[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HOMES FOR HEROES ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 2013

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 384, 
the ``Homes for Heroes Act of 2013.'' I support this bill because it 
provides much needed assistance to more than 62,000 veterans who can be 
found homeless on any given night. I support this bill because it will 
help the 12,700 homeless veterans who were involved in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. I support this legislation because it is unacceptable that 
anyone who served this nation honorably in times of war should be 
without a home in times of peace.
  The Homes for Heroes Act creates the position of Special Assistant 
for Veterans Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) and charges him or her with the responsibility 
of ensuring that veterans have fair access to housing and homeless 
assistance programs at HUD in addition to coordinating HUD programs and 
activities of the Department relating to veterans; serving as a liaison 
with the Department of Veterans Affairs; serving as HUD liaison to the 
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and State, and local 
governments, and nongovernmental organizations concerned with veterans.
  The Special Assistant also will provide veterans information and 
advice regarding special housing programs for veterans and assisting 
them in obtaining housing or homeless assistance under programs 
administered by the Department.
  There are over 304,000 veterans in my city of Houston, and 11,000 
homeless men and women, more than 3,600 of which are veterans. These 
homeless veterans have fallen victim to the effects of post-traumatic 
stress disorder, substance abuse, and often faced difficulty entering 
the civilian workforce where experience in military occupations and 
training do not easily translate. Because of these and other 
difficulties, a veteran commits suicide every 65 hours.
  These men and women are often single, alone, and with little family 
connections concentrated in large urban areas where living conditions 
are more likely to be poor. Forty percent of our homeless veterans are 
African American or Hispanic despite making up a much smaller 
percentage of the veteran community.
  The welfare of homeless veterans of our nation, who fought in World 
War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, the 
Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq, should always be one of our 
primary concerns. They should not be left to fend for themselves when 
they encounter difficulties upon returning home. The Homes for Heroes 
act help will ensure that more have a home to live in when they return 
home.
  The sad reality is that too many of our veterans are homeless or 
jobless or poor. They grow younger by the year. They need our help and 
support. We owe it to answer the call for them.
  I urge all members of the House to join in me in supporting H.R. 384, 
the Homes for Heroes Act of 2013.

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