LOS ANGELES – U.S. Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) Monday applauded U.S. Senate’s passage of a bill to help homeless veterans to build housing in Los Angles, Lieu’s office announced.
Lieu issued a statement in light of the United States Senate’s passage of the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 – H.R. 5936. This legislation originated in the House of Representatives and was authored by Congressman Lieu. Senator Dianne Feinstein authored the Senate version of this legislation in September, 2015.
“I applaud the Senate’s passage of the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016, which authorizes the VA to implement the Master Plan for the West L.A. VA campus. First and foremost, I want to thank Senator Dianne Feinstein for her leadership, without which this bill would not have been passed,” Lieu said in the statement.
“This legislation now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature into law. When enacted, this legislation will enable the VA to construct 1,200 units of housing for homeless Veterans at the West L.A. VA and offer new robust services on the campus such as vocational training, recreation and spiritual support. The legislation also ensures that all leases on the campus principally benefit Veterans and strengthen the partnership between the VA and leaseholders.”
“Today’s legislative victory amounts to a giant leap forward in our efforts to restore the West L.A. VA as a beacon of service to L.A. County’s Veteran community. It is a giant leap forward in our collective mission to honor the debt we owe to America’s Veteran heroes,” said Lieu.
The Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2016 authorizes the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the following leases at the VA’s West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California:
- any enhanced-use lease of real property for supportive housing that principally benefits veterans and their families;
- any lease of real property for not to exceed 50 years to a third party for services that principally benefit veterans and their families and that are related to health and wellness, education, vocational training and employment, peer activities or recreation, legal and federal benefits assistance, volunteerism, family support services, and transportation; and
- a lease of real property for not to exceed 10 years to the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the University of California, Los Angeles, if the lease is consistent with the VA master plan and the provision of veterans services is the predominant focus.