House of Representatives Committee Moves Bill That Strips McKinney Vento Title V
On October 13, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure marked up H.R. 1734, the Civilian Property Realignment Act. The bill was authored by Representative Jeff Denham (R-Cal.) and seeks to create a panel to make decisions on the disposal of surplus federal properties. Housing advocates reached out to the Committee early on to express concern that the proposed panel did not require input from homeless providers.
When the bill went to mark up, however, Rep. Denham clarified in a substitute amendment that federal surplus properties would no longer be subject to Title V of the McKinney Vento Act, which states that homeless shelter providers have preference in acquiring such excess property.
Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), expressed opposition and attempted to strike the amendment, but those efforts failed in a roll call vote. Rep. Denham’s substitute language was accepted, but he expressed a desire to work with Delegate Norton to craft a provision addressing the needs of the homeless before the bill goes before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform or the full House for a vote.
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