HOMELESS
VETERANS COMPREHENSIVE
ASSISTANCE
ACT OF 2001
H.R.
2716, AS AMENDED
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TITLE:
An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise,
improve, and consolidate provisions of law providing benefits and
services for homeless veterans.
H.R.
2716, as amended, would:
1.
Provide that this bill may be cited as the “Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001”.
2.
Establish a national goal to end chronic homelessness among
veterans and encourage all governmental and private agencies to work
together to achieve this goal.
3.
Provide a “Sense of the Congress” regarding the needs of
homeless veterans and the responsibility of federal agencies in
meeting those needs.
4.
Consolidate and improve laws relating to homeless veterans into
a new chapter of title 38, United States Code.
Include provisions to increase per diem payments up to the rate
paid to state home domiciliaries by community providers, authorize
appropriations for the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program,
coordinate outreach services among agencies dealing with homeless
individuals, and undertake an outreach demonstration program within
VA. Other provisions
authorize establishment of a grant program for homeless veterans with
special needs, limited dental care for veterans using VA homeless
programs, technical assistance to nonprofit community based groups,
and establish in law an Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
5.
Establish evaluation centers for programs that serve homeless
populations and require annual program assessments to be submitted to
Congress.
6.
Require a study of outcome effectiveness of grant program for
homeless veterans with special needs.
7.
Require VA to develop a plan to provide veterans access to
mental health services, including substance abuse treatment; and
expand the comprehensive homeless services program.
8.
Require disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and
local veterans’ employment representatives to coordinate employment
services with entities receiving financial assistance under homeless
veterans’ reintegration programs.
9.
Establish priorities for homeless programs when VA considers disposing of real property or entering into enhanced-use
lease arrangements.
10.
Require an annual meeting of the Interagency Council on
Homeless.
11.
Increase set-aside rental assistance vouchers for HUD
VA-Supported Housing Program.
LEGISLATIVE
HISTORY:
October 10, 2001: H.R.
2716 ordered reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute by the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
October
16, 2001: H.R. 2716
reported amended by the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. H. Rept.
107-241, Part I.
October
16, 2001: Passed the
House amended under suspension by voice vote.
October
17, 2001: Received in the
Senate. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.
Calendar No. 201.
December
6, 2001: Passed the
Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent.
December
11, 2001: House agreed to the Senate amendment under suspension by
voice vote.
December 21, 2001: Signed by the
President, Public Law 107-95.
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