[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6361 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6361


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 20, 2012

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
                           and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To exclude from consideration as income under the United States Housing 
 Act of 1937 payments of pension made under section 1521 of title 38, 
  United States Code, to veterans who are in need of regular aid and 
                  attendance, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform 
Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. EXCLUSION FROM INCOME.

    Paragraph (4) of section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and any amounts'' and inserting ``, any 
        amounts'';
            (2) by striking ``or any deferred'' and inserting ``, any 
        deferred''; and
            (3) by inserting after ``prospective monthly amounts'' the 
        following: ``, and any expenses related to aid and attendance 
        as detailed under section 1521 of title 38, United States 
        Code''.

SEC. 3. UTILITY ALLOWANCES AND DATA.

    Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following 
        new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Utility allowance.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In determining the 
                        monthly assistance payment for a family under 
                        subparagraphs (A) and (B), the amount allowed 
                        for tenant-paid utilities shall not exceed the 
                        appropriate utility allowance for the family 
                        unit size as determined by the public housing 
                        agency regardless of the size of the dwelling 
                        unit leased by the family.
                            ``(ii) Exception for certain families.--
                        Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), upon request 
                        by a family that includes a person with 
                        disabilities, an elderly family, or a family 
                        that includes any person who is less than 18 
                        years of age, the public housing agency shall 
                        approve a utility allowance that is higher than 
                        the applicable amount on the utility allowance 
                        schedule, except that in the case of a family 
                        that includes a person with disabilities, the 
                        agency shall approve such higher amount only if 
                        a higher utility allowance is needed as a 
                        reasonable accommodation to make the program 
                        accessible to and usable by the family member 
                        with a disability.
                            ``(iii) Authority to increase allowance.--
                        Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case 
                        of any family not described in clause (ii), a 
                        public housing agency may, at the request of 
                        the family, approve a utility allowance that is 
                        higher than the applicable amount on the 
                        utility allowance schedule. In making such a 
                        determination, the agency shall consider (I) 
                        the amount of the increase in utility costs for 
                        the family, and (II) the difficulty for the 
                        family in relocating.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(21) Utility data.--
                    ``(A) Publication.--The Secretary shall, to the 
                extent that data can be collected cost effectively, 
                regularly publish such data regarding utility 
                consumption and costs in local areas as the Secretary 
                determines will be useful for the establishment of 
                allowances for tenant-paid utilities for families 
                assisted under this subsection.
                    ``(B) Use of data.--The Secretary shall provide 
                such data in a manner that--
                            ``(i) avoids unnecessary administrative 
                        burdens for public housing agencies and owners; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) protects families in various unit 
                        sizes and building types, and using various 
                        utilities, from high rent and utility cost 
                        burdens relative to income.''.

SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR GRANTS FOR REHABILITATION AND MODIFICATION OF 
              HOMES OF DISABLED AND LOW-INCOME VETERANS.

    (a) Grant.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot 
        program to award grants to qualified organizations to 
        rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of eligible 
        veterans.
            (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall work in conjunction 
        with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and oversee 
        the pilot program and to ensure that such program meets the 
        needs of eligible veterans.
            (3) Maximum grant.--A grant award under the pilot program 
        to any one qualified organization shall not exceed $1,000,000 
        in any one fiscal year, and such an award shall remain 
        available until expended by such organization.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each qualified organization that desires a 
        grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and, in addition to 
        the information required under paragraph (2), accompanied by 
        such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    (A) a plan of action detailing outreach 
                initiatives;
                    (B) the approximate number of veterans the 
                qualified organization intends to serve using grant 
                funds;
                    (C) a description of the type of work that will be 
                conducted, such as interior home modifications, energy 
                efficiency improvements, and other similar categories 
                of work; and
                    (D) a plan for working with the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs and veterans service organizations to 
                identify veterans and serve their needs.
            (3) Preferences.--In awarding grants under the pilot 
        program, the Secretary shall give preference to a qualified 
        organization--
                    (A) with experience in providing housing 
                rehabilitation and modification services for disabled 
                veterans; or
                    (B) that proposes to provide housing rehabilitation 
                and modification services for eligible veterans who 
                live in rural areas (the Secretary, through 
                regulations, shall define the term ``rural areas'').
    (c) Criteria.--In order to receive a grant award under the pilot 
program, a qualified organization shall meet the following criteria:
            (1) Demonstrate expertise in providing housing 
        rehabilitation and modification services for disabled or low-
        income individuals for the purpose of making the homes of such 
        individuals accessible, functional, and safe for such 
        individuals.
            (2) Have established outreach initiatives that--
                    (A) would engage eligible veterans and veterans 
                service organizations in projects utilizing grant funds 
                under the pilot program; and
                    (B) identify eligible veterans and their families 
                and enlist veterans involved in skilled trades, such as 
                carpentry, roofing, plumbing, or HVAC work.
            (3) Have an established nationwide or State-wide network of 
        affiliates that are--
                    (A) nonprofit organizations; and
                    (B) able to provide housing rehabilitation and 
                modification services for eligible veterans.
            (4) Have experience in successfully carrying out the 
        accountability and reporting requirements involved in the 
        proper administration of grant funds, including funds provided 
        by private entities or Federal, State, or local government 
        entities.
    (d) Use of Funds.--A grant award under the pilot program shall be 
used--
            (1) to modify and rehabilitate the primary residence of an 
        eligible veteran, and may include--
                    (A) installing wheelchair ramps, widening exterior 
                and interior doors, reconfigurating and re-equipping 
                bathrooms (which includes installing new fixtures and 
                grab bars), removing doorway thresholds, installing 
                special lighting, adding additional electrical outlets 
                and electrical service, and installing appropriate 
                floor coverings to--
                            (i) accommodate the functional limitations 
                        that result from having a disability; or
                            (ii) if such residence does not have 
                        modifications necessary to reduce the chances 
                        that an elderly, but not disabled person, will 
                        fall in their home, reduce the risks of such an 
                        elderly person from falling;
                    (B) rehabilitating such residence that is in a 
                state of interior or exterior disrepair; and
                    (C) installing energy efficient features or 
                equipment if--
                            (i) an eligible veteran's monthly utility 
                        costs for such residence is more than 5 percent 
                        of such veteran's monthly income; and
                            (ii) an energy audit of such residence 
                        indicates that the installation of energy 
                        efficient features or equipment will reduce 
                        such costs by 10 percent or more;
            (2) in connection with modification and rehabilitation 
        services provided under the pilot program, to provide 
        technical, administrative, and training support to an affiliate 
        of a qualified organization receiving a grant under such pilot 
        program; and
            (3) for other purposes as the Secretary may prescribe 
        through regulations.
    (e) Oversight.--The Secretary shall direct the oversight of the 
grant funds for the pilot program so that such funds are used 
efficiently until expended to fulfill the purpose of addressing the 
adaptive housing needs of eligible veterans.
    (f) Matching Funds.--
            (1) In general.--A qualified organization receiving a grant 
        under the pilot program shall contribute towards the housing 
        modification and rehabilitation services provided to eligible 
        veterans an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the 
        grant award received by such organization.
            (2) In-kind contributions.--In order to meet the 
        requirement under paragraph (1), such organization may arrange 
        for in-kind contributions.
    (g) Limitation Cost to the Veterans.--A qualified organization 
receiving a grant under the pilot program shall modify or rehabilitate 
the primary residence of an eligible veteran at no cost to such veteran 
(including application fees) or at a cost such that such veteran pays 
no more than 30 percent of his or her income in housing costs during 
any month.
    (h) Reports.--
            (1) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress, 
        on an annual basis, a report that provides, with respect to the 
        year for which such report is written--
                    (A) the number of eligible veterans provided 
                assistance under the pilot program;
                    (B) the socioeconomic characteristics of such 
                veterans, including their gender, age, race, and 
                ethnicity;
                    (C) the total number, types, and locations of 
                entities contracted under such program to administer 
                the grant funding;
                    (D) the amount of matching funds and in-kind 
                contributions raised with each grant;
                    (E) a description of the housing rehabilitation and 
                modification services provided, costs saved, and 
                actions taken under such program;
                    (F) a description of the outreach initiatives 
                implemented by the Secretary to educate the general 
                public and eligible entities about such program;
                    (G) a description of the outreach initiatives 
                instituted by grant recipients to engage eligible 
                veterans and veteran service organizations in projects 
                utilizing grant funds under such program;
                    (H) a description of the outreach initiatives 
                instituted by grant recipients to identify eligible 
                veterans and their families; and
                    (I) any other information that the Secretary 
                considers relevant in assessing such program.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report that provides such information that the 
        Secretary considers relevant in assessing the pilot program.
    (i) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions shall 
apply:
            (1) Disabled.--The term ``disabled'' means an individual 
        with a disability, as defined by section 12102 of title 42, 
        United States Code.
            (2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means 
        a disabled or low-income veteran.
            (3) Energy efficient features or equipment.--The term 
        ``energy efficient features or equipment'' means features of, 
        or equipment in, a primary residence that help reduce the 
        amount of electricity used to heat, cool, or ventilate such 
        residence, including insulation, weatherstripping, air sealing, 
        heating system repairs, duct sealing, or other measures.
            (4) Low-income veteran.--The term ``low-income veteran'' 
        means a veteran whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the 
        median income for an area, as determined by the Secretary.
            (5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
        organization'' means an organization that is--
                    (A) described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of 
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
                    (B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such 
                Code.
            (6) Primary residence.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``primary residence'' 
                means a single family house, a duplex, or a unit within 
                a multiple-dwelling structure that is an eligible 
                veteran's principal dwelling and is owned by such 
                veteran or a family member of such veteran.
                    (B) Family member defined.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, the term ``family member'' includes--
                            (i) a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or 
                        sibling;
                            (ii) a spouse of such a child, grandchild, 
                        parent, or sibling; or
                            (iii) any individual related by blood or 
                        affinity whose close association with a veteran 
                        is the equivalent of a family relationship.
            (7) Qualified organization.--The term ``qualified 
        organization'' means a nonprofit organization that provides 
        nationwide or State-wide programs that primarily serve veterans 
        or low-income individuals.
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (9) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the same meaning as 
        given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            (10) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans 
        service organization'' means any organization recognized by the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of 
        veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for carrying out this section $4,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2013 through 2017.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 19, 2012.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.