II 

Calendar No. 197 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 287 

[Report No. 113–110] 

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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2013 

Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mr. TESTER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. PRYOR, Mr. 

BOOZMAN, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) introduced the following bill; which was 

read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 

Reported by Mr. SANDERS, with an amendment and an amendment to the 

title 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF HOMELESS 

2 VETERAN FOR PURPOSES OF BENEFITS 

3 UNDER THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE 

4 SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 Section 2002(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 

6 amended by striking ‘‘in section 103(a) of the McKinney7 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a))’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘in subsection (a) or (b) of section 103 of 

9 the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

10 11302)’’. 

11 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

12 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Helping Homeless Vet13 erans Act of 2013’’. 

14 SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF HOMELESS VET15 ERAN FOR PURPOSES OF BENEFITS UNDER 

16 THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SEC17 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

18 Section 2002(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 

19 amended by striking ‘‘in section 103(a) of the McKinney20 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a))’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘in subsection (a) or (b) of section 103 of the 

22 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

23 11302)’’. 


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1 SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO GRANT PROGRAM FOR COM2 PREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOME3 LESS VETERANS. 

4 (a) MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CAP5 ITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST

6 HOMELESS VETERANS.—Subsection (a) of section 2011 of 

7 title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter be8 fore paragraph (1)— 

9 (1) by striking ‘‘or modifying’’ and inserting ‘‘, 

10 modifying, or maintaining’’; and 

11 (2) by inserting ‘‘privately, safely, and securely,’’ 

12 before ‘‘the following’’. 

13 (b) REQUIREMENT THAT RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS

14 MEET PHYSICAL PRIVACY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY NEEDS

15 OF HOMELESS VETERANS.—Subsection (f) of such section 

16 is amended by adding at the end the following new para17 graph: 

18 ‘‘(6) To meet the physical privacy, safety, and 

19 security needs of homeless veterans receiving services 

20 through the project.’’. 

21 SEC. 4. INCREASED PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR TRANSI22 TIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE THAT BE23 COMES PERMANENT HOUSING FOR HOME24 LESS VETERANS. 

25 Section 2012(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 

26 amended— 


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1 (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through 

2 (D) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively; 

3 (2) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated, by 

4 striking ‘‘in subparagraph (D)’’ and inserting ‘‘in 

5 subparagraph (E)’’; 

6 (3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by 

7 striking ‘‘under subparagraph (B)’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘under subparagraph (C)’’; 

9 (4) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated, by 

10 striking ‘‘in subparagraphs (B) and (C)’’ and insert11 ing ‘‘in subparagraphs (C) and (D)’’; and 

12 (5) in subparagraph (A)— 

13 (A) by striking ‘‘The rate’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph 

15 (B), the rate’’; and 

16 (B) by striking ‘‘under subparagraph (B)’’ 

17 and all that follows through the end and insert18 ing the following: ‘‘under subparagraph (C). 

19 ‘‘(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), in no case 

20 may the rate determined under this paragraph exceed the 

21 rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under 

22 subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the Sec23 retary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) 

24 of that section. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) In the case of services furnished to a homeless 

2 veteran who is placed in housing that will become perma3 nent housing for the veteran upon termination of the fur4 nishing of such services to such veteran, the maximum rate 

5 of per diem authorized under this section is 150 percent 

6 of the rate described in clause (i).’’. 

7 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FUR8 NISHING CARE TO DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN 

9 HOMELESS VETERANS. 

10 Subsection (a) of section 2012 of title 38, United States 

11 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 

12 paragraph: 

13 ‘‘(4) Services for which a recipient of a grant under 

14 section 2011 of this title (or an entity described in para15 graph (1)) may receive per diem payments under this sub16 section may include furnishing care for a dependent of a 

17 homeless veteran who is under the care of such homeless vet18 eran while such homeless veteran receives services from the 

19 grant recipient (or entity).’’. 

20 SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF21 FAIRS TO ASSESS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE 

22 PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

24 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

25 Affairs shall assess and measure the capacity of programs 


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1 for which entities receive grants under section 2011 of title 

2 38, United States Code, or per diem payments under section 

3 2012 or 2061 of such title. 

4 (b) ASSESSMENT AT NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS.— 

5 In assessing and measuring under subsection (a), the Sec6 retary shall develop and use tools to examine the capacity 

7 of programs described in such subsection at both the na8 tional and local level in order to assess the following: 

9 (1) Whether sufficient capacity exists to meet the 

10 needs of homeless veterans in each geographic area. 

11 (2) Whether existing capacity meets the needs of 

12 the subpopulations of homeless veterans located in 

13 each geographic area. 

14 (3) The amount of capacity that recipients of 

15 grants under sections 2011 and 2061 and per diem 

16 payments under section 2012 of such title have to 

17 provide services for which the recipients are eligible to 

18 receive per diem under section 2012(a)(2)(B)(ii) of 

19 title 38, United States Code, as added by section 

20 4(5)(B). 

21 (c) USE OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall use 

22 the information collected under this section as follows: 

23 (1) To set specific goals to ensure that programs 

24 described in subsection (a) are effectively serving the 

25 needs of homeless veterans. 


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1 (2) To assess whether programs described in sub2 section (a) are meeting goals set under paragraph (1). 

3 (3) To inform funding allocations for programs 

4 described in subsection (a). 

5 (4) To improve the referral of homeless veterans 

6 to programs described in subsection (a). 

7 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

8 on which the assessment required by subsection (b) is com9 pleted, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet10 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 

11 Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on such 

12 assessment and such recommendations for legislative and 

13 administrative action as the Secretary may have to im14 prove the programs and per diem payments described in 

15 subsection (a). 

16 SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF17 FAIRS AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE DENTAL CARE 

18 TO HOMELESS VETERANS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2062(b) of title 38, United 

20 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

21 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—(1) Subsection (a) applies 

22 to a veteran who— 

23 ‘‘(A) is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of 

24 this title; and 


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1 ‘‘(B) for a period of 60 consecutive days, is re2 ceiving— 

3 ‘‘(i) assistance under section 8(o) of the 

4 United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 

5 1437f(o)); or 

6 ‘‘(ii) care (directly or by contract) in any 

7 of the following settings: 

8 ‘‘(I) A domiciliary under section 1710 

9 of this title. 

10 ‘‘(II) A therapeutic residence under 

11 section 2032 of this title. 

12 ‘‘(III) Community residential care co13 ordinated by the Secretary under section 

14 1730 of this title. 

15 ‘‘(IV) A setting for which the Secretary 

16 provides funds for a grant and per diem 

17 provider. 

18 ‘‘(V) A setting— 

19 ‘‘(aa) in which the veteran is re20 ceiving transitional housing assistance; 

21 ‘‘(bb) for which funding is not 

22 provided for transitional housing as23 sistance under the laws administered 

24 by the Secretary; 


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1 ‘‘(cc) for which the Secretary re2 ceives verification from the provider of 

3 care that the veteran is receiving care 

4 for a period of 60 consecutive days; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(dd) from which the Secretary 

7 determines that the veteran cannot rea8 sonably access comparable dental serv9 ices at no cost and in a reasonable pe10 riod of time. 

11 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), in determining 

12 whether a veteran has received assistance or care for a pe13 riod of 60 consecutive days, the Secretary may disregard 

14 breaks in the continuity of assistance or care for which the 

15 veteran is not responsible.’’. 

16 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub17 section (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after 

18 the date of the enactment of this Act. 

19 SEC. 8. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTI20 TIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO HOME21 LESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK OF 

22 HOMELESSNESS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 20 of title 38, United 

24 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 the 

25 following new section: 


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1 ‘‘§ 2022A. Partnerships with public and private enti2 ties to provide legal services to homeless 

3 veterans and veterans at risk of homeless4 ness 

5 ‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIPS AUTHORIZED.—Subject to the 

6 availability of funds for that purpose, the Secretary may 

7 enter into partnerships with public or private entities to 

8 fund a portion of the general legal services specified in sub9 section (c) that are provided by such entities to homeless 

10 veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. 

11 ‘‘(b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall ensure that, to 

12 the extent practicable, partnerships under this section are 

13 made with entities equitably distributed across the geo14 graphic regions of the United States, including rural com15 munities, tribal lands of the United States, Native Ameri16 cans, and tribal organizations (as defined in section 3765 

17 of title 38, United States Code). 

18 ‘‘(c) LEGAL SERVICES.—Legal services specified in 

19 this subsection include legal services provided by public or 

20 private entities that address the needs of homeless veterans 

21 and veterans at risk of homelessness as follows: 

22 ‘‘(1) Legal services related to housing, including 

23 eviction defense and representation in landlord-tenant 

24 cases. 


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1 ‘‘(2) Legal services related to family law, includ2 ing assistance in court proceedings for child support, 

3 divorce, and estate planning. 

4 ‘‘(3) Legal services related to income support, in5 cluding assistance in obtaining public benefits. 

6 ‘‘(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, 

7 including defense in matters symptomatic of home8 lessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, and 

9 driver’s license revocation, to reduce recidivism and 

10 facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in em11 ployment or housing. 

12 ‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—In developing and carrying out 

13 partnerships under this section, the Secretary shall, to the 

14 extent practicable, consult with public and private enti15 ties— 

16 ‘‘(1) for assistance in identifying and contacting 

17 organizations capable of providing the legal services 

18 described in subsection (c); and 

19 ‘‘(2) to coordinate appropriate outreach relation20 ships with such organizations. 

21 ‘‘(e) REPORTS.—The Secretary may require entities 

22 that have entered into partnerships under this section to 

23 submit to the Secretary periodic reports on legal services 

24 provided to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of home25 lessness pursuant to such partnerships.’’. 


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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

2 the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by add3 ing after the item relating to section 2022 the following new 

4 item: 

‘‘2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services to 

homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.’’. 

5 SEC. 9. REQUESTS FOR DATA TO EVALUATE AND IMPROVE 

6 SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS AT RISK 

7 OF HOMELESSNESS. 

8 Section 2022 of title 38, United States Code, is amend9 ed— 

10 (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection 

11 (g); 

12 (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following 

13 new subsection (f): 

14 ‘‘(f) REQUESTS FOR DATA TO EVALUATE AND IM15 PROVE SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS AT RISK OF

16 HOMELESSNESS.—(1) The Secretary shall from time to 

17 time request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 

18 Bureau of Prisons, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and 

19 other appropriate Federal law enforcement agencies data 

20 in the possession of such agencies useful for the evaluation 

21 and improvement of the services provided to veterans at risk 

22 of homelessness under this section and section 2023 of this 

23 title. 


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1 ‘‘(2) Such agencies shall make reasonable efforts to 

2 comply with any such request by the Secretary.’’. 

3 SEC. 10. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT 

4 PROGRAM OF REFERRAL AND COUNSELING 

5 SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF HOME6 LESSNESS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM 

7 CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS. 

8 Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is amend9 ed— 

10 (1) by striking subsection (b); 

11 (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘To the ex12 tent practical, the program’’ and inserting ‘‘The pro13 gram’’; 

14 (3) by striking subsection (d); 

15 (4) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘provided 

16 under the demonstration program’’; and 

17 (5) by redesignating subsections (c) and (e) as 

18 subsections (b) and (c), respectively. 

19 SEC. 11. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORTS 

20 ON ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS VETERANS. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2065 of title 38, United 

22 States Code, is hereby repealed. 

23 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

24 the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by 

25 striking the item relating to section 2065. 


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1 SEC. 12. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITIES. 

2 (a) COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.—Section 

3 2013 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 

4 paragraphs (4) through (6) and inserting the following: 

5 ‘‘(4) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 

6 through 2014. 

7 ‘‘(5) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each 

8 subsequent fiscal year.’’. 

9 (b) HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PRO10 GRAMS.—Section 2021(e)(1)(F) of such title is amended by 

11 striking ‘‘2013’’ and inserting ‘‘2014’’. 

12 (c) TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR SERIOUSLY

13 MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.—Section 

14 2031(b) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

15 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 

16 (d) CENTERS FOR THE PROVISION OF COMPREHEN17 SIVE SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS.—Section 

18 2033(d) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

19 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 

20 (e) HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VET21 ERANS.—Section 2041(c) of such title is amended by strik22 ing ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 

23 2014’’. 

24 (f) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERV25 ICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PER26 MANENT HOUSING.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 

2 2044(e) of such title is amended by adding at the end 

3 the following new subparagraph (F): 

4 ‘‘(F) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’. 

5 (2) TRAINING ENTITIES FOR PROVISION OF SUP6 PORTIVE SERVICES.—Paragraph (3) of such section is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2014’’. 

8 (g) GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

9 WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.—Section 2061(d)(1) of such title is 

10 amended by striking ‘‘for each of’’ through ‘‘shall be avail11 able’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of fiscal years 2007 through 

12 2014, $5,000,000 shall be available’’. 

13 (h) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR NONPROFIT

14 COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS.—Section 2064(b) of such title 

15 is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2014’’. 

16 (i) ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VET17 ERANS.—Section 2066(d) of such title is amended by strik18 ing ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 

19 2014’’. 


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1 SEC. 13. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN 

2 VETERANS COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS 

3 FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY NURSING FA4 CILITIES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d)(7) of section 5503 

6 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘No7 vember 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘March 31, 2018’’. 

8 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

9 (1) SECTION HEADING.—The section heading of 

10 such section is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Re11 duced pension for certain hospitalized 

12 veterans and certain veterans receiving 

13 domiciliary, nursing home, or nursing fa14 cility care’’. 

15 (2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 

16 at the beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amend17 ed by striking the item relating to section 5503 and 

18 inserting the following new item: 

‘‘5503. Reduced pension for certain hospitalized veterans and certain veterans receiving domiciliary, nursing home, or nursing facility care.’’. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend title 

38, United States Code, to improve assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.’’. 


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Calendar No. 197 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 287 

[Report No. 113–110] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand 

poses. retary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purbenefits under the laws administered by the Secthe definition of homeless veteran for purposes of 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 

Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the 

title 


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