April 2012 E-Newsletter

In This Issue:

• San Diego to Receive $1.2 Million for Housing Homeless Veterans

• Receiving the American Legion’s National Distinguished Public Service Award!

• Calling for the Congressional Gold Medal for Civil Rights Leaders

• Constituent Mail Bag

• Useful Website: Grants.gov

San Diego to Receive $1.2 Million for Housing Homeless Veterans

In a joint announcement, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that HUD will provide $72.6 million to public housing agencies across the nation to provide permanent housing and case management for more than 10,000 homeless veterans.  This assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

During my tenure as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, addressing the problem of homelessness among our nation’s veterans was a top priority of mine, and I will continue to work closely with President Obama to realize our goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. The challenge is immense, but the progress we have made so far is encouraging.

I was especially pleased to see that San Diego is slated to receive $1.2 million for 150 grants.  San Diego has been in the forefront of exploring innovative ideas to end the problem of homelessness, and these grants will certainly help.  I am hopeful that the lessons we are learning on how best to address veterans’ homelessness will enable us to tackle the challenge of homelessness for all of our citizens.

The announcement is the first of two rounds of 2012 HUD-VASH funding.  HUD expects to announce the remaining funding later this year.

The HUD-VASH program has been an essential element of the President’s plan Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, and demonstrates what we can all accomplish when the federal government, states, and localities all work together to address the issues we face.

Receiving the American Legion’s National Distinguished Public Service Award!

I was recently awarded the National Distinguished Public Service Award by the American Legion at the organization’s national conference in Washington, DC.

In the speech I gave after accepting the award I talked about granting disability claims from Vietnam veterans. I said, “Are you going to tell me you’re going to balance the budget on the backs of our Vietnam vets by not granting these claims? Let’s bring down the debt, but not on the backs of these veterans."

I went on to call for making sure all of our recent veterans have job opportunities when they return home, by welcoming home everybody in this country who has served our nation by making sure they have a job and are contributing.

In 2007, I became the Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee during which time we held more than 200 hearings and passed significant legislation to provide historic budget increases for veterans, expand access to VA health care, improve health services for all veterans, and modernize benefits earned by America’s troops. I currently serve as the Ranking Democratic Member on the committee.

Calling for the Congressional Gold Medal for Civil Rights Leaders

I recently added my support to a bill that would award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the pioneers and participants of the Civil Rights Movement.

It is said that it isn’t what you believe, but what you do that’s important. Those who not only believed in the Civil Rights Movement, but acted on those beliefs, encompass the best that America has to offer. The leaders and those that participated in the Civil Rights Movement risked their lives to make our country better for all the generations to follow. As a Freedom Rider, I rode alongside these heroes who not only believed that segregation was wrong, but took great risks to make sure those unjust laws were overturned. Activists in the Civil Rights Movement stood up and said that they would no longer let unjust and unconstitutional laws govern us. They were willing to put everything on the line to combat the inequality they knew was wrong!

According to the legislation, once the Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to the pioneers and participants of the Civil Rights Movement, it will be given to the Smithsonian Institution to be put on display.

Constituent Mail Bag

From Bonita:

I am writing today to urge you to protect the integrity of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule.

This critical rule would save up to 11,000 lives every year and prevent 90 percent of the toxic mercury in coal burned by power plants from being emitted into our air. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin, especially for children and expectant mothers.

Please don't cave in to the pro-polluter lobby and turn your back on our health. Uphold the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule and put clean air and children's health first.

Congressman Filner replies:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the enforcement of the Clean Air Act.

I wholeheartedly agree! We must ensure the Clean Air Act is enforced. Rest assured, I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect our clean air!

I appreciate your advocacy on this issue!

Useful Website: Grants.gov

Grants.gov is your source to find and apply for federal grants. Learn more about Grants.gov and determine if you are eligible for grant opportunities offered on this site. You can receive daily notification of all new grant opportunities by signing up on All Grants Notices. You can also select to receive notifications based on specific criteria such as funding instrument type, eligibility or sub-agency by signing up on Notices Based on Advanced Criteria.