City of Los Angeles, CA
04/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2024 20:32
DAY ONE MEETING READOUTS: Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. Conference of Mayors Garner Support From Biden Administration on National Homelessness Strategies
LOS ANGELES - As Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Task Force on Homelessness, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and USCM President Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve are leading a bipartisan group of nearly 50 mayors from 18 states across the country to Washington, DC to advance national solutions to confront the homelessness crisis. The delegation represents more than 17 million people and will meet with key members of the Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.
EDs: More info about the delegation trip here. Click herefor photos and b-roll.
Today, the delegation shared their national advocacy goals with White House officials and Cabinet Secretaries as a part of the USCM Task Force on Homelessness' legislative agenda to combat homelessness:
-
Expand veteran eligibility for housing vouchers so that veterans don't have to choose between their disability benefits and housing;
-
Lift the cap on project-based vouchers to provide cities with flexibility to build more affordable and supportive housing; and
-
Advocate for increased funding for housing choice vouchers.
Today, the delegation met with the following cabinet secretaries:
-
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Secretary Adrianne Todmanto discuss action ensuring no veteran is forced to choose between receiving their benefits and accepting housing.
-
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonoughto talk about actions the Department is taking to bring more unhoused veterans inside and how local leaders can collaborate on providing assistance.
-
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerrato discuss federal action to assist unhoused individuals with mental and physical health services. Secretary Becerra currently chairs the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The delegation also met with White House Officialsincluding White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez, Domestic Policy Advisor to the President Neera Tanden, and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young about the administration's continued support for cities addressing this issue and the commitment to continue support for local lifesaving efforts.
Tomorrow, the delegation will meet with Congressional leaders to pursue a statutory change in this important issue. Members of the delegation today met with House Majority Leader Steve Scaliseto discuss their shared bipartisan approach on veteran homelessness. The delegation also met with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez.
Tomorrow, the delegation will meet with Congressional leaders including:
-
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
-
Representative Katherine Clark, House Minority Whip
-
Representative Pete Aguilar, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
-
Representative Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee
-
Representative Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee
-
Representative Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
-
Representative Warren Davidson, Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
-
Representative Jay Obernolte, Chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
-
Senator Sherrod Brown, Chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
-
Senator Jerry Moran, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
-
Senator John Cornyn, Member of the Senate Committee on Finance
-
Senator John Fetterman, Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Mayors will speak at a press conference at 1:00 PM EST. The event, sponsored by Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Mark Takano, will take place at the House Triangle. For more information, email [email protected].