Sec. 201 Access to certain essential documents
Report—
In general— The Comptroller General of the United States shall publish a report that identifies—
each essential document issued to persons who are homeless or housing-unstable by—
the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
the Administrator of Veterans Affairs;
the Attorney General of the United States;
the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration;
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue;
the Director of National Park Service;
the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services;
the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
any other agency identified by the Comptroller General;
any barrier, including any financial barrier, persons who are homeless or housing-unstable face in—
requesting any essential document identified under paragraph (1); or
replacing any such essential document if lost, misplaced, stolen, expired, destroyed, or otherwise inaccessible;
any barrier created by the requirements of title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–18; 49 U.S.C. 30301 note), or implementation thereof, persons who are homeless or housing-unstable face in—
requesting a driver’s license or identification card issued by a State; or
replacing such driver’s license or identification card if lost, misplaced, stolen, expired, destroyed, or otherwise inaccessible; and
recommendations for—
each agency listed under paragraph (1) on how to reduce or eliminate any barrier identified under paragraph (2); and
the Federal Government, State governments, and local governments on how to reduce or eliminate any barrier identified under paragraph (3).
Timing of report— The Comptroller General shall submit the report required by subsection (a) to the relevant committees of Congress and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness at a time agreed upon by the Comptroller General and such Committees.
Briefing requirement— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief the relevant committees of Congress and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness on any preliminary observations of the Comptroller General with respect to the contents of the report required by subsection (a).
Definitions— In this section:
Essential document— The term “essential document” means a document that is essential to the health, safety, or stability of a person who is homeless or housing-unstable, including a document that is essential to—
verifying the identity or immigration status of such person; or
assisting such person—
in providing for basic needs such as shelter, housing, nutrition, and healthcare; or
show eligibility for employment, healthcare, or public benefit.
Relevant committees of Congress— The term “relevant committees of Congress” means the committees of Congress with jurisdiction over the agencies listed under subsection (a)(1).