A bill to strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
- Bill Number
- S. 965
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1666)
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-01T20:49:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (S. 965) aims to strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness by updating its funding authorization and making technical adjustments to the underlying law. The Council coordinates federal efforts to prevent and end homelessness across government agencies.
Key Provisions
- Funding Authorization: Amends Section 208 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to authorize "such sums as may be necessary" for the Council's operations, replacing outdated specific funding amounts from fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
- Removal of Outdated Section: Strikes Section 209 entirely, which previously contained time-limited funding details.
- Renumbering and Table of Contents Update: Redesignates former Section 210 (titled "Encouragement of State involvement," which promotes coordination with state governments on homelessness initiatives) as the new Section 209, and updates the Act's table of contents accordingly.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shifts from fixed, historical appropriations to an open-ended authorization, allowing flexible funding based on annual congressional budgets rather than expiring in 2011.
- Eliminates redundant or obsolete language in Section 209, streamlining the statute without altering core functions.
- These are primarily technical updates to modernize the law, with no substantive changes to the Council's duties or structure.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Provides stable funding for the Interagency Council, enabling better coordination among federal departments (e.g., Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services) on homelessness programs, potentially improving efficiency in policy development and resource allocation.
- On Citizens: Could indirectly benefit individuals experiencing homelessness by supporting sustained federal efforts to address housing instability, though impacts depend on actual appropriations.
- On International Relations: No direct effects, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: The Interagency Council and participating departments, which gain funding flexibility.
- State and Local Governments: Encouraged to collaborate more closely with federal efforts, potentially increasing state involvement in homelessness strategies.
- Homeless Individuals and Advocacy Groups: Nonprofits, service providers, and affected communities that rely on coordinated federal support for housing and assistance programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Simplifies the McKinney-Vento Act by removing expired provisions, reducing potential for legal confusion over funding authority; ensures compliance with ongoing congressional oversight via annual appropriations.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I.
- Political: Signals bipartisan support (introduced by senators from both parties) for addressing homelessness, potentially facilitating future expansions of federal programs without needing new legislation for basic funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1666)
- 2025-03-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. — issued 2025-03-11 — PDF (2 pages)