[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4956-S4957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. Hirono):
  S. 1731. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive the 
minimum period of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces for 
receipt of certain benefits for homeless veterans, to authorize the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such benefits to homeless 
veterans with discharges or releases from service in the Armed Forces 
with other than dishonorable conditions, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Homeless 
Veterans Services Protection Act of 2015.
  This legislation would ensure continued access to homeless services 
for some of our country's most vulnerable veterans who are currently at 
risk of losing these critical services.
  The administration set the difficult but commendable goal of 
eliminating veteran homelessness. Through tremendous efforts at every 
level of government, and with the help of community groups, non-profits 
and the private sector, we have made major progress toward achieving 
that goal.
  But we know we have a lot of work to do. Veterans are at greater risk 
of becoming homeless than non-veterans and on any given night as many 
as 50,000 veterans are homeless across the United States.
  This is unacceptable.
  Our veterans made great sacrifices while serving our country and our 
commitment to them is especially important. This commitment includes 
providing benefits, medical care, support, and assistance to prevent 
homelessness.
  Two of our greatest tools are the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
Grant and Per Diem program and the Supportive Services for Veteran 
Families program through partnerships with homeless service providers 
around the country.
  These important and successful programs assist very low-income 
veterans and their families who either live in permanent housing or are 
transitioning from homelessness. The programs help our veterans with 
rent, utilities, moving costs, outreach, case management, and obtaining 
benefits.
  But last year, after a legal review of its policies, VA was forced to 
prepare for a change that would have cut off services to veterans who 
did not meet certain length of service or discharge requirements, 
changing policies that homeless service providers had followed for 
decades.
  That would be a heartless, bureaucratic move that could have put 
thousands of veterans on the streets--practically overnight. According 
to some of our leading veterans and homeless groups--including The 
American Legion, the National Alliance to End Homelessness the National 
Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Coalition for Homeless 
Veterans--had the policy been enacted, VA would have had to stop 
serving about 15 percent of the homeless veteran population, and in 
certain urban areas up to 30 percent of homeless veterans would have 
been turned away.
  The veterans community alerted me to this possible change--and while 
I am proud that we prevented these changes in the short-term--it is 
very concerning that a legal opinion could be issued at any time to 
undo all of that.
  There is good reason to reverse this policy for good. A report from 
VA's Inspector General, issued just last week, shows how VA's unclear 
or outdated guidance hurts veterans, and how VA's proposed policy 
changes work against efforts to help homeless veterans.
  As a senior member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the 
daughter of a World War II veteran, I'm proud that the bill I have 
introduced today would permanently protect homeless veterans' access to 
housing and services.
  This bill makes it clear that our country takes care of those who 
have served, and we don't allow bureaucracy to dictate who gets a roof 
over their head and who doesn't.
  Many veterans struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, or 
simply finding a steady job--all factors that can lead to homelessness.
  And veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are increasingly 
becoming homeless--numbers that will continue to increase in the coming 
years unless help is available for them.
  The idea that any of these veterans returning from service could 
become homeless because of these policies is unacceptable.
  If we ever hope to end veteran homelessness we must do everything we 
can to reach this goal, and I want to make

[[Page S4957]]

sure that VA's policies are moving us in that direction.
  I don't just believe that the United States can do better; I believe 
we must do better for those who've sacrificed so much for our country.
  Finally I would like to thank Senator Hirono for cosponsoring this 
bill and being a champion of the men and women who have served our 
country.
                                 ______