Dependable Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans Economic Recovery Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for yielding.

As chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and as a Representative for tens of thousands of veterans around Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, I strongly believe that we have got to do more to support those who have served our country. We can't allow men and women who have served to fall into homelessness, end up without a job, or go without the basic services that they deserve.

Today, we are taking a significant step in making sure veterans are no longer left behind. I am so proud to lead the DELIVER Act, a robust, action-forward package to help get our veterans back on their feet. The legislation includes six of my bipartisan bills to help get veterans the housing and employment opportunities they deserve.

It includes the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, a bill I introduced with my friend, Representative Gus Bilirakis--I don't see Gus here, but I am grateful to him--to expand and strengthen VA services to homeless veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It includes the Veteran HOUSE Act, a bill I co-led with my friend Representative Scott Peters, also from San Diego, to expand the HUD- VASH program to homeless veterans discharged under conditions other than honorable.

It includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, a bill I introduced with Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to ensure that homeless veterans and their families receive the resources and services they deserve by filling gaps in the HUD-VASH case management system.

It includes the Housing for Women Veterans Act, a bill I introduced with Representative Fitzpatrick to require the VA to complete an analysis of its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet their needs.

It includes the Veterans Economic Recovery Act, a bill I introduced with Ranking Member Roe.

And we are all going to miss Dr. Roe. We are grateful for all that he does.

That bill will, as Dr. Roe just said, create a rapid retraining program for unemployed veterans and reservists.

And it includes the Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder Transition Improvement Act, a bill I introduced with my friend Representative Arrington to make the transition process easier for servicemembers returning to civilian life.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: Even one homeless veteran is one too many.

We have a moral obligation to make robust Federal investments in programs to help get veterans off the street, and we have got to do a better job of ensuring that our Nation's heroes have the housing assistance and services they need. Each of the bills that we have talked about today will make a real difference for the veterans I serve and countless others across the country.

You hear a lot about how things in Washington are broken and how we can't get a lot done around here, but I am very proud of the bipartisan progress we have made today for our veterans. I am hopeful the Senate will take the bill up quickly and get it on the President's desk.

I am just so grateful to everybody that has been involved, both the Members and their staff. It was really a wonderful, bipartisan, bicameral effort.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), a former member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee who I had the privilege of visiting in his district and I know his commitment to our veterans.

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