,i  #aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #bgjc  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,may #be1 #bjag,mr4  
,ted ,lieu of ,california 7for himself1 
,mr4 ,conyers1 ,mr4 ,hastings1 ,ms4     
,norton1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 ,mr4 ,scott of   
,virginia1 ,ms4 ,michelle ,lujan        
,grisham of ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,keating1
 ,mrs4 ,torres1 ,mr4 ,rush1 and ,mr4    
,mc,govern7 introduced the following    
bill2 which was referred to the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs  ,a   
,,bill  ,to amend title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 to authorize the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to     
enter into agreements with public and   
private entities to provide pro bono    
legal services to homeless veterans and 
veterans at risk of homelessness1 and   
for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title   
,this ,act may be cited as the ,legal   
,services for ,homeless ,veterans ,act  
of #bjag4  #b4 ,agreements with public  
and private entities to provide legal   
services to homeless veterans and       

veterans at risk of homelessness  7a7   
,in general ,chapter #bj of title #ch1  
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
inserting after section #bjbb the       
following new section3  #bjbb;,a4       
,agreements with public and private     
entities to provide pro bono legal      
services to homeless veterans and       
veterans at risk of homelessness  7a7   
,agreements authorized ,subject to the  
availability of funds for that purpose1 
the ,secretary may enter into an        
agreement with a public or private      
entity1 through the award of a grant or 
the use of a contract1 to fund a portion
 of legal services described in         
subsection 7b74  7b7 ,pro bono legal    
services ,legal services described in   
this subsection are provided pro bono to
 a homeless veteran or veteran at risk  
of homelessness1 including the          
following3  7#a7 ,legal services related
 to housing1 including eviction defense 
and representation in landlord-tenant   
cases4  7#b7 ,legal services related to 

family law1 including assistance in     
court proceedings for child support1    
divorce1 and estate planning4  7#c7     
,legal services related to income       
support1 including assistance in        
obtaining public benefits4  7#d7 ,legal 
services related to criminal defense1   
including defense in matters symptomatic
 of homelessness1 such as outstanding   
warrants1 fines1 and driver's license   
revocation1 to reduce recidivism1 and   
facilitate the overcoming of reentry    
obstacles in employment or housing4  7c7
 ,consultation ,in developing and       
carrying out agreements under this      
section1 the ,secretary shall1 to the   
extent practicable1 consult with        
appropriate public and private          
entities-- 7#a7 for assistance in       
identifying and contacting organizations
 that offer legal services described in 
subsection 7b72 and  7#b7 to coordinate 
appropriate outreach relationships with 
such organizations4  7d7 ,locations     
7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that1 

to the extent practicable1 agreements   
under this section are made with        
entities equitably distributed across   
the geographic regions of the ,united   
,states1 including rural communities1   
tribal lands of the ,united ,states1    
,native ,americans1 and tribal          
organizations4  7#b7 ,in this           
subsection1 the terms ,native ,american 
and tribal organization have the        
meanings given such terms in section    
#cgfe of this title4  7e7 ,reports ,the 
,secretary may require an entity that   
enters into an agreement under this     
section to submit to the ,secretary     
periodic reports on legal services      
provided pursuant to the agreement4  4  
7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #bj
 of such title is amended by adding     
after the item relating to section #bjbb
 the following new item3  #bjbb;,a4     
,agreements with public and private     
entities to provide pro bono legal      
services to homeless veterans and       

veterans at risk of homelessness4  4