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Representatives Tracey Mann and Chris Pappas Applaud House Passage of the Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act

May 18, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) and Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) applauded the passing of their legislation, The Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act (H.R. 2419). This bill aims to increase the number of affordable housing options, especially in urban areas, to help reduce the recent uptick in veteran homelessness.

“Our job on the Veterans Affairs Committee is to ensure we are taking care of, and doing right by our veterans," said Congressman Mann. “I was pleased to lead this bipartisan effort with with Congressman Pappas. The Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act reauthorizes a program to curb veteran homelessness. By allowing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to sell, lease, rent, or donate a home acquired by the Department, we create more options for veterans and affordable solutions for our nation's heroes. Through these small, substantive changes, we are helping our nation's heroes.”

“Although we have made great strides in reducing veteran homelessness, we cannot let any of our nation's heroes fall through the cracks,” said Congressman Pappas. “This legislation takes critical steps to expand access to affordable housing in high cost areas by allowing the VA to sell or lease homes to veterans that have been acquired through foreclosure.  I was proud to work with Rep. Mann to pass the bipartisan Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act to help ensure those who served our nation have a safe place to call home.”

The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have committed to ensure every veteran has access to safe and stable housing, which includes increasing the supply of and access to affordable housing. The Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act would reauthorize and amend a program to allow the Secretary of VA to sell, lease, rent, or donate a home which will increase the number of affordable housing options in higher cost areas and reduce veteran homelessness.

The Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act passed out of the House today as an amendment to H.R.2878.

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