[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HOMELESS VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Metcalf) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, from the first bullet fired at Lexington to 
the jungles of Vietnam and the sand dunes of the Persian Gulf, this 
Nation has asked its citizens to step forward and defend the ideals and 
principles upon which representative self-government is founded.
  Those who responded honorably to this summons have earned the 
privilege to be considered veterans. Their courage is not only measured 
in battle, but by their willingness to leave their homes, families, and 
their dreams behind and fight in defense of these principles.
  Many of our citizens have paid the ultimate price in Europe, Korea, 
Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. For some, the battle continues as they 
try to deal physically, emotionally, and mentally with scars that will 
not heal. Many have turned to drugs and alcohol for solace while others 
still suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder.
  To these veterans, our Nation owes gratitude and respect, but words 
are simply not enough to convey this message. Our actions must speak 
louder than our words. We must continue our commitment to our veterans.
  One area where improvements are needed is the housing and shelter for 
homeless veterans. Last year, I introduced legislation to address the 
plight of homeless veterans. H.R. 1754, the Robert Stodola Homeless 
Veteran Assistance Act, will require a 20 percent set-aside for 
homeless veterans under the Stewart McKinney Act program. For far too 
long, our veterans have not received adequate funding and services to 
help them transition back into mainstream society.
  Earlier this week, we passed H.R. 217, the Homeless Housing Programs 
Consolidation and Flexibility Act. This legislation will consolidate 
current homeless programs and create two new block grants. The goal of 
this legislation is to give local communities greater flexibility in 
developing a wholistic plan to assist our homeless population.
  H.R. 217 also includes an amendment that I offered with the gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy). This amendment will give veteran 
advocacy groups an opportunity to participate in the local advisory 
boards as they coordinate a community homeless plan. In addition, 
homeless veterans will be considered a special needs population, making 
them a targeted population for housing programs and services.
  Lastly, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will begin 
reporting data on homeless veterans in both the pre-grant application 
process and the post-grant reporting process. All grantees will provide 
information on the number of homeless individuals, including veterans, 
and how they plan to help them. This is a small but significant step in 
an effort to help our veterans. I would like to thank the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) for 
supporting my amendment.
  In conclusion, I want to share with my colleagues the life of Robert 
Stodola, the veteran after whom the legislation is named. He was a 
veteran of the U.S. Army. He moved to Whatcom County in the early 
1980s.
  On February 1, 1992, he was living in his Pinto station wagon near 
Nugents Corner on the Nooksack River. Two 19-year-old men needed money 
and, as reported in the Bellingham Herald, planned to roll the old man.
  Armed with a baseball bat and tire iron, the two assailants beat 
Robert Stodola and stole approximately $4. They stole $4. After he was 
stabbed several times in the back, he was dumped into the river where, 
according to an autopsy, he drowned.
  This legislation is a reminder to all Americans of the plight faced 
by homeless veterans. The veteran provisions in H.R. 217 will help get 
homeless veterans off the streets and into recovery.
  If we are willing to summon our young people to battle, let us also 
be willing to provide housing, health care, and security for those who 
return.

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