[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5960 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5960

To amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs 
 providing for the needs of homeless veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2006

 Mr. Michaud introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs 
 providing for the needs of 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Homeless Veterans 
Assistance Act of 2006''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Comprehensive service programs.
Sec. 3. Treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and 
                            homeless veterans.
Sec. 4. Extension of authority for transfer of properties obtained 
                            through foreclosure of home mortgages.
Sec. 5. Enhancement of capacity of domiciliary care programs for female 
                            veterans.
Sec. 6. Grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.
Sec. 7.  Expansion of eligibility for dental care.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations for technical assistance grant 
                            program.
Sec. 9. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
Sec. 10. Staffing requirements.
Sec. 11. Emergency grants for replacement or repair of homeless veteran 
                            facilities.
Sec. 12. Supportive services grants for very low-income veterans 
                            residing in permanent housing.
Sec. 13. Demonstration program on preventing veterans at-risk of 
                            homelessness from becoming homeless.
Sec. 14. Permanent authority for program of referral and counseling 
                            services for at-risk veterans transitioning 
                            from certain institutions.

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Extension of Grant Program Authority.--Section 2011(a)(2) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``expires on'' and 
all that follows and inserting ``expires on September 30, 2011.''.
    (b) Per Diem Rate for Payments Under Homeless Providers Grant 
Program.--Paragraph (2) of section 2012(a) of such title is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(2) The rate for per diem payments under paragraph (1) shall be 
not less than the rate in effect for per diem payments to State homes 
for domiciliary care under section 1741(a)(1)(A) of this title.''.
    (c) Program Performance Standards.--Section 2012 of such title is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Program Performance Standards.--(1) The Secretary shall 
establish program performance standards for grant recipients and 
entities that are eligible for payments under subsection (a). The 
Secretary shall apply those standards in evaluating program performance 
and outcomes.
    ``(2) The standards shall include a requirement that each grant 
recipient or eligible entity, as a condition of payments under 
subsection (a), document clinical activities and outcomes.
    ``(3) The program evaluation shall include a review of program 
performance and evaluation of data with each grant recipient or 
eligible entity.''.
    (d) Financial Information.--Section 2012(a) of such title, as 
amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
    ``(3) As condition of payments under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall require that each grant recipient or eligible entity receiving 
such payments shall provide to the Secretary such information as the 
Secretary considers necessary to verify that such recipient is using 
the payments under subsection (a) for the provision of services for 
homeless veterans.''.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations for Homeless Programs.--Section 
2013 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(5) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
        2011.''.
    (f) Availability of Grant Funds.--Section 2011 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(i) Availability of Grant Funds for Service Center Personnel.--A 
grant under this section for a service center for homeless veterans may 
be used to provide funding for staff as necessary in order for the 
center to meet the service availability requirements of subsection 
(g)(1).''.
    (g) Deadline for Implementing Regulations.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations for the implementation of 
the amendments made by subsections (b), (c), (d), and (f) not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND 
              HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Extension of General Treatment Authorization.--Section 2031 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``may provide 
        (directly'' and inserting ``shall provide (subject to the 
        availability of appropriations and directly'' ; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``December 31, 2006'' 
        and inserting ``December 31, 2011''.
    (b) Extension of Additional Services Authorization.--Section 
2033(d) of such title is amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2011''.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF PROPERTIES OBTAINED 
              THROUGH FORECLOSURE OF HOME MORTGAGES.

    Section 2041(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2008'' and inserting ``December 31, 2011''.

SEC. 5. ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY OF DOMICILIARY CARE PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE 
              VETERANS.

    Subsection (b) of section 2043 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Enhancement of Capacity of Domiciliary Care Programs for 
Female Veterans.--The Secretary shall take such steps as necessary to 
ensure that the domiciliary care programs of the Department are 
adequate, with respect to capacity and with respect to safety, to meet 
the needs of veterans who are women.''.

SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

    (a) Inclusion of Veterans in Rural Areas.--Subsection (b) of 
section 2061 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (3);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) residents of rural areas, as determined by the 
        Secretary.''.
    (b) Funding.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Medical Care'' and inserting 
                ``Medical Services''; and
                    (B) by striking ``fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 
                2005'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2007 through 
                2011''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``for the first three 
        years of operation of the program under this section''.

SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DENTAL CARE.

    Section 2062(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, for a period of 60 
        consecutive days,''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT 
              PROGRAM.

    Subsection (b) of section 2064 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to 
carry out the programs under this section.''.

SEC. 9. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 2066 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end of subsection (a)(3) the following 
        new subparagraphs:
            ``(E) The Executive Director (or a representative of the 
        Executive Director) of the Interagency Council on Homelessness 
        established under section 201 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11311).
            ``(F) The Under Secretary for Health (or a representative 
        of the Under Secretary designated after consultation with the 
        Director of the Office of Homeless Veterans Programs).
            ``(G) The Under Secretary for Benefits (or a representative 
        of the Under Secretary designated after consultation with the 
        Director of the Office of Homeless Veterans Programs).''; and
            (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``December 31, 2006'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2011''.

SEC. 10. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 2003 of title 38, United States Code, by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(c) VHA Staffing at VISN Level.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
there is at least one full-time employee of the Veterans Health 
Administration assigned to oversee and coordinate homeless veterans 
programs at the office of each of the regional health delivery 
networks, referred to as Veterans Integrated Service Networks, of that 
Administration.''.

SEC. 11. EMERGENCY GRANTS FOR REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF HOMELESS VETERAN 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) Emergency Grant Authority.--Subchapter II of chapter 20 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 2014. Emergency grants for repair or replacement of homeless 
              veteran facilities
    ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary may make emergency grants to 
eligible entities providing care for homeless veterans for the purpose 
of repairing or replacing facilities used for the provision of such 
care that are damaged or destroyed by a disaster.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' 
has the meaning given that term in section 2011(d) of this title.
    ``(c) Establishment of Criteria and Requirements.--The Secretary 
shall establish criteria and requirements for grants under this section 
and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal 
Register.
    ``(d) Disaster.--In this section, the term `disaster' means any 
hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal 
wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, 
snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion, or other catastrophe in any part 
of the United States which causes, or which may cause, substantial 
damage or injury to civilian property or persons.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 20 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 2013 the following new item:

``2014. Emergency grants for repair or replacement of homeless veteran 
                            facilities.''.

SEC. 12. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANTS FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERANS 
              RESIDING IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

    (a) Authorization of Financial Assistance.--Subchapter V of chapter 
20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
              income veteran families residing in permanent housing
    ``(a) Distribution of Financial Assistance.--(1) The Secretary 
shall provide financial assistance to eligible entities approved under 
this section to provide and coordinate the provision of the supportive 
services for very low-income veteran families residing in permanent 
housing.
    ``(2)(A) Financial assistance under this section shall consist of 
payments for each such family for which an approved eligible entity 
provides or coordinates the provision of supportive services.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall establish a formula for determining the 
rate of payments provided to a very low-income veteran family receiving 
supportive services under this section. The rate shall be adjusted not 
less than once annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. In 
calculating the payment formula under this subparagraph, the Secretary 
may consider geographic cost of living variances, family size, and the 
cost of services provided.
    ``(3) In providing financial assistance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall give preference to an entity that provides or 
coordinates the provision of supportive services for very low-income 
veteran families who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent 
housing.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the maximum extent 
practicable, financial assistance under this subsection is equitably 
distributed across geographic regions, including rural communities and 
tribal lands.
    ``(5) Each entity receiving financial assistance under this section 
to provide supportive services to a very low-income veteran family 
shall notify the family that such services are being paid for, in whole 
or in part, by the Department.
    ``(6) The Secretary may require an entity receiving financial 
assistance under this section to submit a report to the Secretary 
describing the supportive services provided with such financial 
assistance.
    ``(7) In selecting entities to receive financial assistance under 
this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    ``(b) Application for Financial Assistance.--(1) An eligible entity 
seeking financial assistance under subsection (a) shall submit to the 
Secretary an application in such form, in such manner, and containing 
such commitments and information as the Secretary determines to be 
necessary.
    ``(2) An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain 
the following:
            ``(A) A description of the supportive services proposed to 
        be provided by the eligible entity.
            ``(B) A description of the types of very low-income veteran 
        families proposed to be provided such services.
            ``(C) An estimate of the number of very low-income veteran 
        families proposed to be provided such services.
            ``(D) Evidence of the experience of the eligible entity in 
        providing supportive services to very low-income veteran 
        families.
            ``(E) A description of the managerial capacity of the 
        eligible entity to--
                    ``(i) coordinate the provision of supportive 
                services with the provision of permanent housing, by 
                the eligible entity or by other organizations;
                    ``(ii) continuously assess the needs of very low-
                income veteran families for supportive services;
                    ``(iii) coordinate the provision of supportive 
                services with the services of the Department;
                    ``(iv) tailor supportive services to the needs of 
                very low-income veteran families; and
                    ``(v) continuously seek new sources of assistance 
                to ensure the long-term provision of supportive 
                services to very low-income veteran families.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall establish criteria for the selection of 
eligible entities to receive financial assistance under this section.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall establish performance standards for 
eligible entities who receive financial assistance under this 
subsection and evaluate eligible entities who receive financial 
assistance under this subsection as to their performance and outcomes.
    ``(c) Technical Assistance.--(1) The Secretary shall provide 
training and technical assistance to eligible entities that receive 
financial assistance under this section with respect to the planning, 
development, and provision of supportive services to very low-income 
veteran families occupying permanent housing.
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide the training described in paragraph 
(1) directly or through grants or contracts with appropriate public or 
nonprofit private entities.
    ``(d) Funding.--Of the amounts available each fiscal year to the 
Department for Medical Services for veterans, $25,000,000 shall be 
available in each such fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this 
section, of which not more than $750,000 may be used to provide 
technical assistance under subsection (c).
    ``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            ``(1) The term `very low-income veteran family' means a 
        veteran family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the 
        median income for the area, as determined by the Secretary, 
        except that--
                    ``(A) the Secretary shall make appropriate 
                adjustments to the income requirement under 
                subparagraph (A) based on family size; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary may establish an income ceiling 
                higher or lower than 50 percent of the median income 
                for an area if the Secretary determines that such 
                variations are necessary because the area has unusually 
                high or low construction costs, fair market rents (as 
                determined under section 8 of the United States Housing 
                Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or family incomes.
            ``(2) The term `veteran family' includes--
                    ``(A) a veteran who is a single person; and
                    ``(B) a family in which the head of household or 
                the spouse of the head of household is a veteran.
            ``(3) The term `consumer cooperative' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
        1701q).
            ``(4) The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a private nonprofit organization; or
                    ``(B) a consumer cooperative.
            ``(5) The term `homeless' has the meaning given that term 
        in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11302)).
            ``(6) The term `permanent housing' means community-based 
        housing without a designated length of stay.
            ``(7) The term `private nonprofit organization' means any 
        of the following:
                    ``(A) Any incorporated private institution or 
                foundation--
                            ``(i) no part of the net earnings of which 
                        inures to the benefit of any member, founder, 
                        contributor, or individual;
                            ``(ii) that has a governing board that is 
                        responsible for the operation of the supportive 
                        services provided under this section; and
                            ``(iii) that is approved by the Secretary 
                        as to financial responsibility.
                    ``(B) A for-profit limited partnership, the sole 
                general partner of which is an organization meeting the 
                requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of 
                subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by 
                an organization meeting the requirements of clauses 
                (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) A tribally designated housing entity (as 
                defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing 
                Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
                U.S.C. 4103)).
            ``(8) The term `supportive services' means the following:
                    ``(A) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
                subcontractors that address the needs of very low-
                income veteran families occupying permanent housing, 
                including--
                            ``(i) outreach services;
                            ``(ii) health care services, including 
                        diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for mental 
                        health and substance abuse disorders and for 
                        post-traumatic stress disorder, if such 
                        services are not readily available through the 
                        Department medical center serving the 
                        geographic area in which the veteran family is 
                        housed;
                            ``(iii) habilitation and rehabilitation 
                        services;
                            ``(iv) case management services;
                            ``(v) daily living services;
                            ``(vi) personal financial planning;
                            ``(vii) transportation services;
                            ``(viii) vocational counseling;
                            ``(ix) employment and training;
                            ``(x) educational services;
                            ``(xi) assistance in obtaining veterans 
                        benefits and other public benefits, including 
                        health care provided by the Department;
                            ``(xii) assistance in obtaining income 
                        support;
                            ``(xiii) assistance in obtaining health 
                        insurance;
                            ``(xiv) fiduciary and representative payee 
                        services;
                            ``(xv) legal services to assist the veteran 
                        family with reconsiderations or appeals of 
                        veterans and public benefit claim denials and 
                        to resolve outstanding warrants that interfere 
                        with the family's ability to obtain or retain 
                        housing or supportive services;
                            ``(xvi) child care;
                            ``(xvii) housing counseling;
                            ``(xviii) other services necessary for 
                        maintaining independent living;
                            ``(xix) coordination of services described 
                        in this paragraph; and
                            ``(xx) other such services as the Secretary 
                        determines are necessary to serve the purposes 
                        of this subsection.
                    ``(B) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
                subcontractors, including services described in clauses 
                (i) through (xx) of subparagraph (A), that are 
                delivered to very low-income veteran families who are 
                homeless and who are scheduled to become residents of 
                permanent housing within 90 days of the date on which 
                the service is provided pending the location or 
                development of housing suitable for permanent housing.
                    ``(C) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
                subcontractors, including services described in clauses 
                (i) through (xx) of subparagraph (A), for very low-
                income veteran families who have voluntarily chosen to 
                seek other housing after a period of tenancy in 
                permanent housing, that are provided, for a period of 
                90 days beginning on the date on which such a family 
                exits permanent housing or until such a family 
                commences receipt of other housing services adequate to 
                meet the needs of the family, but only to the extent 
                that services under this paragraph are designed to 
                support such a family in the choice to transition into 
                housing that is responsive to the individual needs and 
                preferences of the family.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
2043 the following new item:

``2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
                            income veteran families in permanent 
                            housing.''.
    (c) Deadline for Implementing Regulations.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations for the implementation 
section 2044 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 13. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON PREVENTING VETERANS AT-RISK OF 
              HOMELESSNESS FROM BECOMING HOMELESS.

    (a) Demonstration Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall carry out (subject to the availability of appropriations) 
a demonstration program for the purpose of--
            (1) identifying members of the Armed Forces on active duty 
        who are at risk of becoming homeless after they are discharged 
        or released from active duty; and
            (2) providing referral, counseling, and supportive 
        services, as appropriate, to help prevent such members, upon 
        becoming veterans, from becoming homeless.
    (b) Program Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
demonstration program in at least three locations.
    (c) Identification Criteria.--In developing and implementing the 
criteria to identify veterans who are at-risk of becoming homeless, the 
Secretary shall consult with the Interagency Council on Homelessness 
established under section 201 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11311) and such other officials and experts as the 
Secretary determine appropriate.
    (d) Contracts.--The Secretary may enter into contracts to provide 
the referral, counseling, and supportive services required under the 
demonstration program with entities or organizations that meet such 
requirements as the Secretaries may establish.
    (e) Expiration.--The authority of the Secretary under subsection 
(a) expires on September 30, 2011.

SEC. 14. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM OF REFERRAL AND COUNSELING 
              SERVICES FOR AT-RISK VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN 
              INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Program Authority.--Subsection (a) of section 2023 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``a demonstration program 
for the purpose of determining the costs and benefits of providing'' 
and inserting ``a program of''.
    (b) Scope of Program.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Demonstration'' in the subsection 
        heading;
            (2) by striking ``demonstration''; and
            (3) by striking ``in at least six locations'' and inserting 
        ``in at least 12 locations''.
    (c) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of such section is 
amended by striking ``shall cease'' and all that follows and inserting 
``shall cease on September 30, 2011.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Subsection (c)(1) of such section is amended by 
        striking ``demonstration''.
            (2) The heading of such section is amended to read as 
        follows:
``Sec. 2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
              homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
              institutions''.
            (3) The item relating to such section in the table of 
        sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended to read as 
        follows:

``2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
                            homelessness who are transitioning from 
                            certain institutions.''.
                                 <all>