,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #diba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #h1 #bjbe,mr4 ,crow 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,ms4 ,pettersen1 and ,mr4 ,lawler7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,agriculture to make grants to modify and upgrade structures to serve as interim and permanent housing to accommodate unhoused individuals with pets1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,providing for ,unhoused ,people and ,pets ,act of #bjbe or the ,,pupp ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,grant program for upgrading structures to serve as interim and permanent housing to accommodate unhoused individuals with pets 7a7 ,authority ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting in direct consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 may carry out a program under this section to make grants to eligible entities for providing interim and permanent housing that accommodates homeless persons1 and homeless families1 who have pets4 7b7 ,use ,amounts from a grant under this section may be used only for-- 7#a7 costs of acquiring1 renovating1 rehabilitating1 re-purposing1 retrofitting1 or constructing a property to be used as interim or permanent housing that accommodates homeless persons1 and homeless families1 who have pets2 7#b7 pet-related costs of operating such housing as provided in this section2 and 7#c7 costs of training staff and volunteers associated with such housing in basic pet care1 including nutrition1 behavioral training1 and health maintenance4 7c7 ,requirements ,interim or permanent housing assisted with amounts from a grant under this ,act shall comply with the following requirements3 7#a7 ,services 7,a7 ,supportive services ,appropriate supportive services1 including mental health1 employment1 substance use disorder1 and wellness services1 shall be made available to occupants of the housing4 7,b7 ,veterinary services ,basic veterinary care and behavioral support for pets1 including spay and neuter1 basic wellness examinations1 vaccinations1 dental care1 heartworm treatment and prevention1 flea and tick treatment and prevention1 and basic medical procedures1 shall be made available for pets of occupants of the housing4 7,c7 ,location ,services required under this paragraph shall be made available on-site in such housing1 except that services that cannot be furnished on-site may be made available off-site1 but only if direct linkage to transportation services is made available to occupants to access such services4 7#b7 ,animal housing ,the housing shall provide accommodations for pets of occupants of the housing that are appropriate for the layout and type of the interim or permanent housing1 which may include crates and kennels4 7#c7 ,coordination ,the manager of the housing shall-- 7,a7 coordinate with public services and such agencies as the ,secretary determines appropriate to provide services and safety for the housing1 as the ,secretary shall require2 7,b7 coordinate with local veterinary service and animal care providers to provide care for pets that accompany occupants of the housing2 and 7,c7 in making occupancy available in the housing1 coordinate with the administrative entity for the ,continuum of ,care under subtitle ,c of title ,,iv of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacha et seq47 for the area in which the housing is located4 7d7 ,applications2 plan 7#a7 ,application ,the ,secretary shall provide for eligible entities to submit applications for grants under this section and shall require such applications to include a plan under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,plan ,a plan under this paragraph shall-- 7,a7 identify existing housing1 shelters1 or unused structures or land within the area served by the eligible entity submitting the application that will be used for providing the housing to be assisted under subsection 7b7 with amounts from a grant under this section2 7,b7 identify the extent of need1 in the area of such housing1 shelters1 structures1 or land identified1 for interim or permanent housing for homeless persons with pets2 7,c7 identify partnering veterinary service and animal care providers that will provide care for pets that accompany occupants of the housing and any partnering animal welfare organization2 7,d7 include such assurances as the ,secretary considers necessary to ensure that such housing will be provided using grant amounts1 that such housing will accommodate homeless persons1 and homeless families1 who have pets1 and that such housing will comply with the requirements under subsection 7c72 and 7,e7 provide for targeted outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness within the area served by the eligible entity receiving a grant under this section to inform such individuals regarding the availability of the housing assisted with grant amounts4 7#c7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall select applications to be awarded such grants on a competitive basis1 based on criteria that the ,secretary shall establish4 7e7 ,reports ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall submit a report to the ,secretary1 not later than #ij days after the end of the fiscal year for which the grant was made1 that shall include the following information3 7#a7 ,a description of the activities undertaken by the eligible entity using such grant amounts4 7#b7 ,identification of the costs of each of the services provided in connection with the housing assisted with such grant amounts4 7#c7 ,an assessment of the effectiveness of the program grants under this section and any recommendations for improving the program4 7f7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,eligible entity 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible entity means-- 7i7 a unit of general local government2 7ii7 a nonprofit organization2 and 7iii7 an entity providing housing or shelters for homeless persons4 7,b7 ,limitation ,such term does not include an animal wellness or welfare organization or an animal shelter1 except that this subparagraph may not be construed to prevent any such organization or shelter from partnering with an eligible entity to provide interim or permanent housing assisted with amounts from a grant under this ,act4 7#b7 ,homeless ,the term homeless has the meaning given such term in section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb74 7#c7 ,interim housing ,the term interim housing means any housing or shelter that does not provide permanent housing4 ,such term includes transitional housing 7as such term is defined in such section #dja7 and emergency shelters 7as such term is defined in section #cba of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #accea774 7#d7 ,permanent housing ,the term permanent housing has the meaning given such term in section #dja of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacfj74 7#e7 ,pet ,the term pet means any domesticated animal that is normally maintained as a companion or pet animal near the owner or person who cares for the animal1 such as a domestic dog 7including a service dog71 domestic cat1 ferret1 gerbil1 mouse1 rat1 guinea pig1 rabbit1 hamster1 or bird4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#g7 ,unit of general local government ,the term unit of general local government has the meaning given such term in the first sentence of paragraph 7#a7 of section #ajb7;a7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjb7;a77#a774 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4