[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3715-S3716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1575. Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Markey, and Mrs.
Feinstein) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment
SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the
Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1085. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLD
ITEMS, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS
VETERANS MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
(a) Pilot Program Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall commence a pilot program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of awarding grants to eligible entities to
provide furniture, household items, and other assistance to
covered veterans moving into permanent housing to facilitate
the settlement of such covered veterans in such housing.
(2) Eligible entities.--For purposes of the pilot program,
an eligible entity is any of the following:
(A) A veterans service agency.
(B) A veterans service organization.
(C) A nongovernmental organization that--
(i) is described in paragraph (3), (4), or (19) of section
501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) of such code; and
(ii) has an established history of providing assistance to
veterans or the homeless.
(3) Covered veterans.--For purposes of the pilot program, a
covered veteran is any of the following:
(A) A formerly homeless veteran who is receiving housing,
clinical services, and case management assistance under
section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)).
(B) A veteran who is receiving--
(i) assistance from, or is the beneficiary of a service
furnished by, a program that is in receipt of a grant under
section 2011 of title 38, United States Code; or
(ii) services for which per diem payment is received under
section 2012 of such title.
(C) A veteran who is--
(i) a beneficiary of the outreach program carried out under
section 2022(e) of such title; or
(ii) in receipt of referral or counseling services from the
program carried out under section 2023 of such title.
(D) A veteran who is receiving a service or assistance
under section 2031 of such title.
[[Page S3716]]
(E) A veteran who is residing in therapeutic housing
operated under section 2032 of such title.
(F) A veteran who is receiving domiciliary services under
section 2043 of such title or domiciliary care under section
1710(b) of such title.
(G) A veteran who is receiving supportive services under
section 2044 of such title.
(4) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program during the three-year period beginning on the date of
the commencement of the pilot program.
(b) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program through the award of grants to eligible entities for
the provision of furniture and other household items as
described in subsection (a)(1).
(2) Maximum amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under
the pilot program shall not exceed $500,000.
(c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--
(1) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an
application therefor in such form and in such manner as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Selection priority.--
(A) Communities with greatest need.--Subject to
subparagraph (B), in accordance with regulations the
Secretary shall prescribe, the Secretary shall give priority
in the awarding of grants under the pilot program to eligible
entities who serve communities which the Secretary determines
have the greatest need of homeless services.
(B) Geographic distribution.--The Secretary may give
priority in the awarding of grants under the pilot program to
achieve a fair distribution, as determined by the Secretary,
among eligible entities serving covered veterans in different
geographic regions, including in rural communities and tribal
lands.
(d) Use of Grant Funds.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each
eligible entity receiving a grant under the pilot program
shall use the grant--
(A) to coordinate with the Secretary to facilitate
distribution of furniture and other household items to
covered veterans moving into permanent housing;
(B) to purchase, or otherwise obtain via donation,
furniture and household items for use by such covered
veterans;
(C) to distribute such furniture and household items to
such covered veterans; and
(D) to pay for background checks, provide security
deposits, provide funds for utilities, and provide moving
expenses for such covered veterans that are necessary for the
settlement of such covered veterans in such housing.
(2) Maximum amount of assistance.--A recipient of a grant
awarded under the pilot program may not expend more than
$2,500 of the amount of the grant awarded for the provision
to a single covered veteran of assistance under the pilot
program.
(3) Memorandums of understanding.--In the case of an
eligible entity receiving a grant under the pilot program
that entered into a memorandum of understanding with the
Secretary before the date of the enactment of this Act that
provides for the provision of furniture and other household
items to covered veterans as described in subsection (a)
without Federal compensation, the eligible entity may use the
grant in accordance with the provisions of such memorandum of
understanding in lieu of paragraph (1).
(4) Full use of funds.--
(A) In general.--A recipient of a grant awarded under the
pilot program shall use the full amount of the grant by not
later than one year after the date on which the Secretary
awards such grant.
(B) Recovery.--The Secretary may recover from a recipient
of a grant awarded under this section all of the unused
amounts of the grant if all of the amounts of the grant are
not used--
(i) pursuant to paragraph (1) and subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph; or
(ii) in a case described in paragraph (3), pursuant to an
applicable memorandum of understanding.
(e) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach,
including under chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code,
to inform covered veterans about their eligibility to receive
household items, furniture, and other assistance under the
pilot program.
(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations
for--
(1) evaluating an application by an eligible entity for a
grant under the pilot program; and
(2) otherwise administering the pilot program.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than the date that is 90 days
after the last day of the pilot program, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report on the pilot program.
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the pilot program.
(B) The findings of the Secretary with respect to the
feasibility and advisability of awarding grants to eligible
entities as described in subsection (a)(1).
(C) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for
legislative or administrative action to facilitate the
settlement of covered veterans into permanent housing.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$5,000,000 for each year of the pilot program.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Outreach.--The term ``outreach'' has the meaning given
such term in section 6301(b)(1) of title 38, United States
Code.
(2) Veterans service agency.--The term ``veterans service
agency'' means a unit of a State government, or a political
subdivision thereof, that has primary responsibility for
programs and activities of such government or subdivision
related to veterans benefits.
(3) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means any organization recognized by
the Secretary for the representation of veterans under
section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
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