HR 3385 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a task force to examine homelessness in the United States and make recommendations to alleviate the causes and effects of such homelessness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

August 3, 2007

Mr. COHEN (for himself, Ms. CARSON, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, and Mr. PAYNE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a task force to examine homelessness in the United States and make recommendations to alleviate the causes and effects of such homelessness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `National Homelessness Task Force Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established a task force in the legislative branch to be known as the `National Homelessness Task Force' (in this Act referred to as the `Task Force').CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DUTIES.

The Task Force, in consultation with relevant heads of Federal agencies administering Federal programs for homeless individuals that were in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, including the Interagency Council on Homelessness, shall conduct the following activities:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Review and analyze reports published by Federal, State, and local agencies and academic institutions that relate to homelessness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Evaluate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the effectiveness of Federal programs in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that address homelessness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the cost-effectiveness of such programs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Federal role in interacting and coordinating with State and local entities that address homelessness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Analyze options and make recommendations--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to improve Federal programs in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that address homelessness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) for State and local shelter and transitional housing programs to reduce the period that people remain homeless;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) for the establishment of an outreach program that raises awareness among homeless individuals about resources available to such individuals and assists such individuals in accessing such resources, which may include local service and treatment centers, case management agencies, and safe haven services that assist homeless individuals with serious mental illnesses; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) to expand the supply of permanent affordable housing for chronically homeless individuals, as well as individuals and families with incomes below the Federal poverty line.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Conduct research and develop methods--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) through consultation with State and local agencies, to improve coordination between the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Federal agencies in existence at the date of enactment of this Act which specifically deal with homelessness, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to minimize the period in which individuals remain homeless; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) to establish a system that ensures homeless individuals have access to employment and job-training programs, as well as employment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Number and Appointment- The Task Force shall be composed of up to 10 members (in this Act referred to as the `TF members'). The Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate may each appoint, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, up to 5 TF members. Appointments shall be made within 90 days of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Qualifications- In making appointments under subsection (a), the appointing authorities described in such subsection may select TF members from representatives of Federal and State agencies, commissions, boards, regional agencies, tribes, colleges and universities, and nongovernmental organizations. Such appointing authorities shall, to the greatest extent possible, appoint individuals who are particularly qualified to perform the functions of the Task Force, by reason of either practical experience or academic expertise in housing or economic development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Compensation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- TF members shall serve without compensation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES- Each TF member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Chairpersons- The Task Force shall have 2 Chairpersons. From among the TF members, the majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall choose 1 Chairperson, and the minority leaders from the Senate and the House of Representatives shall choose the other Chairperson.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. STAFF OF THE TASK FORCE AND EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

(a) Staff- Subject to the rules prescribed by the Task Force, the Chairpersons of the Task Force may appoint from 3 to 6 individuals as personnel and fix the pay of such personnel as the Chairpersons consider appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Experts and Consultants- With the approval of the Task Force, the Chairpersons may procure temporary and intermittent services in the manner prescribed in section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Staff of Federal Agencies- Upon the request of the Task Force, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in performing its duties under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. POWERS.

(a) Members and Agents- Any member or agent of the Task Force may, if authorized by the Task Force, take any action that the Task Force is authorized to take under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Obtaining Official Data- The Task Force may secure directly from any Federal department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon the request of the Task Force, the head of that department or agency shall furnish the information to the Task Force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Mails- The Task Force may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal departments and agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. REPORTS.

(a) Initial Report- Not later than 3 months after the date of completion of the appointment of the TF members under section 4(a), the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report describing how the Task Force will undertake the duties described in section 3.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Final Report- Not later than 12 months after the date of completion of the appointment of the TF members under section 4(a), the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) describes the activities of the Task Force conducted under section 3; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) makes recommendations on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) long-term goals for Congress to reduce homelessness; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) strategies for Congress to achieve such goals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

The Task Force shall terminate 10 days after the date on which the Task Force submits the final report under section 7(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(a) Affordable Housing- The term `affordable housing' includes properties for which assistance is provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), and single-room occupancy units.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Chronically Homeless Individual- The term `chronically homeless individual' means an unaccompanied, disabled individual with a disabling condition who has been continually homeless for at least the duration of 1 year or who has been homeless for 4 or more episodes in the previous 3 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Disabling Condition- A `disabling condition' means a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, or chronic physical illness or disability, including the co-occurrence of 2 or more of such conditions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Homeless; Homeless Individual- The terms `homeless' and `homeless individual' have the meaning given such terms in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to carry out this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink