teams.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Women veterans stress disorder 
                treatment teams.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Substance abuse disorder PTSD 
                teams.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Treatment of Funds for New Programs for Homeless 
Veterans.--The Secretary shall ensure that funds for any new program 
for homeless veterans carried out through a Department health care 
facility are designated for the first three years of operation of that 
program as a special purpose program for which funds are not allocated 
through the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING SERVICES TO HOMELESS 
              VETERANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Increase in Rate of Per Diem Payments.--Section 4(a) 
of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 
U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended by striking ``at such rates'' and all that 
follows through ``homeless veteran--'' and inserting the following: 
``at the same rates as the rates authorized for State homes for 
domiciliary care provided under section 1741 of title 38, United States 
Code, for services furnished to homeless veterans--''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL 
              NEEDS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a program to make grants to health care facilities of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs and to grant and per diem providers 
in order to encourage development by those facilities and providers of 
programs targeted at meeting special needs within the population of 
homeless veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Homeless Veterans With Special Needs.--For purposes of 
this section, homeless veterans with special needs include homeless 
veterans who--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) are women;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) are 50 years of age or older;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) are substance abusers;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) are persons with post-traumatic stress 
        disorder;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) are terminally ill;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) are chronically mentally ill; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) have care of minor dependents or other family 
        members.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Study of Outcome Effectiveness.--The Secretary shall 
conduct a study of the effectiveness of the grant program in meeting 
the needs of homeless veterans. As part of the study, the Secretary 
shall compare the results of programs carried out in the grant program 
under this section in terms of veterans' satisfaction, health status, 
reduction in addiction severity, housing, and encouragement of 
productive activity with results for similar veterans in programs of 
the Department or of grant and per diem providers that are designed to 
meet the general needs of homeless veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Funding.--From amounts appropriated to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for ``Medical Care'' for each of fiscal years 2003, 
2004, and 2005, $5,000,000 shall be available for purposes of the 
program under this section. Grants under this section to a health care 
facility of the Department or a grant and per diem provider shall be 
treated in the manner provided in section 7(b).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. COORDINATION OF OUTREACH SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT 
              RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Outreach Plan.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
acting through the Under Secretary for Health, shall provide for 
appropriate officials of the Mental Health Service and the Readjustment 
Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration to initiate a 
coordinated plan for joint outreach to veterans at risk of 
homelessness, including particularly veterans who are being discharged 
from institutions (including discharges from inpatient psychiatric 
care, substance abuse treatment programs, and penal 
institutions).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Matters To Be Included.--The plan under subsection (a) 
shall include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Strategies to identify and collaborate with 
        external entities used by veterans who have not traditionally 
        used Department of Veterans Affairs services to further 
        outreach efforts.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Strategies to ensure that mentoring programs, 
        recovery support groups, and other appropriate support networks 
        are optimally available to veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Appropriate programs or referrals to family 
        support programs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Means to increase access to case management 
        services.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Plans for making additional employment 
        services accessible to veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Appropriate referral sources for mental health 
        and substance abuse services.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Cooperative Relationships.--The plan under subsection 
(a) shall identify strategies for the Department to enter into formal 
cooperative relationships with entities outside the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to facilitate making services and resources optimally 
available to veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Review of Plan.--The Secretary shall submit the plan 
under subsection (a) to the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans for 
its review and consultation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Submission of Report.--Not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report on the Secretary's plan under subsection (a), 
including goals and timelines for implementation of the plan for 
particular facilities and service networks.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Outreach Program.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out 
an outreach program to provide information to homeless veterans and 
veterans at risk of homelessness. The program shall include at a 
minimum--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (A) provision of information about benefits 
        available to eligible veterans from the Department; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (B) contact information for local Department 
        facilities, including medical facilities, regional offices, and 
        veterans centers.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) In developing and carrying out the program under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult 
with appropriate public and private organizations, including the Bureau 
of Prisons, State social service agencies, the Department of Defense, 
and mental health, veterans, and homeless advocates--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (A) for assistance in identifying and contacting 
        veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (B) to coordinate appropriate outreach activities 
        with those organizations; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (C) to coordinate services provided to veterans 
        with services provided by those organizations.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. TREATMENT TRIALS IN INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
              DELIVERY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out two treatment trials in integrated mental health 
services delivery. Each such trial shall be carried out at a Department 
of Veterans Affairs medical center selected by the Secretary for such 
purpose. The trials shall each be carried out over the same one-year 
period.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``integrated mental health services delivery'' means a coordinated and 
standardized approach to evaluation between mental health and primary 
health care professionals for enrollment, treatment, and followup of 
patients who have both mental health disorders (including substance use 
disorders) and medical conditions.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Site Selection Criteria.--In reviewing applications 
from Department medical centers for selection as a site for a treatment 
trial under this section, the Secretary shall consider models that use 
the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Standardized criteria for admission and 
        enrollment as participant or control.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Focus on prevention and symptom 
        reduction.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Development of a comprehensive, integrated 
        treatment plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Patient assignment to a team or 
        teams.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Management of polypharmacy.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Use of evidence-based treatment 
        protocols.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Case management between visits.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Referral and coordination of appropriate 
        Department or community-based services (including housing if 
        necessary).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) Ability to maintain and provide outcomes for 
        comparison purposes on veterans with similar diagnoses and 
        characteristics who are not included in the trial, but who are 
        receiving traditional consultative services in the same 
        facility.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Treatment Models To Be Tested.--The two treatment 
trials shall each use one of the following models:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Mental health primary care teams.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Patient assignment to a mental health primary 
        care team that is linked with the patient's medical primary 
        care team.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Study of Effectiveness.--The Secretary shall compare 
treatment outcomes (including such outcomes as veterans' satisfaction, 
health status, treatment compliance, patient functionality, reduction 
in addiction severity as well as service utilization and treatment 
costs) of the different treatment trials for chronically mentally ill 
veterans who are provided treatment through integrated mental health 
programs with treatment outcomes for similar chronically mentally ill 
veterans provided treatment through traditionally consultative 
relationships.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Results.--Not later than 30 months after selection of 
the two centers under this section, each selected center shall complete 
measures of treatment outcomes under subsection (e), as well as 
measures for matched controls.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Mandatory Audit of Results.--The Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Inspector General shall review medical records 
of participants and controls for both trials to ensure that results are 
accurate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (h) Report and Dissemination of Results.--Not later than 
two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report setting forth the results of the 
comparison under subsection (e) and such recommendations as the 
Secretary may have. Based upon the Secretary's conclusions, the 
Secretary shall disseminate the best practices for treatment of 
mentally ill veterans in such manner as the Secretary determines 
appropriate on a nationwide basis.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (i) Costs.--The Secretary may use up to $2,000,000 from 
funds available to the Secretary for Medical Care for costs for each of 
the treatment trials. Funds identified by the Secretary for the trials 
shall remain available until expended.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 12. DENTAL CARE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--For purposes of section 1712(a)(1)(H) of 
title 38, United States Code, outpatient dental services and treatment 
of a dental condition or disability of a veteran described in 
subsection (b) shall be considered to be medically necessary if--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the dental services and treatment are 
        necessary for the veteran to successfully gain or regain 
        employment;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the dental services and treatment are 
        necessary to alleviate pain; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the dental services and treatment are 
        necessary for treatment of moderate, severe, or severe and 
        complicated gingival and periodontal pathology.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Eligible Veterans.--Subsection (a) applies to a 
veteran who is--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of 
        title 38, United States Code; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) receiving care (directly or by contract) in 
        any of the following settings:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) A domiciliary under section 1710 of 
                such title.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) A therapeutic residence under section 
                1772 of such title.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Community residential care coordinated 
                by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 1730 
                of such title.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) A setting for which the Secretary 
                provides funds for a grant and per diem 
                provider.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Any program described in section 7 of 
                this Act.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 13. PROGRAMMATIC EXPANSIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Access to Mental Health Services.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall develop standards to ensure that mental health 
services are available to veterans in a manner similar to the manner in 
which primary care is available to veterans who require services by 
ensuring that each primary care health care facility of the Department 
has a mental health treatment capacity.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Transitional Housing.--Effective October 1, 2001, 
section 12 of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act 
of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 12. FUNDING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Amounts for Grant and Per Diem Programs.--From 
amounts appropriated for `Medical Care' for any fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall expend not less than $55,000,000 (as adjusted from time 
to time under subsection (b)) to carry out the transitional housing 
grant and per diem provider programs under sections 3 and 4 of this 
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Periodic Increases.--The amount in effect under 
subsection (a) shall be increased for any fiscal year by the overall 
percentage increase in the Medical Care account for that fiscal year 
from the preceding fiscal year.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Comprehensive Homeless Services Program.--(1) The 
Secretary shall provide for the establishment of centers for the 
provision of comprehensive services to homeless veterans under section 
1773(b) of title 38, United States Code, in at least each of the 20 
largest metropolitan statistical areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) Section 1773(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``not fewer than eight''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Opioid Substitution Therapy.--The Secretary shall 
ensure that opioid substitution therapy is available at each Department 
of Veterans Affairs medical center.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Program Expiration Extension.--Sections 1771(b) and 
1773(d) of title 38, United States Code, are amended by striking 
``December 31, 2001'' and inserting ``December 31, 2006''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 14. VARIOUS AUTHORITIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Employment Programs.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs may authorize homeless veterans receiving care through 
vocational rehabilitation programs to participate in the compensated 
work therapy program.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Supported Housing for Veterans Participating in 
Compensated Work Therapies.--The Secretary may authorize homeless 
veterans in the compensated work therapy program to be provided housing 
through the therapeutic residence program under section 1772 of title 
38, United States Code, or through grant and per diem 
providers.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Staffing Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
there is assigned at each Veterans Benefits Administration regional 
office at least one employee assigned specifically to oversee and 
coordinate homeless veterans programs in that region, including the 
housing program for veterans supported by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, housing programs supported by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, the homeless veterans reintegration program of the 
Department of Labor, the assessments required by section 1774 of title 
38, United States Code, Comprehensive Homeless Centers, and such other 
duties relating to homeless veterans as may be assigned. In any such 
regional office with at least 140 employees, there shall be at least 
one full-time employee assigned to such functions.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Coordination of Employment Services.--(1) Section 
4103A(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(11) Coordination of services provided to 
        veterans with training assistance provided to veterans by 
        entities receiving financial assistance under section 738 of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11448).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) Section 4104(b) of such title is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
        (11);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
        (12) and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
        paragraph:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(13) coordinate services provided to veterans 
        with training assistance for veterans provided by entities 
        receiving financial assistance under section 738 of the 
        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11448).''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 15. LIFE SAFETY CODE FOR GRANT AND PER DIEM 
              PROVIDERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) New Grants.--Section 3(b)(5) of the Homeless Veterans 
Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is 
amended by striking ``, but fire and safety'' and all that follows 
through ``in carrying out the grant'' and inserting ``and the fire and 
safety requirements applicable under the Life Safety Code of the 
National Fire Protection Association''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Previous Grantees.--Section 4 of such Act is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Life Safety Code.--(1) Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), a per diem payment (or in-kind assistance in lieu of per 
diem payments) may not be provided under this section to a grant 
recipient unless the facilities of the grant recipient meet the fire 
and safety requirements applicable under the Life Safety Code of the 
National Fire Protection Association.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) During the five-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of the Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance 
Act, paragraph (1) shall not apply to an entity that received a grant 
under section 3 before that date if the entity meets fire and safety 
requirements established by the Secretary.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) From amounts available for purposes of this section 
pursuant to section 12, not less than $5,000,000 shall be used only for 
grants to assist entities covered by paragraph (2) in meeting the Life 
Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 16. TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS PILOT 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall carry out a three-year pilot program of transitional 
assistance grants to eligible homeless veterans. The pilot program 
shall be established at not less than three nor more than six regional 
offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall include at 
least one regional office located in a large urban area and at least 
one regional office serving primarily rural veterans. The maximum 
number of veterans who may participate in the pilot program is 
600.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Eligible Veterans.--A veteran is eligible for a 
transitional assistance grant under this section if the veteran is 
physically present in the geographic area of a regional office which is 
participating in the pilot program and the veteran--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) is a veteran of a period of war or, if not a 
        veteran of a period of war, meets the minimum service 
        requirements specified in section 5303A of title 38, United 
        States Code;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) is being released, or within the preceding 60 
        days was released, from an institution, including a hospital, a 
        penal institution, a homeless shelter, or a facility of a grant 
        and per diem provider;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) is a homeless veteran or was a homeless 
        veteran before institutionalization; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) had less than marginal income for the 
        preceding three months.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Duration of Grant Assistance.--An eligible veteran may 
be provided a transitional assistance grant under this section for no 
more than three months.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Exception to Limitation on Grant Assistance.--(1) A 
veteran who receives transitional assistance under this section and who 
while in receipt of such assistance has a claim pending with the 
Secretary for service-connected disability compensation or nonservice-
connected pension shall, notwithstanding subsection (c), continue to be 
provided transitional assistance under this section after the period 
prescribed in subsection (c) until the earlier of (A) the date on which 
a decision on the claim is made by the regional office, or (B) the end 
of the six-month period beginning on the date of expiration of 
eligibility under subsection (c).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) An extension of transitional assistance under 
paragraph (1) shall be terminated if, as determined by the Secretary, 
the veteran, without good cause, fails to cooperate in establishing the 
pending claim or if the gross monthly income of the veteran for a month 
exceeds twice the amount of transitional assistance benefits payable to 
the veteran for that month. The effective date of such a termination 
shall be the last day of the month following the month in which the 
extension under paragraph (1) is terminated under the preceding 
sentence.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (3) Claims of veterans receiving benefits under this 
subsection shall receive expedited consideration by the regional 
office.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Amount of Grant.--(1) The monthly amount of a grant 
provided under this section to an eligible veteran shall be the amount 
of monthly pension that would be payable to that veteran under chapter 
15 of title 38, United States Code, if the veteran had a permanent and 
total nonservice-connected disability.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) Once eligibility for a grant under this section has 
been established, the amount of the grant shall be determined without 
regard to the veteran's income, other than as provided in subsection 
(d)(2).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Coordination With Other Benefits.--If retroactive 
benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs are payable to a 
veteran with respect to a month for which the veteran received a 
transitional assistance grant under this section, the amount of such 
retroactive benefit payable for such month shall be reduced (but not 
below zero) by the amount of the grant under this section paid for that 
month. No reduction may be made by the Secretary from an amount 
otherwise due a veteran for any other month to offset an amount paid 
under this section for a previous month.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The term ``veteran'' means a person who served 
        in the active military, naval, or air service (as defined in 
        section 101 of title 38, United States Code) and who was 
        discharged or released from any such period of service under 
        conditions other than dishonorable.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The term ``marginal income'', with respect to 
        a veteran, means income below the poverty standard (as 
        determined by the Bureau of the Census) for a family of the 
        size of the veteran's family.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 17. ASSISTANCE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Grant Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a program to make technical assistance grants to 
nonprofit community-based groups with experience in providing 
assistance to homeless veterans in order to assist such groups in 
applying for grants relating to addressing problems of homeless 
veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal years 2002 through 
2006, $750,000 to carry out the program under this section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 18. HOME LOAN PROGRAM FOR MANUFACTURED HOUSING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 3712(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``With respect to a veteran who, as determined by the 
Secretary, is homeless, the Secretary may waive any otherwise 
applicable requirement under this chapter that a purchase of a 
manufactured home include ownership or purchase of a lot by the veteran 
to which the home is to be permanently affixed.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 19. EXTENSION OF HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 4111(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(G) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2006.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 20. USE OF REAL PROPERTY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 8122(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``and 
is not suitable for use for the provision of services to homeless 
veterans by the Department or by another entity under an enhanced-use 
lease of such property under section 8162 of this title''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Heather French 
Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; definition.
Sec. 3. National goal to end homelessness among veterans.
Sec. 4. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
Sec. 5. Meetings of Interagency Council on the Homeless.
Sec. 6. Evaluation of programs and activities regarding homeless 
                            veterans.
Sec. 7. Per diem payments for furnishing services to homeless veterans.
Sec. 8. Dental care for homeless veterans.
Sec. 9. Programmatic expansions.
Sec. 10. Various authorities.
Sec. 11. Life safety code for grant and per diem providers.
Sec. 12. Assistance for grant applications.
Sec. 13. Extension of homeless veterans reintegration program.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; DEFINITION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On the field of battle, the members of the Armed Forces 
        who defend the Nation are honor-bound to leave no one behind 
        and, likewise, the Nation is honor-bound to leave no veteran 
        behind.
            (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs report known as the 
        Community Homeless Assessment, Local Education, and Networking 
        Groups for Veterans (CHALENG) assessment, issued in May 2000, 
        reports that during 1999 there were an estimated 344,983 
        homeless veterans, an increase of 34 percent above the 1998 
        estimate of 256,872 homeless veterans.
            (3) The 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance 
        Providers and Clients found that, although veterans constitute 
        only 13 percent of the adult population, veterans comprise 23 
        percent of homeless clients.
            (4) Homelessness among veterans is persistent despite 
        unprecedented economic growth and job creation and general 
        prosperity.
            (5) While there are many effective programs that assist 
        homeless veterans to again become productive and self-
        sufficient members of society, current resources provided to 
        such programs and other activities that assist homeless 
        veterans are inadequate to provide all needed essential 
        services, assistance, and support to homeless veterans.
            (6) The CHALENG assessment referred to in paragraph (2) 
        reports--
                    (A) that Department of Veterans Affairs and 
                community providers were responsible for establishing 
                almost 500 beds for homeless veterans during 2000, 
                including emergency, transitional, and permanent beds; 
                and
                    (B) that there is a need for about 45,724 
                additional beds to meet current needs of homeless 
                veterans.
            (7) Nearly four decades ago, the Nation established a goal 
        of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to earth 
        within a decade and accomplished that goal, and the Nation can 
        do no less to end homelessness among the Nation's veterans.
    (b) Homeless Veteran Defined.--In this Act, the term ``homeless 
veteran'' means a veteran who is homeless (as that term is defined in 
section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11302(a)).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS.

    (a) National Goal.--Congress hereby declares it to be a national 
goal to end homelessness among veterans within a decade.
    (b) Cooperative Efforts Encouraged.--Congress hereby encourages all 
departments and agencies of Federal, State, and local governments, 
quasi-governmental organizations, private and public sector entities, 
including community-based organizations, and individuals to work 
cooperatively to end homelessness among veterans within a decade.

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 546. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans
    ``(a)(1) There is established in the Department the Advisory 
Committee on Homeless Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to 
as the `Committee').
    ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 15 members 
appointed by the Secretary from among the following:
            ``(A) Veterans service organizations.
            ``(B) Advocates of homeless veterans and other homeless 
        individuals.
            ``(C) Community-based providers of services to homeless 
        individuals.
            ``(D) Previously homeless veterans.
            ``(E) State veterans affairs officials.
            ``(F) Experts in the treatment of individuals with mental 
        illness.
            ``(G) Experts in the treatment of substance use disorders.
            ``(H) Experts in the development of permanent housing 
        alternatives for lower income populations.
            ``(I) Experts in vocational rehabilitation.
            ``(J) Such other organizations or groups as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
    ``(3) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members--
            ``(A) the Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the 
        Secretary selected after consultation with the Assistant 
        Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training);
            ``(B) the Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the 
        Secretary);
            ``(C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (or a 
        representative of the Secretary); and
            ``(D) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (or a 
        representative of the Secretary).
    ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay 
and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of 
service may not exceed three years. The Secretary may reappoint any 
member for additional terms of service.
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and 
seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the 
Department of benefits and services to homeless veterans.
    ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
subsection, the Committee shall--
            ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
        of homeless veterans;
            ``(ii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
        of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the 
        Department in assisting homeless veterans; and
            ``(iii) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
        means of providing assistance to homeless veterans.
    ``(3) The Committee shall--
            ``(A) review the continuum of services provided by the 
        Department, whether directly or by contract, in order to define 
        cross-cutting issues and to improve coordination of all 
services in the Department that address the special needs of homeless 
veterans;
            ``(B) identify (through annual assessments under section 
        1774 of this title and other available resources) gaps in 
        programs of the Department in serving homeless veterans, 
        including identification of geographic areas with unmet needs, 
        and provide recommendations to address those gaps;
            ``(C) identify gaps in existing information systems on 
        homeless veterans, both within and outside the Department, and 
        provide recommendations about redressing problems in data 
        collection;
            ``(D) identify barriers under existing laws and policies to 
        effective coordination by the Department with other Federal 
        agencies and with State and local agencies addressing homeless 
        populations;
            ``(E) identify opportunities for enhanced liaison by the 
        Department with nongovernmental organizations and individual 
        groups addressing homeless populations;
            ``(F) with appropriate officials of the Department 
        designated by the Secretary, participate with the Interagency 
        Council on the Homeless under title II of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11311 et seq.);
            ``(G) recommend appropriate funding levels for specialized 
        programs for homeless veterans provided or funded by the 
        Department;
            ``(H) recommend appropriate placement options for veterans 
        who, because of advanced age, frailty, or severe mental 
        illness, may not be appropriate candidates for vocational 
        rehabilitation or independent living; and
            ``(I) perform such other functions as the Secretary may 
        direct.
    ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the 
Department that relate to homeless veterans during the preceding year. 
Each such report shall include--
            ``(A) an assessment of the needs of homeless veterans;
            ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
        Department designed to meet such needs, including the 
        evaluation of outreach activities required under paragraph (2);
            ``(C) a review of the activities of the Committee; and
            ``(D) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
        administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
        considers appropriate.
    ``(2)(A) The Committee shall include in each report under paragraph 
(1) an evaluation of the outreach activities of the Department with 
respect to homeless veterans, including outreach regarding clinical 
issues and outreach regarding other benefits.
    ``(B) The Committee shall conduct each evaluation under this 
paragraph in consultation with the Under Secretary for Benefits, the 
Under Secretary for Health, the Readjustment Counseling Service, the 
Director of Homeless Veterans Programs, and the Mental Health Strategic 
Health Care Group.
    ``(C) In including an evaluation under this paragraph in a report 
under paragraph (1), the Committee shall set forth in the report the 
following:
            ``(i) The results of the evaluation.
            ``(ii) Any recommendations that the Committee considers 
        appropriate to improve the outreach activities of the 
        Department with respect to homeless veterans, including 
        recommendations for enhanced interagency cooperation and 
        enhanced cooperation between the Department and appropriate 
        community organizations and recommendations for additional 
        activities to complement, supplement, or otherwise eliminate 
        deficiencies in the outreach activities.
    ``(3) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of 
the report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning 
the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(4) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other 
reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
    ``(5) The Secretary shall include with each annual report submitted 
to Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all 
reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary 
since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to 
that section.
    ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the 
activities of the Committee under this section.
    ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``546. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.''.

SEC. 5. MEETINGS OF INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON THE HOMELESS.

    Section 202(c) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11312(c)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its 
Chairperson or a majority of its members, but not less often than 
annually.''.

SEC. 6. EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES REGARDING HOMELESS 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Evaluation Centers.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
support the continuation within the Department of Veterans Affairs of 
at least one center for evaluation to monitor the structure, process, 
and outcome of programs of the Department that address homeless 
veterans.
    (b) Annual Report on Processing of Benefits Claims.--The Secretary 
shall submit to Congress on an annual basis a report on the programs 
and activities of the Veterans Benefits Administration in processing of 
claims for benefits of homeless veterans during the preceding year. 
Each report shall include, for the year covered by such report, the 
following:
            (1) Information on costs, expenditures, and workload of 
        Veterans Benefits Administration claims evaluators in 
        processing claims for benefits of homeless veterans.
            (2) Information on the filing of claims for benefits by 
        homeless veterans.
            (3) Information on efforts undertaken to expedite the 
        processing of claims for benefits of homeless veterans.
            (4) Any other information that the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Annual Report on Health Care.--The Secretary shall submit to 
Congress on an annual basis a report on programs of the Department 
addressing health care needs of homeless veterans. The Secretary shall 
include in each such report the following:
            (1) Information about expenditures, costs, and workload 
        under the Department of Veterans Affairs program known as the 
        Health Care for Homeless Veterans program (HCHV).
            (2) Information about the veterans contacted through the 
        program.
            (3) Information about processes under the program.
            (4) Information about program treatment outcomes under the 
        program.
            (5) Other information the Secretary considers relevant in 
        assessing the program.
            (6) Information about supported housing programs.
            (7) Information about the grant and per diem provider 
        program of the Department.
    (d) Annual Program Assessment.--Section 1774(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``annual'' after ``to 
        make an''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(6) The Secretary shall review each annual assessment under this 
subsection, and shall consolidate the findings and conclusions of such 
assessments into an annual report which the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress.''.

SEC. 7. PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Increase in Rate of Per Diem Payments.--Section 4(a) of the 
Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 
7721 note) is amended by striking ``at such rates'' and all that 
follows through ``homeless veteran--'' and inserting the following: 
``at the same rates as the rates authorized for State homes for 
domiciliary care provided under section 1741 of title 38, United States 
Code, for services furnished to homeless vet-
erans--''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 8. DENTAL CARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 1712(a)(1)(H)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ``(including a homeless veteran)'' after ``for a 
veteran''.

SEC. 9. PROGRAMMATIC EXPANSIONS.

    (a) Transitional Housing.--Effective October 1, 2001, section 12 of 
the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 
U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 12. FUNDING.

    ``(a) Amounts for Grant and Per Diem Programs.--From amounts 
appropriated for `Medical Care' for any fiscal year, the Secretary may 
expend not more than $55,000,000 (as adjusted from time to time under 
subsection (b)) to carry out the transitional housing grant and per 
diem provider programs under sections 3 and 4 of this Act.
    ``(b) Periodic Increases.--The amount in effect under subsection 
(a) shall be increased for any fiscal year by the overall percentage 
increase in the Medical Care account for that fiscal year over the 
preceding fiscal year.''.
    (b) Comprehensive Homeless Services Program.--(1)(A) The Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall provide for the establishment of not less 
than five additional centers for the provision of comprehensive 
services to homeless veterans under section 1773(b) of title 38, United 
States Code.
    (B) In establishing additional centers under this paragraph, the 
Secretary shall take into account the particular needs of homeless 
veterans in each metropolitan area in which the Secretary proposes to 
establish a center.
    (C) The Secretary shall ensure that the services provided to 
homeless veterans at each center established under this paragraph are 
tailored to the needs of homeless veterans in the metropolitan area in 
which such center is established.
    (2) Section 1773(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``not fewer than eight''.
    (c) Program Expiration Extension.--Sections 1771(b) and 1773(d) of 
title 38, United States Code, are amended by striking ``December 31, 
2001'' and inserting ``December 31, 2006''.

SEC. 10. VARIOUS AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Employment Programs.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
authorize homeless veterans receiving care through vocational 
rehabilitation programs to participate in the compensated work therapy 
program.
    (b) Supported Housing for Veterans Participating in Compensated 
Work Therapies.--(1) The Secretary may authorize homeless veterans in 
the compensated work therapy program to be provided housing through the 
therapeutic residence program under section 1772 of title 38, United 
States Code, or through grant and per diem providers.
    (2) As used in this subsection, the term ``grant and per diem 
provider'' means an entity in receipt of a grant under section 3 or 4 
of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 
U.S.C. 7721 note).
    (c) Report on Assignment of Homeless Coordinators at VBA Regional 
Offices.--(1) Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the 
assignment of Homeless Coordinators at the Regional Offices of the 
Veterans Benefits Administration.
    (2) The report shall include the following:
            (A) A list of the Regional Offices of the Veterans Benefits 
        Administration for which Homeless Coordinators have been 
        assigned.
            (B) A description of the manner in which each Regional 
        Office listed under subparagraph (A) staffs the assignment, 
        whether as a collateral hire, by rotation of staff, or by a 
        full-time employee, including the caseload of the position and 
        the amount of time spent on the caseload by each employee 
        assigned to fulfill the duties of the position.
            (C) In the case of any Regional Offices for which no 
        Homeless Coordinator has been assigned, a description of the 
        manner in which such Regional Office addresses matters relating 
        to homeless veterans.
            (D) An evaluation of the demand for services of Homeless 
        Coordinators in the various Regional Offices, including a 
        statement of the Regional Offices which have the greatest 
        demand for such services.
    (d) Coordination of Employment Services.--(1) Section 4103A(c) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(11) Coordination of services provided to veterans with 
        training assistance provided to veterans by entities receiving 
        financial assistance under section 738 of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11448).''.
    (2) Section 4104(b) of such title is amended--
            (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (11);
            (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(13) coordinate services provided to veterans with 
        training assistance for veterans provided by entities receiving 
        financial assistance under section 738 of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11448).''.

SEC. 11. LIFE SAFETY CODE FOR GRANT AND PER DIEM PROVIDERS.

    (a) New Grants.--Section 3(b)(5) of the Homeless Veterans 
Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is 
amended by striking ``, but fire and safety'' and all that follows 
through ``in carrying out the grant'' and inserting ``and the fire and 
safety requirements applicable under the Life Safety Code of the 
National Fire Protection Association''.
    (b) Previous Grantees.--Section 4 of such Act is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Life Safety Code.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
per diem payment (or in-kind assistance in lieu of per diem payments) 
may not be provided under this section to a grant recipient unless the 
facilities of the grant recipient meet the fire and safety requirements 
applicable under the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection 
Association.
    ``(2) During the five-year period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of the Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act, 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to an entity that received a grant under 
section 3 before that date if the entity meets fire and safety 
requirements established by the Secretary.
    ``(3) From amounts available for purposes of this section pursuant 
to section 12, not less than $5,000,000 shall be used only for grants 
to assist entities covered by paragraph (2) in meeting the Life Safety 
Code of the National Fire Protection Association.''.

SEC. 12. ASSISTANCE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Grant Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a program to make technical assistance grants to nonprofit 
community-based groups with experience in providing assistance to 
homeless veterans in order to assist such groups in applying for grants 
relating to addressing problems of homeless veterans.
    (b) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal years 2002 through 
2006, $750,000 to carry out the program under this section.

SEC. 13. EXTENSION OF HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

    Section 4111(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the following:
            ``(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
            ``(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
            ``(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
            ``(F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
            ``(G) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.''.




                                                       Calendar No. 191

107th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 739

                          [Report No. 107-82]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve programs for homeless 
                   veterans, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 11, 2001

                       Reported with an amendment