[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E41-E42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 293, THE HOMELESS WOMEN VETERAN AND HOMELESS 
     VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION GRANT PROGRAM ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 8, 2009

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Homeless Women 
Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program 
Act of 2009. Madam Speaker, veterans of all conflicts often face 
challenges that are unique to their military service and that too often 
result in their becoming homeless.
  For veterans, especially women veterans and veterans with dependent 
children, those challenges can become nearly insurmountable when 
combined with a lack of appropriate housing. This legislation seeks to 
provide appropriate housing for women veterans and family-style housing 
for any homeless veteran with dependent children. Specifically, this 
bill creates a new grant for providers that offer family-style housing 
for homeless veterans with dependent children.
  The bill also requires recipients to provide employment counseling, 
placement assistance, literacy, job skill training, and child care 
services as well as the unique services that

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are needed for homeless veteran families and women veterans. The 
Department of Labor's Veteran Employment and Training Service would 
administer the program within their successful Homeless Veteran 
Reintegration Program (HVRP).
  The bill also requires that the current biennial reports to Congress 
include data that shows results and outcomes of the services provided 
to the homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with dependent 
children. The bill authorizes appropriations of $10,000,000 for each 
fiscal year for the program.
  If this bill is enacted, it would provide valuable services to this 
vulnerable population of veterans and help stem the tide of chronic 
homelessness. I urge my colleagues to support and co-sponsor the 
measure.

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