Reps. Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Homeless Veterans

Press release from Congressman Brad Schneider:

July 29, 2020

Today, Congressmen Brad Schneider (IL-10), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Ted Deutch (FL-22) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help veterans by creating a new “check-off box” on federal tax returns that would allow taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to homeless veterans. The Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund Act of 2020 would make these funds available to the VA, in consultation with the Departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development, exclusively for services to homeless veterans, such as developing strategic plans to address and ultimately end veteran homelessness.

“On any night in America, nearly 40,000 veterans are without a home,” said Schneider. “It’s unconscionable that men and women who served our country, and may still bear the physical and mental scars of that service, are left to live on the streets. Giving Americans the option to divert a portion of their tax refund to aid homeless veterans is a small, commonsense step to make it easier to give back to those who sacrificed for us.”

“No veteran should be homeless, and we must do whatever we can to take care of those who served our country. By adding an option to donate to homeless veterans on tax returns, we will increase the likelihood that Americans donate money to help our veterans in need,” said Fitzpatrick. “This legislation will make it easier for Americans across the country to help our veterans and their families when they need it most. Taking care of our veterans should never be a partisan issue, and I am proud to partner with Reps. Schneider and Deutch to continue to support our heroes.”

“When our nation's veterans go from risking their lives on the battlefield to struggling to find shelter on the streets, it is clear we’ve failed them. Americans want to take action that delivers on our promise to veterans and this bill will give all taxpayers that opportunity,” said Deutch.

The number of homeless veterans in America is staggering. According to a 2019 Department of Housing and Urban Development report to Congress, nearly 37,000 veterans are homeless on any given night.

Reporting would guarantee that these funds were used correctly and that they were administered with the highest levels of transparency. Specifically, this legislation would require the President’s annual budget submission to Congress to include how funds from the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund were used during the previous year, proposed uses of funds in the future, and that Congress be notified 60 days in advance of any expenditure of such funds.

This press release was produced by Congressman Brad Schneider. The views expressed here are the author's own.