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COSPONSOR H.R. 5311 Dear Colleague: Homeless veterans of our nation have no better friend, no better advocate, than Miss America 2000, Heather French. During her year of service as Miss America, Heather French has given generously of her time, talent, energy and self to challenge this nation to meet the unmet needs of our homeless veterans. From coast to coast and border to border, she has taken her message that no veteran should be left behind and that as a nation we have a responsibility to provide the services and assistance homeless veterans need to again become productive and contributing members of society. Recently, I introduced H.R. 5311, the "Heather French Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2000". While this measure is intended to recognize Heather’s advocacy on behalf of our nation’s homeless veterans this past year, this measure is not ceremonial. H.R. 5311 is comprehensive legislation and contains both innovative and proven programs. Its goal is to end homelessness among veterans by the end of a decade. The most recent assessment of the Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups (CHALENG) issued in May 2000 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, reported there were an estimated 344,983 homeless veterans during 1999, an increase of 34% above the 1998 estimate of 256,872 homeless veterans. If we simply maintain current efforts, over the next decade there will be more than 1.2 billion nights of homelessness among veterans. If our economy should falter, even slightly, that number of homeless veterans would undoubtedly increase dramatically. The problem is not ineffective programs. The problem is too few programs and too many homeless veterans. As the most powerful and richest nation on earth, we can end homelessness among veterans if we have the will to do so. The "Heather French Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2000" has already received support from the Veterans Organizations Homeless Council which, "strongly supports the comprehensive recommendations advanced by Congressman Lane Evans, Illinois, in a legislative proposal that will offer a strategic program to break the vicious cycle of veterans homelessness in cities and towns across this Nation." The members of the Veterans Organizations Homeless Council represent ten major national veteran service organizations -- The American Legion, AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America." In addition, I am also very pleased this legislation has won the support of Miss America 2000. Heather French has said, "homeless veterans want to be able to regain personal pride by taking personal responsibility to remove the barriers that have prevented their transition to productive citizenship. I applaud this legislation that focuses on a comprehensive package of proposals that will lead to ending homelessness among our nation’s veterans so they can once again be proud citizens." The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) has also already endorsed this legislation. NCHV executive director Linda Boone has said "this bill will become the platform to address homeless veterans’ issues in the 107th Congress and we look forward to a continued active relationship between Ms. French and Mr. Evans towards the goal of ending homelessness among our nation’s veterans."I invite you to cosponsor the "Heather French Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2000" by contacting Sandra McClellan at x59756 or sandra.mcclellan@mail.house.gov. For your information, a summary of this legislation is attached. Sincerely, LANE EVANS
Heather French Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2000
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