Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act, authored by Representative Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). Feinstein has authored the Senate version of the legislation.

“The House of Representatives today passed an important bill to jumpstart the transformation of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Campus into a nationwide leader for veterans’ services, and I would like to thank Chairman Jeff Miller for making this issue a priority.

“Over the past two years, the VA has developed an ambitious master plan for the campus that would add 1,200 units of housing for homeless veterans and a wide range of educational, health care and recreational services.

“But VA can’t move forward with its plans unless Congress passes legislation to restore its authority to enter into lease agreements with nonprofit organizations. Congressman Waxman and I in 2007 passed legislation to suspend that leasing authority following years of mismanagement.

“I am working with Chairman Isakson and Ranking Member Blumenthal to advance the bill through the Senate as quickly as possible. Los Angeles has the highest number of veterans and homeless veterans in the country and we need to get this bill done.”