Four bills that came from the House Financial Services Committee were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week.
The four bills would cut red-tape preventing veterans from accessing housing assistance, mint a commemorative coin in honor of Roberto Clemente, and award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm and forgotten heroes of the Holocaust.
The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act (H.R. 7480), sponsored by Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), seeks to reform the income calculation formula for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The changes would be made to ensure that disabled veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.
‘Our nation’s disabled veterans have made extraordinary sacrifices in service to our great country,” De la Cruz said on the House floor. “It is our duty to ensure they receive the respect and support they have earned, especially when it comes to housing.”
Specifically, the bill would enhance housing accessibility, allowing veterans with disabilities to more easily qualify for housing programs. It would also promote equity by aligning the treatment of veteran benefits across the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Further, it would provide accountability by requiring a report to Congress on how service-connected disability compensation is treated across HUD programs.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our nation, and this legislation removes barriers to housing assistance for those with service-connected disabilities,” De La Cruz said. “This is about ensuring equity and access for our heroes.”
De La Cruz also sponsored H.R.6751, the Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation would direct the U.S. Mint to mint a commemorative coin in recognition of the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente.
In addition, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), cosponsored two bills that were approved by the House. One is S. 4243, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act. This bill would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the first African American woman elected to Congress in American history, Shirley Chisholm.
The other is S. 91, the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act. This measure would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to fearless diplomats who rescued Jewish citizens being hunted by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Regime during World War II.