I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3848 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2023 Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer (for herself and Mr. Bost ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to homelessness, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Housing our Military Veterans Effectively Act of 2023 or the HOME Act of 2023 . 2. Per diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans Section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)(B)— (i) in clause (i)(II)(aa)(BB)— (I) by striking 115 percent and inserting 133 percent ; and (II) by inserting , plus a percentage increase to such rate equal to the percentage determined under section 3564(a) of this title after of that section ; (ii) in clause (ii), by striking 150 and inserting 140 ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (iii) Subject to clause (iv), the Secretary may waive the maximum rate for per diem payments under clause (i)(II)(aa)(BB) or (ii) and provide such payments at a rate that does not exceed 200 percent of the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) of that section, if the Secretary— (I) determines that the grant recipient or eligible entity furnishes services to homeless veterans in— (aa) a rural or highly rural area; (bb) an area with a high rate of suicide among veterans; or (cc) an area with a high rate of homelessness among veterans; and (II) notifies Congress of the need for such waiver. (iv) The Secretary may not, pursuant to clause (iii), waive the maximum rate described in such clause for more than 10 percent of all grant recipients and eligible entities in a fiscal year. ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) The Secretary may not provide more than 10,500 payments under this section in a fiscal year. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Reports required Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the HOME Act of 2023, and not less frequently than twice each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the rate for per diem payments under this section that includes, for each Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department, the following data: (1) The average rate for such a payment. (2) A list of locations where the rate for such a payment is within 10 percent of the maximum rate for such a payment authorized under this section. (3) The average length of stay by a veteran participating in a program described in section 2011(a) of this title. . 3. Modification of authority to enter into certain leases at the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles campus Section 2 of West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 ( Public Law 114–226 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (h)(1)— (A) by striking that is not in compliance with such laws both places it appears; (B) by striking certifies and inserting submits ; and (C) by striking that all recommendations included in the audit report or evaluation have been implemented and inserting notice in writing of whether the Secretary concurred or did not concur with each recommendation included in the audit report or evaluation and, in the case of any nonconcurrence, the reasons for such nonconcurrence ; and (2) by adding the following new subsection: (n) Consideration Notwithstanding section 1302 of title 40, United States Code, section 8122 of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, consideration for a lease made pursuant to this Act may include consideration other than money. . 4. Temporary authorization for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use of certain funds for improved flexibility in assistance to homeless veterans (a) Use of funds The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out section 2011, 2012, 2031, or 2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide to a covered veteran, as the Secretary determines necessary— (1) assistance required for the safety and survival of the veteran (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items); (2) transportation required to support the stability and health of the veteran (such as transportation for appointments with service providers, the conduct of housing searches, and the obtainment of food and supplies); (3) communications equipment and services (such as tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans) required to support the stability and health of the veteran (such as through the maintenance of contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and family members); and (4) such other assistance as the Secretary determines necessary. (b) Homeless veterans on Department of Veterans Affairs land (1) In general The Secretary may collaborate, to the extent practicable, with one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the Department of Veterans Affairs for homeless veterans for living and sleeping. (2) Forms of collaboration Collaboration under paragraph (1) may include the provision by either the Secretary or the head of the organization concerned of food services and security for property, buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (c) Report required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes, with respect to the period covered by such report— (1) a statement, disaggregated by each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, of the amount of funds under this section— (A) each such medical center requested from the Secretary; and (B) to which the Secretary provided each such medical center; (2) data, disaggregated by each such medical center, relating to how each such medical center used amounts provided by the Secretary under this section; (3) the number of covered veterans to which the Secretary provided assistance under this section; (4) the total amount of assistance the Secretary provided to covered veterans pursuant to subsection (a)(3) for communications equipment, broken down by the type of equipment provided; (5) the total amount of assistance the Secretary provided covered veterans pursuant to subsection (a)(2) for ridesharing; (6) the number of covered veterans who received such assistance; and (7) a description, for each rideshare used by a covered veteran with such assistance, of the reasons such covered veteran used such rideshare. (d) Sunset The authority under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2024. (e) Definitions In this section, the term covered veteran means— (1) a homeless veteran; and (2) a veteran participating in the program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19) ).