I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 716 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to enter into partnerships with public and private entities to 
provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of home-
lessness. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 23, 2019 
Mrs. BEATTY (for herself, Mr. STIVERS, Mr. TED LIEU of California, and Mr. 
TURNER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into partnerships 
with public and private entities to provide legal services 
to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homeless-
ness. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homeless Veterans 
Legal Services Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:26 Feb 01, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H716.IH
H716
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTI-
TIES 
TO 
PROVIDE 
LEGAL 
SERVICES 
TO 
HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT 
RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 20 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2022A. Partnerships with public and private enti-
ties to provide legal services to homeless 
veterans and veterans at risk of home-
lessness 
‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIPS AUTHORIZED.—Subject to the 
availability of funds for such purpose, the Secretary shall 
enter into partnerships with public or private entities to 
fund a portion of the general legal services specified in 
subsection (c) that are provided by such entities to home-
less veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. 
‘‘(b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall ensure that, 
to the extent practicable, partnerships under this section 
are made with entities equitably distributed across the ge-
ographic regions of the United States, including rural 
communities and tribal lands. 
‘‘(c) LEGAL SERVICES.—Legal services specified in 
this subsection include legal services provided by public 
or private entities that address the needs of homeless vet-
erans and veterans at risk of homelessness as follows: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:26 Feb 01, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H716.IH
H716
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(1) Legal services related to housing, including 
eviction defense, representation in landlord-tenant 
cases, and representation in foreclosure cases. 
‘‘(2) Legal services related to family law, in-
cluding assistance in court proceedings for child sup-
port, divorce, estate planning, and family reconcili-
ation. 
‘‘(3) Legal services related to income support, 
including assistance in obtaining public benefits. 
‘‘(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, 
including defense in matters symptomatic of home-
lessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, and 
driver’s license revocation, to reduce recidivism and 
facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in em-
ployment or housing. 
‘‘(5) Such other legal services as the Secretary 
determines appropriate. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—In developing and carrying 
out partnerships under this section, the Secretary shall, 
to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(1) consult with veterans service organizations 
and other appropriate organizations; and 
‘‘(2) coordinate appropriate outreach relation-
ships with such organizations. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:26 Feb 01, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H716.IH
H716
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(e) REPORTS.—The Secretary may require entities 
that have entered into partnerships under this section to 
submit to the Secretary periodic reports on legal services 
provided to homeless veterans and veterans who are at risk 
of homelessness pursuant to such partnerships.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended 
by adding after the item relating to section 2022 the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services 
to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:26 Feb 01, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H716.IH
H716
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS