[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3749 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3749
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2020
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to make grants to entities that provide legal services
for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness, and for
other purposes.
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 ``Legal Services for Homeless Veterans
Act''.
SEC. 2. LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK FOR
HOMELESSNESS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 2022 the following new section:
``Sec. 2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk
for homelessness
``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of appropriations
provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make
grants to eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless
veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness.
``(b) Criteria.--(1) The Secretary shall--
``(A) establish criteria and requirements for grants under
this section, including criteria for entities eligible to
receive such grants; and
``(B) publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal
Register.
``(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall--
``(A) take into consideration any criteria and requirements
needed with respect to carrying out this section in rural
communities, Tribal lands, and the territories and possessions
of the United States; and
``(B) consult with organizations that have experience in
providing services to homeless veterans, including veterans
service organizations, the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps
Veterans Legal Corps, and other organizations the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(c) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may make a grant under this
section to an entity applying for such a grant only if the applicant
for the grant--
``(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the
capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively
administer a grant under this section;
``(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be
available to carry out the services for which the grant is
sought consistent with the application;
``(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and
requirements established under subsection (b)(1); and
``(4) has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the
capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be used to
provide homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness the
following legal services:
``(1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction
defense, representation in landlord-tenant cases, and
representation in foreclosure cases.
``(2) Legal services related to family law, including
assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce,
estate planning, and family reconciliation.
``(3) Legal services related to income support, including
assistance in obtaining public benefits.
``(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, including
defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as
outstanding warrants, fines, and driver's license revocation,
to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry
obstacles in employment or housing.
``(5) Legal services related to requests to upgrade the
characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former member
of the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10.
``(6) Such other legal services as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(e) Funds for Women Veterans.--For any fiscal year, not less than
10 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated for grants under
this section shall be used to provide legal services described in
subsection (d) to women veterans.
``(f) Reports.--On a biennial basis, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and
the Senate a report on grants under this section. To the extent
feasible, each such report shall include the following with respect to
the year covered by the report:
``(1) The number of homeless veterans and veterans at risk
for homelessness assisted.
``(2) A description of the legal services provided.
``(3) A description of the legal matters addressed.
``(4) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the
operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the
services provided.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
2022 the following new item:
``2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for
homelessness.''.
(c) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish the criteria and requirements in the Federal Register
pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2022A of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES
GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A FOCUS
ON PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 for the provision of
financial assistance under subsection (a) to organizations that
have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and
their families.''.
SEC. 4. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete
an analysis of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs that
provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously
housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet
the needs of such women.
(b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary 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 analysis completed
under subsection (a).
Passed the House of Representatives February 25, 2020.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.