Congressional Update
NCHV reports on legislation in the United States Congress that would significantly impact veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This page lists bills that were introduced in the 114th Congress, which convened in January 2014 and completed in January 2016. Each bill number links to its summary page on the Library of Congress website, where the bill’s full text and record of congressional action can be accessed.

These bills are now inactive; for active legislation, click here.

For more information on legislation in general, go to http://thomas.loc.gov.

Bills introduced in the House of Representatives

Bills introduced in the Senate

To contact your Senator, click here.
To contact your Congressperson, click here.

House of Representatives bills

H.R. 233 – Putting our Veterans Back to Work Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity in House Veterans Affairs Committee (2/19/2015)

• Extends the VRAP program until 2018

H.R. 474 – HVRP Reauthorization Act of 2015

Sponsor: Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH)
Status: Passed the House and received in Senate (5/19/2015)

• Reauthorizes HVRP at $50 million for five years
• Allows veterans in HUD-VASH to enroll in HVRP
• Allows veterans transitioning from incarceration to enroll in HVRP

H.R. 627 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of homeless veteran …
Sponsor: Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA)
Status: Forwarded to Full House Commitee on Veterans Affairs

• Expands the definition of homeless veteran to cover those fleeing domestic violence

 

Senate bills

S. 223 – A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program…
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Status: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (1/2/2015)

• Establishes a three year pilot program
• Awards grants to service providers to facilitate the move-in process of HUD-VASH clients
• Furniture, household goods, and other assistance will be provided

S. 425 – Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. John Boozeman (R-AR)
Status: Hearing held in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (2/10/2015)

• Reauthorizes HVRP at $50 million for five years
• Allows veterans in HUD-VASH to enroll in HVRP
• Allows veterans transitioning from incarceration to enroll in HVRP
• Allows Indains who are veterans and are receiving assistance under NAHASDA to enroll in HVRP

S. 684 – Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
Status: Hearings held in Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (6/3/2015)

• Per Diem payments in the GPD program can be used for dependents of veterans
• Authorizes 150% of the Per Diem rate for Transition-in-Place beds
• Creates expansive pubic-private partnership to provide legal services to homeless veterans
• Expands VA dental care to homeless veterans in GPD, HUD-VASH, and Domiciliary
• Gives the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program permanent authorization
• Reauthorizes the SSVF program at $500 million for FY 2016

S. 1731 – Homeless Veterans Services Protection Act of 2015
Sponsor. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Status:  Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs

• Protects the eligibility of “Other Than Honorable” discharged veterans for the GPD and SSVF programs
• Protects the eligibility of veterans who served for less than two years for the GPD and SSVF programs
• Directs the VA to train all of its personnel on this policy

S. 1885 – Veteran Housing Stability Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CA)
Status: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs (7/30/2015)

• Updates the definition of homeless veteran to include those fleeing domestic violence
• Authorizes a pilot to test intensive case-management’s effects on healthcare superutilizing homeless veterans
• Increase the reach of the VA’s property sale program to include veterans at risk of homelessness
• Permanently authorizes the National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans
• Directs VA and HUD to do more outreach to prospective HUD-VASH landlords
• Creates a new grant fund for ex-GPD programs to provide follow-up case management to graduates of the GPD program in permanent housing
• Eases the financial burdens for any GPD’s wanting to transition their programs into permanent housing programs