Bill on Homeless Veteran Definition ReintroducedSenator Mark Begich (D-AK) introduced S. 287, legislation to expand the definition of homelessness for veterans, on February 12. This is a reintroduction of a bill he authored in the 112th Congress.The bill would assure that veterans fleeing domestic violence or another life-threatening condition be eligible for assistance under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 updated the definition of homelessness to cover individuals fleeing domestic violence. However, the definition of “homeless veteran” was not updated to reflect this change. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and has four cosponsors as of this writing.Click here for the full text of S. 287. Surplus Property Disposition Bill Reintroduced in HouseRepresentative Jeffrey Denham (D-CA) introduced the Civilian Property Realignment Act, H.R. 695, on February 14. The legislation was referred to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform, and Rules. The measure has nine cosponsors. This is also a reintroduction of a bill from the last Congress.H.R. 695 would create a commission, similar in concept to those used by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, to make expedited determinations on the disposition of vacant, surplus federal properties.Currently, homeless service providers have the first right of refusal for surplus properties, as authorized under Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. When considered in the House in the 112th Congress, CPRA waived Title V rights completely. The legislation was amended prior to floor consideration to require that Title V be applied to some properties that are of a certain size and value. H.R. 695 requires that Title V be applied to all properties under 25,000 square feet or valued at less than $5,000,000.While the intent of the bill is deficit reduction, the legislation authorizes new appropriations of $82 million to implement the commission.The legislation passed the House in the 112th Congress but was not acted on by the Senate, and therefore died at the end of the last Congress (see Memo, 2/10/12).Click here for the full text of H.R. 695.