Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013
Latest action · Nov 18, 2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedFeb 12, 2013
- Passed SenateNov 6, 2013
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Includes as a homeless veteran, for purposes of eligibility for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran or veteran's family fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, there is no other residence, and there is a lack of resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
(Sec. 3) Requires public or private nonprofit entities that receive grants under the VA comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans to agree to meet the physical privacy, safety, and security needs of such veterans.
(Sec. 4) Increases the per diem payment for transitional housing assistance for homeless veterans who are placed in housing that will become permanent upon the termination of such assistance to a maximum of 150% of the per diem rate authorized for veterans receiving domiciliary care in state homes.
(Sec. 5) Allows services for which a homeless veteran receives a grant under the comprehensive service programs to include furnishing care for a dependent.
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) assess and measure the capacity of programs for which entities receive grants or per diem payments to assist homeless veterans, and (2) use such information to ensure that such programs effectively serve the needs of such veterans. Requires the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans committees on such assessment.
(Sec. 7) Revises VA authority to provide dental care to veterans receiving certain other assistance through the VA to include those veterans: (1) receiving supportive housing assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for at least 60 consecutive days, or (2) residing in non-VA transitional housing for at least 60 days from which the veteran cannot reasonably access comparable dental services at no cost.
(Sec. 8) Authorizes the Secretary (until December 31, 2016) to enter into partnerships with public or private entities to fund a portion of general legal services provided to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. Requires the partnerships to be equitably distributed across the United States and to include rural communities, tribal lands and organizations, and Native Americans. Allows the Secretary to require such partnerships to submit periodic reports to the Secretary on the legal services provided.
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to periodically request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Prisons, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and other appropriate federal law enforcement agencies data useful for the evaluation and improvement of the services provided to veterans at risk of homelessness.
(Sec. 10) Extends through FY2017 the authority of the Secretary and the Secretary of Labor to carry out a program of referral and counseling for veterans who are at risk of homelessness and are transitioning from certain institutions, including penal institutions. Repeals the requirement that such program be carried out in least 12 locations.
(Sec. 11) Repeals a required annual report from the Secretary to the veterans committees on VA activities under homeless veterans assistance programs.
(Sec. 12) Extends various VA authorities and programs affecting such veterans, including: (1) treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, housing assistance for homeless veterans, and the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans through 2014; and (2) supportive services for very low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing through FY2014.
(Sec. 13) Extends from November 30, 2016, through August 31, 2017, the requirement of a reduced pension ($90 per month) for veterans (with neither spouse nor child) or surviving spouses (with no child) covered by Medicaid plans under title XIX of the Social Security Act for services furnished by nursing facilities.
Cosponsors 6
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Feb 12, 2013 to Dec 10, 2014; 4 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-AR | John Boozman | Original | Feb 12, 2013 |
| D-MT | Jon Tester | Original | Feb 12, 2013 |
| D-AR | Mark L. Pryor | Original | Feb 12, 2013 |
| D-CT | Richard Blumenthal | Original | Feb 12, 2013 |
| D-NH | Jeanne Shaheen | May 21, 2013 | |
| R-NV | Dean Heller | Dec 10, 2014 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Veterans' Affairs Committee | Referred Feb 12, 2013Hearings May 9, 2013Markup Jul 24, 2013Reported Sep 23, 2013 |
| House | Veterans' Affairs Committee | Referred Nov 12, 2013 |
| Health Subcommittee | Referred Nov 18, 2013 |
Actions 13
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Nov 18, 2013Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Nov 12, 2013Received in the House.
- Nov 12, 2013Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Nov 7, 2013Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Nov 6, 2013Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7886-7888)
- Nov 6, 2013The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S7886-7887)
- Nov 6, 2013Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7888)
- Sep 23, 2013Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-110.
- Sep 23, 2013Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 197.
- Jul 24, 2013Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- May 9, 2013Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-203.
- Feb 12, 2013Introduced in Senate
- Feb 12, 2013Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In the Congressional Record 2
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S7886, S7887Text printed S7886, S7888Amendments S7885, S7887 | Bernard Sanders I-VT (amendment), Mazie K. Hirono D-HI | Nov 6, 2013 |
| Senate | Amendments S7799 | Bernard Sanders I-VT (amendment) | Nov 4, 2013 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Congressional Budget Office cost estimates 2
- Nov 1, 2013S. 287, Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013Estimate of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects for S. 287 as reported (HEY13436) with an amendment (BAG13469)
- Aug 27, 2013S. 287, Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on July 24, 2013
Printed hearings 2
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Hrg. 113-203 | HEARING ON PENDING HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION143 pages | Veterans' Affairs Committee | May 9, 2013 |
| Serial No. 113-7 | JOINT HEARING TO RECEIVE LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION OF MULTIPLE VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (VSOs)117 pages | Veterans' Affairs Committee | Mar 6, 2013 |
Amendments 2
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA 2010 | No description on file | Bernard Sanders I-VT | Senate amendment submitted |
| SA 2023 | Relative to extension of authority for program of referral and counseling services for veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions. | Bernard Sanders I-VT | Amendment SA 2023 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. |
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 897 | To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. | Related bill | Mar 8, 2013 |
| HR 4140 | Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2014 | Related bill | Mar 7, 2014 |
Titles 4
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
- Official Titles as Amended by Senate
- A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Reported to Senate
- Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013
- Short Titles as Passed Senate
- Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Nov 12, 2013Referred in House
- Nov 6, 2013Engrossed in Senate
- Sep 23, 2013Reported to Senate
- Feb 12, 2013Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
