[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2775-H2777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOMELESS VETERANS CREDIT REPAIR, ENHANCEMENT, AND DEBT IMPROVEMENT FOR 
                              TOMORROW ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1257) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct 
a study on the effect of financial and credit counseling for homeless 
veterans and veterans experiencing housing instability, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1257

       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 Credit 
     Repair, Enhancement, and Debt Improvement for Tomorrow Act'' 
     or the ``Homeless Veterans CREDIT Act''.

     SEC. 2. STUDY ON FINANCIAL AND CREDIT COUNSELING.

       (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall conduct a comprehensive study on--
       (1) the use of and variation of financial and credit 
     counseling services available for homeless veterans and 
     veterans experiencing housing instability;
       (2) barriers to accessing financial and credit counseling 
     for such veterans; and
       (3) the ability to evaluate and assess the potential 
     effects of financial and credit counseling for such veterans 
     with respect to housing, employment, income, and other 
     outcomes the Secretary determines appropriate.
       (b) Methodology.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) survey--
       (A) homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing 
     instability who are enrolled in the Supportive Services for 
     Veterans Families program;
       (B) such veterans who do not seek or receive the care or 
     services under such program or a similar program;
       (C) grantees of the Supportive Services for Veterans 
     Families program;
       (D) financial and credit counselors; and
       (E) persons who are subject matter experts regarding the 
     use of financial and credit counseling services that the 
     Secretary determines appropriate; and
       (2) administer the survey to a representative sample of 
     homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing 
     instability in areas with high veteran homelessness.
       (c) Use and Variation of Services.--In conducting the study 
     under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall--
       (1) use data from the Supportive Services for Veterans 
     Families program and other data collected by the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, data collected by other departments or 
     agencies of the Federal Government, and data collected by 
     nongovernmental entities to compare the use of and variation 
     of financial and credit counseling services available for 
     homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing 
     instability and such use and variation for other individuals; 
     and
       (2) assess such services made available through the 
     Supportive Services for Veterans Families program, including 
     with respect to the types, modes of delivery, duration, 
     consistency, and quality, of such services.
       (d) Barriers to Counseling.--In conducting the study under 
     subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall conduct research on 
     the effects of the following perceived barriers to financial 
     and credit counseling for homeless veterans and veterans 
     experiencing housing instability surveyed in the study:
       (1) The cost of financial and credit counseling services.
       (2) The perceived stigma associated with seeking financial 
     and credit counseling assistance.
       (3) The effect of driving distance or availability of other 
     forms of transportation to the nearest facility that received 
     a grant under the Supportive Services for Veterans Families 
     program.
       (4) The availability of child care.
       (5) The comprehension of eligibility requirements for, and 
     the scope of services available under, the Supportive 
     Services for Veterans Families program.
       (6) The effectiveness of outreach for the services 
     available to such veterans under the Supportive Services for 
     Veterans Families program.
       (7) The location and operating hours of facilities that 
     provide services to such veterans under the Supportive 
     Services for Veterans Families program.
       (8) The COVID-19 pandemic and other health related issues.
       (9) Such other significant barriers as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate.
       (e) Evaluation and Assessment of Effects of Counseling.--
       (1) Effects.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a)(3), the Secretary shall conduct research on the ability 
     to evaluate and assess the potential effects of financial and 
     credit counseling services on homeless veterans and veterans 
     experiencing housing instability with respect to the 
     following:
       (A) The effects of such services on employment by comparing 
     the veterans who received such services and the veterans who 
     did not receive such services.
       (B) The effects of such services on housing status by 
     comparing the veterans who received such services and the 
     veterans who did not receive such services.
       (C) The effects of such services on income by comparing the 
     veterans who received such services and the veterans who did 
     not receive such services.
       (D) The effects of such services on credit score by 
     comparing the veterans who received such services and the 
     veterans who did not receive such services.
       (E) The effects of such services on other outcomes the 
     Secretary determines appropriate.
       (2) Data and recommendations.--In carrying out paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) determine the relevant data that is available to the 
     Secretary and determine the confidence of the Secretary with 
     respect to accessing any additional data the Secretary may 
     require; and
       (B) provide recommendations regarding the optimal research 
     or evaluation design that would generate the greatest 
     insights and value.

[[Page H2776]]

       (f) Discharge by Contract.--The Secretary may seek to enter 
     into a contract with a qualified independent entity or 
     organization to carry out the study and research required 
     under this section, including such an entity or organization 
     that is able to access credit scores, data maintained by the 
     Internal Revenue Service, and other date beneficial to 
     studying income.
       (g) Mandatory Review of Data by Certain Elements of 
     Department.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the head 
     of each element of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     specified in paragraph (2) reviews the results of the study 
     conducted under subsection (a). The head of each such element 
     shall submit to the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for 
     Operations and Management the findings of the head with 
     respect to the study, including recommendations regarding 
     what data the Secretary should collect from grantees under 
     the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program.
       (2) Specified elements.--The elements of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs specified in this paragraph are the 
     following:
       (A) The Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans established 
     under section 2066 of title 38, United States Code.
       (B) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established 
     under section 542 of title 38, United States Code.
       (C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans established 
     under section 544 of title 38, United States Code.
       (D) The Homeless Programs Office of the Veterans Health 
     Administration.
       (E) The Office of Tribal Government Relations of the 
     Department.
       (h) Reports.--
       (1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress an interim report on the study under subsection (a).
       (2) Final report.--Not later than 30 months after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the study under subsection (a). The 
     report shall include--
       (A) the findings of the head of each element of the 
     Department specified under subsection (g)(2); and
       (B) recommendations for such administrative and legislative 
     action as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (i) Definition.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``homeless veterans and veterans experiencing 
     housing instability'' means veterans who are homeless (as 
     that term is defined in subsection (a) or (b) of section 103 
     of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     11302)).
       (2) The term ``Supportive Services for Veterans Families 
     program'' means the program established pursuant to section 
     2044 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 3. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       (a) Title 38, United States Code.--Title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) In section 1786(d), as added by section 3006 of the 
     Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care 
     and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-315), by 
     striking paragraph (3).
       (2) In section 3673(f), as added by section 1023 of such 
     Act, by striking paragraph (3).
       (b) Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health 
     Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.--The Johnny 
     Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and 
     Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-315) is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) In section 3010--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
     inserting ``Subject to the availability of appropriations for 
     such purpose, the Secretary''; and
       (B) by striking subsection (h).
       (2) In section 4201(a), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(3) Use of authority.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     paragraph (1) is carried out in accordance with established 
     procedures for reprogrammings or transfers, including with 
     respect to presenting a request for a reprogramming of 
     funds.''.

  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. 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. 1257, 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, credit and financial counseling services remain a top 
10 unmet need for veterans experiencing or who are at risk of 
homelessness.
  This bill directs the VA to study the efficacy and barriers to credit 
and financial counseling for homeless and unstably housed veterans, and 
to provide recommendations for improvements to these services.
  Under the Homeless Veterans CREDIT Act, the Secretary will work with 
outside organizations to review these barriers, and submit to Congress 
concrete steps we can take to expand credit access to veterans in need.
  H.R. 1257, as amended, has the support of VA and key veteran service 
organizations, like the VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the 
IAVA.
  Also included in this legislation are various oversight improvements 
to existing law that our committee has worked on with the House 
Appropriations Committee, and I thank my colleagues on the 
Appropriations Committee for their hard work. I therefore, ask my 
colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1257, as amended.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1257, as amended, the 
Homeless Veterans Credit Repair, Enhancement, and Debt Improvement for 
Tomorrow--or CREDIT--Act.
  This bill would direct the VA to study the effects of financial and 
credit counseling for homeless veterans.
  COVID-19 has impacted our economy and our lives in many ways.
  The most recent Department of Housing and Urban Development Point-in-
Time--or the PIT--count found that, on a single night in January of 
2020, an estimated 37,252 veterans were homeless.
  We must do everything we can to help eliminate veteran homelessness 
and prevent those who have worn the uniform of our country from having 
to worry about where they will lay their head at night.
  This bill, which I am proud to support, would direct the VA to 
conduct a comprehensive study on the financial and credit counseling 
services for homeless veterans.
  This study would use data from the Supportive Services for Veterans 
Families--or the SSVF--program to look at barriers that homeless 
veterans are facing in relation to financial counseling services.
  I thank Congressman Pallone for his hard work on crafting this bill 
and for his continued support of our Nation's veterans.
  This bill, as amended, also includes some technical changes to the 
omnibus bill that was signed into law earlier this year that were 
requested by the Committee on Appropriations.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), my good friend, the author of this critical 
piece of legislation, and also the chairman of the Energy and Commerce 
Committee.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee, my friend from California, for moving this bill 
through the committee as quickly as he did.
  I rise today in support of the bill, H.R. 1257, the Homeless Veterans 
Credit Repair, Enhancement, and Debt Improvement for Tomorrow Act.
  We know that veterans' homelessness continues to be a blight on our 
Nation. Congress and advocates from across the country have worked hard 
to nearly halve the homeless veteran population in the past decade.
  Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic jeopardized this progress by 
negatively impacting the credit and financial stability of our Nation's 
veterans.

                              {time}  1430

  Now is the time to redouble our efforts and do everything we can to 
ensure stable housing for veterans. We must start by examining the 
underlying causes of veteran homelessness in our Nation.
  The VA has declared credit and financial counseling services a top 10 
unmet need for our homeless veterans. My bill directs the Secretary of 
the VA to conduct a study of the credit and financial counseling 
services available to homeless veterans and veterans facing housing 
instability. The study will assess current services available to 
veterans and the barriers they face in utilizing them, including the 
COVID-19 pandemic and other health challenges.
  During a time of such economic uncertainty, we must look out for our

[[Page H2777]]

most vulnerable communities, including homeless veterans and veterans 
experiencing housing instability. We have a responsibility to help 
those who served in uniform and stood ready to make the ultimate 
sacrifice for our country.
  The CREDIT Act will identify the credit and financial counseling 
services needed to help our veterans avoid financial pitfalls and make 
informed decisions about their future.
  Madam Speaker, again, I thank Chairman Takano for his partnership on 
this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, 
bipartisan legislation. Together, we can improve veterans' financial 
literacy to build a better life for themselves after they complete 
their service to our country.
  Madam Speaker, I also thank my staff member, Jake Freed, who 
basically came up with this idea, after talking to various veterans 
groups, and put this together.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, we know that preventing homelessness is 
especially critical as we try to emerge out of this pandemic.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support Chairman Pallone's 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
1257, the Homeless Veterans Credit Act, and would like my good friend 
Chairman Pallone for his work to bring this bill to the floor.
  The freedom and luxuries that we are afforded on a daily basis are 
made possible by the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. It is 
unthinkable that, after returning home from serving our country, 
veterans are often faced with several challenges including a lack of 
accessibility to quality and affordable housing. The state of Texas is 
home to the second largest population of veterans in the United States, 
and veterans homelessness is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue 
in our communities.
   That is why I am proud to support the Homeless Veterans Credit Act. 
This bill will direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 
study on the effectiveness of financial and credit counseling services 
currently available to homeless veterans and how those services can be 
improved so these veterans can move a step closer to securing stable 
housing, employment and income. Such studies are critical for us as 
legislators to determine the efficiency of the institutions, programs, 
and funding levels in place to assist veterans.
  As Chair of the Congressional Homelessness Caucus, I remain committed 
to advocating on behalf of veterans experiencing homelessness and 
housing insecurity. This pandemic has brought to light the stark 
inequities in access to housing for veterans, but I am confident that 
this bill will set the stage for transformative efforts to reform care 
for those in need.
  Madam Speaker, I look forward to voting in favor of this bipartisan, 
commonsense legislation and would urge my colleagues to do the same.
  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. 1257, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the effect of 
financial and credit counseling for homeless veterans and veterans 
experiencing housing instability, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________