[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6271-H6278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HOMES FOR HEROES ACT OF 2007

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3329) to provide housing assistance for very low-
income veterans, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page H6272]]

                               H.R. 3329

       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 ``Homes for Heroes Act of 
     2008''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS IN OFFICE OF 
                   SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

       Section 4 of the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department a 
     Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs, who shall be in the 
     Office of the Secretary.
       ``(2) Appointment.--The Special Assistant for Veterans 
     Affairs shall be appointed based solely on merit and shall be 
     covered under the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
     governing appointments in the competitive service.
       ``(3) Responsibilities.--The Special Assistant for Veterans 
     Affairs shall be responsible for--
       ``(A) ensuring veterans have access to housing and homeless 
     assistance under each program of the Department providing 
     either such assistance;
       ``(B) coordinating all programs and activities of the 
     Department relating to veterans;
       ``(C) serving as a liaison for the Department with the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, including establishing and 
     maintaining relationships with the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs;
       ``(D) serving as a liaison for the Department, and 
     establishing and maintaining relationships with officials of 
     State, local, regional, and nongovernmental organizations 
     concerned with veterans;
       ``(E) providing information and advice regarding--
       ``(i) sponsoring housing projects for veterans assisted 
     under programs administered by the Department; or
       ``(ii) assisting veterans in obtaining housing or homeless 
     assistance under programs administered by the Department;
       ``(F) preparing the annual report under section 8 of such 
     Act; and
       ``(G) carrying out such other duties as may be assigned to 
     the Special Assistant by the Secretary or by law.''.

     SEC. 3. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN 
                   FAMILIES.

       (a) Purpose.--The purposes of this section are--
       (1) to expand the supply of permanent housing for very low-
     income veteran families; and
       (2) to provide supportive services through such housing to 
     support the needs of such veteran families.
       (b) Authority.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall, to the extent amounts are made available 
     for assistance under this section and the Secretary receives 
     approvable applications for such assistance, provide 
     assistance to private nonprofit organizations and consumer 
     cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing for 
     very low-income veteran families.
       (2) Nature of assistance.--The assistance provided under 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) shall be available for use to plan for and finance the 
     acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or moderate or 
     substantial rehabilitation of a structure or a portion of a 
     structure to be used as supportive housing for very low-
     income veteran families in accordance with this section; and
       (B) may also cover the cost of real property acquisition, 
     site improvement, conversion, demolition, relocation, and 
     other expenses that the Secretary determines are necessary to 
     expand the supply of supportive housing for very low-income 
     veteran families.
       (3) Consultation.--In meeting the requirement of paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
       (B) the Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs, as such 
     Special Assistant was established under section 4(g) of the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development Act.
       (c) Forms of Assistance.--Assistance under this section 
     shall be made available in the following forms:
       (1) Planning grants.--Assistance may be provided as a grant 
     for costs of planning a project to be used as supportive 
     housing for very low-income veteran families.
       (2) Capital advances.--Assistance may be provided as a 
     capital advance under this paragraph for a project, such 
     advance shall--
       (A) bear no interest;
       (B) not be required to be repaid so long as the housing 
     remains available for occupancy by very low-income veteran 
     families in accordance with this section; and
       (C) be in an amount calculated in accordance with the 
     development cost limitation established pursuant to 
     subsection (i).
       (3) Project rental assistance.--Assistance may be provided 
     as project rental assistance, under an annual contract that--
       (A) obligates the Secretary to make monthly payments to 
     cover any part of the costs attributed to units occupied (or, 
     as approved by the Secretary, held for occupancy) by very 
     low-income veteran families that is not met from project 
     income;
       (B) provides for the project not more than the sum of the 
     initial annual project rentals for all units so occupied and 
     any initial utility allowances for such units, as approved by 
     the Secretary;
       (C) provides that any contract amounts not used by a 
     project in any year shall remain available to the project 
     until the expiration of the contract;
       (D) provides that upon the expiration of each contract 
     term, the Secretary shall adjust the annual contract amount 
     to provide for reasonable project costs, and any increases, 
     including adequate reserves, supportive services, and service 
     coordinators, except that any contract amounts not used by a 
     project during a contract term shall not be available for 
     such adjustments upon renewal; and
       (E) provides that in the event of emergency situations that 
     are outside the control of the owner, the Secretary shall 
     increase the annual contract amount, subject to reasonable 
     review and limitations as the Secretary shall provide.
       (d) Tenant Rent Contribution.--A very low-income veteran 
     family shall pay as rent for a dwelling unit assisted under 
     this section the highest of the following amounts, rounded to 
     the nearest dollar:
       (1) 30 percent of the veteran family's adjusted monthly 
     income.
       (2) 10 percent of the veteran family's monthly income.
       (3) If the veteran family is receiving payments for welfare 
     assistance from a public agency and a part of such payments, 
     adjusted in accordance with the veteran family's actual 
     housing costs, is specifically designated by such agency to 
     meet the veteran family's housing costs, the portion of such 
     payments which is so designated.
       (e) Term of Commitment.--
       (1) Use limitations.--All units in housing assisted under 
     this section shall be made available for occupancy by very 
     low-income veteran families for not less than 15 years.
       (2) Contract terms for project rental assistance.--
       (A) Initial term.--The initial term of a contract entered 
     into under subsection (c)(3) shall be 60 months.
       (B) Extension.--The Secretary shall, subject only to the 
     availability of amounts provided in appropriation Acts, renew 
     the contract entered into under subsection (c)(3) for 10 
     consecutive one-year terms, the first such term beginning 
     upon the expiration of such 60-month period.
       (C) Authority of secretary to make early commitments.--In 
     order to facilitate the orderly extension of expiring 
     contracts, the Secretary may make commitments to extend 
     expiring contracts during the year prior to the date of 
     expiration.
       (f) Applications.--
       (1) In general.--Amounts made available under this section 
     shall be allocated by the Secretary among approvable 
     applications submitted by private nonprofit organizations and 
     consumer cooperatives.
       (2) Content of application.--
       (A) In general.--Applications for assistance under this 
     section shall be submitted by an applicant in such form and 
     in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary shall 
     establish.
       (B) Required content.--Applications for assistance under 
     this section shall contain--
       (i) a description of the proposed housing;
       (ii) a description of the assistance the applicant seeks 
     under this section;
       (iii) a description of--

       (I) the supportive services to be provided to the persons 
     occupying such housing;
       (II) the manner in which such services will be provided to 
     such persons, including, in the case of frail elderly persons 
     (as such term is defined in section 202 of the Housing Act of 
     1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q)), evidence of such residential 
     supervision as the Secretary determines is necessary to 
     facilitate the adequate provision of such services; and
       (III) the public or private sources of assistance that can 
     reasonably be expected to fund or provide such services;

       (iv) a certification from the public official responsible 
     for submitting a housing strategy for the jurisdiction to be 
     served in accordance with section 105 of the Cranston-
     Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705) 
     that the proposed project is consistent with the approved 
     housing strategy; and
       (v) such other information or certifications that the 
     Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to 
     achieve the purposes of this section.
       (3) Rejection.--The Secretary shall not reject any 
     application for assistance under this section on technical 
     grounds without giving notice of that rejection and the basis 
     therefore to the applicant.
       (g) Initial Selection Criteria and Processing.--
       (1) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall establish 
     selection criteria for assistance under this section, which 
     shall include--
       (A) criteria based upon--
       (i) the ability of the applicant to develop and operate the 
     proposed housing;
       (ii) the need for supportive housing for very low-income 
     veteran families in the area to be served;
       (iii) the extent to which the proposed size and unit mix of 
     the housing will enable the applicant to manage and operate 
     the housing efficiently and ensure that the provision of 
     supportive services will be accomplished in an economical 
     fashion;
       (iv) the extent to which the proposed design of the housing 
     will meet the service-

[[Page H6273]]

     connected disability needs of very low-income veteran 
     families;
       (v) the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated that 
     the supportive services identified pursuant to subsection 
     (f)(2)(B)(iii) will be provided on a consistent, long-term 
     basis;
       (vi) the extent to which the proposed design of the housing 
     will accommodate the provision of supportive services that 
     are expected to be needed, either initially or over the 
     useful life of the housing, by the very low-income veterans 
     the housing is intended to serve;
       (vii) the extent to which the applicant has ensured that a 
     service coordinator will be employed or otherwise retained 
     for the housing, who has the managerial capacity and 
     responsibility for carrying out the actions described in 
     clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (h)(2)(A); and
       (viii) such other factors as the Secretary determines to be 
     appropriate to ensure that funds made available under this 
     section are used effectively;
       (B) a preference in such selection for applications 
     proposing housing to be reserved for occupancy by very low-
     income veteran families who are homeless (as such term is 
     defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)); and
       (C) criteria appropriate to consider the need for 
     supportive housing for very low-income veteran families in 
     nonmetropolitan areas and by Indian tribes.
       (2) Delegated processing.--
       (A) Delegation to state or local housing authority.--In 
     issuing a capital advance under this subsection for any 
     project for which financing for the purposes described in 
     subsection (b)(2) is provided by a combination of a capital 
     advance under subsection (c)(2) and sources other than this 
     section, within 30 days of award of the capital advance, the 
     Secretary shall delegate review and processing of such 
     projects to a State or local housing agency that--
       (i) is in geographic proximity to the property;
       (ii) has demonstrated experience in and capacity for 
     underwriting multifamily housing loans that provide housing 
     and supportive services;
       (iii) may or may not be providing low-income housing tax 
     credits in combination with the capital advance under this 
     section; and
       (iv) agrees to issue a firm commitment within 12 months of 
     delegation.
       (B) Processing by secretary.--The Secretary shall retain 
     the authority to process capital advances in cases in which 
     no State or local housing agency has applied to provide 
     delegated processing pursuant to this paragraph or no such 
     agency has entered into an agreement with the Secretary to 
     serve as a delegated processing agency.
       (C) Processing fees.--An agency to which review and 
     processing is delegated pursuant to subparagraph (A) may 
     assess a reasonable fee which shall be included in the 
     capital advance amounts and may recommend project rental 
     assistance amounts in excess of those initially awarded by 
     the Secretary. The Secretary shall develop a schedule for 
     reasonable fees under this subparagraph to be paid to 
     delegated processing agencies, which shall take into 
     consideration any other fees to be paid to the agency for 
     other funding provided to the project by the agency, 
     including bonds, tax credits, and other gap funding.
       (D) Authority retained by secretary.--Under such delegated 
     system, the Secretary shall retain the authority to approve 
     rents and development costs and to execute a capital advance 
     within 60 days of receipt of the commitment from the State or 
     local agency. The Secretary shall provide to such agency and 
     the project sponsor, in writing, the reasons for any 
     reduction in capital advance amounts or project rental 
     assistance and such reductions shall be subject to appeal.
       (h) Provision of Supportive Services to Veteran Families.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs to ensure that any housing assistance provided to 
     veterans or veteran families includes a range of services 
     tailored to the needs of the very low-income veteran families 
     occupying such housing, which may include services for--
       (A) outreach;
       (B) health (including counseling, mental health, substance 
     abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain 
     injury) diagnosis and treatment;
       (C) habilitation and rehabilitation;
       (D) case management;
       (E) daily living;
       (F) personal financial planning;
       (G) transportation;
       (H) vocation;
       (I) employment and training;
       (J) education;
       (K) assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and public 
     benefits;
       (L) assistance in obtaining income support;
       (M) assistance in obtaining health insurance;
       (N) fiduciary and representative payee;
       (O) legal aid;
       (P) child care;
       (Q) housing counseling;
       (R) service coordination; and
       (S) other services necessary for maintaining independent 
     living.
       (2) Local coordination of services.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall coordinate with the Secretary of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that owners of 
     housing assisted under this section have the managerial 
     capacity to--
       (i) assess on an ongoing basis the service needs of 
     residents;
       (ii) coordinate the provision of supportive services and 
     tailor such services to the individual needs of residents; 
     and
       (iii) seek on a continuous basis new sources of assistance 
     to ensure the long-term provision of supportive services.
       (B) Classification of costs.--Any cost associated with this 
     subsection relating to the coordination of services shall be 
     an eligible cost under subsections (c)(3).
       (i) Development Cost Limitations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall periodically establish 
     reasonable development cost limitations by market area for 
     various types and sizes of supportive housing for very low-
     income veteran families by publishing a notice of the cost 
     limitations in the Federal Register.
       (2) Considerations.--The cost limitations established under 
     paragraph (1) shall reflect--
       (A) the cost of construction, reconstruction, or moderate 
     or substantial rehabilitation of supportive housing for very 
     low-income veteran families that meets applicable State and 
     local housing and building codes;
       (B) the cost of movables necessary to the basic operation 
     of the housing, as determined by the Secretary;
       (C) the cost of special design features necessary to make 
     the housing accessible to very low-income veteran families;
       (D) the cost of community space necessary to accommodate 
     the provision of supportive services to veteran families;
       (E) if the housing is newly constructed, the cost of 
     meeting the energy efficiency standards promulgated by the 
     Secretary in accordance with section 109 of the Cranston-
     Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12709); 
     and
       (F) the cost of land, including necessary site improvement.
       (3) Use of data.--In establishing development cost 
     limitations for a given market area under this subsection, 
     the Secretary shall use data that reflect currently 
     prevailing costs of construction, reconstruction, or moderate 
     or substantial rehabilitation, and land acquisition in the 
     area.
       (4) Community space.--For purposes of paragraph (2), a 
     community space shall include space for cafeterias or dining 
     halls, community rooms or buildings, workshops, child care, 
     adult day health facilities or other outpatient health 
     facilities, or other essential service facilities.
       (5) Commercial facilities.--Neither this section nor any 
     other provision of law may be construed as prohibiting or 
     preventing the location and operation, in a project assisted 
     under this section, of commercial facilities for the benefit 
     of residents of the project and the community in which the 
     project is located, except that assistance made available 
     under this section may not be used to subsidize any such 
     commercial facility.
       (6) Acquisition.--In the case of existing housing and 
     related facilities to be acquired, the cost limitations shall 
     include--
       (A) the cost of acquiring such housing;
       (B) the cost of rehabilitation, alteration, conversion, or 
     improvement, including the moderate or substantial 
     rehabilitation thereof; and
       (C) the cost of the land on which the housing and related 
     facilities are located.
       (7) Annual adjustments.--The Secretary shall adjust the 
     cost limitation not less than annually to reflect changes in 
     the general level of construction, reconstruction, and 
     moderate and substantial rehabilitation costs.
       (8) Incentives for savings.--
       (A) Special housing account.--
       (i) In general.--The Secretary shall use the development 
     cost limitations established under paragraph (1) or (6) to 
     calculate the amount of financing to be made available to 
     individual owners.
       (ii) Actual developmental costs less than financing.--
     Owners which incur actual development costs that are less 
     than the amount of financing shall be entitled to retain 50 
     percent of the savings in a special housing account.
       (iii) Bonus for energy efficiency.--The percentage 
     established under clause (ii) shall be increased to 75 
     percent for owners which add energy efficiency features 
     which--

       (I) exceed the energy efficiency standards promulgated by 
     the Secretary in accordance with section 109 of the Cranston-
     Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12709);
       (II) substantially reduce the life-cycle cost of the 
     housing; and
       (III) reduce gross rent requirements.

       (B) Uses.--The special housing account established under 
     subparagraph (A) may be used--
       (i) to provide services to residents of the housing or 
     funds set aside for replacement reserves; or
       (ii) for such other purposes as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       (9) Design flexibility.--The Secretary shall, to the extent 
     practicable, give owners the flexibility to design housing 
     appropriate to their location and proposed resident 
     population within broadly defined parameters.
       (10) Use of funds from other sources.--An owner shall be 
     permitted voluntarily to provide funds from sources other 
     than this section for amenities and other features of 
     appropriate design and construction suitable

[[Page H6274]]

     for supportive housing under this section if the cost of such 
     amenities is--
       (A) not financed with the advance; and
       (B) is not taken into account in determining the amount of 
     Federal assistance or of the rent contribution of tenants.
       (j) Tenant Selection.--
       (1) In general.--An owner shall adopt written tenant 
     selection procedures that are--
       (A) satisfactory to the Secretary and which are--
       (i) consistent with the purpose of improving housing 
     opportunities for very low-income veteran families; and
       (ii) reasonably related to program eligibility and an 
     applicant's ability to perform the obligations of the lease; 
     and
       (B) compliant with subtitle C of title VI of the Housing 
     and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13601 et 
     seq.) and any regulations issued under such subtitle.
       (2) Notification of rejection.--Owners shall promptly 
     notify in writing any rejected applicant of the grounds for 
     any rejection.
       (3) Information regarding housing.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide, to the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor, 
     information regarding the availability of the housing 
     assisted under this section.
       (B) Sharing of information with additional agencies.--
     Within 30 days of receipt of the information, the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of Labor shall provide such 
     information to agencies in the area of the housing that 
     receive assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     and the Department of Labor for providing medical care, 
     housing, supportive services or employment and training 
     services to homeless veterans.
       (k) Miscellaneous Provisions.--
       (1) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall make 
     available appropriate technical assistance to ensure that 
     prospective applicants are able to participate more fully in 
     the program carried out under this section.
       (2) Civil rights compliance.--Each owner shall certify, to 
     the satisfaction of the Secretary, that assistance made 
     available under this section will be conducted and 
     administered in conformity with title VI of the Civil Rights 
     Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), the Fair Housing Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), and other Federal, State, and local 
     laws prohibiting discrimination and promoting equal 
     opportunity.
       (3) Owner deposit.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall require an owner of 
     housing, assisted under this section, to deposit an amount 
     not to exceed $15,000 in a special escrow account to ensure 
     the owner's commitment to the housing. Such amount shall be 
     used only to cover operating deficits during the first three 
     years of operations and shall not be used to cover 
     construction shortfalls or inadequate initial project rental 
     assistance amounts.
       (B) Reduction of requirement.--
       (i) In general.--The Secretary may reduce or waive the 
     owner deposit specified under subparagraph (A) for individual 
     applicants if the Secretary finds that such waiver or 
     reduction is necessary to achieve the purposes of this 
     section and the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of 
     the Secretary that it has the capacity to manage and maintain 
     the housing in accordance with this section.
       (ii) Nonprofits.--The Secretary may reduce or waive the 
     requirement of the owner deposit under subparagraph (A) in 
     the case of a nonprofit applicant that is not affiliated with 
     a national sponsor, as determined by the Secretary.
       (4) Notice of appeal.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall notify an owner not 
     less than 30 days prior to canceling any reservation of 
     assistance provided under this section.
       (B) Appeal.--
       (i) Filing deadline.--During the 30-day period following 
     the receipt of any notice required under subparagraph (A), an 
     owner may appeal the proposed cancellation.
       (ii) Timing of decision.--Any appeal undertaken under 
     clause (i), including review by the Secretary, shall be 
     completed not later than 45 days after the appeal is filed.
       (5) Labor.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall take such action as 
     may be necessary to ensure that all laborers and mechanics 
     employed by contractors and subcontractors in the 
     construction of housing with 12 or more units assisted under 
     this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than the 
     rates prevailing in the locality involved for the 
     corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on 
     construction of a similar character, as determined by the 
     Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of 
     chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code.
       (B) Exemption.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any 
     individual who--
       (i) performs services for which the individual volunteered;
       (ii) does not receive compensation for such services or is 
     paid expenses, reasonable benefits, or a nominal fee for such 
     services; and
       (iii) is not otherwise employed at any time in the 
     construction work.
       (6) Access to residual receipts.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall authorize the owner of 
     a housing project assisted under this section to use any 
     residual receipts held for the project in excess of $500 per 
     unit (or in excess of such other amount prescribed by the 
     Secretary based on the needs of the project) for activities 
     to retrofit and renovate the project as described under 
     section 802(d)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
     Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8011(d)(3)) or to provide 
     supportive services to residents of the project.
       (B) Report.--Any owner that uses residual receipts under 
     this paragraph shall submit to the Secretary a report, not 
     less than annually, describing the uses of the residual 
     receipts.
       (C) Determination of amount.--In determining the amount of 
     project rental assistance to be provided to a project under 
     subsection (c)(3) of this section, the Secretary may take 
     into consideration the residual receipts held for the project 
     only if, and to the extent that, excess residual receipts are 
     not used under this paragraph.
       (7) Occupancy standards and obligations.--Each owner shall 
     operate housing assisted under this section in compliance 
     with subtitle C of title VI of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13601 et seq.) and any 
     regulations issued under such subtitle.
       (8) Use of project reserves.--
       (A) In general.--Amounts for project reserves for a project 
     assisted under this section may be used for costs, subject to 
     reasonable limitations as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate, for reducing the number of dwelling units in the 
     project.
       (B) Approval of secretary required.--Any use described in 
     subparagraph (A) of amounts for project reserves for a 
     project assisted under this section shall be subject to the 
     approval of the Secretary to ensure that such use is designed 
     to retrofit units that are currently obsolete or 
     unmarketable.
       (9) Repayment of assistance and prevention of undue 
     benefits.--
       (A) Repayment.--If a recipient, or a project sponsor 
     receiving funds from the recipient, receives assistance under 
     subsection (b) for use pursuant to paragraph (2) of such 
     subsection for the construction, acquisition, or 
     rehabilitation of supportive housing for very low-income 
     veteran families and the project ceases to provide permanent 
     housing, the Secretary shall require the recipient, or such 
     project sponsor, to repay the following percentage of such 
     assistance:
       (i) In the case of a project that ceases to be used for 
     such supportive housing before the expiration of the 10-year 
     period beginning upon commencement of the operation of the 
     project, 100 percent.
       (ii) In the case of a project that ceases to be used for 
     such supportive housing on or after the expiration of the 10-
     year period beginning upon commencement of the operation of 
     the project, but before the expiration of the 15-year period 
     beginning upon such commencement, 20 percent of the 
     assistance for each of the years during such 15-year period 
     for which the project fails to provide permanent housing.
       (B) Prevention of undue benefits.--Except as provided in 
     paragraph (C), if any property is used for a project that 
     receives assistance under subsection (b) for use pursuant to 
     paragraph (2) of such subsection for the construction, 
     acquisition or rehabilitation of supportive housing for very 
     low-income veteran families, and the sale or other 
     disposition of the property occurs before the expiration of 
     the 15-year period beginning upon commencement of the 
     operation of the project, the recipient (or the project 
     sponsor receiving funds from the recipient) shall comply with 
     such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe to 
     prevent the recipient (or such project sponsor) from unduly 
     benefitting from such sale or disposition.
       (C) Exception.--A recipient, or a project sponsor receiving 
     funds from the recipient, shall not be required to make 
     repayments, and comply with the terms and conditions, 
     required under subparagraph (A) or (B) if--
       (i) the sale or disposition of the property used for the 
     project results in the use of the property for the direct 
     benefit of very-low income persons;
       (ii) all of the proceeds of the sale or disposition are 
     used to provide permanent housing for very-low income veteran 
     families meeting the requirements of this section;
       (iii) project-based rental assistance or operating cost 
     assistance from any Federal program or an equivalent State or 
     local program is no longer made available and the project is 
     meeting applicable performance standards, provided that the 
     portion of the project that had benefitted from such 
     assistance continues to meet the tenant income and rent 
     restrictions for low-income units under section 42(g) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
       (iv) there are no low-income veteran families in the 
     geographic area of the property who meet the program 
     criteria, in which case the project may serve non-veteran 
     individuals and families having incomes described in 
     subsection (l)(2) of this section.
       (10) Continued eligibility of very low-income veteran 
     families.--A veteran family residing in supportive housing 
     assisted under this section may not be considered to lose its 
     status as such a family for purposes of eligibility for 
     continued occupancy in such housing due to the death of any 
     veteran member of the family, including the sole veteran 
     member of the family.
       (l) Definitions.--In this section, the following 
     definitions shall apply:
       (1) Consumer cooperative.--The term ``consumer 
     cooperative'' has the same meaning given such term for 
     purposes of the supportive housing for the elderly program 
     under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
     1701q).

[[Page H6275]]

       (2) Very low-income veteran family.--The term ``very low-
     income veteran family'' means a veteran family whose income 
     does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area, 
     as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller 
     and larger families, except that the Secretary may establish 
     an income ceiling higher or lower than 50 percent of the 
     median for the area on the basis of the Secretary's findings 
     that such variations are necessary because of prevailing 
     levels of construction costs or fair market rents (as 
     determined under section 8 of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or unusually high or low family 
     incomes.
       (3) Owner.--The term ``owner'' means a private nonprofit 
     organization or consumer cooperative that receives assistance 
     under this section to develop and operate supportive housing 
     for very low-income veteran families.
       (4) Private nonprofit organization.--The term ``private 
     nonprofit organization'' means--
       (A) any incorporated private institution or foundation--
       (i) no part of the net earnings of which inures to the 
     benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;
       (ii) which has a governing board that is responsible for 
     the operation of the housing assisted under this section; and
       (iii) which is approved by the Secretary as to financial 
     responsibility;
       (B) a for-profit limited partnership the sole or managing 
     general partner of which is an organization meeting the 
     requirements under clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of 
     subparagraph (A) or a corporation meeting the requirements of 
     subparagraph (C);
       (C) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
     organization meeting the requirements under clauses (i), 
     (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
       (D) a tribally designated housing entity, as such term is 
     defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing 
     Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 
     4103).
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Housing and Urban Development, except where specifically 
     provided otherwise.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' includes the several States, 
     the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     and the possessions of the United States.
       (7) Supportive housing for very low-income veteran 
     families.--The term ``supportive housing for very low-income 
     veteran families'' means housing that is designed to 
     accommodate the provision of supportive services that are 
     expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful 
     life of the housing, by the veteran families that the housing 
     is intended to serve.
       (8) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
       (9) Veteran family.--The term ``veteran family'' includes a 
     veteran who is a single person, a family (including families 
     with children) whose head of household (or whose spouse) is a 
     veteran, and one or more veterans living together with 1 or 
     more persons.
       (m) Allocation of Funds.--Of any amounts made available for 
     assistance under this section:
       (1) Planning grants.--Not more than 2.5 percent shall be 
     available for planning grants in accordance with subsection 
     (c)(1).
       (2) Capital advances.--Such sums as may be necessary shall 
     be available for capital advances in accordance with 
     subsection (c)(2).
       (3) Project rental assistance.--Such sums as may be 
     necessary shall be available for project rental assistance in 
     accordance with subsection (c)(3).
       (4) Technical assistance.--Not more than 1 percent shall be 
     available for technical assistance in accordance with 
     subsection (k)(1).
       (n) Authorization of Appropriations for Housing 
     Assistance.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
     assistance under this section $200,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year 
     thereafter.

     SEC. 4. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

       Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
     (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(19) Rental vouchers for homeless veterans.--
       ``(A) Additional vouchers.--In addition to any amount made 
     available for rental assistance under this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall make available the amount specified in 
     subparagraph (B), for use only for providing rental 
     assistance for homeless veterans in conjunction with the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
       ``(B) Amount.--The amount specified in this subparagraph 
     is, for each fiscal year, the amount necessary to provide not 
     fewer than 20,000 vouchers for rental assistance under this 
     subsection.
       ``(C) Continued eligibility of homeless veteran families.--
     If any veteran member of a household for which rental 
     assistance is being provided under this paragraph, including 
     the sole veteran member of the household, dies, such 
     household may not be considered, due to such death, to lose 
     its status as the household of a homeless veteran for 
     purposes of--
       ``(i) eligibility for continued assistance under this 
     paragraph; or
       ``(ii) continued occupancy in the dwelling unit in which 
     such family is residing using such assistance at the time of 
     such death.
       ``(D) Funding.--The budget authority made available under 
     any other provisions of law for rental assistance under this 
     subsection for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter is authorized to be increased in each such fiscal 
     year by such sums as may be necessary to provide the number 
     of vouchers specified in subparagraph (B) for such fiscal 
     year.''.

     SEC. 5. INCLUSION OF VETERANS IN HOUSING PLANNING.

       (a) Public Housing Agency Plans.--Section 5A(d)(1) of the 
     United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(d)(1)) 
     is amended by striking ``and disabled families'' and 
     inserting ``, disabled families, and veterans (as such term 
     is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code)''.
       (b) Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies.--
       (1) In general.--Section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
     National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705) is 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``veterans (as such 
     term is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States 
     Code),'' after ``acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,'';
       (B) in subsection (b)(20), by striking ``and service'' and 
     inserting ``veterans service, and other service''; and
       (C) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``veterans (as such 
     term is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States 
     Code),'' after ``homeless persons,''.
       (2) Consolidated plans.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall revise the regulations relating to 
     submission of consolidated plans (part 91 of title 24, Code 
     of Federal Regulations) in accordance with the amendments 
     made by paragraph (1) of this subsection to require inclusion 
     of appropriate information relating to veterans and veterans 
     service agencies in all such plans.

     SEC. 6. EXCLUSION OF VETERANS BENEFITS FROM ASSISTED HOUSING 
                   RENT CONSIDERATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, for purposes of determining the amount of rent paid by a 
     family for occupancy of a dwelling unit assisted under a 
     federally assisted housing program under subsection (b) or in 
     housing assisted under any other federally assisted housing 
     program, the income and the adjusted income of the family 
     shall not be considered to include any amounts received by 
     any member of the family from the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs as--
       (1) compensation, as such term is defined in section 
     101(13) of title 38, United States Code; and
       (2) dependency and indemnity compensation, as such term is 
     defined in section 101(14) of such title.
       (b) Federally Assisted Housing Program.--The federally 
     assisted housing programs under this subsection are--
       (1) the public housing program under the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
       (2) the tenant-based rental assistance program under 
     section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
     1437f), including the program under subsection (o)(19) of 
     such section for housing rental vouchers for low-income 
     veteran families;
       (3) the project-based rental assistance program under 
     section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
     1437f);
       (4) the program for housing opportunities for persons with 
     AIDS under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
     National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.);
       (5) the supportive housing for the elderly program under 
     section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
       (6) the supportive housing for persons with disabilities 
     program under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
     Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013);
       (7) the supportive housing for the homeless program under 
     subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.);
       (8) the program for moderate rehabilitation of single room 
     occupancy dwellings for occupancy by the homeless under 
     section 441 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11401);
       (9) the shelter plus care for the homeless program under 
     subtitle F of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11403 et seq.);
       (10) the supportive housing for very low-income veteran 
     families program under section 3 of this Act;
       (11) the rental assistance payments program under section 
     521(a)(2)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
     1490a(a)(2)(A);
       (12) the rental assistance program under section 236 of the 
     National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-1);
       (13) the rural housing programs under section 515 and 538 
     of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485, 1490p-2);
       (14) the HOME investment partnerships program under title 
     II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.);
       (15) the block grant programs for affordable housing for 
     Native Americans and Native Hawaiians under titles I through 
     IV and VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and 
     Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111 et seq., 4221 
     et seq.);
       (16) any other program for housing assistance administered 
     by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the 
     Secretary

[[Page H6276]]

     of Agriculture under which eligibility for occupancy in the 
     housing assisted or for housing assistance is based upon 
     income;
       (17) low-income housing credits allocated pursuant to 
     section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
       (18) tax-exempt bonds issued for qualified residential 
     rental projects pursuant to section 142(d) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986.

     SEC. 7. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE 
                   FOR VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall, to the extent amounts are made available 
     in appropriation Acts for grants under this section, make 
     grants to eligible entities under subsection (b) to provide 
     to nonprofit organizations technical assistance appropriate 
     to assist such organizations in--
       (1) sponsoring housing projects for veterans assisted under 
     programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development;
       (2) fulfilling the planning and application processes and 
     requirements necessary under such programs administered by 
     the Department; and
       (3) assisting veterans in obtaining housing or homeless 
     assistance under programs administered by the Department.
       (b) Eligible Entities.--An eligible entity under this 
     subsection is a nonprofit entity or organization having such 
     expertise as the Secretary shall require in providing 
     technical assistance to providers of services for veterans.
       (c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--The Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development shall establish criteria for 
     selecting applicants for grants under this section to receive 
     such grants and shall select applicants based upon such 
     criteria.
       (d) Funding.--Of any amounts made available in fiscal year 
     2008 or any fiscal year thereafter to the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development for salaries and expenses, 
     $1,000,000 shall be available, and shall remain available 
     until expended, for grants under this section.

     SEC. 8. ANNUAL REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than December 31 each year, the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit a 
     report on the activities of the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development relating to veterans during such year to 
     the following:
       (1) The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
     the Senate.
       (2) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
       (3) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
       (4) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (5) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (6) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (7) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following information with respect to the 
     year for which the report is submitted:
       (1) The number of very low-income veteran families provided 
     assistance under the program of supportive housing for very 
     low-income veteran families under section 3, the 
     socioeconomic characteristics of such families, the types of 
     assistance provided such families, and the number, types, and 
     locations of owners of housing assisted under such section.
       (2) The number of homeless veterans provided assistance 
     under the program of housing choice vouchers for homeless 
     veterans under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing 
     Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (as amended by section 
     4), the socioeconomic characteristics of such homeless 
     veterans, and the number, types, and locations of entities 
     contracted under such section to administer the vouchers.
       (3) A summary description of the special considerations 
     made for veterans under public housing agency plans submitted 
     pursuant to section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1) and under comprehensive housing 
     affordability strategies submitted pursuant to section 105 of 
     the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 
     U.S.C. 12705).
       (4) A description of the technical assistance provided to 
     organizations pursuant to grants under section 7.
       (5) A description of the activities of the Special 
     Assistant for Veterans Affairs.
       (6) A description of the efforts of the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development to coordinate the delivery of 
     housing and services to veterans with other Federal 
     departments and agencies, including the Department of 
     Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, 
     Department of Health and Human Services, Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, Interagency Council on Homelessness, and 
     the Social Security Administration.
       (7) The cost to the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development of administering the programs and activities 
     relating to veterans.
       (8) Any other information that the Secretary considers 
     relevant in assessing the programs and activities of the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development relating to 
     veterans .
       (c) Assessment of Housing Needs of Very Low-Income Veteran 
     Families.--
       (1) In general.--For the first report submitted pursuant to 
     subsection (a) and every fifth report thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall--
       (A) conduct an assessment of the housing needs of very low-
     income veteran families (as such term is defined in section 
     3); and
       (B) shall include in each such report findings regarding 
     such assessment.
       (2) Content.--Each assessment under this subsection shall 
     include--
       (A) conducting a survey of, and direct interviews with, a 
     representative sample of very low-income veteran families (as 
     such term is defined in section 3) to determine past and 
     current--
       (i) socioeconomic characteristics of such veteran families;
       (ii) barriers to such veteran families obtaining safe, 
     quality, and affordable housing;
       (iii) levels of homelessness among such veteran families; 
     and
       (iv) levels and circumstances of, and barriers to, receipt 
     by such veteran families of rental housing and homeownership 
     assistance; and
       (B) such other information that the Secretary determines, 
     in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
     national nongovernmental organizations concerned with 
     veterans, homelessness, and very low-income housing, may be 
     useful to the assessment.
       (3) Conduct.--If the Secretary contracts with an entity 
     other than the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
     conduct the assessment under this subsection, such entity 
     shall be a nongovernmental organization determined by the 
     Secretary to have appropriate expertise in quantitative and 
     qualitative social science research.
       (4) Funding.--Of any amounts made available pursuant to 
     section 501 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 
     (42 U.S.C. 1701z-1) for programs of research, studies, 
     testing, or demonstration relating to the mission or programs 
     of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for any 
     fiscal year in which an assessment under this subsection is 
     required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, 
     $1,000,000 shall be available until expended for costs of the 
     assessment under this subsection.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Al Green) and the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. 
Capito) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3329, the Homes for Heroes 
Act, and at this time I would like to thank the House leadership for 
allowing this legislation to come before the House expeditiously. I 
also thank Chairman Frank, the chairperson of the Financial Services 
Committee, for his outstanding service in helping us with this piece of 
legislation. Congresswoman Waters, who chairs the Subcommittee on 
Housing, is to be given a debt of gratitude as well, because without 
her help we could not have brought the bill to fruition. The staff has 
been outstanding. Ranking Member Capito on the Housing Subcommittee has 
been of great benefit to us, as well as Congressman Bachus, who is the 
ranking member on the full committee.
  Mr. Speaker, of the many supporting organizations, I would like to 
especially thank the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. They 
have been with us and they have assisted us through the process. The 
cosponsor and co-lead, Congressman Michael Michaud, deserves a special 
expression of appreciation. He is the Chair of the Veterans Affairs 
Health Subcommittee. Finally, we thank the 53 cosponsors, and we 
appreciate greatly the bipartisan support that this legislation enjoys.
  Mr. Speaker, we live in the greatest and richest country in the 
world. We literally have housing for our astronauts, who are in space. 
We have housing for our farm animals, called barns. We have housing for 
our cars, called garages. One of every 110 persons is a millionaire. 
However, I am sorry to report, Mr. Speaker, that as many are sleeping 
in the suites of life, too many are sleeping on the streets of life.
  Mr. Speaker, we have 800,000 homeless people in our country. One-
fourth, or 200,000 of them, are veterans. Approximately 16,000 veterans 
are homeless in the State of Texas, 2,400 in my

[[Page H6277]]

City of Houston. Veterans make up 11 percent of the population, yet are 
25 percent of the homeless. 1.5 million veterans have incomes below 
poverty, and that would be $10,787 per year for a single person who 
happens to be a veteran. 643,000 veterans have incomes below 50 percent 
of poverty. That would be $5,394 per year for a single veteran. Of the 
homeless veterans, nearly one-half are Vietnam vets. One-half have 
mental illnesses. Two-thirds suffer from alcohol or substance abuse. 
Fifty-six percent are African American or Latino.
  The passage of this legislation will help to end homelessness among 
our veterans. More specifically, this legislation would establish the 
position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD. This 
special assistant within HUD would coordinate the services of homeless 
veterans, serve as a liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to 
the States and to local officials, as well as nonprofit organizations.
  This bill would establish a $200 million assistance program for 
permanent supportive housing and services to low income veterans. Low 
income veterans are those who are at 50 percent of the area median 
income. This bill would expand the highly successful HUD Veterans 
Affairs Supportive Housing Program known as the HUD-VASH program. This 
bill authorizes 20,000 such vouchers on an annual basis.
  The bill authorizes $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and 
service providers with the execution of their projects. This bill would 
require HUD to submit a comprehensive report annually on the needs of 
veterans who are homeless and give an indication as to what steps are 
being taken under this program to eliminate homelessness among our 
veteran population.
  Mr. Speaker, some may say that this is too little. Others may say 
that it is too much. It is our position that we do this before it is 
too late for many of our veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I will reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3329, the 
Homes for Heroes Act offered by the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Green.
  In the week after our Nation celebrated its 232nd birthday, it is 
important that we take time to properly recognize the sacrifices of our 
Nation's veterans and those service men and women who are currently 
defending our freedoms and liberties in theaters across the world.
  Like many of my colleagues, I have been to Walter Reed to visit our 
wounded warriors who have been injured in battle, and I am always 
touched by their spirit and courage. It goes without saying that our 
Nation and government must provide these veterans with the tools to 
succeed once they leave the military and the benefits they deserve for 
the sacrifices that they have made in the name of freedom.
  This legislation improves one important aspect for our veterans, 
especially those who suffer from long-term physical and mental 
disabilities: That is access to affordable housing. The Veterans 
Administration is the only Federal agency that provides substantial 
hands-on assistance directly to homeless individuals, homeless 
veterans. Although limited to veterans and their dependants, the VA's 
major homeless specific programs constitute the largest integrated 
network of homeless treatment and assistance services in this country.
  The Department's homeless veterans programs were first authorized in 
1987 and have grown and developed during that time. The program offers 
a number of services that include outreach to veterans living on the 
streets and who otherwise would not seek assistance, long-term 
sheltered transitional assistance and supportive permanent housing.
  According to the VA, about one-third of the adult homeless population 
are veterans. That is staggering, I believe, with current population 
estimates suggesting about 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given 
night. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk 
because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends and 
dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or overcrowded and substandard 
housing.
  This legislation requires HUD to create a position within the 
Department to serve as a liaison to the Veterans Affairs Department. A 
Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs would ensure veterans receive 
proper access to HUD's housing assistance programs, coordinate all HUD 
programs and activities pertaining to veterans, and act as a liaison 
between HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Mr. Green's legislation also requires, as he noted, that HUD provide 
20,000 rental vouchers for homeless veterans. It authorizes $200 
million in fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
subsequent fiscal year. It also requires the Department to maintain a 
constant level of funding in coordination with rising home costs. The 
measure allows family members of a veteran receiving a housing voucher 
to maintain the voucher and the home after the veteran's death.
  The bill authorizes grants to nonprofits that sponsor housing 
projects for veterans making less than 50 percent of the median income 
of an area, assists veterans in obtaining housing or homeless 
assistance, and assists veterans with the plan and application process 
for HUD assistance programs. It also includes language to assure that 
any voucher program would not inhibit low income tax credits that are 
already in place.
  I would like to thank Mr. Green for offering this legislation and for 
his efforts to improve housing for our veterans.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may 
consume to my colleague the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 3329, the Homes for Heroes Act, 
because it is past time to address the rapid growth of our Nation's 
homeless veterans population and enhance affordable housing 
opportunities for returning veterans. Permanent supportive housing 
remains the number one unmet need of veterans. The National Alliance to 
End Homelessness found that nearly half a million of our Nation's 
veterans are severely rent-burdened and devote more than 50 percent of 
their income to rent.
  The bill will strengthen housing opportunities for our returning 
veterans by creating a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, and authorizes 
$200 million for new construction of low income and homeless veteran 
housing and 20,000 new vouchers for homeless veterans. We have a 
responsibility to assure the well-being of these brave men and women, 
true American heroes, when they return home.
  Veterans are twice as likely to be chronically homeless compared to 
other Americans. Additional obstacles include physical and mental 
health-related problems, weakened social networks, high stressful 
occupational demands and non-transferability of skills to civilian 
jobs, which create the need for additional supportive services for this 
population.

                              {time}  1345

  In fact, the Alliance to End Homelessness concluded veterans make up 
a disproportionate share of the homeless population. While veterans 
only represent 11 percent of the civilian population age 18 and over, 
they account for nearly 26 percent of our Nation's homeless population. 
This is clearly unacceptable. This disparity is especially concerning 
as our Nation's troops in Iraq and Afghanistan return home.
  While the VA currently has over 19,000 transitional housing beds for 
homeless veterans and has invested in new initiatives specifically 
targeting at-risk populations, various Government Accountability 
Office, GAO, and VA studies indicate that the VA still lacks the 
capacity to provide timely access to health services for veterans at 
risk for homelessness.
  I believe this bill will enhance supportive and affordable housing 
opportunities for veterans, and I urge all my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  I thank the ranking member for yielding me time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
H.R. 3329, the Homes for Heroes Act.
  With all the problems veterans face today, too often Congress forgets 
the simple things, such as housing.

[[Page H6278]]

  After members of our military have honorably served this great nation 
and want to start a life with their family, our country should provide 
them with the assistance to do so.
  When some of our veterans return from battle, their fight continues. 
Whether it is wrestling with the effects of PTSD or struggling to 
reintegrate into civilian life, it is Congress's responsibility to help 
them and that is what the Homes for Heroes Act does.
  I am very proud of what this bill accomplishes, such as the 
assistance provided to low-income vets, the HUD-VA liaison created for 
state and local governments, and the additional services provided to 
veterans with mental and addictive disorders.
  As the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations 
Subcommittee under Veterans Affairs, I am aware of the unique issues 
facing veterans, and I thank Representative Green for introducing this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3329.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 3329, the ``Homes for Heroes Act.'' I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation and to support our troops in their efforts to 
obtain homes. I thank my friend Congressman Al Green for this 
thoughtful legislation
  This important piece of legislation amends the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development Act to establish in the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs to: 
(1) ensure veteran access to HUD housing and homeless assistance 
programs; (2) coordinate all HUD programs and activities relating to 
veterans; and (3) serve as a HUD liaison with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  This legislation, directs the HUD Secretary to provide assistance to 
private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand the 
supply of supportive housing for very low-income veteran families (that 
is, families with incomes not exceeding 50 percent of the area median 
income ).
  H.R. 3326, amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to: (1) make 
housing rental vouchers available to homeless veterans; and (2) include 
veterans in public housing planning.
  Excludes veterans' benefits from income for purposes of HUD assisted 
housing rental determinations.
  This legislation requires the Secretary to: (1) make grants to 
nonprofit entities for technical assistance in sponsoring HUD housing 
projects for veterans; and (2) report annually to specified 
congressional committees and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on HUD 
activities relating to veterans.
  I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans, and I remain 
committed, as a Member of Congress, to ensuring that we respect our 
veterans. Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation; they 
have willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all love. 
We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans.
  Currently, there are 25 million veterans in the United States. There 
are more than 1,633,000 veterans living in Texas and more than 32,000 
veterans living in my Congressional district alone. I hope we will all 
take the time to show appreciation to those who have answered the call 
to duty. As the great British leader Winston Churchill famously stated, 
``Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to 
so few.''
  With the approval of legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11th 
became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Later that same 
year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, himself a 
decorated veteran of war, issued the first ``Veterans Day 
Proclamation'' which stated in part: ``In order to insure proper and 
widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' 
organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the 
common purpose.'' It was with that endearing spirit that America 
celebrated the first Veterans Day.
  We must always remember the debt that we owe our fallen veterans that 
have paid the ultimate sacrifice. From the four surviving World War I 
veterans known to be living in the United States, to the over 300,000 
veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom we 
expect to see by the end of 2008. Our gratitude must continue to be 
unwavering to our soldiers and veterans.
  In the words of President John F. Kennedy, ``As we express our 
gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to 
utter words, but to live by them.'' It is not simply enough to sing the 
praises of our nation's great veterans; I firmly believe that we must 
demonstrate by our actions how proud we are of our American heroes.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I believe 
it is necessary for the nation to act now so that we all can pay 
respect, tribute, and homage to the lives of the armed services 
veterans who have fought to keep America free and have fought to make 
sure that all people and nations partake in the universal freedoms that 
we find so important in this country. These individuals have given so 
much and have paid us the ultimate sacrifice: the sacrifice of their 
lives. The least that we can do, is ensure that these veterans are able 
to secure homes when they return home from battle. I urge my colleagues 
to support this bill.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3329, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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