[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3881. Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Ms. Warren) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. 
Reed and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, 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 appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

       Subtitle __--Improvement of Housing Outcomes for Veterans

     SEC. __. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SHARING OF 
                   INFORMATION RELATING TO COORDINATED ENTRY 
                   PROCESSES FOR HOUSING AND SERVICES OPERATED 
                   UNDER DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN 
                   DEVELOPMENT CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Health of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs shall--
       (1) provide to staff of medical centers of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs and homelessness service providers of the 
     Department the information described in subsection (b); and
       (2) ensure that such information, and other resources the 
     Under Secretary determines are appropriate, are accessible to 
     such staff and providers.
       (b) Information Described.--The information described in 
     this subsection is information related to best practices with 
     respect to the collaboration between medical centers of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, homelessness service 
     providers of the Department, and local partners (including 
     local offices of the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development or public housing agencies, and private and 
     public local community organizations) on the centralized or 
     coordinated assessment systems established and operated by 
     Continuums of Care under section 578.7(a)(8) of title 24, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, including making referrals and 
     sharing data, as the Under Secretary determines appropriate.

     SEC. __. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNICATION WITH 
                   EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR HOMELESSNESS 
                   ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

       The Under Secretary for Health of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs shall clearly communicate with employees of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs whose responsibilities are 
     related to homelessness assistance programs regarding--
       (1) the measurement of performance of such programs by the 
     Homeless Programs Office of the Department; and
       (2) how to obtain and provide feedback about performance 
     measures.

     SEC. __. SYSTEM FOR SHARING AND REPORTING DATA.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall work 
     together to develop a system for effectively sharing and 
     reporting data between the community-wide homeless management 
     information system described in section 402(f)(3) of the 
     McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     11360a(f)(3)) and the Homeless Operations Management and 
     Evaluation System of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall ensure that 
     the system developed under subsection (a) is operational not 
     later than three years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. __. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REGARDING SERVICES 
                   PROVIDED TO VETERANS AT RISK OF, EXPERIENCING, 
                   OR TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     provide training and technical assistance to entities serving 
     veterans at risk of, experiencing, or transitioning out of 
     homelessness regarding--
       (1) the provision of such services to such veterans; and
       (2) the planning and development of such services.
       (b) Coordination.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     coordinate the provision of training and technical assistance 
     under subsection (a) with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development and the Secretary of Labor.
       (c) Elements.--The training and technical assistance 
     provided under subsection (a) shall include coordination and 
     communication of best practices among all programs 
     administered by the Veterans Health Administration directed 
     at serving veterans at risk of, experiencing, or 
     transitioning out of homelessness.
       (d) Provision of Training.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may provide the training and technical assistance 
     under subsection (a) directly or through grants or contracts 
     with such public or nonprofit private entities as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.
                                 ______