Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2012 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exclude as family income for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing assistance purposes any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) payments made to veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for expenses related to such aid and attendance.
Prohibits, in determining the monthly rental assistance payment for low-income families, the amount for tenant-paid utilities from exceeding the appropriate utility allowance for that family unit size as determined by the public housing agency (agency), regardless of the size of the unit leased by the family. Requires the agency, upon request by a family that includes a person with disabilities, an elderly family, or a family that includes a person less than 18 years old, to approve a higher utility, except that, in the case of a family with a disabled person, the agency shall approve the higher amount only when needed as a reasonable accommodation to make the unit accessible to and usable by that person.
Directs the HUD Secretary to regularly publish data regarding local utility consumption and costs in order to establish appropriate allowances for tenant-paid utilities for assisted families.
Directs the VA Secretary to establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals. Requires such grants to be used to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of disabled or low-income veterans. Limits grant amounts to $1 million per organization. Requires such Secretary to direct the oversight of grant fund use. Requires a minimum of 50% matching funds by participating organizations. Requires an annual pilot program report from such Secretary to Congress. Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6361 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6361
To exclude from consideration as income under the United States Housing
Act of 1937 payments of pension made under section 1521 of title 38,
United States Code, to veterans who are in need of regular aid and
attendance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2012
Mr. Heck (for himself, Mr. Gary G. Miller of California, Mr. Renacci,
Mrs. Biggert, and Mr. Johnson of Ohio) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To exclude from consideration as income under the United States Housing
Act of 1937 payments of pension made under section 1521 of title 38,
United States Code, to veterans who are in need of regular aid and
attendance, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform
Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. EXCLUSION FROM INCOME.
Paragraph (4) of section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(4)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and any amounts'' and inserting ``, any
amounts'';
(2) by striking ``or any deferred'' and inserting ``, any
deferred''; and
(3) by inserting after ``prospective monthly amounts'' the
following: ``, and any expenses related to aid and attendance
as detailed under section 1521 of title 38, United States
Code''.
SEC. 3. UTILITY ALLOWANCES AND DATA.
Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(D) Utility allowance.--
``(i) In general.--In determining the
monthly assistance payment for a family under
subparagraphs (A) and (B), the amount allowed
for tenant-paid utilities shall not exceed the
appropriate utility allowance for the family
unit size as determined by the public housing
agency regardless of the size of the dwelling
unit leased by the family.
``(ii) Exception for families including
persons with disabilities.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), upon request by a family that
includes a person with disabilities, the public
housing agency shall approve a utility
allowance that is higher than the applicable
amount on the utility allowance schedule if a
higher utility allowance is needed as a
reasonable accommodation to make the program
accessible to and usable by the family member
with a disability.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(21) Utility data.--
``(A) Publication.--The Secretary shall, to the
extent that data can be collected cost effectively,
regularly publish such data regarding utility
consumption and costs in local areas as the Secretary
determines will be useful for the establishment of
allowances for tenant-paid utilities for families
assisted under this subsection.
``(B) Use of data.--The Secretary shall provide
such data in a manner that--
``(i) avoids unnecessary administrative
burdens for public housing agencies and owners;
and
``(ii) protects families in various unit
sizes and building types, and using various
utilities, from high rent and utility cost
burdens relative to income.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Mrs. Biggert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6121-6124)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6361.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6121-6122)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6121-6122)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line