[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. PHIL HARE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 22, 2010

  Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4810, 
the End Veteran Homelessness Act. I want to thank Chairman Filner for 
his leadership on this issue.
  Madam Speaker, on any given night this year, over 100,000 veterans 
are sleeping on the streets. And this year alone, 300,000 veterans will 
experience homelessness.
  Additionally, there has been an alarming increase in the number of 
female homeless veterans over the last decade.
  Madam Speaker, addressing the National Coalition for Homeless 
Veterans National Conference, Secretary Shinseki said, ``We have a 
moral duty to prevent and eliminate homelessness among Veterans.'' I 
could not agree more and I applaud the Secretary for his commitment to 
end veterans homelessness in the next 5 years.
  Madam Speaker, we have seen how using the media to educate veterans 
about available services has been extremely effective, and in order to 
meet this goal, the Veterans Affairs Department should immediately 
begin conducting media outreach to connect homeless veterans to 
available programs, services and benefits.
  That is why I introduced the Help our Homeless Veterans Act. My bill 
would direct the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
carry out a national media campaign to raise awareness about programs 
and services available to homeless veterans and those at risk of 
becoming homeless.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Filner for including my bill 
into H.R. 4810 and acknowledge the special attention the committee has 
made to promote awareness of such assistance available to homeless 
women veterans and homeless veterans with children.
  Madam Speaker, with increased awareness about programs to assist 
homeless veterans, we can end veterans homelessness by 2014.
  No veteran should experience homelessness, and this bill ensures our 
nation's heroes know where to turn to for help. I urge all my 
colleagues to support H.R. 4810.

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