[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 58 (Thursday, April 25, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3036-S3038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANDERS (for himself and Mr. Burr):
  S. 825. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
provision of services for homeless veterans, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I rise to introduce the Homeless Veterans Prevention 
Act of 2013. I would like to thank Ranking Member Burr for joining me 
to introduce this bill. At a time when too many veterans are sleeping 
in the streets, in cars, and on couches, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs has taken on an aggressive initiative to end homelessness among 
veterans by 2015.
  This high level commitment has led to a 17 percent decrease in the 
homeless veteran population between 2009 and 2012. These declining 
numbers are a reflection of the combined efforts of VA and its Federal, 
State, Local, Tribal, and community partners as they work to eliminate 
veteran homelessness by 2015. However on one night in January 2012, an 
estimated 62,000 veterans were still without a place to call home. We 
must continue to work toward removing any remaining barriers to housing 
for veterans.
  The legislation we are introducing today would reaffirm this 
commitment by improving upon VA's programs to prevent and end 
homelessness among veterans. VA's transitional housing programs for 
homeless veterans must modernize to ensure that they are meeting the 
needs of the homeless veterans they are serving. With increasing 
numbers of women joining the military and eventually becoming veterans, 
VA is facing a growing homeless women veteran population. Many of these 
women are single mothers or have experienced military sexual trauma, 
making their housing needs even more complex.
  The Government Accountability Office and VA's Office of the Inspector 
General both found that homeless women veterans were not able to safely 
access services through VA's transitional housing programs. The 
Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of 2013 would remove these barriers by 
requiring grantees to ensure that facilities can safely serve the needs 
of the populations that will be living there. It also would allow VA to 
reimburse grantees for housing the children of homeless veterans, 
keeping families together and encouraging parents to come forth and be 
housed without having to worry about splitting their families up.
  As VA focuses on resolving homelessness, instead of just managing it, 
housing stability is increasingly a focus. This bill also modifies the 
transitional housing program to allow VA to incentivize grantees to 
avoid the challenges that veterans completing time-limited transitional 
housing programs can face as they search for permanent housing. More 
specifically, this bill allows VA to focus on housing stability by 
allowing certain transitional housing grantees to turn a portion of 
their transitional housing units into permanent housing units as 
veterans are stabilized and linked to support services.
  Access to stable and safe housing is a priority, but it is also 
critical to find ways to prevent homelessness among veterans who are 
at-risk of becoming homeless. This bill would also increase access to 
legal services and dental care for our veterans, two things that 
homeless veterans themselves have identified as unmet needs. Access to 
these services would greatly increase their chances of finding gainful 
employment, avoid foreclosure or eviction, obtain identification, and 
deal with legal issues that have resulted from the criminalization of 
homelessness, among other things.
  Veterans have a number of services and resources available to meet 
their needs. At its very simplest, homelessness among veterans is 
preventable when all of these programs work together to lift a veteran 
up. Conversely, homelessness occurs when a veteran slips through the 
cracks. We cannot sit by idly and allow another veteran to slip through 
the cracks. We must reach out and let them know when, where and how to 
get the help that they need and that they have earned.
  This is not a full summary of all the provisions within this 
legislation. However, I hope that I have provided an appropriate 
overview of the major benefits this legislation would provide.

[[Page S3037]]

  Mr. President, 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. 825

       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 ``Homeless Veterans Prevention 
     Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMPREHENSIVE 
                   SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Modification of Authority to Provide Capital 
     Improvement Grants for Programs That Assist Homeless 
     Veterans.--Subsection (a) of section 2011 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended, in the matter before paragraph (1)--
       (1) by striking ``or modifying'' and inserting ``, 
     modifying, or maintaining''; and
       (2) by inserting ``privately, safely, and securely,'' 
     before ``the following''.
       (b) Requirement That Recipients of Grants Meet Physical 
     Privacy, Safety, and Security Needs of Homeless Veterans.--
     Subsection (f) of such section is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) To meet the physical privacy, safety, and security 
     needs of homeless veterans receiving services through the 
     project.''.

     SEC. 3. INCREASED PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING 
                   ASSISTANCE THAT BECOMES PERMANENT HOUSING FOR 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS.

       Section 2012(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as 
     subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively;
       (2) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated, by striking ``in 
     subparagraph (D)'' and inserting ``in subparagraph (E)'';
       (3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by striking 
     ``under subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``under subparagraph 
     (C)'';
       (4) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated, by striking ``in 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C)'' and inserting ``in subparagraphs 
     (C) and (D)''; and
       (5) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``The rate'' and inserting ``Except as 
     otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), the rate''; and
       (B) by striking ``under subparagraph (B)'' and all that 
     follows through the end and inserting the following: ``under 
     subparagraph (C).
       ``(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), in no case may 
     the rate determined under this paragraph exceed the rate 
     authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under 
     subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the 
     Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) 
     of that section.
       ``(ii) In the case of services furnished to a homeless 
     veteran who is placed in housing that will become permanent 
     housing for the veteran upon termination of the furnishing of 
     such services to such veteran, the maximum rate of per diem 
     authorized under this section is 150 percent of the rate 
     described in clause (i).''.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING 
                   CARE TO DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS.

       Subsection (a) of section 2012 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) Services for which a recipient of a grant under 
     section 2011 of this title (or an entity described in 
     paragraph (1)) may receive per diem payments under this 
     subsection may include furnishing care for a dependent of a 
     homeless veteran who is under the care of such homeless 
     veteran while such homeless veteran receives services from 
     the grant recipient (or entity).''.

     SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   ASSESS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall assess and measure the capacity of programs for which 
     entities receive grants under section 2011 of title 38, 
     United States Code, or per diem payments under section 2012 
     or 2061 of such title.
       (b) Assessment at National and Local Levels.--In assessing 
     and measuring under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     develop and use tools to examine the capacity of programs 
     described in such subsection at both the national and local 
     level in order to assess the following:
       (1) Whether sufficient capacity exists to meet the needs of 
     homeless veterans in each geographic area.
       (2) Whether existing capacity meets the needs of the 
     subpopulations of homeless veterans located in each 
     geographic area.
       (3) The amount of capacity that recipients of grants under 
     sections 2011 and 2061 and per diem payments under section 
     2012 of such title have to provide services for which the 
     recipients are eligible to receive per diem under section 
     2012(a)(2)(B)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, as added 
     by section 3(5)(B).
       (c) Use of Information.--The Secretary shall use the 
     information collected under this section as follows:
       (1) To set specific goals to ensure that programs described 
     in subsection (a) are effectively serving the needs of 
     homeless veterans.
       (2) To assess whether programs described in subsection (a) 
     are meeting goals set under paragraph (1).
       (3) To inform funding allocations for programs described in 
     subsection (a).
       (4) To improve the referral of homeless veterans to 
     programs described in subsection (a).
       (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
     which the assessment required by subsection (b) is completed, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on such assessment 
     and such recommendations for legislative and administrative 
     action as the Secretary may have to improve the programs and 
     per diem payments described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 6. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORTS ON 
                   ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 2065 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is hereby repealed.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 2065.

     SEC. 7. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT PROGRAM OF 
                   REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VETERANS 
                   AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING 
                   FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.

       Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (d); and
       (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).

     SEC. 8. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO 
                   PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS AND 
                   VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 20 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities 
       to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans 
       at risk of homelessness

       ``(a) Partnerships Authorized.--Subject to the availability 
     of funds for that purpose, the Secretary may enter into 
     partnerships with public or private entities to fund a 
     portion of the general legal services specified in subsection 
     (c) that are provided by such entities to homeless veterans 
     and veterans at risk of homelessness.
       ``(b) Locations.--The Secretary shall ensure that, to the 
     extent practicable, partnerships under this section are made 
     with entities equitably distributed across the geographic 
     regions of the United States, including rural communities and 
     tribal lands.
       ``(c) Legal Services.--Legal services specified in this 
     subsection include legal services provided by public or 
     private entities that address the needs of homeless veterans 
     and veterans at risk of homelessness as follows:
       ``(1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction 
     defense and representation in landlord-tenant cases.
       ``(2) Legal services related to family law, including 
     assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, 
     and estate planning.
       ``(3) Legal services related to income support, including 
     assistance in obtaining public benefits.
       ``(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, including 
     defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as 
     outstanding warrants, fines, and driver's license revocation, 
     to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry 
     obstacles in employment or housing.
       ``(d) Consultation.--In developing and carrying out 
     partnerships under this section, the Secretary shall, to the 
     extent practicable, consult with public and private 
     entities--
       ``(1) for assistance in identifying and contacting 
     organizations described in subsection (c); and
       ``(2) to coordinate appropriate outreach relationships with 
     such organizations.
       ``(e) Reports.--The Secretary may require entities that 
     have entered into partnerships under this section to submit 
     to the Secretary periodic reports on legal services provided 
     to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness 
     pursuant to such partnerships.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by adding 
     after the item relating to section 2022 the following new 
     item:

``2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal 
              services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of 
              homelessness.''.

     SEC. 9. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUTHORITY 
                   TO PROVIDE DENTAL CARE TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

       Subsection (b) of section 2062 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Eligible Veterans.--(1) Subsection (a) applies to a 
     veteran who--
       ``(A) is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this 
     title; and
       ``(B) for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving--

[[Page S3038]]

       ``(i) assistance under section 8(o) of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); or
       ``(ii) care (directly or by contract) in any of the 
     following settings:
       ``(I) A domiciliary under section 1710 of this title.
       ``(II) A therapeutic residence under section 2032 of this 
     title.
       ``(III) Community residential care coordinated by the 
     Secretary under section 1730 of this title.
       ``(IV) A setting for which the Secretary provides funds for 
     a grant and per diem provider.
       ``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), in determining whether 
     a veteran has received assistance or care for a period of 60 
     consecutive days, the Secretary may disregard breaks in the 
     continuity of assistance or care for which the veteran is not 
     responsible.''.

     SEC. 10. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Comprehensive Service Programs.--Section 2013 of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraphs (4) 
     through (6) and inserting the following:
       ``(4) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 
     2014.
       ``(5) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each subsequent 
     fiscal year.''.
       (b) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs.--Section 
     2021(e)(1)(F) of such title is amended by striking ``2013'' 
     and inserting ``2014''.
       (c) Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seriously Mentally Ill 
     and Homeless Veterans.--Section 2031(b) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``December 31, 2013'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2014''.
       (d) Centers for the Provision of Comprehensive Services to 
     Homeless Veterans.--Section 2033(d) of such title is amended 
     by striking ``December 31, 2013'' and inserting ``December 
     31, 2014''.
       (e) Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans.--Section 
     2041(c) of such title is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2013'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
       (f) Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very 
     Low-income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing.--
       (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 2044(e) of such 
     title is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph (F):
       ``(F) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.''.
       (2) Training entities for provision of supportive 
     services.--Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by 
     striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2014''.
       (g) Grant Program for Homeless Veterans With Special 
     Needs.--Section 2061(d)(1) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``for each of'' through ``shall be available'' and 
     inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2014, 
     $5,000,000 shall be available''.
       (h) Technical Assistance Grants for Nonprofit Community-
     based Groups.--Section 2064(b) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2014''.
       (i) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.--Section 
     2066(d) of such title is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2013'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
                                 ______