United States 116th Congress Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 22 D · 3 R cosponsors

HR 2398 — Veteran HOUSE Act of 2020

Last action — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Veteran Housing Opportunities and Unemployment Support Extension Act of 2020 or the Veteran HOUSE Act of 2020 This bill expands eligibility for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs-Supported Housing (VASH) rental voucher assistance to homeless veterans honorably discharged or released from active military, naval, or air service regardless of length of service. According to federal regulations, HUD was granted authority in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 to waive or provide an alternative for the current requirement that HUD-VASH assistance be targeted to homeless veterans who have chronic mental illnesses or chronic substance-use disorders.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

6 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The text shows that the bill identified as HR 2398 has been referred to the Senate after being received and read twice by that chamber. The previous reference to the bill being engrossed in the House has been removed. This change indicates a progression in the legislative process, moving the bill from the House to the Senate for further consideration.

→
Previous
Latest
2398 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
2398 Referred in Senate (RFS)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
2398 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 and title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit annual reports to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
2398 _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 14, 2020 Received;
read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 and title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit annual reports to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
Clerk.
CHERYL L.
116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
JOHNSON, Clerk.
R.
2398 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 and title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit annual reports to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Sections of law this bill changes

2 sections in 2 laws

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Benefits for homeless veterans · 38 U.S.C. ch. 20 1 section
  • § 2003 Staffing requirements Amends

    38 U.S.C. § 2003

    The law today

    (a) VBA Staffing at Regional Offices.— The Secretary shall ensure that there is at least one full-time employee assigned to oversee and coordinate homeless veterans programs at each of the 20 Veterans Benefits Administration regional offices that the Secretary determines have the largest homeless veteran populations within the regions of the Administration. The programs covered by such oversight and coordination include the following: (1) Housing programs administered by the Secretary under this title or any other provision of law. (2) Compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and education benefits programs administered by the Secretary under this title or any other provision of law. (3) The housing program for veterans supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (4) The homeless veterans reintegration program of the Department of Labor under section 2021 of this title. (5) The programs under section 2033 of this title. (6) The assessments required by section 2034 of this title. (7) Such other programs relating to homeless veterans as may be specified by the Secretary. (b) VHA Case Managers.— The Secretary shall ensure that the number of case managers in the Veterans Health Administration is sufficient to assure that every veteran who is provided a housing voucher through section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is assigned to, and is seen as needed by, a case manager. In the case of vouchers provided under the HUD–VASH program under section 8(o)(19) of such Act, for purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “veteran” shall have the meaning given such term in section 2002(b) of this title. (c) Memorandum of Understanding on Assistance From Indian Health Service.— The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Health and Human Services under which case managers of the Indian Health Service may provide case management assistance to veterans who receive housing vouchers under the Tribal Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

    9 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Low-income housing · 42 U.S.C. ch. 8 1 section
  • § 1437f Low-income housing assistance Amends

    42 U.S.C. § 1437f — at 1437f(o)(19)

    The law today

    (a) Authorization for assistance payments For the purpose of aiding low-income families in obtaining a decent place to live and of promoting economically mixed housing, assistance payments may be made with respect to existing housing in accordance with the provisions of this section. (b) Other existing housing programs (1) In general.— The Secretary is authorized to enter into annual contributions contracts with public housing agencies pursuant to which such agencies may enter into contracts to make assistance payments to owners of existing dwelling units in accordance with this section. In areas where no public housing agency has been organized or where the Secretary determines that a public housing agency is unable to implement the provisions of this section, the Secretary is authorized to enter into such contracts and to perform the other functions assigned to a public housing agency by this section. (2) The Secretary is authorized to enter into annual contributions contracts with public housing agencies for the purpose of replacing public housing transferred in accordance with subchapter II–A of this chapter. Each contract entered into under this subsection shall be for a term of not more than 60 months. (c) Contents and purposes of contracts for assistance payments; amount and scope of monthly assistance payments (1) (A) An assistance contract entered into pursuant to this section shall establish the maximum monthly rent (including utilities and all maintenance and management charges) which the owner is entitled to receive for each dwelling unit with respect to which such assistance payments are to be made. The maximum monthly rent shall not exceed by more than 10 per centum the fair market rental established by the Secretary periodically but not less than annually for existing or newly constructed rental dwelling units of various sizes and types in the market area suitable for occupancy by persons assisted under this section, except that the maximum monthly rent may exceed the fair market rental (A) by more than 10 but not more than 20 per centum where the Secretary determines that special circumstances warrant such higher maximum rent or that such higher rent is necessary to the implementation of a housing strategy as defined in section 12705 of this title, or (B) by such higher amount as may be requested by a tenant and approved by the public housing agency in accordance with paragraph (3)(B). In the case of newly constructed and substantially rehabilitated units, the exception in the preceding sentence shall not apply to more than 20 per centum of the total amount of authority to enter into annual contributions contracts for such units which is allocated to an area and obligated with respect to any fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1980. Each fair market rental in effect under this subsection shall be adjusted to be effective on October 1 of each year to reflect changes, based on the most recent available data trended so the rentals will be current for the year to which they apply, of rents for existing or newly constructed rental dwelling units, as the case may be, of various sizes and types in the market area suitable for occupancy by persons assisted under this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, after October 12, 1977, the Secretary shall prohibit high-rise elevator projects for families with children unless there is no practical alternative. If units assisted under this section are exempt from local rent control while they are so assisted or otherwise, the maximum monthly rent for such units shall be reasonable in comparison with other units in the market area that are exempt from local rent control. (B) Fair market rentals for an area shall be published not less than annually by the Secretary on the site of the Department on the World Wide Web and in any other manner specified by the Secretary. Notice that such fair market rentals are being published shall be published in ...

    140 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 38 U.S.C. § 2002

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands eligibility for the HUD-VASH program and requires annual reports on homelessness services for veterans.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)

    (D) Veteran defined.--In this paragraph, the term `veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 2002(b) of title 38, United States Code.

    Defines 'veteran' for the HUD-VASH program using the definition from 38 U.S.C. § 2002.

  • 38 U.S.C. 2003(b)

    In the case of vouchers provided under the HUD-VASH program under section 8(o)(19) of such Act, for purposes of the preceding sentence, the term `veteran' shall have the meaning given such term in section 2002(b) of this title.

    Clarifies that the definition of 'veteran' used in 38 U.S.C. § 2002 applies to the HUD-VASH program.

  • Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the homelessness services provided under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including services under HUD-VASH program under section 8(o)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)).

    Mandates annual reports from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on homelessness services for veterans.

  • Each such annual report shall include, with respect to the year preceding the submittal of the report, a statement of the number of eligible individuals who were furnished such homelessness services and the number of individuals furnished such services under each such program, disaggregated by the number of men who received such services and the number of women who received such services, and such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.

    Specifies the content that must be included in the annual reports on homelessness services.

Action History

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

  2. Ms. Waters moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  3. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H194-195)

  4. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2398.

  5. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  6. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H202-203)

  7. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 362 - 31 (Roll no. 15).(text: CR H194)

  8. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 362 - 31 (Roll no. 15). (text: CR H194)

  9. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  10. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  11. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 54 - 0.

  12. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  13. Introduced in House

  14. Introduced in House

  15. Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  16. Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 24 co-sponsors · 522 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (24)

Not signed on (522)

522 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 522 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

housing veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 2398 do?
Veteran Housing Opportunities and Unemployment Support Extension Act of 2020 or the Veteran HOUSE Act of 2020 This bill expands eligibility for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs-Supported Housing (VASH) rental voucher assistance to homeless veterans honorably discharged or released from active military, naval, or air service regardless of length of service. According to federal regulations, HUD was granted authority in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 to waive or provide an alternative for the current requirement that HUD-VASH assistance be targeted to homeless veterans who have chronic mental illnesses or chronic substance-use disorders.
Who sponsors HR 2398?
HR 2398 is sponsored by Levin, Mike (Democratic), Heck, Denny (Democratic), Case, Ed (Democratic), Sewell, Terri A. (Democratic), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Vargas, Juan (Democratic), Correa, J. Luis (Democratic), Rouda, Harley (Democratic), Pappas, Chris (Democratic), Cisneros, Gilbert Ray (Democratic), Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman (Republican), Stivers, Steve (Republican), Roybal-Allard, Lucille (Democratic), Rush, Bobby L. (Democratic), Brownley, Julia (Democratic), Schakowsky, Janice D. (Democratic), Pingree, Chellie (Democratic), Axne, Cynthia (Democratic), Blumenauer, Earl (Democratic), Golden, Jared F. (Democratic), Hastings, Alcee L. (Democratic), Demings, Val Butler (Democratic), Lawson, Al, Jr. (Democratic), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), and Peters, Scott H. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 2398?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 2398?
Track HR 2398 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HR 2398

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HR 2398

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →