[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1176-H1179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3749) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to entities that provide 
legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
homelessness, and for other purposes, as amended.

[[Page H1177]]

  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3749

       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 ``Legal Services for Homeless 
     Veterans Act''.

     SEC. 2. LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT 
                   RISK FOR 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. Legal services for homeless veterans and 
       veterans at risk for homelessness

       ``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall make grants to eligible entities that 
     provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at 
     risk for homelessness.
       ``(b) Criteria.--(1) The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) establish criteria and requirements for grants under 
     this section, including criteria for entities eligible to 
     receive such grants; and
       ``(B) publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal 
     Register.
       ``(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) take into consideration any criteria and requirements 
     needed with respect to carrying out this section in rural 
     communities, Tribal lands, and the territories and 
     possessions of the United States; and
       ``(B) consult with organizations that have experience in 
     providing services to homeless veterans, including veterans 
     service organizations, the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps 
     Veterans Legal Corps, and other organizations the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       ``(c) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may make a grant 
     under this section to an entity applying for such a grant 
     only if the applicant for the grant--
       ``(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the 
     capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively 
     administer a grant under this section;
       ``(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be 
     available to carry out the services for which the grant is 
     sought consistent with the application;
       ``(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and 
     requirements established under subsection (b)(1); and
       ``(4) has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the 
     capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.
       ``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be 
     used to provide homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
     homelessness the following legal services:
       ``(1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction 
     defense, representation in landlord-tenant cases, and 
     representation in foreclosure cases.
       ``(2) Legal services related to family law, including 
     assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, 
     estate planning, and family reconciliation.
       ``(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.
       ``(5) Legal services related to requests to upgrade the 
     characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former 
     member of the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10.
       ``(6) Such other legal services as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.
       ``(e) Funds for Women Veterans.--For any fiscal year, not 
     less than ten percent of the amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for grants under this section shall be used to 
     provide legal services described in subsection (d) to women 
     veterans.
       ``(f) Reports.--On a biennial basis, the Secretary shall 
     submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate a report on grants under this 
     section. To the extent feasible, each such report shall 
     include the following with respect to the year covered by the 
     report:
       ``(1) The number of homeless veterans and veterans at risk 
     for homelessness assisted.
       ``(2) A description of the legal services provided.
       ``(3) A description of the legal matters addressed.
       ``(4) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the 
     operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the 
     services provided.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 2022 the following new item:

``2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
              homelessness.''.

       (c) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall establish the criteria and requirements in the Federal 
     Register pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2022A of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

     SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN 
                   FAMILIES GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS 
                   THAT HAVE A FOCUS ON PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO 
                   WOMEN VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

       Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 for the provision 
     of financial assistance under subsection (a) to organizations 
     that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans 
     and their families.''.

     SEC. 4. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN 
                   VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     complete an analysis of programs of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs that provide assistance to women veterans 
     who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas 
     in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such 
     women.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, 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 the analysis completed under 
     subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. 
Roe) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 3749, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3749, as amended, the Legal 
Services for Homeless Veterans Act.
  Over the past decade, Congress and the Obama and Trump 
administrations have prioritized ending veteran homelessness. However, 
while rates of veteran homelessness have fallen, even one veteran 
without shelter is unacceptable.
  This committee is committed to providing services to prevent 
homelessness and to assist veterans who become homeless by providing 
them housing and access to healthcare and social services.
  According to the Project CHALENG, otherwise known as Community 
Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups, and VA 
survey, legal services are one of the top unmet needs for homeless 
veterans. H.R. 3749 directly addresses that need.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3749, as amended, is sponsored by Congressman 
Panetta and includes legislation authored by Congresswoman Beatty, 
Congresswoman Wild, and Congressman Levin. It authorizes VA to provide 
grants or enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities that 
provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
homelessness.
  The VA would be required to consult with organizations that have 
experience providing services to homeless veterans when establishing 
these criteria and requirements, and these grants or cooperative 
agreements would only be available to highly rated public or nonprofit 
entities.
  Additionally, at least 10 percent of the funds made available each 
fiscal year for this grant program must be reserved for providing legal 
services to homeless women veterans. As we know, women veterans are the 
fastest growing population of homeless veterans.
  Finally, this legislation authorizes $20 million of the funding for 
the Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program to go to 
organizations that assist homeless veterans with children. The SSVF 
program has been one of the most effective tools to address veteran 
homelessness since its creation by President Obama, and I thank this 
administration and Congress for supporting it.
  Madam Speaker, southern California is ground zero for addressing 
veteran homelessness. Riverside, California, in my own district, 
reached functional zero veteran homelessness, but many communities 
surrounding my district need additional resources and programs

[[Page H1178]]

to reach functional zero. Providing legal services to veterans who need 
them also prevents those veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Panetta, Congresswoman Beatty, 
Congresswoman Wild, and Congressman Levin, the chair of our Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee, for their advocacy and work to pass 
legislation that will end veteran homelessness.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3749, 
as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 3749, as amended, the 
Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act.
  This bill would authorize a new legal services grant program for 
homeless veteran providers.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs would administer this grant 
program to organizations serving homeless veterans that provide legal 
services for issues regarding housing, family matters, criminal 
defense, and upgrading military discharges. Grantees would provide 
these services to veterans who are or who are at risk of becoming 
homeless.
  This bill would also require that not less than 10 percent of grant 
funds go toward providing legal services for veterans who are women.
  The committee's oversight of the homeless program has found that 
simple legal services can be a barrier to reintegration for the 
homeless or at-risk veterans because they can prevent them from gaining 
meaningful employment and stable housing.
  I believe that providing grants to homeless veteran providers that 
offer legal services to this vulnerable population would be providing 
another avenue for these veterans to appropriately work through their 
legal issues and, hopefully, move closer to independence.
  The bill would also direct $20 million from VA's Supportive Services 
for Veteran Families program to grantees that provide services 
specifically for homeless women veterans.
  It would further require an advanced study on what type of services 
are available for homeless women veterans and how to ensure these 
services are meeting their needs.
  While I am supportive of this new program grant as well as the steps 
the bill would take to help homeless women veterans, I am concerned 
that there is no limit to the amount of medical service dollars that 
could be spent on this new program. I worry that if we continue to use 
the medical service account as a cash cow for new, unfunded priorities, 
other veteran programs eventually could be negatively impacted.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Panetta), my good friend and also the author of H.R. 
3749, a veteran himself.
  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member. 
I appreciate this opportunity to talk about something that both of 
these gentlemen have discussed and support. I appreciate that, so I 
thank the gentlemen very much.

  Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support as well of H.R. 3749, the 
Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act.
  This is a bill that directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
provide grants to organizations that provide legal services to homeless 
veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness.
  The grant funds will be used to provide legal services related to 
housing, such as legal services related to family law; legal services 
related to income support; legal services related to criminal defense, 
including defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness; and legal 
services related to requests to upgrade discharge characterizations.
  The legislation also authorizes appropriations of at least $20 
million for additional aid to women veterans experiencing housing 
instability and homelessness. As you heard from the chairman, women are 
the fastest growing group not just of homeless veterans but in the 
military and in our veterans' communities. And, as you heard, they are 
more likely to be single parents.
  While serving as a local prosecutor, before my time here in Congress, 
in Monterey County, and working as a board member for the Veterans 
Transition Center of Monterey County, an organization which offers 
veterans not just transitional housing but, of course, case management 
programs to get them up on their feet and back into the communities 
where they can continue to serve, I worked firsthand with many veterans 
who had certain legal issues that brought them to the brink or pushed 
them right into, unfortunately, homelessness.
  It is essential that Congress now ensure that our veterans are 
properly supported, have access to legal aid, and, yes, get the 
benefits that they have earned. We can then keep a roof over their 
heads.
  For veterans in my district and across this country, this bill will 
provide them aid that really can help them during such events as 
Veterans Stand Down, a biennial event that we have in our district that 
provides much-needed legal assistance and helps our community's 
veterans get back on solid ground, be accepted into housing, drive 
legally, and make sure that they can find a job.
  Madam Speaker, as a former veteran, I do urge my colleagues to 
support my bill to provide veterans the resources necessary to help 
them resolve legal issues and get back on their feet so that they can 
get back to being an integral part of our community and, of course, our 
country.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I thank the members of the For Country Caucus 
for endorsing this legislation. As a co-chair and founder of this 
caucus, the membership and I have worked to provide a platform for 
military veteran members to work across the aisle, to improve 
governance, and to enact productive policy, just like we have done 
here.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to have this bill introduced through the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, which I do believe does the exact same 
thing, and I thank both of these gentlemen for bringing this bill to 
the floor.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill and appreciate Mr. 
Panetta's leadership on it.
  When I got to Congress in 2009, there were over 100,000 homeless 
veterans in this country. That number has been reduced by 70 percent. 
And, as the chairman said, zero is the right number; that is the 
correct number of homeless veterans.
  This will go a long way to reestablishing many other things that the 
committee has done to help this, but this is a major step in helping 
when you are trying to get legal services with a lease or with many 
other things, with family issues.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, I want to echo the sentiment of my colleague, Ranking 
Member Roe. We have both said in public and acknowledged the tremendous 
progress the VA has made in reducing homelessness. It began with the 
commitment under President Obama and has been continued under President 
Trump.
  We have not done enough, I fear, to celebrate the tremendous 
reduction in homelessness across our country with respect to veteran 
homelessness. It still persists in my home State of California. We have 
a number of initiatives teed up, which, I trust, we are going to 
cooperate on.
  The VA gets knocked around a lot for its shortcomings, but I have to 
say that this is one of the accomplishments that we have to celebrate 
more.
  Mr. Panetta's bill, H.R. 3749, is a continuation of this work. I urge 
all of my colleagues to join me in passing it, as amended, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3749, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.

[[Page H1179]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________