[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1012-S1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Coverdell and Mr. Hagel):
  S. 312. A bill to require certain entities that operate homeless 
shelters to identify and provide certain counseling to homeless 
veterans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.


                          veterans legislation

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation to 
assist homeless veterans and eliminate some of the suffering of these 
less fortunate Americans who served their country in uniform. This 
legislation would develop better methods for identifying veterans who 
utilize federally funded homeless shelters so that they can be educated 
about veteran benefits to which they are entitled, including Department 
of Veterans Affairs health care.
  A homeless shelter which receives federal funding would be required 
to inquire if a person entering the shelter is a veteran. This 
information would be used solely to assist in tracking the number of 
homeless veterans and providing counseling to the veteran regarding all 
available benefits, including job search, veterans preference rights, 
and medical benefits. Additionally, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development would coordinate 
these activities and specify a schedule for notifying the Department of 
Veterans Affairs of the status of these homeless veterans. It is the 
intent of this legislation to require homeless shelters to follow this 
procedure if they are to be eligible for additional Federal grants.
  It goes without saying that this country owes a great deal to the men 
and women who bore arms to keep America free. Today there is no easy 
way to ensure that veterans who are homeless have access to the 
benefits they have earned. We do not even know how many of our veterans 
are homeless. I find this astonishing. The Department of Veterans 
Affairs estimates the number of homeless veterans to be between 275,000 
and 500,000 over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every 
three individuals who is sleeping in a doorway, alley, or box in our 
cities and rural communities has worn a uniform and served our country. 
Mr. President, the time is right, right now, to give a helping hand.
  Based on the figures the Department of Veterans Affairs does have, 
homeless veterans are mostly male; about three percent are women. The 
vast majority are single; most come from poor, disadvantaged 
communities; forty percent suffer from mental illness; and half have 
substance abuse problems. More than seventy-five percent served our 
country for at least four years, and Vietnam veterans account for more 
than forty percent of the total number estimated.
  Mr. President, there are many complex factors affecting all 
homelessness: extreme shortage of affordable housing, poverty, high 
unemployment in big cities, and disability. A large number of displaced 
and at-risk veterans live with the lingering effects of post traumatic 
stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of 
family and social support networks.
  I do not mean to be critical of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in offering this 
legislation. To a great degree, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 
been very responsive in taking care of some homeless veterans. But the 
ones who are receiving critical medical treatment and veterans benefits 
are those who know that such programs exist. It is incumbent on our 
government to reach out to all veterans, particularly those who are 
homeless. However, to do that, there must be a process in place.
  Homeless veterans need a coordinated effort, between the Secretaries 
of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, that provides 
secure housing and nutritional meals, essential physical health care, 
substance abuse aftercare, and mental health counseling. They may need 
job assessment, training, and placement assistance. To those who may 
argue that this is a new entitlement program, I would say that these 
rights and benefits currently exist for veterans today. Why would we as 
a nation not do everything in our power to provide this help for those 
less fortunate veterans?
  Mr. President, our veterans deserve no less. I hope my colleagues 
will support this legislation and support our veterans.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.

[[Page S1014]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 312

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

     SECTION 1. REQUIREMENT TO IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE COUNSELING TO 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Requirement.--Each entity that receives a grant from 
     the Federal Government for purposes of providing emergency 
     shelter for homeless individuals shall--
       (1) identify whether or not each adult individual seeking 
     such shelter from such entity is a veteran; and
       (2) provide each such individual who is a veteran such 
     counseling relating to the availability of veterans benefits 
     (including employment assistance, health care benefits, and 
     other benefits) as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     considers appropriate.
       (b) Coordination of Activities.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     shall jointly coordinate the activities required by 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Notification.--(1) Entities referred to in subsection 
     (a) shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the 
     number and identity of the veterans identified under 
     paragraph (1) of that subsection.
       (2) Such entities shall make such notification with such 
     frequency and in such form as the Secretary shall specify.
       (d) Prohibition on Funds for Noncompliance.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an entity 
     referred to subsection (a) that fails to meet the 
     requirements specified in that subsection shall not be 
     eligible for additional grants or other Federal funds for 
     purposes of carrying out activities relating to emergency 
     shelter for homeless individuals.

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