Protect Veteran Students, Job Seekers, and Entrepreneurs Housing Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6713

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-15: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Last Updated

2026-01-22T09:06:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Protect Veteran Students, Job Seekers, and Entrepreneurs Housing Act" (H.R. 6713) aims to improve housing access for servicemembers, veterans, and their families by requiring landlords to count certain federal education and workforce benefits as valid income when approving rental applications. It also provides a grace period to prevent abrupt loss of these benefits due to minor administrative issues, supporting stability for those pursuing education or job training.

Key Provisions

• Treatment of Benefits as Income: Landlords must consider educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as income when deciding if a "covered individual" (servicemembers, veterans, or their spouses/children eligible for specific GI Bill programs under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, or 36 of Title 38, U.S. Code, or chapters 1606/1607 of Title 10, U.S. Code) can sign a residential lease.
• Lease Duration Limits: Any lease approved under this rule cannot last longer than the number of months of benefits the individual is entitled to receive.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance:
• Landlords who knowingly violate the rule (or attempt to) are barred from participating in federal rental housing programs.
• Individuals face fines under federal criminal law (Title 18, U.S. Code) and/or up to one year in prison.
• Grace Period for Benefits: If a covered individual fails to meet a single "program requirement" (e.g., missing a recertification, withdrawing from a class, job loss, or veteran's death affecting a dependent), the VA cannot terminate benefits until after notifying the individual and allowing 60 days to resolve the issue.
• Definitions:
• "Covered federally assisted rental housing" includes a wide range of subsidized programs administered by HUD, VA, USDA, or Treasury, such as public housing, Section 8 vouchers, homeless assistance, and low-income tax credits.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amendments to Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Adds a new Section 309 to Title III (50 U.S.C. 3951 et seq.), introducing explicit protections for counting VA education benefits as income in rental decisions—a novel requirement not previously mandated.
• Amendments to VA Education Benefits Law: Adds Section 3699C to Chapter 36 of Title 38, U.S. Code, creating a mandatory 60-day grace period for benefit continuation after a single failure, which extends beyond current VA policies that may allow quicker terminations for non-compliance.

Potential Impacts

• On Covered Individuals: Makes it easier to secure housing while using education benefits, reducing barriers for veterans and families in school, job training, or entrepreneurship; the grace period prevents sudden benefit loss, promoting educational continuity.
• On Landlords and Housing Providers: Increases administrative requirements for income verification but imposes strict penalties, potentially encouraging fairer rental practices; those in federal programs risk exclusion if non-compliant.
• On Government Agencies: VA must implement notification and grace period processes, while HUD, USDA, and others may need to enforce program participation bans; could lead to more oversight and potential disputes in federal housing administration.
• On Citizens and Broader Society: Enhances support for military families' economic stability, indirectly benefiting communities with higher veteran populations by reducing housing instability.
• International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic veteran benefits.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary Beneficiaries: Servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses/children using VA education benefits (e.g., GI Bill recipients pursuing degrees, vocational training, or apprenticeships).
• Housing Sector: Landlords, property owners, and managers, especially those involved in subsidized or federal-assisted rentals.
• Government Entities: Department of Veterans Affairs (benefit administration and enforcement), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Treasury (overseeing listed programs).
• Others: Advocacy groups for veterans' rights, legal aid organizations, and federal housing program participants.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens tenant protections under the SCRA (a law shielding military personnel from certain civil burdens) by expanding income recognition, potentially leading to more litigation if landlords challenge the requirements; penalties blend civil (program bans) and criminal (fines/imprisonment) enforcement, raising due process questions in implementation.
• Constitutional: Aligns with equal protection principles by addressing potential discrimination against benefit-dependent renters; no apparent conflicts with free speech or property rights, though landlords might argue it infringes on private contract freedoms.
• Political: Builds on bipartisan support for veteran affairs, signaling a push for holistic post-service support (housing + education); could influence future housing policy debates by tying federal benefits to rental markets, but enforcement costs may spark budget discussions in Congress.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-15: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
• 2025-12-15: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
• 2025-12-15: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-15: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Protect Veteran Students, Job Seekers, and Entrepreneurs Housing Act — issued 2025-12-15 — PDF (7 pages)