Chris Smith: “Mr. Speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 225,000 homeless veterans living on the streets…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 225,000 homeless veterans living on the streets on any given night. Other organizations, VSOs, believe that the number is higher, closer to 300,000. Either number is far, far too high and a national travesty. For these veterans, access to VA benefits, specialized services and effective outreach are vital components to any hope of individual stability and improvement in their prospects. The legislation before the House today, H.R. 2716, is designed to provide assistance to these men and women, with a national goal of ending chronic homelessness among veterans within 10 years. Mr. Speaker, legislation is about more than programs and regulations; it is about real people. Let me spend just a moment describing to the House the remarkable life of one, just one, but a very, very important guy, who had his life changed because of the VA. It made a major difference in his life.”