[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2353 Introduced in House (IH)]
104th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2353
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring
authorities of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to delivery
of health and medical care, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 19, 1995
Mr. Hutchinson (for himself, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Stump, and Mr.
Montgomery) 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 relating to delivery
of health and medical care, 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) Hospital Care and Medical Services for Persian Gulf Veterans
Exposed to Toxic Substances.--(1) Section 1710(e)(3) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995''
and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1998''.
(2) Section 1712(a)(1)(D) of such title is amended by striking out
``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31,
1998''.
(b) Contract Authority for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Care.--Subsection
(e) of section 1720A of such title is amended by striking out
``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31,
1997''.
(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, 1997''.
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress, not
later than March 31, 1997, a report 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) 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)(A) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress,
not later than March 31, 1997, a report setting forth the results of a
study evaluating the operation of the health professional scholarship
program under subchapter II of chapter 76 of title 38, United States
Code. The study shall evaluate the efficacy of the program with respect
to recruitment and retention of health care personnel for the
Department of Veterans Affairs and shall compare the costs and benefits
of the program with the costs and benefits of alternative methods of
ensuring adequate recruitment and retention of such personnel.
(B) The Secretary shall carry out the study under this paragraph
through a private contractor. The report under subparagraph (A) shall
include the report of the contractor and the comments, if any, of the
Secretary on that report.
(e) Enhanced-Use Leases of Real Property.--(1) Section 8169 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, not
later than March 31, 1997, a report evaluating the operation of the
program under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United States
Code.
(f) 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''.
(g) Demonstration Program of Compensated Work Therapy and
Therapeutic Transitional Housing.--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.''.
(h) Homeless Veterans Pilot Program.--The Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-590) is
amended as follows:
(1) Section 2(a) (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended by
striking out ``September 30, 1995'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ``December 31, 1998''.
(2) Section 3(a) (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended by
striking out ``, during fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995,''.
(3) Section 12 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended by striking
out ``each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995'' and
inserting in lieu thereof ``each fiscal year through 1998''.
SEC. 2. REPORTS.
(a) Report on Consolidation of Certain Programs.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress, not later than March 1,
1997, a report on the advantages and disadvantages of consolidating
into one program the following three programs:
(1) The alcohol and drug abuse contract care program under
section 1720A of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The program to provide community-based residential care
to homeless chronically mentally ill veterans under section 115
of the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 (38 U.S.C.
1712 note).
(3) The demonstration program under section 7 of Public Law
102-54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note).
(b) Report on Scientific Evidence Concerning Health Consequences of
Military Service in Persian Gulf War.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences
and with officials of other appropriate Federal departments and
agencies, review the scientific evidence, and assess the strength of
such evidence, concerning association between military service in the
Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War and
any disease that may be associated with such service.
(2) The Secretary shall, not later than March 1, 1998, submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report on the findings of the review and assessment
under paragraph (1).
SEC. 3. 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. 4. DISPLAY OF POW/MIA FLAG AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
MEDICAL CENTERS.
(a) Daily Display of Flag.--Subsection (a) of section 1084 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993
(Public Law 102-190; 36 U.S.C. 189 note) is amended--
(1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
(2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (2)
and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) on, or on the grounds of, each Department of Veterans
Affairs medical center on every day on which the flag of the
United States is displayed.''.
(b) Procurement and Distribution of Flags.--(1) Subsection (c) of
such section is amended by striking out ``Within 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ``The Administrator''.
(2) The Administrator of General Services shall carry out
subsection (c) of section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (Public Law 102-190; 36 U.S.C. 189
note) with respect to the procurement and distribution of POW/MIA flags
for the purposes of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of such section (as
added by subsection (a) of this section) within 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. CONTRACTS FOR UTILITIES, AUDIE L. MURPHY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
(a) Authority To Contract.--Subject to subsection (b), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into contracts for the
provision of utilities (including steam and chilled water) to the Audie
L. Murphy Memorial Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Each such contract
may--
(1) be for a period not to exceed 35 years;
(2) provide for the construction and operation of a
production facility on or near property under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary;
(3) require capital contributions by the parties involved
for the construction of such a facility, such contribution to
be in the form of cash, equipment, or other in-kind
contribution; and
(4) provide for a predetermined formula to compute the cost
of providing such utilities to the parties for the duration of
the contract.
(b) Funds.--A contract may be entered into under subsection (a)
only to the extent that appropriations are available.
(c) Additional Terms.--The Secretary may include in a contract
under subsection (a) such additional provisions as the Secretary
considers necessary to secure the provision of utilities and to protect
the interests of the United States.
SEC. 6. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, WALLA
WALLA, WASHINGTON.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 77
Wainwright Drive, Walla Walla, Washington, shall after the date of the
enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Jonathan M.
Wainwright Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''. Any
reference to that medical center in any law, regulation, map, document,
paper, or other record of the United States shall be considered to be a
reference to the Jonathan M. Wainwright Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center.
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