[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2699 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2699

    To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal authority for 
 adjustments to per diem payments to homeless veterans service centers 
   for receipt of other sources of income, to extend authorities for 
 certain programs to benefit homeless veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 2007

    Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Walz of 
  Minnesota, and Mr. Arcuri) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal authority for 
 adjustments to per diem payments to homeless veterans service centers 
   for receipt of other sources of income, to extend authorities for 
 certain programs to benefit 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. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PER DIEM PAYMENTS TO 
              HOMELESS VETERANS SERVICE CENTERS FOR RECEIPT OF OTHER 
              SOURCES OF INCOME.

    Section 2012(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D); and
            (2) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``The rate'' and inserting ``Except 
                as provided in subparagraph (B), the rate'';
                    (B) by striking ``adjusted by the Secretary under 
                subparagraph (B)''; and
                    (C) by designating the second sentence as 
                subparagraph (B) and indenting the margin of such 
                subparagraph, as so designated, two ems from the left 
                margin.

SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON PREVENTING VETERANS AT-RISK OF 
              HOMELESSNESS FROM BECOMING HOMELESS.

    (a) Demonstration Program.--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 members of the Armed Forces, who upon becoming 
veterans, are at-risk of becoming homeless, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall consult with the Secretary of Defense and such other 
officials and experts as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (d) Contracts.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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 Secretary may establish.
    (e) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary under subsection (a) 
shall expire on September 30, 2011.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions 
of this section.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF 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) Section 2022(f)(2)(C) of such title is amended by 
        striking ``demonstration''.
    (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 2023 and inserting the following:

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

SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF GRANT FUNDS TO SERVICE CENTERS FOR PERSONNEL.

    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).''.

SEC. 5. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR DOMICILIARY SERVICES FOR HOMELESS 
              VETERANS AND 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 appropriate actions 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.''.
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