[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1534 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1534

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring 
authorities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to authorize medical 
construction projects for that Department for fiscal year 1996, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 2, 1995

Mr. Hutchinson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring 
authorities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to authorize medical 
construction projects for that Department for fiscal year 1996, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) Outpatient Services for Persian Gulf Veterans Exposed to Toxic 
Substances.--Section 1712(a)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
    (b) Contract Authority for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Care.--(1) 
Subsection (e) of section 1720A of such title is amended by striking 
out ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 
1997''.
    (2) Subsection (f) of such section is amended by striking out 
``October 1, 1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``March 31, 1998''.
    (c) Nursing Home Care Alternatives.--(1) Section 1720C(a) of such 
title is amended by striking out ``September 30, 1995'' and inserting 
in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1996''.
    (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a 
report, not later than March 31, 1996, on the medical efficacy and cost 
effectiveness, and disadvantages and advantages, associated with the 
use by the Secretary of noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home 
care.
    (d) Real Property for Use by Homeless Veterans.--(1) Section 
3735(c) of such title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' 
and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
    (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a 
report, not later than March 31, 1997, on the operation of the program 
under section 3735 of such title relating to housing assistance for 
homeless veterans. The report shall include the number of veterans 
served by the program and the costs of the program and any savings 
generated to the Government under the program.
    (e) Health Scholarships Program.--(1) Section 7618 of such title is 
amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
    (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a 
report, not later than March 31, 1997, on the operation of the health 
scholarships program under subchapter 2 of chapter 76 of title 38, 
United States Code. The report shall include the number and types of 
scholarships awarded and the effect of the program on retention of 
employees by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (f) Enhanced-Use Leases of Real Property.--Section 8169 is amended 
by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
``December 31, 1997''.
    (g) Community-Based Residential Care for Homeless Chronically 
Mentally Ill Veterans.--Section 115(d) of the Veterans' Benefits and 
Services Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-322; 38 U.S.C. 1712 note) is 
amended by striking out ``September 30, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
    (h) Compensated Work Therapy and Therapeutic Transitional Housing 
Program.--Section 7 of Public Law 102-54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking out ``During fiscal 
        years 1991 through 1995, the Secretary'' and inserting in lieu 
        thereof ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Sunset.--The authority for the demonstration program under 
this section expires on December 31, 1997.''.

SEC. 2. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS MEMORIAL MEDICAL 
              CENTER IN THE PHILIPPINES.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 1732 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking out subsection (b);
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b) and 
        striking out ``or grant'' both places it appears in that 
        subsection; and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c) and 
        striking out ``and to make grants'' in that subsection.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The heading of such section is 
amended by striking out ``and grants''.
    (2) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking out 
``and grants''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR FISCAL 
              YEAR 1996.

    (a) Project Authorization.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
carry out the major medical facility projects for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and may carry out the major medical facility leases 
for that Department, for which funds are requested in the budget of the 
President for fiscal year 1996 and for which authorization is required 
under section 8104(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Funding Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1996--
            (1) $224,800,000 for the major medical facility projects 
        authorized in subsection (a); and
            (2) $2,790,000 for the major medical facility leases 
        authorized in subsection (a).
    (c) Limitations.--The projects authorized in subsection (a) may 
only be carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 1996 pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations in subsection (b);
            (2) funds appropriated to the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs for Construction, Major Projects, for any fiscal year 
        that remain available for obligation; and
            (3) funds appropriated to the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs for Construction, Major Projects, for any fiscal year 
        for a category of activity not specific to a project.
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