[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3749 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3749

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to make grants to entities that provide legal services 
      for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 12, 2019

   Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Steube, Mr. Mast, Mr. 
Waltz, and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to make grants to entities that provide legal services 
      for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness.

    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 ``Legal Services for Homeless Veterans 
Act''.

SEC. 2. LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK FOR 
              HOMELESSNESS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2022 the following new section:
``Sec. 2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk 
              for homelessness
    ``(a) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--Subject to the 
availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall make grants or enter into cooperative 
agreements to eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless 
veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness.
    ``(b) Criteria for Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--(1) The 
Secretary shall establish criteria and requirements for grants and 
cooperative agreements under this section, including criteria for 
entities eligible to receive such grants or cooperative agreements, and 
shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register.
    ``(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall consult with organizations that have 
experience in providing services to homeless veterans.
    ``(c) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may make a grant or enter 
into a cooperative agreement under this section to an entity applying 
for such a grant or cooperative agreement only if the applicant for the 
grant or cooperative agreement--
            ``(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the 
        capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively 
        administer a grant or cooperative agreement under this section;
            ``(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be 
        available to carry out the services for which the grant or 
        cooperative agreement is sought consistent with application; 
        and
            ``(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and 
        requirements established under subsection (b) and has, as 
        determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the capacity to meet 
        such criteria and requirements.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--Funds provided under grants or cooperative 
agreements under this section shall be used to provide legal services 
to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness to address 
legal matters that contribute to the risk of becoming and remaining 
homeless.
    ``(e) Reports.--On a biennial basis, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate a report on grants and cooperative agreements under this 
section. To the extent feasible, each such report shall include the 
following with respect to the year covered by the report:
            ``(1) The number of homeless veterans assisted.
            ``(2) A description of the legal services provided.
            ``(3) A description of the legal matters addressed.
            ``(4) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the 
        operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the 
        services provided.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
2022 the following new item:

``2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
                            homelessness.''.
    (c) Criteria.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish the criteria and requirements in the Federal Register 
pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2022A of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a).
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