Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. BRINDISI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4285, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019, which I introduced to ensure that veterans and their families continue to have access to the programs and benefits that they rely on.

This critical bill authorizes the continuation of several important VA programs that will expire at the end of this fiscal year if Congress does not act.

First, this bill provides a 1-year extension of VA's authority relating to vendee loans. Vendee loans are loans offered by the VA to purchase VA real estate-owned properties. Offered to veterans and nonveterans alike, this loan program allows people to purchase properties that were previously foreclosed upon and are now government-owned, with little to no downpayment.

This bill also provides a 2-year extension of financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. Grantees under this program are required to provide supportive services to eligible veterans and their families, including outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA benefits.

This program was previously authorized for fiscal year 2019, but this extension would extend authorization to include fiscal years 2020 and 2021. This extension of the program helps give the VA and the grantees better certainty of the program's future so they can continue providing critical wraparound services that help low-income veterans get back on their feet.

The bill also provides a 1-year extension of VA's payments and allowances for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving care from vet centers. While veterans can claim beneficiary travel from VA medical facilities, we know that care at the vet centers can be just as important.

This program is important because it specifically helps populations of rural veterans. Highly rural veterans have frequently described transportation as being a limiting factor in receiving care, and I am proud that this bill would extend this critical program.

I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe for their work on extending these critical programs and their true commitment to our Nation's veterans. I also thank my colleague Congressman Bost from Illinois, my friend on the VA Committee, for leading this legislation with me.

It is an honor to serve on the VA Committee, the most bipartisan committee in Congress, and work with my colleagues to support our Nation's veterans.

I encourage my colleagues to support this critical legislation and support our Nation's veterans.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, just to reemphasize what was said about homeless veterans, I have been on the committee for almost 11 years, my entire time in Congress. When I first arrived here, we had over 100,000 homeless veterans on the streets of this country, which was unbelievable.

Then-Secretary General Shinseki made one of his priorities to try to reduce homelessness to zero by 2016. He did not succeed in that, but we have reduced the homeless veterans population now down to under 40,000, which is a 60 percent reduction, a huge reduction.

I could not agree more with my colleague from California. One veteran homeless is too many.

I know there are pockets in this country. I know that, in California, they have a really serious problem there, and I think they are working very hard on trying to solve this. This legislation will be one piece of the puzzle.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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