releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20131108054800/http://heck.house.gov/press-release/heck-applauds-passage-vulnerable-veterans-housing-reform-act
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20131108054800/http://heck.house.gov/press-release/heck-applauds-passage-vulnerable-veterans-housing-reform-act | Heck Applauds Passage of Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act | 2013-10-28 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | NV | Joe Heck | H001055 | web.archive.org | legacy | Bill reverses flawed policy that limits housing benefits for low-income, disabled vets; issue first brought to Heck's attention during local vets meeting WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today applauded passage of the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act (H.R. 1742), bipartisan legislation he introduced earlier this year that will help reduce veteran homelessness by reforming how the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides housing assistance for disabled veterans. The Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act ends HUD's flawed policy of counting the aid and attendance benefit as regular income. By counting the aid and attendance benefit intended for medical care as income, HUD is unfairly reducing the housing assistance available to our low income disabled veterans. This issue was first brought to Congressman Heck's attention during a 2011 meeting of his Veterans Advisory Panel. The panel brings local veterans together to discuss the issues facing southern Nevada's veteran community. "The last thing our veterans should have to worry about is whether they'll have a roof over their head," Rep. Heck said. "Reversing the flawed HUD policy ensures vets can afford to stay in their homes and continue to receive the aid and attendance benefit that is so crucial to their daily lives." Congressman Heck spoke on the House floor to urge his colleagues to support H.R. 1742. His remarks are attached and can be seen by clicking the image below. Rep. Heck introduced nearly identical legislation in 2012 as H.R. 6361. That bill passed the House by voice vote on September 30, 2012 but was not taken up by the Senate. It was reintroduced this year at the start of the new session of Congress. Bipartisan Working Group Member Backs Passage of H.R. 1742 Congressman Heck promoted the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act during the monthly meetings of the Bipartisan Working Group. Rep. John Carney (D-DE), a working group member and original co-sponsor of the bill, applauded its passage in the statement below. “Our nation’s most sacred obligation is to care for our men and women in uniform, both when they’re serving abroad, and when they come back home,” said Rep. Carney. “I’m pleased to support the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act so severely disabled veterans can continue to receive the care they need to help with daily living, while having access to affordable housing.” Background: In order to receive aid and attendance benefits, severely disabled veterans must first establish their eligibility for a low income pension which requires an adjusted gross annual income of less than $12,256 for a single veteran with no dependents. Once eligibility is determined, that same veteran can receive $8,191 in aid and attendance benefits annually to offset the cost of a personal care attendant and keep the veteran in his/her home. The Congressional Research Service estimates that the median annual cost for a licensed home health aide is $18,179. The cost of an assisted living facility is $39,600, and the median cost of a room in a nursing home is between $73,000 and $81,000 annually. The most recent statistics from the Department of Housing and Urban Development indicate that approximately 63,000 veterans are homeless. *** Congressman Joe Heck represents Nevada's Third Congressional District in the House of Representatives. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |