S 2273
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2273
To enhance the functioning and integration of formerly homeless
veterans who reside in permanent housing, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 31, 2007
Mr. AKAKA (by request) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To enhance the functioning and integration of formerly homeless
veterans who reside in permanent housing, 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 `Enhanced Opportunities for Formerly Homeless
Veterans Residing in Permanent Housing Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO ENTITIES THAT COORDINATE THE PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES TO FORMERLY HOMELESS VETERANS RESIDING ON QUALIFYING MILITARY
PROPERTY.
(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to
make grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based and community)
organizations to coordinate the provision of supportive services available
in the local community to very low income, formerly homeless veterans
residing in permanent housing that is located on qualifying property.
(2) The Secretary may make grants at up to 10 qualifying properties
under the pilot program.
(b) Qualifying Property- A military installation closed in accordance
with the 2005 base realignment and closure process (pursuant to the
Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990 (BRAC), as amended),
and the property disposal provisions of chapter 5 of title 40, United
States Code (formerly the Federal Property and Administrative Property
Act of 1949) that the Secretary of Defense determines, after consideration
of the local redevelopment authority's redevelopment plan, may be used
to assist the homeless in accordance with the redevelopment plan.
(c) Criteria for Grants- The Secretary shall prescribe criteria and
requirements for grants under this section and shall publish such criteria
and requirements in the Federal Register.
(d) Duration of Program- The authority of the Secretary to provide grants
under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date that
is five years after the date of the commencement of that pilot program.
(e) Definition- For purposes of this section, `very low income' has
the same meaning as that used in the Resident Characteristics Report
issued annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(f) Authorization for the Appropriation of Funds- There is authorized
to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading `General
Operating Expenses', not more than $3,000,000 in each of fiscal years
2009 through 2013 to carry out the purposes of this section.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO ENTITIES THAT COORDINATE THE PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES TO FORMERLY HOMELESS VETERANS RESIDING IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
(a) Establishment of Pilot Program-
(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to
make grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based and community)
organizations to coordinate the provision of supportive services available
in the local community to very low income, formerly homeless veterans
residing in permanent housing.
(2) The Secretary may make grants at up to 10 qualifying properties
under the pilot program.
(b) Qualifying Property- Any property in the United States on which
permanent housing is provided or afforded to formerly homeless veterans,
as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Criteria for Grants- The Secretary shall prescribe criteria and
requirements for grants under this section and shall publish such criteria
and requirements in the Federal Register.
(d) Duration of Pilot Program- The authority of the Secretary to provide
grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date
that is five years after the date of the commencement of that pilot
program.
(e) Definition- For purposes of this section, `very low income' has
the same meaning as that used in the Resident Characteristics Report
issued annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(f) Authorization for the Appropriation of Funds- There is authorized
to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading `General
Operating Expenses', not more than $3,000,000 in each of fiscal years
2009 through 2013 to carry out the purposes of this section.
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO ENTITIES FOR PENSION OUTREACH.
(a) Authority To Make Grants- In addition to the outreach authority
provided to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by section 7722 of title
38 United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out
a pilot program to make grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based
and community) organizations for services to provide outreach to inform
low-income and elderly veterans and their spouses who reside in rural
areas of benefits for which they may be eligible under chapter 15 of
title 38, United States Code.
(b) Criteria for Grants- The Secretary shall prescribe criteria and
requirements for grants under this section and shall publish such criteria
and requirements in the Federal Register.
(c) Duration of Pilot Program- The authority of the Secretary to provide
grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date
that is five years after the date of the commencement of that pilot
program.
(d) Authorization for the Appropriation of Funds- There is authorized
to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading `General
Operating Expenses', not more than $1,275,000 in each of fiscal years
2009 through 2013 to carry out the purposes of this section.
SEC. 5. GRANTS TO ENTITIES THAT ASSIST ELIGIBLE TRANSITIONING INDIVIDUALS
IN NEED OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES.
(a) Authority To Make Grants-
(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such
purpose as authorized under subsection (i) of this section, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to make grants to
eligible entities to establish new programs or activities, or expand
or modify existing programs or activities, for the purpose of furnishing
the following services and assistance to each eligible transitioning
individual who is entitled and eligible for a rehabilitation program
(hereinafter referred to in this section as a `rehabilitation program')
under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code:
(A) Transportation assistance, which may include providing transportation,
paying for or reimbursing transportation costs, and paying for or
reimbursing other transportation-related expenses (including orientation
on the use of transportation) to facilitate an eligible individual's
participation in a rehabilitation program or related activities.
(B) Childcare assistance, which may include childcare services or
reimbursement of expenses related to childcare to facilitate an
eligible individual's participation in a rehabilitation program
or related activities.
(C) Clothing assistance, which may include personal services in
selecting, and payment of a monetary allowance to cover the cost
of purchasing, clothing and accessories suitable for job interviews
or related activities consistent with an individual's participation
in a rehabilitation program or related activities.
(2) The Secretary is authorized to make grants under this section
during the period beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending on September
30, 2010.
(b) Definitions- For purposes of this section--
(1) the term `eligible entities' means public and non-profit organizations
(including faith-based and community organizations) approved by the
Secretary under subsection (e) of this section for the purpose of
assisting individuals who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation
assistance and services under chapter 31 of title 38, United States
Code; and
(2) the term `eligible transitioning individual' means a person described
in section 3102 of title 38, United States Code, or an individual
who was separated or released from active military, naval, or air
service due to a service-connected disability on or after October
1, 2006.
(c) Criteria for Grants- The Secretary shall establish criteria and
requirements for grants under this section, including criteria for entities
eligible to receive grants, and shall publish such criteria and requirements
in the Federal Register. The criteria established under this subsection
shall include the following:
(1) Specification as to the kinds of projects or activities for which
grants are available.
(2) Specification as to the number of projects or activities for which
grants are available.
(3) Provisions to ensure that grants under this section shall not
result in duplication of ongoing services.
(d) Duration of Pilot Program- The authority of the Secretary to provide
grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date
that is three years after the date of the commencement of that pilot
program.
(e) Funding Limitation- A grant under this section may not be used to
support eligible entities' operational costs.
(f) 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 project or activity for which the grant is sought
consistent with the plans, specifications, and schedule submitted
by the applicant; and
(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and requirements established
under subsections (c) and (g) and has, as determined by the Secretary,
the capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.
(g) Application Requirement- An entity seeking a grant for a project
or activity under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application
for the grant. The application shall set forth the following:
(1) The amount of the grant sought for the project or activity.
(2) Plans, specifications, and the schedule for implementation of
the project or activity in accordance with criteria and requirements
prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (c).
(h) Program Requirements- The Secretary may not make a grant for a project
or activity to an applicant under this section unless the applicant
in the application for the grant agrees to each of the following requirements:
(1) To provide the services for which the grant is made at locations
accessible to eligible individuals.
(2) To ensure the confidentiality of records maintained on eligible
individuals receiving services through the project.
(3) To establish such procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting
as may be necessary to ensure proper disbursement and accounting with
respect to the grant and to such payments as may be made under this
section.
(i) Recovery of Unused Grant Funds-
(1) If a grant recipient under this section--
(A) does not establish a program or activity in accordance with
this section; or
(B) ceases to furnish services under such a program for which the
grant was made,
the United States shall be entitled to recover from such recipient
the total of all unused grant amounts made under this section to such
recipient in connection with such program.
(2) Any amount recovered by the United States under paragraph (1)
may be obligated by the Secretary without fiscal year limitation to
carry out provisions of this section.
(3) An amount may not be recovered under paragraph (1)(A) as an unused
grant amount before the end of the three-year period beginning on
the date on which the grant is made.
(j) Authorization for the Appropriation of Funds- There is authorized
to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading `General
Operating Expenses', not more than $5,000,000 in each of fiscal years
2008 through 2010 to carry out the purposes of this section.
SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT OF PILOT PROGRAMS.
(a) Not less than one year before the expiration of the authority to
carry out the pilot programs authorized in sections 2 through 5 of this
bill, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide a progress report
to the Congress for each of the pilot programs that includes key measures
and lessons that the Secretary can apply to programs with similar purposes,
as well as recommendations on whether or not to continue each program.
(b) Key measures that the Secretary shall report on include the number
of veterans and dependents served by the pilot programs, quality of
service to veterans and dependents, the amount of funds provided to
grant recipients, and the names of organizations that have received
grants.
END
