WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today introduced legislation that would create the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund to provide assistance to homeless veterans. The bill, which was championed in the House of Representatives by Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), would allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax to supplement existing homeless veterans assistance programs.

“We have an obligation to serve our veterans as well as they have served us, and it is unacceptable that so many Americans who served this country in uniform are living on the streets. This measure gives Americans an opportunity to directly help those who have defended their country. I hope that this measure will encourage all Americans to give back to those who have already given so much. I applaud Congressman Israel for his leadership on this issue, and I pledge to continue standing up for those who have sacrificed so much in defense of this nation,” said Senator Clinton.

“It is unconscionable that America would send people into battle abroad and then allow them to sleep on sidewalk grates when they come home. Senator Clinton's sponsorship of this bill will help put an end to that. It is the latest in her proud record of leadership in defending America's veterans,” said Congressman Israel.

Veterans organizations applauded Senator Clinton and Congressman Israel’s efforts in support of homeless veterans.

"The American Legion applauds this proposal. It is a travesty to allow citizens who have sacrificed for a cause greater than themselves to be abandoned to our streets. This legislation will certainly help us in our advocacy efforts on behalf of some of our most vulnerable veterans," said Mark Walker, Assistant Director, Economics Division, the American Legion.

“This legislation is a great way to allow Americans to honor and give back to those who have sacrificed so much for our Nation. There is no justification for our defenders to be living in the streets of the country they so vigorously protected,” said Justin Brown, Legislative Associate of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), about one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services. Current population estimates suggest that about 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year.

Senator Clinton has been a vocal advocate for America’s veterans.  Last month, the Veterans Disability Claims Modernization Act, a bill she introduced to overhaul the VA disability claims bureaucracy, was signed into law.  She also introduced and secured into law this year measures to smooth the transition between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA health care systems, and to simplify the disability benefits process.  Measures that Senator Clinton introduced to provide tailored support for veterans going back to college were also signed into law this year as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

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