[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6073-S6074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Johanns):
  S. 1387. A bill to establish a pilot program to authorize the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit 
organizations to rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-
income veterans; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am proud to be once again reintroducing 
the Housing Assistance for Veterans Act, HAVEN Act, with my colleague, 
Senator Johanns.
  Last year, we joined forces to successfully pass this legislation as 
an amendment during the Senate's consideration of the National Defense 
Authorization Act, NDAA. Unfortunately, due to concerns by some on the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, it was not included in the final version 
of the NDAA. Those concerns have been addressed in this version of the 
HAVEN Act, and I would like to thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
for working cooperatively with us to strengthen the legislation.
  Our veterans have made many personal sacrifices in service to our 
Nation, and we must honor our commitment to provide them with the care 
they have earned and deserve. One such way is to ensure that they have 
access to adequate housing.
  According to Rebuilding Together, 5.5 million of our veterans are 
disabled, and one and a half million are at risk of homelessness. In my 
home State of Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there 
are more than 19,000 veterans with disabilities, each of whom face 
their own unique challenges in terms of their housing needs.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, has programs that assist 
veterans in adapting and improving their homes, but unfortunately, 
these programs do not extend assistance to all veterans with 
disabilities. It is clear we must do more, and with this legislation, 
we are seeking to serve all veterans with disabilities, regardless of 
the severity of the disability and whether the disability is service-
connected.

[[Page S6074]]

  The HAVEN Act will give veterans the opportunity to renovate and 
modify their existing homes by installing wheelchair ramps, widening 
doors, re-equipping rooms, and making necessary additions and 
adjustments to existing structures--all so that these homes are safer 
and more suitable for our veterans.
  Our legislation encourages key stakeholders, such as the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, the VA, housing non-profits, and 
veterans service organizations, to work together to serve our veterans. 
In order to extend the reach of this Federal funding, grant recipients 
would be expected to either match Federal funding or make in-kind 
contributions, through encouraging volunteers to help make repairs or 
engaging businesses to donate needed supplies.
  This bill is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, 
VetsFirst, a program of United Spinal Association, Iraq and Afghanistan 
Veterans of America, Habitat for Humanity, and Rebuilding Together. I 
thank Senator Johanns for working with me on this important bill, and I 
look forward to working with him and the rest of our colleagues to pass 
this legislation.
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