,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #chih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #d1 #bjbj,mr4 ,sullivan 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,sinema1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,mr4 ,tester1 ,mr4 ,crapo1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mrs4 ,loeffler1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,cruz1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,risch1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,hoeven1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,ms4 ,ernst1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,cramer1 and ,ms4 ,mc,sally7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to provide flexibility for the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs in caring for homeless veterans during a covered public health emergency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,homeless ,veterans ,coronavirus ,response ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,flexibility for the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs in caring for homeless veterans during a covered public health emergency 7a7 ,general support 7#a7 ,use of funds ,during a covered public health emergency1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to carry out sections #bjaa1 #bjab1 #bjca1 and #bjfa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide to homeless veterans and veterans participating in the program carried out under section #h7o77#ai7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77#ai77 7commonly referred to as ,,hud-,,vash71 as the ,secretary determines is needed1 the following3 7,a7 ,assistance required for safety and survival 7such as food1 shelter1 clothing1 blankets1 and hygiene items74 7,b7 ,transportation required to support stability and health 7such as for appointments with service providers1 conducting housing searches1 and obtaining food and supplies74 7,c7 ,communications equipment and services 7such as tablets1 smartphones1 disposable phones1 and related service plans7 required to support stability and health 7such as maintaining contact with service providers1 prospective landlords1 and family74 7,d7 ,such other assistance as the ,secretary determines is needed4 7#b7 ,homeless veterans on land of the ,department 7,a7 ,collaboration ,during a covered public health emergency1 to the extent possible1 the ,secretary may collaborate with one or more organizations to manage use of land of the ,department for homeless veterans for living and sleeping4 7,b7 ,elements ,collaboration under subparagraph 7,a7 may include the provision by either the ,secretary or the organization of food services and security for property1 buildings1 and other facilities owned or controlled by the ,department4 7b7 ,grant and ,per ,diem ,program 7#a7 ,limits on rates for per diem payments ,section #bjjac7;b7 of the ,coronavirus ,aid1 ,relief1 and ,economic ,security ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf7 is amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 as subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71 respectively2 7,b7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 as so redesignated1 by inserting 7#a7 before ,in the case2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,if the ,secretary waives any limit on grant amounts or rates for per diem payments under paragraph 7#a71 notwithstanding section #bjab7;a77#b77;,b7 of such title1 the maximum rate for per diem payments described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall be three times the rate authorized for ,state homes for domiciliary care under section #agda of such title4 4 7#b7 ,use of per diem payments ,during a covered public health emergency1 a recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the grant and per diem program of the ,department 7in this subsection referred to as the program7 may use per diem payments under sections #bjab and #bjfa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide assistance required for safety and survival 7such as food1 shelter1 clothing1 blankets1 and hygiene items7 for-- 7,a7 homeless veterans2 and 7,b7 formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility operated wholly or in part by such a recipient or eligible entity receiving per diem payments under section #bjab of such title4 7#c7 ,additional transitional housing 7,a7 ,in general ,during a covered public health emergency1 under the program1 the ,secretary may provide amounts for additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to housing and services provided to homeless veterans4 7,b7 ,notice2 competition2 period of performance ,the ,secretary may provide amounts under subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 without notice or competition2 and 7ii7 for a period of performance determined by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,inspections and ,life ,safety ,code requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,during a covered public health emergency1 the ,secretary may waive any requirement under subsection 7b7 or 7c7 of section #bjab of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 in order to allow the recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the program-- 7i7 to quickly identify temporary alternate sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation2 7ii7 to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs2 or 7iii7 to facilitate activation or continuation of a program for which a grant has been awarded4 7,b7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary may waive a requirement pursuant to the authority provided by subparagraph 7,a7 with respect to a facility of a recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the program only if the facility meets applicable local safety requirements1 including fire safety requirements4 7c7 ,inspection and ,life ,safety ,code requirements for therapeutic housing 7#a7 ,in general ,during a covered public health emergency1 the ,secretary may waive any inspection or life safety code requirement under subsection 7c7 of section #bjcb of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code-- 7,a7 to allow quick identification of temporary alternate sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation2 7,b7 to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs2 or 7,c7 to facilitate the operation of housing under such section4 7#b7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary may waive a requirement pursuant to the authority provided by paragraph 7#a7 with respect to a residence or facility referred to in such section #bjcb only if the residence or facility1 as the case may be1 meets applicable local safety requirements1 including fire safety requirements4 7d7 ,access to ,department of ,veterans ,affairs telehealth services ,to the extent practicable1 during a covered public health emergency1 the ,secretary shall ensure that veterans participating in or receiving services from a program under chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 have access to telehealth services to which such veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the ,secretary1 including by ensuring that telehealth capabilities are available to-- 7#a7 such veterans2 7#b7 case managers of the ,department of programs for homeless veterans authorized under such chapter2 and 7#c7 community-based service providers for homeless veterans receiving funds from the ,department through grants or contracts4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered public health emergency ,the term covered public health emergency means an emergency with respect to ,,covid-#ai declared by a ,federal1 ,state1 or local authority4 7#b7 ,homeless veteran2 veteran ,the terms homeless veteran and veteran have the meanings given those terms in section #bjjb of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,telehealth 7,a7 ,in general ,the term telehealth means the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care1 patient and professional health-related education1 public health1 and health administration4 7,b7 ,technologies ,for purposes of subparagraph 7,a71 telecommunications technologies include video conferencing1 the internet1 streaming media1 and terrestrial and wireless communications4 #c4 ,emergency designations 7a7 ,in general ,this ,act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #d7;g7 of the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #icc7;g774 7b7 ,designation in ,senate ,in the ,senate1 this ,act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #daab7;a7 of ,h4 ,con4 ,res4 #ga 7#aaeth ,congress71 the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year #bjah4