To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to entities that furnish services to homeless veterans.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3014
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-12T09:08:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 3014) aims to broaden the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) ability to provide grants to organizations that help homeless veterans. It expands the types of services these grants can fund, focusing on benefit access and housing improvements to better address veteran homelessness.
Key Provisions
- Expanded Grant-Eligible Services: The bill adds two new categories to the services that grant recipients can provide:
- Help for veterans in obtaining any VA-administered benefits they may qualify for.
- Support in accessing and coordinating other benefits from federal, state, or local laws, or from private nonprofit organizations or consumer cooperatives (defined under existing VA law as groups that provide services without profit to members).
- Updated Facility Criteria: Grant funds can now support alterations to existing facilities, explicitly including the conversion of units into permanent housing options.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 2011(a) of Title 38, U.S. Code, by inserting new paragraphs (5) and (6) to include benefit-obtainment assistance as eligible grant activities, which were not previously specified.
- Modifies Section 2011(b)(1)(A) to clarify that "alteration of existing facilities" encompasses converting spaces to permanent housing, providing more precise language for housing-related grants.
These changes build on the existing Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program without altering core eligibility or funding mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA gains greater flexibility in distributing grants, potentially streamlining support for comprehensive veteran services and reducing administrative hurdles for housing projects.
- On Citizens: Homeless veterans may benefit from improved access to a wider range of benefits and stable housing, helping to reduce homelessness rates among this group.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. veteran programs.
Overall, it could enhance service coordination, leading to more effective interventions for an estimated 35,000+ homeless veterans annually (based on recent VA data).
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Homeless Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, gaining easier access to benefits and housing support.
- VA and Grant Recipients: Includes nonprofits, community organizations, and cooperatives that receive and administer grants; they can now fund broader services.
- State and Local Governments: Indirectly involved through coordination of non-VA benefits, potentially easing their workload in veteran support programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the VA's statutory authority under Title 38 without requiring new appropriations, ensuring compliance with existing federal grant rules. No challenges to separation of powers or due process are evident.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated power to provide for veterans' welfare (Article I, Section 8), promoting equal protection for this group without infringing on individual rights.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan commitment to veteran care, potentially influencing future funding debates on homelessness initiatives by demonstrating targeted expansions rather than overhauls.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-04-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to entities that furnish services to homeless veterans. — issued 2025-04-24 — PDF (2 pages)