November 18, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 184 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H8937-H8939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FOSTERING STABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 2019

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
bill (H.R. 4300) to provide Federal housing assistance on behalf of 
youths who are aging out of foster care, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4300

       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 ``Fostering Stable Housing 
     Opportunities Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF FAMILY.

       Subparagraph (A) of section 3(b)(3) of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(3)(A)) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence--
       (A) by striking ``(v)'' and inserting ``(vi)''; and
       (B) by inserting after ``tenant family,'' the following: 
     ``(v) a youth described in section 8(x)(2)(B),''; and
       (2) in the second sentence, by inserting ``or (vi)'' after 
     ``clause (v)''.

     SEC. 3. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS FOR FOSTERING STABLE HOUSING 
                   OPPORTUNITIES.

       (a) Assistance for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care.--Section 
     8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
     1437f(x)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``subject to paragraph 
     (5),'' after ``(B)'';
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``(3) Allocation.--The'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(3) Allocation.--
       ``(A) In general.--The''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Assistance for youth aging out of foster care.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
     shall, subject only to the availability of funds, allocate 
     such assistance to any public housing agencies that (i) 
     administer assistance pursuant to paragraph (2)(B), or seek 
     to administer such assistance, consistent with procedures 
     established by the Secretary, (ii) have requested such 
     assistance so that they may provide timely assistance to 
     eligible youth, and (iii) have submitted to the Secretary a 
     statement describing how the agency will connect assisted 
     youths with local community resources and self-sufficiency 
     services, to the extent they are available, and obtain 
     referrals from public child welfare agencies regarding youths 
     in foster care who become eligible for such assistance.'';
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(5) Requirements for assistance for youth aging out of 
     foster care.--Assistance provided under this subsection for 
     an eligible youth pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) shall be 
     subject to the following requirements:
       ``(A) Requirements to extend assistance.--
       ``(i) Participation in family self-sufficiency.--In the 
     case of a public housing agency that is providing such 
     assistance under this subsection on behalf of an eligible 
     youth and that is carrying out a family self-sufficiency 
     program under section 23, the agency shall, subject only to 
     the availability of such assistance, extend the provision of 
     such assistance for up to 24 months beyond the period 
     referred to in paragraph (2)(B), but only during such period 
     that the youth is in compliance with the terms and conditions 
     applicable under section 23 and the regulations implementing 
     such section to a person participating in a family self-
     sufficiency program.
       ``(ii) Education, workforce development, or employment.--In 
     the case of a public housing agency that is providing such 
     assistance under this subsection on behalf of an eligible 
     youth and that is not carrying out a family self-sufficiency 
     program under section 23, or is carrying out such a program 
     in which the youth has been unable to enroll, the agency 
     shall, subject only to the availability of such assistance, 
     extend the provision of such assistance for two successive 
     12-month periods, after the period referred to in paragraph 
     (2)(B), but only if for not less than 9 months of the 12-
     month period preceding each such extension the youth was--

       ``(I) engaged in obtaining a recognized postsecondary 
     credential or a secondary school diploma or its recognized 
     equivalent;
       ``(II) enrolled in an institution of higher education, as 
     such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) and including the 
     institutions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
     section 102(a)(1) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)); or
       ``(III) participating in a career pathway, as such term is 
     defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
     Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause, a public 
     housing agency shall consider employment as satisfying the 
     requirements under this subparagraph.
       ``(iii) Exceptions.--Notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii), 
     a public housing agency that is providing such assistance 
     under this subsection on behalf of an eligible youth shall 
     extend the provision of such assistance for up to 24 months 
     beyond the period referred to in paragraph (2)(B), and 
     clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph shall not apply, if 
     the eligible youth certifies that he or she is--

       ``(I) a parent or other household member responsible for 
     the care of a dependent child under the age of 6 or for the 
     care of an incapacitated person;
       ``(II) a person who is regularly and actively participating 
     in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation 
     program; or

[[Page H8938]]

       ``(III) a person who is incapable of complying with the 
     requirement under clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, due to a 
     documented medical condition.

       ``(iv) Verification of compliance.--The Secretary shall 
     require the public housing agency to verify compliance with 
     the requirements under this subparagraph by each eligible 
     youth on whose behalf the agency provides such assistance 
     under this subsection on an annual basis in conjunction with 
     reviews of income for purposes of determining income 
     eligibility for such assistance.
       ``(B) Supportive services.--
       ``(i) Eligibility.--Each eligible youth on whose behalf 
     such assistance under this subsection is provided shall be 
     eligible for any supportive services (as such term is defined 
     in section 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
     Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)) made available, in connection with any 
     housing assistance program of the agency, by or through the 
     public housing agency providing such assistance.
       ``(ii) Information.--Upon the initial provision of such 
     assistance under this subsection on behalf of any eligible 
     youth, the public housing agency shall inform such eligible 
     youth of the existence of any programs or services referred 
     to in clause (i) and of their eligibility for such programs 
     and services.
       ``(C) Applicability to moving to work agencies.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirements 
     of this paragraph shall apply to assistance under this 
     subsection pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) made available by 
     each public housing agency participating in the Moving to 
     Work Program under section 204 of the Departments of Veterans 
     Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note), 
     except that in lieu of compliance with clause (i) or (ii) of 
     subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, such an agency may comply 
     with the requirements under such clauses by complying with 
     such terms, conditions, and requirements as may be 
     established by the agency for persons on whose behalf such 
     rental assistance under this subsection is provided.
       ``(D) Termination of vouchers upon turn-over.--A public 
     housing agency shall not reissue any such assistance made 
     available from appropriated funds when assistance for the 
     youth initially assisted is terminated, unless specifically 
     authorized by the Secretary.
       ``(E) Reports.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall require each public 
     housing agency that provides such assistance under this 
     subsection in any fiscal year to submit a report to the 
     Secretary for such fiscal year that--

       ``(I) specifies the number of persons on whose behalf such 
     assistance under this subsection was provided during such 
     fiscal year;
       ``(II) specifies the number of persons who applied during 
     such fiscal year for such assistance under this subsection, 
     but were not provided such assistance, and provides a brief 
     identification in each instance of the reason why the public 
     housing agency was unable to award such assistance; and
       ``(III) describes how the public housing agency 
     communicated or collaborated with public child welfare 
     agencies to collect such data.

       ``(ii) Information collections.--The Secretary shall, to 
     the greatest extent possible, utilize existing information 
     collections, including the voucher management system (VMS), 
     the Inventory Management System/PIH Information Center (IMS/
     PIC), or the successors of those systems, to collect 
     information required under this subparagraph.
       ``(F) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide such 
     information and guidance to the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services as may be necessary to facilitate such Secretary in 
     informing States and public child welfare agencies on how to 
     correctly and efficiently implement and comply with the 
     requirements of this subsection relating to assistance 
     provided pursuant to paragraph (2)(B).''.
       (b) Coordination Between PHAs and Public Child Welfare 
     Agencies.--
       (1) Applicability to fostering stable housing opportunities 
     program.--Subparagraph (A) of section 8(x)(4) of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(x)(4)(A)) is 
     amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
     following: ``and establishing a point of contact at public 
     housing agencies to ensure that public housing agencies 
     receive appropriate referrals regarding eligible 
     recipients''.
       (c) PHA Administrative Fees.--Subsection (q) of section 8 
     of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(q)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) Supplements for administering assistance for youth 
     aging out of foster care.--The Secretary may provide 
     supplemental fees under this subsection to the public housing 
     agency for the cost of administering any assistance for 
     foster youth under subsection (x)(2)(B), in an amount 
     determined by the Secretary, but only if the agency waives 
     for such eligible youth receiving assistance any residency 
     requirement that it has otherwise established pursuant to 
     subsection (r)(1)(B)(i).''.

     SEC. 4. EXCEPTIONS TO LIMITATIONS FOR PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Percentage Limitation.--The first sentence of clause 
     (ii) of section 8(o)(13)(B) of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(B)(ii)) is amended by 
     inserting before ``or that'' the following: ``that house 
     eligible youths receiving assistance pursuant to subsection 
     (x)(2)(B),''.
       (b) Income-mixing Requirement.--Subclause (I) of section 
     8(o)(13)(D)(ii) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(D)(ii)(I)) is amended by inserting after 
     ``elderly families'' the following: ``, to eligible youths 
     receiving assistance pursuant to subsection (x)(2)(B),''.

     SEC. 5. APPLICABILITY.

       The amendments made by this Act shall not apply to housing 
     choice voucher assistance made available pursuant to section 
     8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
     1437f(x)) that is in use on behalf of an assisted family as 
     of the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4300, the Fostering 
Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019. This bill will help to ensure 
that our young adults aging out of foster care and at risk of 
homelessness have the housing assistance they need. In addition, this 
bill includes incentives for these young adults to participate in 
activities or programs to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
  The young people who have aged out of the foster care system face 
many challenges as they abruptly face adulthood without many of the 
supports needed to help them make the transition. These young people 
have limited resources with which to secure safe and stable housing, 
which leaves them at heightened risk of experiencing homelessness.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4300, the Fostering Stable 
Housing Opportunities Act.
  Each year, Mr. Speaker, roughly 20,000 youth age out of foster care. 
Young adults without families who exit the foster care system are 
incredibly vulnerable to homelessness. A number of studies show that 
between 11 and 36 percent of these young people who age out of our 
foster care system experience homelessness.
  These foster youth need and deserve our support. A stable roof over 
their heads can allow these young men and women to pursue an education 
or a career. A home can be a bedrock from which they can build their 
lives and protect them from crimes like human trafficking.
  It will also help these young adults by allowing up to 2 years of 
extensions if they enroll in HUD's Family Self-Sufficiency program, 
pursue education or workforce development, or gain employment.
  It is our duty, Mr. Speaker, to protect these young men and women 
from being jettisoned from our foster care system and onto the streets. 
This bill doesn't just give them a roof over their heads; it gives them 
the ability to build a future.
  I applaud the sponsors of H.R. 4300, Ms. Dean and Mr. Stivers, and I 
would like to acknowledge, in particular, the hard work that my good 
friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) has put into this bill 
over the last few years. He has been a true champion of this issue, and 
should be commended for his dedication.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to strongly support this bill, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume 
to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean), the sponsor of the 
bill.
  Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4300, the Fostering 
Stable Housing Opportunities Act, and I thank the manager, Mr. Green, 
and

[[Page H8939]]

Representative Wagner for their wholehearted support.
  The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act is a bipartisan bill 
that addresses the needs of foster youth facing homelessness as they 
age out of the foster care system.
  Every year, approximately 20,000 young people across this country age 
out of foster care. Studies show that between one-fifth to one-third of 
these young adults will become homeless in transition years.
  That sudden and permanent transition from foster care to adulthood--
including the loss of financial, educational, and social supports that 
the child welfare system provides--places these vulnerable youth at 
risk of homelessness and housing instability.
  In my home State of Pennsylvania, for example, 32 percent of foster 
youth surveyed in fiscal year 2018 reported that they had been homeless 
by the age of 21. That is nearly a third of the young people coming out 
of the foster care system.
  The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act will address this 
problem by reforming and extending the current voucher system. It 
provides vouchers from HUD on demand to foster youth who are at risk of 
becoming homeless, rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting 
lists.
  Furthermore, this bill incentivizes young people to participate in 
self-sufficiency activities by extending their assistance for up to an 
additional 2 years. Qualifying activities include pursuing an 
education, workforce development, or employment.
  Finally, the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act builds upon 
the current Family Unification Program under the foster youth portion 
to better align the child welfare and affordable housing systems and to 
coordinate and improve the lives of foster youth.
  This bill is endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including the 
National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Low Income Housing 
Coalition, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and the Child 
Welfare League of America.
  I thank my colleague on the Financial Services Committee in 
particular, Congressman Stivers, for his leadership on this bipartisan 
bill; as well as Congresswoman Bass, founder and co-chair of the 
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth; and Congressman Turner, who has 
been a leader on this issue for many years.
  Finally, I thank the Financial Services Committee chair, Chairwoman 
Waters, for her support on this legislation.
  The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act passed the Financial 
Services Committee unanimously, and I urge Members of the full House to 
pass it as well.

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Ms. 
Dean) for pushing this legislation with me, as well as Congresswoman 
Bass of California. Congressman Stivers of Ohio has been an incredible 
champion. I thank Congressman Wagner for her work on this bill.
  And I want to thank, particularly, Ranking Member McHenry. I am not a 
member of this committee, and I thank Chairwoman Waters and, of course, 
Ranking Member McHenry for taking this up and allowing me to advocate 
for this bill.
  This is a bill of the heart. Everyone who has worked on this bill 
knows that we are remedying a wrong that shouldn't exist.
  Mr. Speaker, several years ago, a group of Ohio foster youth, foster 
care alumni, and advocates came to me and explained to me the struggles 
that they endure as a result of the government's failure as foster 
parents. We fail to provide housing for these young people when they 
age out of foster care.
  Currently, when youth age out of the foster care system, they are 
often placed at the back of the line to receive housing assistance, 
despite some targeted interventions available. Essentially, many of 
these youth, when they age out of foster care, age into federally 
created homelessness.
  Now, part of this problem is that foster care is under HHS and adult 
housing is under HUD. Even though we know these kids are coming because 
we are providing them funding and we are providing them care under the 
foster care system under HHS, HUD acts like they have shown up for the 
very first day when they become adults and age out of the system.
  It is our responsibility to fix this. As Congresswoman Wagner was 
saying, studies show that 37 percent of foster care alumni have 
experienced homelessness. What a failure of a program.
  The program under HHS is graduating 37 percent of its kids into 
homelessness; 20 percent struggle with chronic homelessness. This is 
after we have made a significant investment in these children's lives. 
It is the time that they start to go forward into adulthood that they 
face homelessness.
  The government can and should remedy this. This bill will help with 
that and will give these kids, as they go into adulthood, an 
opportunity to jump in the front of the line--because we know they are 
coming; we have known they are coming for years--and give them the 
assistance for federally created housing so they can look toward self-
sufficiency and become independent members of society.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the Dayton, Ohio, area 
foster kids and the alumni who helped work on this. Congratulations to 
each and every one of them. We did it, Mr. Speaker. I encourage 
everyone to vote for this.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank Mrs. Wagner 
for working with me and the other members of the committee. I would 
like to also thank Ms. Dean and Mr. Stivers for introducing this 
important piece of legislation that is aimed at protecting some of our 
most vulnerable young people who too often fall into homelessness after 
they age out of foster care.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do 
so, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4300, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________