[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1333 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 289
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1333

                          [Report No. 115-198]

    To provide for rental assistance for homeless or at-risk Indian 
                               veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 12, 2017

   Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Udall, Mr. Isakson, Ms. 
Murkowski, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Heitkamp, and Mr. Franken) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                             Indian Affairs

                           December 20, 2017

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To provide for rental assistance for homeless or at-risk Indian 
                               veterans.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 
2017''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS OR AT-RISK INDIAN 
              VETERANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
(42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Indian veterans housing rental 
                assistance program.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) Definitions.--In this 
                        subparagraph:</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) Eligible indian 
                                veteran.--The term `eligible Indian 
                                veteran' means an Indian veteran who 
                                is--</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) homeless or 
                                        at risk of homelessness; 
                                        and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) residing in 
                                        or near an Indian 
                                        area.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Eligible 
                                recipient.--The term `eligible 
                                recipient' means a recipient eligible 
                                to receive a grant under section 101 of 
                                the Native American Housing Assistance 
                                and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
                                U.S.C. 4111).</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) Indian.--The term 
                                `Indian' has the meaning given the term 
                                in section 4 of the Indian Self-
                                Determination and Education Assistance 
                                Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) Indian area.--The 
                                term `Indian area' has the meaning 
                                given the term in section 4 of the 
                                Native American Housing Assistance and 
                                Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
                                U.S.C. 4103).</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(V) Indian veteran.--The 
                                term `Indian veteran' means an Indian 
                                who is a veteran.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(VI) Tribal 
                                organization.--The term `tribal 
                                organization' has the meaning given the 
                                term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
                                Determination and Education Assistance 
                                Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Program specifications.--
                        The Secretary shall use not less than 5 percent 
                        of the amounts made available for rental 
                        assistance under this subsection to carry out a 
                        rental assistance and supported housing program 
                        (in this subparagraph referred to as the 
                        `Program'), in conjunction with the Secretary 
                        of Veterans Affairs, for the benefit of 
                        eligible Indian veterans.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) Model.--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) In general.--Except 
                                as provided in subclause (II), the 
                                Secretary shall model the Program on 
                                the rental assistance and supported 
                                housing program authorized under 
                                subparagraph (A) and applicable 
                                appropriations Acts, including 
                                administration in conjunction with the 
                                Secretary of Veterans 
                                Affairs.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Exceptions.--
                                </DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) Secretary 
                                        of housing and urban 
                                        development.--After 
                                        consultation with Indian 
                                        tribes, eligible recipients, 
                                        and any other appropriate 
                                        tribal organizations, the 
                                        Secretary may make necessary 
                                        and appropriate modifications 
                                        to facilitate the use of the 
                                        Program by eligible recipients 
                                        to serve eligible Indian 
                                        veterans.</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) Secretary 
                                        of veterans affairs.--After 
                                        consultation with Indian 
                                        tribes, eligible recipients, 
                                        and any other appropriate 
                                        tribal organizations, the 
                                        Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                                        may make necessary and 
                                        appropriate modifications to 
                                        facilitate the use of the 
                                        Program by eligible recipients 
                                        to serve eligible Indian 
                                        veterans.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) Eligible recipients.--The 
                        Secretary shall make amounts for rental 
                        assistance and associated administrative costs 
                        under the Program available to eligible 
                        recipients.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) Funding criteria.--The 
                        Secretary shall award rental assistance under 
                        the Program based on--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) need;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) administrative 
                                capacity; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) any other funding 
                                criteria established by the Secretary 
                                in a notice published in the Federal 
                                Register after consulting with the 
                                Secretary of Veterans 
                                Affairs.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) Administration.--Rental 
                        assistance made available under the Program 
                        shall be administered in accordance with the 
                        Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
                        Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et 
                        seq.), except that grantees shall--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) submit to the 
                                Secretary, in a manner prescribed by 
                                the Secretary, reports on the 
                                utilization of rental assistance 
                                provided under the Program; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) provide to the 
                                Secretary information specified by the 
                                Secretary to assess the effectiveness 
                                of the Program in serving eligible 
                                Indian veterans.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) Consultation.--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) Grant recipients; 
                                tribal organizations.--The Secretary, 
                                in coordination with the Secretary of 
                                Veterans Affairs, shall consult with 
                                eligible recipients and any other 
                                appropriate tribal organization on the 
                                design of the Program to ensure the 
                                effective delivery of rental assistance 
                                and supportive services to eligible 
                                Indian veterans under the 
                                Program.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Indian health 
                                service.--The Director of the Indian 
                                Health Service shall provide any 
                                assistance requested by the Secretary 
                                or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
                                carrying out the Program.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) Waiver.--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) In general.--Except 
                                as provided in subclause (II), the 
                                Secretary may waive or specify 
                                alternative requirements for any 
                                provision of law (including 
                                regulations) that the Secretary 
                                administers in connection with the use 
                                of rental assistance made available 
                                under the Program if the Secretary 
                                finds that the waiver or alternative 
                                requirement is necessary for the 
                                effective delivery and administration 
                                of rental assistance under the Program 
                                to eligible Indian veterans.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Exception.--The 
                                Secretary may not waive or specify 
                                alternative requirements under 
                                subclause (I) for any provision of law 
                                (including regulations) relating to 
                                labor standards or the 
                                environment.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) Reporting.--Every 5 years, 
                        the Secretary, in coordination with the 
                        Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director 
                        of the Indian Health Service, shall--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) conduct a review of 
                                the implementation of the Program, 
                                including any factors that may have 
                                limited its success; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) submit a report 
                                describing the results of the review 
                                under subclause (I) to--</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(aa) the 
                                        Committee on Indian Affairs, 
                                        the Committee on Banking, 
                                        Housing, and Urban Affairs, the 
                                        Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                                        and the Committee on 
                                        Appropriations of the Senate; 
                                        and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    ``(bb) the 
                                        Subcommittee on Indian, Insular 
                                        and Alaska Native Affairs of 
                                        the Committee on Natural 
                                        Resources, the Committee on 
                                        Financial Services, the 
                                        Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                                        and the Committee on 
                                        Appropriations of the House of 
                                        Representatives.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS OR AT-RISK INDIAN VETERANS.

    Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Indian veterans housing rental assistance 
                program.--
                            ``(i) Definitions.--In this subparagraph:
                                    ``(I) Eligible indian veteran.--The 
                                term `eligible Indian veteran' means an 
                                Indian veteran who is--
                                            ``(aa) homeless or at risk 
                                        of homelessness; and
                                            ``(bb) living--

                                                    ``(AA) on or near a 
                                                reservation; or

                                                    ``(BB) in or near 
                                                any other Indian area.

                                    ``(II) Eligible recipient.--The 
                                term `eligible recipient' means a 
                                recipient eligible to receive a grant 
                                under section 101 of the Native 
                                American Housing Assistance and Self-
                                Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 
                                4111).
                                    ``(III) Indian; indian area.--The 
                                terms `Indian' and `Indian area' have 
                                the meanings given those terms in 
                                section 4 of the Native American 
                                Housing Assistance and Self-
                                Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 
                                4103).
                                    ``(IV) Indian veteran.--The term 
                                `Indian veteran' means an Indian who is 
                                a veteran.
                                    ``(V) Program.--The term `Program' 
                                means the Tribal HUD-VASH program 
                                carried out under clause (ii).
                                    ``(VI) Tribal organization.--The 
                                term `tribal organization' has the 
                                meaning given the term in section 4 of 
                                the Indian Self-Determination and 
                                Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
                                5304).
                            ``(ii) Program specifications.--The 
                        Secretary shall use not less than 5 percent of 
                        the amounts made available for rental 
                        assistance under this paragraph to carry out a 
                        rental assistance and supported housing 
                        program, to be known as the `Tribal HUD-VASH 
                        program', in conjunction with the Secretary of 
                        Veterans Affairs, by awarding grants for the 
                        benefit of eligible Indian veterans.
                            ``(iii) Model.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Except as 
                                provided in subclause (II), the 
                                Secretary shall model the Program on 
                                the rental assistance and supported 
                                housing program authorized under 
                                subparagraph (A) and applicable 
                                appropriations Acts, including 
                                administration in conjunction with the 
                                Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
                                    ``(II) Exceptions.--
                                            ``(aa) Secretary of housing 
                                        and urban development.--After 
                                        consultation with Indian 
                                        tribes, eligible recipients, 
                                        and any other appropriate 
                                        tribal organizations, the 
                                        Secretary may make necessary 
                                        and appropriate modifications 
                                        to facilitate the use of the 
                                        Program by eligible recipients 
                                        to serve eligible Indian 
                                        veterans.
                                            ``(bb) Secretary of 
                                        veterans affairs.--After 
                                        consultation with Indian 
                                        tribes, eligible recipients, 
                                        and any other appropriate 
                                        tribal organizations, the 
                                        Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                                        may make necessary and 
                                        appropriate modifications to 
                                        facilitate the use of the 
                                        Program by eligible recipients 
                                        to serve eligible Indian 
                                        veterans.
                            ``(iv) Eligible recipients.--The Secretary 
                        shall make amounts for rental assistance and 
                        associated administrative costs under the 
                        Program available in the form of grants to 
                        eligible recipients.
                            ``(v) Funding criteria.--The Secretary 
                        shall award grants under the Program based on--
                                    ``(I) need;
                                    ``(II) administrative capacity; and
                                    ``(III) any other funding criteria 
                                established by the Secretary in a 
                                notice published in the Federal 
                                Register after consulting with the 
                                Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
                            ``(vi) Administration.--Grants awarded 
                        under the Program shall be administered in 
                        accordance with the Native American Housing 
                        Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 
                        (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), except that 
                        recipients shall--
                                    ``(I) submit to the Secretary, in a 
                                manner prescribed by the Secretary, 
                                reports on the utilization of rental 
                                assistance provided under the Program; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) provide to the Secretary 
                                information specified by the Secretary 
                                to assess the effectiveness of the 
                                Program in serving eligible Indian 
                                veterans.
                            ``(vii) Consultation.--
                                    ``(I) Grant recipients; tribal 
                                organizations.--The Secretary, in 
                                coordination with the Secretary of 
                                Veterans Affairs, shall consult with 
                                eligible recipients and any other 
                                appropriate tribal organization on the 
                                design of the Program to ensure the 
                                effective delivery of rental assistance 
                                and supportive services to eligible 
                                Indian veterans under the Program.
                                    ``(II) Indian health service.--The 
                                Director of the Indian Health Service 
                                shall provide any assistance requested 
                                by the Secretary or the Secretary of 
                                Veterans Affairs in carrying out the 
                                Program.
                            ``(viii) Waiver.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Except as 
                                provided in subclause (II), the 
                                Secretary may waive or specify 
                                alternative requirements for any 
                                provision of law (including 
                                regulations) that the Secretary 
                                administers in connection with the use 
                                of rental assistance made available 
                                under the Program if the Secretary 
                                finds that the waiver or alternative 
                                requirement is necessary for the 
                                effective delivery and administration 
                                of rental assistance under the Program 
                                to eligible Indian veterans.
                                    ``(II) Exception.--The Secretary 
                                may not waive or specify alternative 
                                requirements under subclause (I) for 
                                any provision of law (including 
                                regulations) relating to labor 
                                standards or the environment.
                            ``(ix) Renewal grants.--The Secretary may--
                                    ``(I) set aside, from amounts made 
                                available for tenant-based rental 
                                assistance under this subsection and 
                                without regard to the amounts used for 
                                new grants under clause (ii), such 
                                amounts as may be necessary to award 
                                renewal grants to eligible recipients 
                                that received a grant under the Program 
                                in a previous year; and
                                    ``(II) specify criteria that an 
                                eligible recipient must satisfy to 
                                receive a renewal grant under subclause 
                                (I), including providing data on how 
                                the eligible recipient used the amounts 
                                of any grant previously received under 
                                the Program.
                            ``(x) Reporting.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 1 
                                year after the date of enactment of the 
                                Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2017, and every 
                                5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in 
                                coordination with the Secretary of 
                                Veterans Affairs and the Director of 
                                the Indian Health Service, shall--
                                            ``(aa) conduct a review of 
                                        the implementation of the 
                                        Program, including any factors 
                                        that may have limited its 
                                        success; and
                                            ``(bb) submit a report 
                                        describing the results of the 
                                        review under item (aa) to--

                                                    ``(AA) the 
                                                Committee on Indian 
                                                Affairs, the Committee 
                                                on Banking, Housing, 
                                                and Urban Affairs, the 
                                                Committee on Veterans' 
                                                Affairs, and the 
                                                Committee on 
                                                Appropriations of the 
                                                Senate; and

                                                    ``(BB) the 
                                                Subcommittee on Indian, 
                                                Insular and Alaska 
                                                Native Affairs of the 
                                                Committee on Natural 
                                                Resources, the 
                                                Committee on Financial 
                                                Services, the Committee 
                                                on Veterans' Affairs, 
                                                and the Committee on 
                                                Appropriations of the 
                                                House of 
                                                Representatives.

                                    ``(II) Analysis of housing stock 
                                limitation.--The Secretary shall 
                                include in the initial report submitted 
                                under subclause (I) a description of--
                                            ``(aa) any regulations 
                                        governing the use of formula 
                                        current assisted stock (as 
                                        defined in section 1000.314 of 
                                        title 24, Code of Federal 
                                        Regulations (or any successor 
                                        regulation)) within the 
                                        Program;
                                            ``(bb) the number of 
                                        recipients of grants under the 
                                        Program that have reported the 
                                        regulations described in item 
                                        (aa) as a barrier to 
                                        implementation of the Program; 
                                        and
                                            ``(cc) proposed alternative 
                                        legislation or regulations 
                                        developed by the Secretary in 
                                        consultation with recipients of 
                                        grants under the Program to 
                                        allow the use of formula 
                                        current assisted stock within 
                                        the Program.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 289

115th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1333

                          [Report No. 115-198]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To provide for rental assistance for homeless or at-risk Indian 
                               veterans.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 20, 2017

                       Reported with an amendment