Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program [HVRP] Reauthorization Act of 2009 [ H.R. 1171 ] would extend the HVRP through 2014 and would create a similar grant program targeted at female veterans and veterans with children. The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $224 million over the 2010-2014 period, assuming appropriation of the specified amounts. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues.
H.R.1171 contains no intergovernmental or private sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act [UMRA] and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
Section 2 of the bill would extend the HVRP through 2014 and authorize the appropriation of $ 50 million per year for the program over the 2010-2014 period. HVRP provides grants to agencies and organizations that provide job placement, training, and vocational counseling to homeless veterans. Under current law, the authorization for this program will expire at the end of fiscal year 2009. Approximately $26 million was appropriated in 2009 for this program. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, and that spending would continue to, follow historical patterns, CBO estimates that this provision would cost $187 million over the 2010-2014 period.
Section 3 would create a grant program similar to HVRP specifically targeted at female veterans and veterans with children. In addition to job placement, training, and vocational counseling, funding could also be used for child care services. Section 3 would authorize $10 million each year from 2010 through 2014 for the new program. Assuming outlays follow the historical spending patterns of HVRP, and that the authorized amounts are appropriated, CBO estimates that this provision would cost $37 million over the 2010-2014 period.
Source: Congressional Budget Office, March 26, 2009