Veteran Housing Opportunities and Unemployment Support Extension Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2398) to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 and title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit annual reports to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding homeless veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2398

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 ``Veteran Housing Opportunities and Unemployment Support Extension Act of 2020'' or the ``Veteran HOUSE Act of 2020''. SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HUD-VASH.

(a) HUD Provisions.--Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

``(D) Veteran defined.--In this paragraph, the term `veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 2002(b) of title 38, United States Code.''.

(b) VHA Case Managers.--Subsection (b) of section 2003 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``In the case of vouchers provided under the HUD-VASH program under section 8(o)(19) of such Act, for purposes of the preceding sentence, the term `veteran' shall have the meaning given such term in section 2002(b) of this title.''. SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORTS.

(a) In General.--Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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 homelessness services provided under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including services under HUD-VASH program under section 8(o)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)).

(b) Included Information.--Each such annual report shall include, with respect to the year preceding the submittal of the report, a statement of the number of eligible individuals who were furnished such homelessness services and the number of individuals furnished such services under each such program, disaggregated by the number of men who received such services and the number of women who received such services, and such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2398, the Veteran Housing Opportunities and Unemployment Support Extension Act. Put simply, this bill will help more veterans get out of homelessness without increasing current funding levels.

It is a national embarrassment that we still have an estimated 37,000 veterans who experienced homelessness on any given night in 2019. To our credit we have a very successful program that is focused on ending homelessness among veterans. It is called the HUD-VASH program.

The HUD-VASH program is largely credited for the nearly 50 percent decrease in the homeless veteran population over the past decade. Unfortunately, many of these vouchers go unutilized year after year due in part to the fact that veterans are not eligible for the HUD-VASH program if they received an other than honorable discharge from the military.

Let's be clear, an other than honorable discharge should not be confused with a dishonorable discharge. A servicemember can receive an other than honorable discharge for fairly minor infractions such as lapses in military good order and discipline.

Moreover, veterans who are repeatedly deployed tend to suffer more frequently from serious mental health issues. We know that mental health issues are correlated with higher rates of other than honorable discharges as well as an increased likelihood of experiencing homelessness upon leaving the military. H.R. 2398 would correct this injustice by ensuring that veterans who received an other than honorable discharge are not excluded from the HUD-VASH program.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Heck and Mr. Peters, for introducing this critical legislation.

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters), who is the sponsor of this legislation.

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I again thank Representatives Peters and Heck for bringing forth this important legislation.

We were reminded only last week of the commitment of those who served in the United States armed services. We must continue to do all we can to ensure that those who have served receive the support they need. The reforms in H.R. 2398 will do exactly that.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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