Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after the Committee held its first Virtual Forum to discuss the needs of homeless veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“This is a difficult time for all Americans, but it is especially hard for those without a home of their own to take refuge in,” said Ranking Member Roe. “Ensuring that homeless veterans have a safe place to rest their heads and receive the care they need has long been one of this Committee’s top priorities. That is why I was grateful this afternoon to hear from the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans about the unique challenges facing homeless veterans right now and how the funding Congress allocated to support them in the CARES Act is being used. As we continue to navigate this crisis, the Committee’s constitutional oversight role is more important than perhaps ever before. The gold standard of good oversight is a Congressional hearing where Committee Members and the American people can hear from a diverse panel of witnesses from the public and private sector. Today’s forum is certainly not a replacement for that, and I hope that our Committee can get back to work in our nation’s capital as soon as possible on behalf of all veterans and their families, who are counting us as never before.”
