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HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 240) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor to prioritize the provision of services to homeless veterans with dependents in carrying out homeless veterans reintegration programs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 240
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 with Children Reintegration Act''.
SEC. 2. PRIORITY UNDER HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION
PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH DEPENDENTS.
(a) Priority for Homeless Veterans With Dependent Children.--Subsection (a) of section 2021 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``Subject to'' and inserting ``(1) Subject to'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In conducting programs under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize the provision of services to homeless veterans with dependents.''.
(b) Additional Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
(1) by striking ``the report an evaluation of services'' and all that follows and inserting ``each such report--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(1) an evaluation of services furnished to veterans under this section and an analysis of the information collected under subsection (b);
``(2) an analysis of any gaps in access to shelter, safety, and services for homeless veterans with dependent children; and
``(3) recommendations for improving any gaps identified under paragraph (2).''.
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. Mr. 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. 240.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on H.R. 240, the Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act introduced by Congresswoman Julia Brownley.
There is increasing concern that shelters and homeless veteran housing is not created to serve families, and that homeless veterans with children may avoid seeking out services because they are afraid of being separated from their children.
Representative Brownley's legislation seeks to start addressing the issue by ensuring that veterans with families are prioritized within the homeless veterans reintegration program, or HVRP. HVRP seeks to address reintegrating homeless veterans into the workforce through grants to partner organizations.
Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Department of Labor identified homeless female veterans and veterans with families as one of the three priority populations for HVRP services. H.R. 240 would prioritize homeless veterans with dependent children within the homeless veteran reintegration program to ensure they get the resources they need to return to housing without the fear of losing their children should they seek help.
I applaud Representative Brownley for her work on this legislation, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 240, the Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act.
This legislation would direct the Secretary of Labor to prioritize homeless veterans with dependents when administering homeless reintegration programs.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released 2020's Point-in-Time count for homeless veterans. This count showed that on a single night in 2020, there were 37,252 veterans living on the street. This is a slight increase of 0.4 percent from 2019.
With COVID-19 impacting the economy and increasing unemployment, we must do everything we can to help our homeless veterans find work.
By passing this bill to prioritize job training for homeless veterans with dependents, we are ensuring this vulnerable population is at the front of the line for help.
I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her hard work on drafting this bill, and I am proud to support it today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), my good friend, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health, and also the author of this important piece of legislation.
Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act.
On any given day, there are more than 550,000 people experiencing homelessness in our country. An estimated 40,000 of them are veterans. This is categorically unacceptable.
Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development and VA have made progress toward eliminating veterans' homelessness, there is still more that must be done to ensure that every veteran has a home.
We know it is 10 times cheaper to provide resources to prevent homelessness in the first place than it is to house someone once they have become homeless.
We also know that so many of our veterans suffer from PTSD related to combat or, far too often, military sexual trauma. These traumatic experiences put veterans at increased risk of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and homelessness.
We owe it to our veterans to spare no effort in providing the security and assistance they need to transition to civilian life. One way to help our veterans experiencing homelessness is to help them gain new employment skills and get stable jobs.
The Department of Labor's homeless veterans reintegration program focuses on securing employment opportunities for homeless veterans. The program provides grants to State and local agencies and nonprofit organizations that teach veterans occupational skills, provide on-the-
job training, help them attain apprenticeships, and help with job searches and placement.
Grantees also collaborate with public and private partners at all levels--Federal, State, and local--to provide supportive services and access to housing.
The program has been extremely successful, helping place thousands of homeless veterans in competitive employment every year.
Over the last several years, the Department of Labor has identified certain homeless veteran populations that are in particular need of reintegration services, including female veterans and veterans with families. My bill would direct the Department of Labor to prioritize homeless veterans with dependent children participating in its reintegration program.
This subpopulation of homeless veterans is particularly vulnerable, and it is so important to ensure they have access to the wraparound services necessary to support a parent with children.
Research shows that families experiencing homelessness often have to contend with intimate partner violence, child separation, and other extremely challenging issues. That is why my bill would also require the Department of Labor to study access to shelter, safety, and other relevant services for homeless veterans with dependent children. This information will help us understand the problem and identify opportunities to resolve issues in providing services to this vulnerable population.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 2 minutes.
Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will also go a long way toward supporting veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country and are now struggling to adjust to civilian life and to support families.
This bill has received broad bipartisan support in the past, and I ask that my colleagues, as my colleagues have on the committee, join me in getting it across the finish line. We owe our veterans nothing less.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 240 as we did unanimously in committee. I suspect that if this bill were brought to a vote before the entire body, it would pass with near-unanimous support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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. 240.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 85
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