Hon. Glenn Nye

I am honored to testify in support of my legislation, H.R. 3073, which I have had the privilege of working on during my first term in Congress.

I am especially grateful to Chairman Michaud, the Members of this committee, the veterans’ service organizations, and veterans themselves for their hard work and support in helping me bring this critical legislation to the forefront.

Just this past August the Bureau of Labor Statistics released unemployment data showing a dramatic increase in the number of unemployed veterans of OIF and OEF.  In fact, the number is at an all time high of 185,000 unemployed, or 11.3 percent.  To put this into perspective, there are only 9,000 more servicemembers currently serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan then there are unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in the United States.

This recession is impacting every corner of this nation, yet nowhere is it more demoralizing than in our veteran population. The men and women who have served their country in uniform sacrificed life and limb to protect the freedoms we enjoy, yet when they return, some veterans are just a paycheck or two away from losing their homes. 

This is why I have introduced H.R. 3073, a common sense measure that will provide temporary financial support to veterans who are unable to make rental or mortgage payments, and are in imminent danger of eviction or foreclosure.  Instead of waiting for them to lose their homes before giving them a hand up, I want to prevent veterans from becoming homeless in the first place and keep them on their feet.

The bill authorizes a new program in the Department of Veterans Affairs that will provide short-term assistance to veterans in danger of losing their homes. Veterans who demonstrate that they are on the verge of losing their homes because they are unable to make mortgage or rental payments, will be eligible to apply for support. Payments will be made on behalf of the veteran to the landlord, mortgage company, or utility company for up to three months. Veterans will also be provided with support services to prevent future homelessness, including job training, mental health, and substance abuse treatment.

We can never fully repay a veteran for the sacrifices they made for this country, but the least we can do is provide them a sense of stability when they are having troubles searching for a job. This bipartisan bill will help bridge the gap for veterans who are struggling and give them the chance to get back on their feet.

Again, I thank the Chairman for allowing me to testify on behalf of this critical legislation, and I am confident that we can take this positive step forward to help our veterans in need. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.