Date: 2014-04-30
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I want to thank Mr. CUL3ERSON and Mr. BISHOP for doing an outstanding job as they have done and make a bipartisan statement that as the first bill of the appropriations season comes forward we stand in solidarity against veterans waiting. against veterans claims not being processed. and against veterans dying because they have not been treated. I dont think any Member of Congress would adhere to that kind of abuse of our veterans. and I hope that we find solutions in a bipartisan way. I also believe the administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. a military retiree himself. would stand in solidarity to stop this kind of treatment of our veterans. One of the groups that we have a solidarity and commitment to are the Nations homeless veterans. We know that there are over 100.000 homeless veterans and 1.000plus homeless veterans in Houston. Texas. My amendment reinforces and reaffirms our commitment in looking to ensure that funds are not cut in subchapter 3. dealing with homeless matters. enhancement of comprehensive services. in particular. hospital. nursing home. and domiciliary care. which used to be only for homeless veterans who were suffering from mental health issues. now access to all veterans. So the Jackson Lee amendment is here to ensure that reducing. eliminating homelessness among veterans is of paramount responsibility and commitment to those who risk their lives to protect our freedom. My amendment will remind us of our obligation to provide our veterans the assistance needed to avoid homelessness. which includes adequately funding for programs. Veterans Administrations support of housing that provides case management services. adequate housing facilities. mental health support. and address other areas that contribute to veterans homelessness. such as the homeless matters. enhancement of comprehensive services. Mr. Chairman. our veterans deserve the best service available. and I believe that we could do much for them. I know that in this particular appropriations bill there has been a standard of excellence to put our veterans first. Many other veterans are considered homeless or atrisk because of their poverty. lack of support from family and friends. and dismal living conditions. So that means the number of 107.000 goes up. Contrary to popular belief. ending homelessness among veterans remains a big challenge. My own city of Houston has its own share of homelessness. Let me take note of the homeless centers in my community: Salvation Army. Joshua House for Men. Magnificent House. Modest Family Health Care. Open Door Mission. Salvation Army. Harbor Lightof which I participate in their Thanksgiving ceremonies or Thanksgiving dinner almost every year that I have served in the United States CongressStar of Hope. Ultimate Changes. and my good friend Mr. Jones who is on Lyons Avenue who has a facility that opens its doors to anyone who will knock. a man who needs the resources that have been cut over the years. My amendment is to reinforce that. as this bill is passed. we will ensure that the provisions given to us under title III. section 301 that emphasizes the utilization of facilities for veterans who happen to be homeless. all veterans. would not be diminished. That is at least our minimal responsibilityminimal responsibility. But as we approach this Memorial Day where we honor those who lost their lives. let us not leave their fellow brothers and sisters along the highway of despair. On a personal note. let me indicate that as a member of the local elected government. for many years I used to participate in the standdown. where you got to talk and interact with our veterans. I can tell you firsthand the experience. Our veterans welcome our help and need our help. for they have helped this Nation. Mr. Chair. Thank you for this opportunity to describe my amendment. which simply provides that: "None of the funds made available by this Act for the Department of Veteran AffairsBenefits for Homeless Veterans and Training and Outreach Programs may be used in contravention of the title 38. Part II. Chapter 20. 111 of the U.S. Code. This amendment will help ensure that the rate of homelessness among veterans in the United States does not increase. I thank Subcommittee Chairman CULBERSON and Ranking Member BISHOP for their hard work in shepherding this important legislation to the floor. I offer the Jackson Lee Amendment because I believe reducing and eliminating homelessness among veterans. those who risked their lives to protect our freedom. should also be one of the nations highest priorities. Homelessness among the American veteran population is on the rise in the United States and we must be proactive in giving back to those who have given so much to us. My amendment will help remind us of our obligation to provide our veterans the assistance needed to avoid homelessness. which includes adequately funding for programs Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) that provide casemanagement services. adequate housing facilities. mental health support. and address other areas that contribute to veteran homelessness. VASH is a jointlyadministered permanent supportive housing program for disabled Veterans experiencing homelessness in which VA medical Centers provide referrals and case management while Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) administer the Section 8 housing vouchers. Mr. Chair. our veterans deserve the best services available. and I believe that we could be doing much more for them. Today. in our country. there are approximately 107.000 veterans (male and female) who are homeless on any given night. And perhaps twice as many (200.000) experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty. lack of support from family and friends. and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing. Contrary to popular belief. ending homelessness among veterans remains a big challenge. In my hometown of Houston for example. between the years 2010 and 2012. the number of homeless veterans increased from 771 to 1.162. We must be vigilant and continue to fight for those who put on the uniform and fought for us. Providing a home for veterans to come home to every night is the very least we can do. Mr. Chair. you should know that programs like VASH have succeeded in changing lives. In 2012 alone. 35.905 veterans lived in the public housing provided by VASH. I have seen the impact of such grants in my home state of Texas. and within my congressional district in Houston. and I am sure that this funding has positively impacted many communities across this country. In Texas. there are committed groups in Houston. working to eradicate the issue of homelessness. For example. the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center has been involved in changing veterans lives in a mighty way by providing Veterans and their families with access to affordable housing and medical services that will help them get back on their feet. Mr. Chair. we cannot let this issue of homelessness continue. I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment and commit ourselves to the hard but necessary work of ending veteran homelessness in America.