[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 85 (Monday, May 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2364-H2365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1430
HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 240) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Labor to prioritize the provision of services to homeless
veterans with dependents in carrying out homeless veterans
reintegration programs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 240
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 ``Homeless Veterans with
Children Reintegration Act''.
SEC. 2. PRIORITY UNDER HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION
PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH DEPENDENTS.
(a) Priority for Homeless Veterans With Dependent
Children.--Subsection (a) of section 2021 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``Subject to'' and inserting ``(1) Subject
to'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as
subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In conducting programs under this section, the
Secretary shall prioritize the provision of services to
homeless veterans with dependents.''.
(b) Additional Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (d) of
such section is amended--
(1) by striking ``the report an evaluation of services''
and all that follows and inserting ``each such report--'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(1) an evaluation of services furnished to veterans under
this section and an analysis of the information collected
under subsection (b);
``(2) an analysis of any gaps in access to shelter, safety,
and services for homeless veterans with dependent children;
and
``(3) recommendations for improving any gaps identified
under paragraph (2).''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. 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. 240.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on H.R. 240, the Homeless Veterans
with Children Reintegration Act introduced by Congresswoman Julia
Brownley.
There is increasing concern that shelters and homeless veteran
housing is not created to serve families, and that homeless veterans
with children may avoid seeking out services because they are afraid of
being separated from their children.
Representative Brownley's legislation seeks to start addressing the
issue by ensuring that veterans with families are prioritized within
the homeless veterans reintegration program, or HVRP. HVRP seeks to
address reintegrating homeless veterans into the workforce through
grants to partner organizations.
Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Department of Labor identified homeless
female veterans and veterans with families as one of the three priority
populations for HVRP services. H.R. 240 would prioritize homeless
veterans with dependent children within the homeless veteran
reintegration program to ensure they get the resources they need to
return to housing without the fear of losing their children should they
seek help.
I applaud Representative Brownley for her work on this legislation,
and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Homeless Veterans
with Children Reintegration Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 240, the Homeless Veterans
with Children Reintegration Act.
This legislation would direct the Secretary of Labor to prioritize
homeless veterans with dependents when administering homeless
reintegration programs.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released
2020's Point-in-Time count for homeless veterans. This count showed
that on a single night in 2020, there were 37,252 veterans living on
the street. This is a slight increase of 0.4 percent from 2019.
With COVID-19 impacting the economy and increasing unemployment, we
must do everything we can to help our homeless veterans find work.
By passing this bill to prioritize job training for homeless veterans
with dependents, we are ensuring this vulnerable population is at the
front of the line for help.
I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her hard work on drafting this
bill, and I am proud to support it today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Brownley), my good friend, the chairwoman of the
Subcommittee on Health, and also the author of this important piece of
legislation.
Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the
Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act.
On any given day, there are more than 550,000 people experiencing
homelessness in our country. An estimated 40,000 of them are veterans.
This is categorically unacceptable.
Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development and VA have
made progress toward eliminating veterans' homelessness, there is still
more that must be done to ensure that every veteran has a home.
We know it is 10 times cheaper to provide resources to prevent
homelessness in the first place than it is to house someone once they
have become homeless.
We also know that so many of our veterans suffer from PTSD related to
combat or, far too often, military sexual trauma. These traumatic
experiences put veterans at increased risk of mental health conditions,
substance use disorders, and homelessness.
[[Page H2365]]
We owe it to our veterans to spare no effort in providing the
security and assistance they need to transition to civilian life. One
way to help our veterans experiencing homelessness is to help them gain
new employment skills and get stable jobs.
The Department of Labor's homeless veterans reintegration program
focuses on securing employment opportunities for homeless veterans. The
program provides grants to State and local agencies and nonprofit
organizations that teach veterans occupational skills, provide on-the-
job training, help them attain apprenticeships, and help with job
searches and placement.
Grantees also collaborate with public and private partners at all
levels--Federal, State, and local--to provide supportive services and
access to housing.
The program has been extremely successful, helping place thousands of
homeless veterans in competitive employment every year.
Over the last several years, the Department of Labor has identified
certain homeless veteran populations that are in particular need of
reintegration services, including female veterans and veterans with
families. My bill would direct the Department of Labor to prioritize
homeless veterans with dependent children participating in its
reintegration program.
This subpopulation of homeless veterans is particularly vulnerable,
and it is so important to ensure they have access to the wraparound
services necessary to support a parent with children.
Research shows that families experiencing homelessness often have to
contend with intimate partner violence, child separation, and other
extremely challenging issues. That is why my bill would also require
the Department of Labor to study access to shelter, safety, and other
relevant services for homeless veterans with dependent children. This
information will help us understand the problem and identify
opportunities to resolve issues in providing services to this
vulnerable population.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 2
minutes.
Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will also go a long way
toward supporting veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country
and are now struggling to adjust to civilian life and to support
families.
This bill has received broad bipartisan support in the past, and I
ask that my colleagues, as my colleagues have on the committee, join me
in getting it across the finish line. We owe our veterans nothing less.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 240 as we did unanimously in committee. I suspect that if
this bill were brought to a vote before the entire body, it would pass
with near-unanimous support.
Mr. Speaker, 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. 240.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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