Rosen files bill to renew aid for homeless veterans

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan bill to continue ongoing programs to end veteran homelessness was introduced Thursday by Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-nev.

The bill would reauthorize programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Labor Department that are set to expire Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2018.

“Nevada’s veterans have put their lives on the line to protect this nation, and it’s our responsibility to support them when they finish,” said Rosen, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

There are more than 200,000 veterans living in Nevada, she said.

Shalimar Cabrera, executive director of U.S.VETS, said reauthorization of the programs is vital to ensure veterans “are no longer finding themselves homeless on the streets that they fought to defend.”

Earlier this week, Sen. Dean

Heller, R-nev., asked VA Secretary David Shulkin to explore ways for his department to steer homeless veterans into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.

“Nevada continues to face the challenge of combatting veteran homelessness, with hundreds of veterans still living in shelters or on the street,” Heller, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said in a letter to Shulkin.

Contact Gary Martin at gmartin@ reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7390.