The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs last week unanimously passed two bills authored by Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles)

H.R. 3484, the “Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2016” grants the Secretary of Veterans Affairs leasing authority to construct permanent supportive housing on the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus.

H.R. 4334, the “Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Veterans Affairs Seismic Safety and Construction Authorization Act,” provides $35 million for critical seismic retrofits for buildings on the campus.

Congressman Lieu thanked Chairman Jeff Miller, Ranking Member Corrine Brown, and the members of the House Committee of Veterans’ Affairs.

“[These bills] each address urgent needs for our local Veterans. Los Angeles County has the highest number of homeless Veterans in the nation,” Lieu said. “One immediate need is to build a proportionate number of permanent housing units for our homeless Veterans. H.R. 3484 will grant the VA the authority to begin implementing this key component of the West LA VA Master Plan.”

Lieu explained that H.R. 4334 would authorize an additional $35 million for seismic retrofits.

“This comes on top of the $35 million that Senator Dianne Feinstein and I helped to secure last year for the same purpose,” he said.

The Draft Master Plan calls for 1,200 units of permanent supportive housing at the West LA VA. “The VA’s plan—which needs this legislation—is our down payment in restoring this property to its intended use as an Old Soldiers’ Home. My expectation is that the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will take up our legislation soon. I am so pleased these bills have passed favorably.”