[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11917-S11919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HEATHER FRENCH HENRY HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE ACT

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 191, S. 739.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 739) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     improve programs for homeless veterans, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Heather 
     French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; definition.
Sec. 3. National goal to end homelessness among veterans.
Sec. 4. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
Sec. 5. Meetings of Interagency Council on the Homeless.
Sec. 6. Evaluation of programs and activities regarding homeless 
              veterans.
Sec. 7. Per diem payments for furnishing services to homeless veterans.
Sec. 8. Dental care for homeless veterans.
Sec. 9. Programmatic expansions.
Sec. 10. Various authorities.
Sec. 11. Life safety code for grant and per diem providers.
Sec. 12. Assistance for grant applications.
Sec. 13. Extension of homeless veterans reintegration program.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; DEFINITION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On the field of battle, the members of the Armed Forces 
     who defend the Nation are honor-bound to leave no one behind 
     and, likewise, the Nation is honor-bound to leave no veteran 
     behind.
       (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs report known as the 
     Community Homeless Assessment, Local Education, and 
     Networking Groups for Veterans (CHALENG) assessment, issued 
     in May 2000, reports that during 1999 there were an estimated 
     344,983 homeless veterans, an increase of 34 percent above 
     the 1998 estimate of 256,872 homeless veterans.
       (3) The 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance 
     Providers and Clients found that, although veterans 
     constitute only 13 percent of the adult population, veterans 
     comprise 23 percent of homeless clients.
       (4) Homelessness among veterans is persistent despite 
     unprecedented economic growth and job creation and general 
     prosperity.
       (5) While there are many effective programs that assist 
     homeless veterans to again become productive and self-
     sufficient members of society, current resources provided to 
     such programs and other activities that assist homeless 
     veterans are inadequate to provide all needed essential 
     services, assistance, and support to homeless veterans.
       (6) The CHALENG assessment referred to in paragraph (2) 
     reports--
       (A) that Department of Veterans Affairs and community 
     providers were responsible for establishing almost 500 beds 
     for homeless veterans during 2000, including emergency, 
     transitional, and permanent beds; and
       (B) that there is a need for about 45,724 additional beds 
     to meet current needs of homeless veterans.
       (7) Nearly four decades ago, the Nation established a goal 
     of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to 
     earth within a decade and accomplished that goal, and the 
     Nation can do no less to end homelessness among the Nation's 
     veterans.
       (b) Homeless Veteran Defined.--In this Act, the term 
     ``homeless veteran'' means a veteran who is homeless (as that 
     term is defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento 
     Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a)).

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS.

       (a) National Goal.--Congress hereby declares it to be a 
     national goal to end homelessness among veterans within a 
     decade.
       (b) Cooperative Efforts Encouraged.--Congress hereby 
     encourages all departments and agencies of Federal, State, 
     and local governments, quasi-governmental organizations, 
     private and public sector entities, including community-based 
     organizations, and individuals to work cooperatively to end 
     homelessness among veterans within a decade.

     SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 546. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans

       ``(a)(1) There is established in the Department the 
     Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans (hereinafter in this 
     section referred to as the `Committee').
       ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 15 
     members appointed by the Secretary from among the following:
       ``(A) Veterans service organizations.
       ``(B) Advocates of homeless veterans and other homeless 
     individuals.
       ``(C) Community-based providers of services to homeless 
     individuals.
       ``(D) Previously homeless veterans.
       ``(E) State veterans affairs officials.
       ``(F) Experts in the treatment of individuals with mental 
     illness.
       ``(G) Experts in the treatment of substance use disorders.
       ``(H) Experts in the development of permanent housing 
     alternatives for lower income populations.
       ``(I) Experts in vocational rehabilitation.
       ``(J) Such other organizations or groups as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(3) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members--
       ``(A) the Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the 
     Secretary selected after consultation with the Assistant 
     Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training);
       ``(B) the Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the 
     Secretary);
       ``(C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (or a 
     representative of the Secretary); and
       ``(D) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (or a 
     representative of the Secretary).
       ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service 
     and pay and allowances of the members of the Committee, 
     except that a term of service may not exceed three years. The 
     Secretary may reappoint any member for additional terms of 
     service.
       ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult 
     with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the 
     provision by the Department of benefits and services to 
     homeless veterans.
       ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
     subsection, the Committee shall--
       ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
     of homeless veterans;
       ``(ii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
     of the policies, organizational structures, and services of 
     the Department in assisting homeless veterans; and
       ``(iii) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
     means of providing assistance to homeless veterans.
       ``(3) The Committee shall--
       ``(A) review the continuum of services provided by the 
     Department, whether directly or by contract, in order to 
     define cross-cutting issues and to improve coordination of 
     all services in the Department that address the special needs 
     of homeless veterans;
       ``(B) identify (through annual assessments under section 
     1774 of this title and other available resources) gaps in 
     programs of the Department in serving homeless veterans, 
     including identification of geographic areas with unmet 
     needs, and provide recommendations to address those gaps;
       ``(C) identify gaps in existing information systems on 
     homeless veterans, both within and outside the Department, 
     and provide recommendations about redressing problems in data 
     collection;
       ``(D) identify barriers under existing laws and policies to 
     effective coordination by the Department with other Federal 
     agencies and with State and local agencies addressing 
     homeless populations;
       ``(E) identify opportunities for enhanced liaison by the 
     Department with nongovernmental organizations and individual 
     groups addressing homeless populations;
       ``(F) with appropriate officials of the Department 
     designated by the Secretary, participate with the Interagency 
     Council on the Homeless under title II of the McKinney-Vento 
     Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11311 et seq.);
       ``(G) recommend appropriate funding levels for specialized 
     programs for homeless veterans provided or funded by the 
     Department;
       ``(H) recommend appropriate placement options for veterans 
     who, because of advanced age, frailty, or severe mental 
     illness, may not be appropriate candidates for vocational 
     rehabilitation or independent living; and
       ``(I) perform such other functions as the Secretary may 
     direct.
       ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the 
     Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the 
     programs and activities of the Department that relate to 
     homeless veterans during the preceding year. Each such report 
     shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the needs of homeless veterans;
       ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
     Department designed to meet such needs, including the 
     evaluation of outreach activities required under paragraph 
     (2);
       ``(C) a review of the activities of the Committee; and
       ``(D) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
     administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(2)(A) The Committee shall include in each report under 
     paragraph (1) an evaluation of the outreach activities of the 
     Department with respect to homeless veterans, including 
     outreach regarding clinical issues and outreach regarding 
     other benefits.
       ``(B) The Committee shall conduct each evaluation under 
     this paragraph in consultation with the Under Secretary for 
     Benefits, the Under Secretary for Health, the Readjustment 
     Counseling Service, the Director of Homeless Veterans 
     Programs, and the Mental Health Strategic Health Care Group.
       ``(C) In including an evaluation under this paragraph in a 
     report under paragraph (1), the

[[Page S11918]]

     Committee shall set forth in the report the following:
       ``(i) The results of the evaluation.
       ``(ii) Any recommendations that the Committee considers 
     appropriate to improve the outreach activities of the 
     Department with respect to homeless veterans, including 
     recommendations for enhanced interagency cooperation and 
     enhanced cooperation between the Department and appropriate 
     community organizations and recommendations for additional 
     activities to complement, supplement, or otherwise eliminate 
     deficiencies in the outreach activities.
       ``(3) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a report 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a copy of the report, together with any 
     comments and recommendations concerning the report that the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(4) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such 
     other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(5) The Secretary shall include with each annual report 
     submitted to Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a 
     summary of all reports and recommendations of the Committee 
     submitted to the Secretary since the previous annual report 
     of the Secretary submitted pursuant to that section.
       ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee under 
     this section.
       ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the 
     Committee.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``546. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.''.

     SEC. 5. MEETINGS OF INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON THE HOMELESS.

       Section 202(c) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 11312(c)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its 
     Chairperson or a majority of its members, but not less often 
     than annually.''.

     SEC. 6. EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES REGARDING 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Evaluation Centers.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall support the continuation within the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs of at least one center for evaluation to 
     monitor the structure, process, and outcome of programs of 
     the Department that address homeless veterans.
       (b) Annual Report on Processing of Benefits Claims.--The 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress on an annual basis a 
     report on the programs and activities of the Veterans 
     Benefits Administration in processing of claims for benefits 
     of homeless veterans during the preceding year. Each report 
     shall include, for the year covered by such report, the 
     following:
       (1) Information on costs, expenditures, and workload of 
     Veterans Benefits Administration claims evaluators in 
     processing claims for benefits of homeless veterans.
       (2) Information on the filing of claims for benefits by 
     homeless veterans.
       (3) Information on efforts undertaken to expedite the 
     processing of claims for benefits of homeless veterans.
       (4) Any other information that the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Annual Report on Health Care.--The Secretary shall 
     submit to Congress on an annual basis a report on programs of 
     the Department addressing health care needs of homeless 
     veterans. The Secretary shall include in each such report the 
     following:
       (1) Information about expenditures, costs, and workload 
     under the Department of Veterans Affairs program known as the 
     Health Care for Homeless Veterans program (HCHV).
       (2) Information about the veterans contacted through the 
     program.
       (3) Information about processes under the program.
       (4) Information about program treatment outcomes under the 
     program.
       (5) Other information the Secretary considers relevant in 
     assessing the program.
       (6) Information about supported housing programs.
       (7) Information about the grant and per diem provider 
     program of the Department.
       (d) Annual Program Assessment.--Section 1774(b) of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``annual'' after ``to 
     make an''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) The Secretary shall review each annual assessment 
     under this subsection, and shall consolidate the findings and 
     conclusions of such assessments into an annual report which 
     the Secretary shall submit to Congress.''.

     SEC. 7. PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING SERVICES TO HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Increase in Rate of Per Diem Payments.--Section 4(a) of 
     the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 
     1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended by striking ``at such 
     rates'' and all that follows through ``homeless veteran--'' 
     and inserting the following: ``at the same rates as the rates 
     authorized for State homes for domiciliary care provided 
     under section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, for 
     services furnished to homeless vet-
     erans--''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year 
     beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 8. DENTAL CARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

       Section 1712(a)(1)(H)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended by inserting ``(including a homeless veteran)'' 
     after ``for a veteran''.

     SEC. 9. PROGRAMMATIC EXPANSIONS.

       (a) Transitional Housing.--Effective October 1, 2001, 
     section 12 of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service 
     Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended to read 
     as follows:

     ``SEC. 12. FUNDING.

       ``(a) Amounts for Grant and Per Diem Programs.--From 
     amounts appropriated for `Medical Care' for any fiscal year, 
     the Secretary may expend not more than $55,000,000 (as 
     adjusted from time to time under subsection (b)) to carry out 
     the transitional housing grant and per diem provider programs 
     under sections 3 and 4 of this Act.
       ``(b) Periodic Increases.--The amount in effect under 
     subsection (a) shall be increased for any fiscal year by the 
     overall percentage increase in the Medical Care account for 
     that fiscal year over the preceding fiscal year.''.
       (b) Comprehensive Homeless Services Program.--(1)(A) The 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide for the 
     establishment of not less than five additional centers for 
     the provision of comprehensive services to homeless veterans 
     under section 1773(b) of title 38, United States Code.
       (B) In establishing additional centers under this 
     paragraph, the Secretary shall take into account the 
     particular needs of homeless veterans in each metropolitan 
     area in which the Secretary proposes to establish a center.
       (C) The Secretary shall ensure that the services provided 
     to homeless veterans at each center established under this 
     paragraph are tailored to the needs of homeless veterans in 
     the metropolitan area in which such center is established.
       (2) Section 1773(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``not fewer than eight''.
       (c) Program Expiration Extension.--Sections 1771(b) and 
     1773(d) of title 38, United States Code, are amended by 
     striking ``December 31, 2001'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2006''.

     SEC. 10. VARIOUS AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Employment Programs.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     may authorize homeless veterans receiving care through 
     vocational rehabilitation programs to participate in the 
     compensated work therapy program.
       (b) Supported Housing for Veterans Participating in 
     Compensated Work Therapies.--(1) The Secretary may authorize 
     homeless veterans in the compensated work therapy program to 
     be provided housing through the therapeutic residence program 
     under section 1772 of title 38, United States Code, or 
     through grant and per diem providers.
       (2) As used in this subsection, the term ``grant and per 
     diem provider'' means an entity in receipt of a grant under 
     section 3 or 4 of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service 
     Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note).
       (c) Report on Assignment of Homeless Coordinators at VBA 
     Regional Offices.--(1) Not later than 120 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     House of Representatives a report on the assignment of 
     Homeless Coordinators at the Regional Offices of the Veterans 
     Benefits Administration.
       (2) The report shall include the following:
       (A) A list of the Regional Offices of the Veterans Benefits 
     Administration for which Homeless Coordinators have been 
     assigned.
       (B) A description of the manner in which each Regional 
     Office listed under subparagraph (A) staffs the assignment, 
     whether as a collateral hire, by rotation of staff, or by a 
     full-time employee, including the caseload of the position 
     and the amount of time spent on the caseload by each employee 
     assigned to fulfill the duties of the position.
       (C) In the case of any Regional Offices for which no 
     Homeless Coordinator has been assigned, a description of the 
     manner in which such Regional Office addresses matters 
     relating to homeless veterans.
       (D) An evaluation of the demand for services of Homeless 
     Coordinators in the various Regional Offices, including a 
     statement of the Regional Offices which have the greatest 
     demand for such services.
       (d) Coordination of Employment Services.--(1) Section 
     4103A(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(11) Coordination of services provided to veterans with 
     training assistance provided to veterans by entities 
     receiving financial assistance under section 738 of the 
     McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11448).''.
       (2) Section 4104(b) of such title is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (11);
       (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(13) coordinate services provided to veterans with 
     training assistance for veterans provided by entities 
     receiving financial assistance under section 738 of the 
     McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11448).''.

     SEC. 11. LIFE SAFETY CODE FOR GRANT AND PER DIEM PROVIDERS.

       (a) New Grants.--Section 3(b)(5) of the Homeless Veterans 
     Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 
     note) is amended by striking ``, but fire and safety'' and 
     all that follows through ``in carrying out the grant'' and 
     inserting ``and the fire and safety requirements applicable 
     under the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection 
     Association''.
       (b) Previous Grantees.--Section 4 of such Act is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Life Safety Code.--(1) Except as provided in 
     paragraph (2), a per diem payment (or

[[Page S11919]]

     in-kind assistance in lieu of per diem payments) may not be 
     provided under this section to a grant recipient unless the 
     facilities of the grant recipient meet the fire and safety 
     requirements applicable under the Life Safety Code of the 
     National Fire Protection Association.
       ``(2) During the five-year period beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of the Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans 
     Assistance Act, paragraph (1) shall not apply to an entity 
     that received a grant under section 3 before that date if the 
     entity meets fire and safety requirements established by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(3) From amounts available for purposes of this section 
     pursuant to section 12, not less than $5,000,000 shall be 
     used only for grants to assist entities covered by paragraph 
     (2) in meeting the Life Safety Code of the National Fire 
     Protection Association.''.

     SEC. 12. ASSISTANCE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS.

       (a) Grant Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a program to make technical assistance grants to 
     nonprofit community-based groups with experience in providing 
     assistance to homeless veterans in order to assist such 
     groups in applying for grants relating to addressing problems 
     of homeless veterans.
       (b) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal years 2002 
     through 2006, $750,000 to carry out the program under this 
     section.

     SEC. 13. EXTENSION OF HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 4111(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
       ``(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
       ``(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
       ``(F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
       ``(G) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.''.

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I urge the Senate to pass S. 739, the proposed 
``Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2001,'' a 
bill that enhances VA's efforts to combat homelessness among our 
Nation's veterans.
  On July 19, 2001, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing 
on S. 739 as originally introduced by my good friend and colleague on 
the Committee, Senate Paul Wellstone. The Department of Veterans 
Affairs and homeless advocate shared their views on what could be done 
to help VA treat the unique problems faced by homeless veterans. 
Witnesses testified that homelessness remains a prevalent problem among 
veterans, with roughly one-third of the total homeless population 
consisting of veterans. Members of the Committee were told that more 
needs to be done to help these men and women get back on their feet.
  I will highlight a couple of the provisions included in the bill and 
refer my colleagues to the report accompanying this legislation for 
more detail.
  The pending measure contains many provisions seek to enhance programs 
that VA currently administers to homeless veterans, most notably the 
Grant and Per Diem Program. This program offers grants to nonprofit 
community-based organizations that serve homeless veterans. 
Specifically, the bill authorizes up to $55 million a year in funding 
for the program.
  In addition, the bill would link the daily per diem rates provided to 
these community-based organizations for the care of homeless veterans 
to the rate already provided to state veterans homes for domiciliary 
care. This would increase the daily rate from $19 to $24, giving those 
who are truly combating homelessness the appropriate resources with 
which to work.
  Another important aspect of this legislation is the establishment of 
an Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans within VA. This 12-15 member 
committee would evaluate and report directly to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs on all matters related to homeless veterans. This 
ensures that there is always a voice for this segment of the veteran 
population at the highest level within VA.
  With regard to the overall evaluation of homeless programs--often 
cited as one of the biggest impediments to properly serving the 
homeless--the pending legislation would encourage the continued support 
of at least one evaluation center within VA. Currently, VA's Northeast 
Program Evaluation Center in Connecticut conducts such research, and 
it's important to ensure that all research efforts receive needed 
resources to pursue valuable work.
  Evaluation needs to be conducted so that VA policy makers and Members 
of Congress know what works and what does not. Therefore, the pending 
measure would require two annual reports to Congress from VA on the 
activities of both the health care and benefits-related aspects of 
their treatment of homeless veterans.
  Yet another key aspect of the pending measure is the required 
establishment of at least five new Comprehensive Service Centers. These 
centers would be located in the metropolitan areas found by VA to have 
the greatest demand for homeless services. Existing centers, such as 
ones located in Brooklyn, NY, and Dallas, TX, provide the full spectrum 
of care for homeless veterans, including transitional housing and 
substance abuse treatment.
  In closing, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication 
of the namesake of this bill, Miss America 2000, Heather French Henry. 
Her focus on homeless veterans during her reign and subsequent to the 
end of her tenure as miss America brought significant attention to this 
important issue. Ms. Henry's advocacy for homeless veterans is truly 
admirable.
  It is my sincere hope this bill will give VA greater ability to treat 
homeless veterans, and thereby contribute toward eradicating this 
national share. I urge my colleagues on the House Veterans's Affairs 
Committee, who have also been active on this issue, to work with 
Senator Wellstone, the other members of our Committee, and me, to help 
those who have sacrificed for our country and now need our help.
  I ask unanimous consent that a summary of S. 739 be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

     Summary of S. 739: The Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans 
                         Assistance Act of 2001

       The Committee bill incorporates provisions from S. 739, as 
     originally introduced. It seeks to enhance and provide 
     additional support for VA programs that combat homelessness 
     among veterans.
       The following is a summary of key provisions in the 
     Committee bill, S. 739:
       Programmatic Expansions: Authorizes VA to spend up to $55 
     million per year on the transitional housing Grant and Per 
     Diem program. Requires VA to establish at least five new 
     comprehensive service centers for homeless veterans in those 
     metropolitan areas found to have the greatest need. Extends 
     the Homeless Chronically Mentally Ill and Comprehensive 
     Homeless Programs until December 31, 2006.
       Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans: Establishes a 
     Committee that will examine and report to the Secretary no 
     various services provided to homeless veterans.
       Interagency Council on the Homeless: Requires annual 
     meetings of the Interagency Council on the Homeless, as the 
     Council has yet to get underway.
       Evaluation on Homeless Programs: Encourages the continued 
     support of at least one evaluation center to monitor the 
     effectiveness of VA's various homeless programs. Requires VA 
     to report on both the benefits and health care aspects of 
     combating homelessness.
       Life Safety Code: Requires that real property of grantees 
     under VA's homeless Grant and Per Diem program meet fire and 
     safety requirements applicable under the Life Safety Code of 
     the National Fire Protection Association.
       Technical Assistance Grants: Authorizes the Secretary to 
     conduct a technical assistance grants program to assist 
     nonprofit groups in applying for grants relating to 
     addressing problems of homeless veterans. Provides $750,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006 for these 
     purposes.
       Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program: Extends the 
     Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and authorizes $50 
     million a year for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee amendment be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read 
the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 739), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________