Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 474, the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2015. This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the highly successful Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program, HVRP, which provides grants to train and reintegrate homeless veterans into meaningful employment.

H.R. 474 also clarifies that in addition to homeless veterans, those participating in the HUD-VASH voucher program and those transitioning from being incarcerated are also eligible to participate in HVRP. HVRP is unique among Federal programs, as it is dedicated to providing employment assistance to homeless veterans. Other programs that we hear much about focus on needs such as emergency shelter, food, and abuse treatment.

Homeless veterans often face a variety of problems that can bar them from traditional employment pathways, including severe PTSD, histories of substance abuse, and encounters with the criminal justice system. HVRP service providers give our homeless veterans specialized intensive counseling and services to help them find a positive pathway forward, resulting in gainful employment.

This bill will not incur any direct spending costs, nor will discretionary costs be beyond the minimal.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Wenstrup for his hard work on this bill, as well as Ranking Member Takano for his efforts to advance this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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