This bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to authorize necessary appropriations for the Interagency Council on Homelessness and encourage state involvement.
John "Jack" Reed
Senator
RI
This bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to authorize ongoing appropriations for the Interagency Council on Homelessness, ensuring the council has the necessary funds to carry out its responsibilities. It modifies the allocation of funds by removing the previous fixed amount and instead providing "such sums as may be necessary." The bill also repeals and redesignates sections within the Act to streamline and update the legislation.
Funding Flexibility Proposed for Federal Homelessness Council: Bill Removes Specific Dollar Caps
This bill adjusts the funding approach for the main federal body coordinating homelessness efforts, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). It amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, replacing a previously set funding level (which hasn't been updated since mentioning fiscal year 2011) with authorization for 'such sums as may be necessary.' The goal appears to be providing more adaptable funding to meet the Council's needs without being locked into outdated figures.
From Fixed Budget to Flexible Funds
The core change here is moving away from a specific appropriation amount listed in Section 208 of the McKinney-Vento Act. Think of it like shifting a department's budget from a fixed annual amount to one based on perceived need each year. This gives the USICH, which coordinates the work of 19 federal agencies addressing homelessness, the potential to receive funding that aligns more closely with current challenges.
The 'Necessary' Question
While flexibility sounds good, the phrase 'such sums as may be necessary' introduces a degree of uncertainty. On one hand, it could allow funding to scale up rapidly if the homelessness crisis worsens. On the other hand, 'necessary' is open to interpretation and depends heavily on annual budget negotiations and priorities set by Congress and the administration. This means the Council's funding could become less predictable year-to-year compared to a fixed authorization, potentially impacting long-term planning.
Tidying Up the Books
The legislation also includes some administrative cleanup. It repeals an old section (Section 209) and renumbers another, updating the table of contents in the McKinney-Vento Act accordingly. These are technical adjustments primarily aimed at keeping the underlying law organized and current.