[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CLOTHE A HOMELESS HERO ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 6328, the ``Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force 
Act,'' which Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security 
(Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) to transfer unclaimed 
clothing recovered at airport security checkpoints to local veterans 
organizations or other local charitable organizations for distribution 
to homeless or needy veterans and their families. Moreover, it 
authorizes the Assistant Secretary to enter into agreements with 
airport authorities for disposing of such clothing.
  In my home state of Texas, we have nearly 1.7 million veterans. I 
represent 18th District in Texas which is home to over 32,000 veterans. 
Of the 200,000 veterans of military service who live and work in 
Houston; more than 13,000 are veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom 
in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Veteran homelessness has been a substantial problem going back to at 
least the Vietnam era.
  An estimated 10-16 percent of our nation's homeless population 
(between 76,000-136,000) are veterans.
  Nearly one in seven homeless adults are veterans, as of * * *
  More than 67,000 homeless veterans were counted on a given January 
night in America last year. More than 4 in 10 homeless veterans were 
found unsheltered.
  Almost half of homeless veterans were African American in 2008 
despite the fact that only 11 percent of veterans overall are African 
American.
  1.5 million veterans are at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack 
of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or 
substandard housing.
  30.2 percent of veterans ages 18 to 24 were unemployed according to 
unpublished 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
  Nearly 1 in 10 veterans with disabilities were not employed in 2010.
  According to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a 2007 survey 
showed that more than one-third of employers were unaware of 
protections they must provide to servicemembers, and more than half 
spent less than 2 percent of their recruitment budget on military 
advertising and/or did not understand the qualifications of military 
service.
  In that same survey more than half of all veterans were unsure of how 
to professionally network, and nearly three in four felt unprepared to 
negotiate salary and benefits and/or unable to effectively translate 
military skills.
  More than 968,000 of veterans ages 18 to 64 had been in poverty in 
the past year in 2010.
  More than 33,000 veterans were housed since 2009 by the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
permanent, supportive housing with case managers and access to VA 
health care.
  $31 million of SNAP/food stamps funding in 2008 was spent at military 
commissaries to help feed military members and their families who 
struggle against hunger.
  A veteran lives in one in five households benefiting from the Low 
Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides heating and 
cooling assistance.
  After serving this country and protecting our rights and freedoms, 
these veterans often sustain debilitating injuries or post-traumatic 
stress that make readjusting to life in the U.S. an arduous task. It is 
often difficult for them to find jobs and as they slip further into 
hopelessness, they become more susceptible to drug abuse and violent 
acts which can lead to homelessness.
  This is a disturbing trend that must end. Surely, in this great 
nation, we can provide for those who fought to defend us. As our men 
and women in the armed forces have served us, it is our duty to, in 
turn, serve them.
  H.R. 6328 is a step in the right direction towards finding creative 
solutions for the basic needs of certain veterans. By using unclaimed 
clothing that has been left at airports is a wonderful way to help 
ensure that veterans who have fallen on hard times have access to 
clothing.
  With the epidemic of depression, anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress 
Disorder (PTSD) in our military, along with the burden of long and 
repeated deployment during our nation's most recent wars, we must be 
vigilant about combating the issue of homelessness among our nation's 
heroes.
  Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have remained committed to 
meeting both the needs of veterans of previous wars, and to those who 
are now serving. 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.
  I have introduced and supported legislation that increases medical 
services to our troops, veterans and their families. I recently 
introduced a measure that resulted in $500,000 additional funding for 
PTSD research and treatment. Yet, as we work to improve the physical 
and mental health of our returning heroes; we must also work to ensure 
that our service men and women retain their dignity when they return 
home, and providing them with access to clothes is the least we can do 
to honor their service. For that reason, I urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 6328, the ``Clothe a Homeless Hero Act,'' on Suspension.

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