--- kind: "diff" citation: "H.R. 3749" bill: "116-hr-3749" heading: "Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act" from: "ih" from_label: "Introduced in House" to: "eh" to_label: "Engrossed in House" sections_amended: 1 sections_added: 2 sections_removed: 0 url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/116/hr/3749/changes/eh" --- # H.R. 3749 — what changed H.R. 3749, Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act — 1 section amended and 2 added between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House. Edits are marked `struck` and `inserted`. ## Sec. 2 Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness - (a) In general— Chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 the following new section: - “2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness - “(a) Grants and cooperative agreements—Subject Grants—Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make grants or enter into cooperative agreements to eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. - “(b) Criteria for grants and cooperative agreementsCriteria - “(1) The Secretary shall establish criteria and requirements for grants and cooperative agreements under this section, including criteria for entities eligible to receive such grants or cooperative agreements, and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register.shall— - “(2) In establishing “(A) establish criteria and requirements for grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with organizations that have experience in providing services this section, including criteria for entities eligible to homeless veterans.receive such grants; and - “(c) Eligible entities—The Secretary may make a grant or enter into a cooperative agreement under this section to an entity applying for “(B) publish such a grant or cooperative agreement only if the applicant for criteria and requirements in the grant or cooperative agreement—Federal Register. - “(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively administer a grant or cooperative agreement “(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under this section;paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— - “(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be available “(A) take into consideration any criteria and requirements needed with respect to carry carrying out this section in rural communities, Tribal lands, and the services for which territories and possessions of the grant or cooperative agreement is sought consistent with application; United States; and - “(3) agrees “(B) consult with organizations that have experience in providing services to meet homeless veterans, including veterans service organizations, the applicable criteria and requirements established under subsection (b) Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Veterans Legal Corps, and has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated other organizations the capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.Secretary determines appropriate. - “(d) Use of funds—Funds provided under grants or cooperative agreements “(c) Eligible entities—The Secretary may make a grant under this section shall be used to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk an entity applying for homelessness to address legal matters that contribute to such a grant only if the risk of becoming and remaining homeless.applicant for the grant— - “(e) Reports—On “(1) is a biennial basis, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of public or nonprofit private entity with the House of Representatives and capacity (as determined by the Senate Secretary) to effectively administer a report on grants and cooperative agreements grant under this section. To the extent feasible, each such report shall include the following with respect to the year covered by the report:section; - “(1) The number of homeless veterans assisted.“(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be available to carry out the services for which the grant is sought consistent with the application; - “(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and requirements established under subsection (b)(1); and - “(4) has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the capacity to meet such criteria and requirements. - “(d) Use of funds—Grants under this section shall be used to provide homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness the following legal services: - “(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, including assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, estate planning, and family reconciliation. - “(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 homelessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, and driver’s license revocation, to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in employment or housing. - “(5) Legal services related to requests to upgrade the characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former member of the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10. - “(6) Such other legal services as the Secretary determines appropriate. - “(e) Funds for women veterans—For any fiscal year, not less than 10 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section shall be used to provide legal services described in subsection (d) to women veterans. - “(f) Reports—On a biennial basis, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on grants under this section. To the extent feasible, each such report shall include the following with respect to the year covered by the report: - “(1) The number of homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness assisted. - “(2) A description of the legal services provided. - “(3) A description of the legal matters addressed. - “(4) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the services provided.” - (b) Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2022 the following new item: - (c) Criteria— Not later than 90 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the criteria and requirements in the Federal Register pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2022A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). ## Sec. 3 Additional amount for supportive services for veteran families grant program to support organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families — added - Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: - “(4) There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024 for the provision of financial assistance under subsection (a) to organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families.” ## Sec. 4 Gap analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs Programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless — added - (a) In general— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete an analysis of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such women. - (b) Report— Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 analysis completed under subsection (a).