[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6063-S6064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 1384. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal 
authority for adjustments to per diem payments

[[Page S6064]]

to homeless veterans service centers for receipt of other sources of 
income, to extend authorities for certain programs to benefit homeless 
veterans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I introduce legislation that would 
enhance and improve services for homeless veterans administered by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill addresses a number of areas 
related to care and benefits for homeless veterans. It would modify the 
funding mechanism for community-based services to homeless veterans, 
expand capacity of services for women veterans, and improve outreach to 
servicemembers who are at risk of becoming homeless.
  First, this legislation would lift a number of restrictions on VA's 
grant and per diem program. This program compensates community shelters 
for the services they provide to homeless veterans. VA currently pays 
$27 per day to community shelters for each veteran served. However, $27 
is barely sufficient to cover existing costs, and rising energy prices 
are stretching resources even more.
  To meet the needs of their clients, many shelters seek additional 
sources of funding, but their per diem payments from VA are in turn 
offset by the amount of this additional funding. By eliminating this 
offset, the bill would enable providers to expand their services to 
veterans, and to receive funding from other sources to accomplish these 
expansions.
  This legislation would also address the gap in domiciliary care for 
homeless women veterans. Women veterans are a growing proportion of the 
active duty force and overall veteran population. Homelessness among 
female veterans is a serious problem, and many facilities do not yet 
have the capacity to meet this demand. Domiciliary care is an essential 
component of treatment and rehabilitation, especially for mental health 
and substance abuse conditions which afflict many homeless veterans.
  This bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure 
that domiciliary programs have the capacity to accommodate women 
veterans, and that their specific safety and security concerns are 
addressed. As women become a larger proportion of the homeless veteran 
population, VA must have the capacity to meet their needs.
  Finally, this legislation would increase efforts to identify and 
assist servicemembers who are at risk of becoming homeless. It would 
make permanent an already established and successful program to aid 
incarcerated veterans in their transition back to civilian life. The 
program identifies at risk individuals and refers them to counseling 
and services, including health care, job training and placement, and 
housing.
  Building on the success of that program, the bill would also create a 
similar program to identify and support at risk individuals in their 
transition from military to civilian life. It has been proven through 
smaller scale efforts that this process can reduce the incidence of 
homelessness and other problems among new veterans who are being 
separated from military service.
  Over 1 million servicemembers have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
and as they transition from military service to civilian life some will 
be at risk of homelessness. Any effort VA can make to assist these 
servicemembers will improve lives and reduce the demand for VA homeless 
services in the years to come. We have all heard the sad and shocking 
statistic that one out of every three homeless persons on the street at 
any given time is a veteran. This bill is another step in attempting to 
address and solve this shameful problem.
  I believe that this bill adjusts existing programs to take full 
advantage of existing resources and effective initiatives. I urge all 
of my colleagues to support this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1384

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

     SECTION 1. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PER DIEM 
                   PAYMENTS TO HOMELESS VETERANS SERVICE CENTERS 
                   FOR RECEIPT OF OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME.

       Section 2012(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D); and
       (2) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``The rate'' and inserting ``Except as 
     provided in subparagraph (B), the rate'';
       (B) by striking ``adjusted by the Secretary under 
     subparagraph (B)''; and
       (C) by designating the second sentence as subparagraph (B) 
     and indenting the margin of such subparagraph, as so 
     designated, two ems from the left margin.

     SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON PREVENTING VETERANS AT-RISK 
                   OF HOMELESSNESS FROM BECOMING HOMELESS.

       (a) Demonstration Program.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall carry out (subject to the availability of 
     appropriations) a demonstration program for the purpose of--
       (1) identifying members of the Armed Forces on active duty 
     who are at risk of becoming homeless after they are 
     discharged or released from active duty; and
       (2) providing referral, counseling, and supportive 
     services, as appropriate, to help prevent such members, upon 
     becoming veterans, from becoming homeless.
       (b) Program Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
     demonstration program in at least three locations.
       (c) Identification Criteria.--In developing and 
     implementing the criteria to identify members of the Armed 
     Forces, who upon becoming veterans, are at-risk of becoming 
     homeless, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult 
     with the Secretary of Defense and such other officials and 
     experts as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (d) Contracts.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter 
     into contracts to provide the referral, counseling, and 
     supportive services required under the demonstration program 
     with entities or organizations that meet such requirements as 
     the Secretary may establish.
       (e) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary under 
     subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2011.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $2,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out 
     the provisions of this section.

     SEC. 3. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM OF 
                   REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR AT-RISK 
                   VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN 
                   INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) Program Authority.--Subsection (a) of section 2023 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``a 
     demonstration program for the purpose of determining the 
     costs and benefits of providing'' and inserting ``a program 
     of''.
       (b) Scope of Program.--Subsection (b) of such section is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``Demonstration'' in the subsection 
     heading;
       (2) by striking ``demonstration''; and
       (3) by striking ``in at least six locations'' and inserting 
     ``in at least 12 locations''.
       (c) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of such section 
     is amended by striking ``shall cease'' and all that follows 
     and inserting ``shall cease on September 30, 2011.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Subsection (c)(1) of such section is amended by 
     striking ``demonstration''.
       (2) The heading of such section is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``Sec. 2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at 
       risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
       institutions''.

       (3) Section 2022(f)(2)(C) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``demonstration''.
       (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 2023 and inserting the 
     following:

``2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
              homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
              institutions.''.

     SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF GRANT FUNDS TO SERVICE CENTERS FOR 
                   PERSONNEL.

       Section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Availability of Grant Funds for Service Center 
     Personnel.--A grant under this section for a service center 
     for homeless veterans may be used to provide funding for 
     staff as necessary in order for the center to meet the 
     service availability requirements of subsection (g)(1).''.

     SEC. 5. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR DOMICILIARY SERVICES FOR 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS AND ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY 
                   OF DOMICILIARY CARE PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE 
                   VETERANS.

       Subsection (b) of section 2043 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Enhancement of Capacity of Domiciliary Care Programs 
     for Female Veterans.--The Secretary shall take appropriate 
     actions to ensure that the domiciliary care programs of the 
     Department are adequate, with respect to capacity and with 
     respect to safety, to meet the needs of veterans who are 
     women.''.
                                 ______