[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1720 Reported in House (RH)]

                                                 Union Calendar No. 116
108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1720

                          [Report No. 108-210]

      To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
    construction projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, 
  establishing, and updating patient care facilities at Department of 
                   Veterans Affairs medical centers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2003

 Mr. Simmons (for himself and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

                             July 15, 2003

 Additional sponsors: Mr. Porter, Mr. LoBiondo, and Mr. Brown of South 
                                Carolina

                             July 15, 2003

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
          on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
 [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 
                               10, 2003]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
    construction projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, 
  establishing, and updating patient care facilities at Department of 
                   Veterans Affairs medical centers.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Health Care Facilities 
Capital Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS FOR PATIENT 
              CARE IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs is authorized to carry out major medical facility 
projects in accordance with this section, using funds appropriated for 
fiscal year 2004 or 2005 pursuant to subsection (e). The cost of any 
such project may not exceed--
            (A) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2004; and
            (B) $125,000,000 in fiscal year 2005.
    (2) Projects carried out under this section are not subject to 
section 8104(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
    (3) The Secretary may not award a contract by reason of the 
authorization provided by paragraph (1) until after the Secretary has 
awarded a contract for each construction project authorized by section 
3(a) and a contract for each lease authorized by section 3(d).
    (b) Type of Projects.--A project carried out under subsection (a) 
may be carried out only at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
center and only for the purpose of one or more of the following:
            (1) Improving a patient care facility.
            (2) Replacing a patient care facility.
            (3) Renovating a patient care facility.
            (4) Updating a patient care facility to contemporary 
        standards.
            (5) Establishing a new patient care facility at a location 
        where no Department patient care facility exists.
            (6) Improving, replacing, or renovating a research facility 
        or updating such a facility to contemporary standards.
    (c) Purpose of Projects.--In selecting medical centers for projects 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall select projects to improve, 
replace, renovate, update, or establish facilities to achieve one or 
more of the following:
            (1) Seismic protection improvements related to patient 
        safety (or, in the case of a research facility, patient or 
        employee safety).
            (2) Fire safety improvements.
            (3) Improvements to utility systems and ancillary patient 
        care facilities (including such systems and facilities that may 
        be exclusively associated with research facilities).
            (4) Improved accommodation for persons with disabilities, 
        including barrier-free access.
            (5) Improvements at patient care facilities to specialized 
        programs of the Department, including the following:
                    (A) Blind rehabilitation centers.
                    (B) Inpatient and residential programs for 
                seriously mentally ill veterans, including mental 
                illness research, education, and clinical centers.
                    (C) Residential and rehabilitation programs for 
                veterans with substance-use disorders.
                    (D) Physical medicine and rehabilitation 
                activities.
                    (E) Long-term care, including geriatric research, 
                education, and clinical centers, adult day care 
                centers, and nursing home care facilities.
                    (F) Amputation care, including facilities for 
                prosthetics, orthotics programs, and sensory aids.
                    (G) Spinal cord injury centers.
                    (H) Traumatic brain injury programs.
                    (I) Women veterans' health programs (including 
                particularly programs involving privacy and 
                accommodation for female patients).
                    (J) Facilities for hospice and palliative care 
                programs.
    (d) Review Process.--(1) The Secretary shall provide that, before a 
project is submitted to the Secretary with a recommendation that it be 
approved as a project to be carried out under the authority of this 
section, the project shall be reviewed by a board within the Department 
of Veterans Affairs that is independent of the Veterans Health 
Administration and that is constituted by the Secretary to evaluate 
capital investment projects. The board shall review such project to 
determine the project's relevance to the medical care mission of the 
Department and whether the project improves, renovates, repairs, 
establishes, or updates facilities of the Department in accordance with 
this section.
    (2) In selecting projects to be carried out under the authority 
provided by this section, the Secretary shall consider the 
recommendations of the board under paragraph (1). In any case in which 
the Secretary approves a project to be carried out under this section 
that was not recommended for such approval by the board under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall include in the report of the Secretary under 
subsection (g)(2) notice of such approval and the Secretary's reasons 
for not following the recommendation of the board with respect to that 
project.
    (e)  Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Construction, 
Major Projects, account for projects under this section--
            (1) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
            (2) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
    (f) Limitation.--Projects may be carried out under this section 
only using funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
appropriations in subsection (e), except that funds appropriated for 
advance planning may be used for the purposes for which appropriated in 
connection with such projects.
    (g) Reports.--(1) Not later than April 1, 2005, the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and on 
Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of congressional 
authorization for projects of the type described in subsection (b) 
through general authorization as provided by subsection (a), rather 
than through specific authorization as would otherwise be applicable 
under section 8104(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code. Such report 
shall include a description of the actions of the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs during fiscal year 2004 to select and carry out projects under 
this section.
    (2) Not later than 120 days after the date on which the site for 
the final project under this section for each such fiscal year is 
selected, the Secretary shall submit to the committees referred to in 
paragraph (1) a report on the authorization process under this section. 
The Secretary shall include in each such report the following:
            (A) A listing by project of each such project selected by 
        the Secretary under that section, together with a prospectus 
        description of the purposes of the project, the estimated cost 
        of the project, and a statement attesting to the review of the 
        project under subsection (c), and, if that project was not 
        recommended by the board, the Secretary's justification under 
        subsection (d) for not following the recommendation of the 
        board.
            (B) An assessment of the utility to the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs of that authorization process.
            (C) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate for future congressional policy for authorizations 
        of major and minor medical facility construction projects for 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (D) Any other matter that the Secretary considers to be 
        appropriate with respect to oversight by Congress of capital 
        facilities projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND LEASES.

    (a) Project Authorizations.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
carry out the following major medical facility projects, with each 
project to be carried out in the amount specified for that project:
            (1) Construction of a new bed tower to consolidate two 
        inpatient sites of care in inner city Chicago at the West Side 
        Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care 
        system in Chicago, Illinois, in an amount not to exceed 
        $98,500,000.
            (2) Seismic corrections to strengthen Medical Center 
        Building 1 of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care 
        system in San Diego, California, in an amount not to exceed 
        $48,600,000.
            (3) A project for (A) renovation of all inpatient care 
        wards at the West Haven, Connecticut, facility of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs health system in Connecticut to 
        improve the environment of care and enhance safety, privacy, 
        and accessibility, and (B) establishment of a consolidated 
        medical research facility at that facility, in an amount not to 
        exceed $50,000,000.
            (4) Construction of a medical facility on available Federal 
        land at the Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Ohio, in an amount 
        not to exceed $90,000,000.
            (5) Construction of a Department of Veterans Affairs-
        Department of Navy joint venture, comprehensive outpatient 
        medical care facility to be built on the grounds of the 
        Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, in an amount 
        not to exceed $45,000,000.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2004 
for the Construction, Major Projects, account $332,100,000 for the 
projects authorized in subsection (a).
    (c) Limitation.--The projects authorized in subsection (a) may only 
be carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2004 pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations in subsection (b);
            (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2004 that remain available 
        for obligation; and
            (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for fiscal year 2004 for a category of activity not specific to 
        a project.
    (d) Authorization of Major Medical Facility Leases.--The Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs may enter into leases as follows:
            (1) For an outpatient clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, 
        in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.
            (2) For facilities for a multi-specialty outpatient clinic 
        for the Veterans Health Administration and a satellite office 
        for the Veterans Benefits Administration in Clark County, 
        Nevada, at an annual lease amount not to exceed $6,500,000.

SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON DISPOSAL OF LAKESIDE DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITIES, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

    (a) Limitation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not make a 
final disposal under section 8162 of title 38, United States Code, of 
the Lakeside Division facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical facilities in Chicago, Illinois, until the Secretary has 
entered into a contract for the construction project authorized by 
section 3(a)(1).
    (b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``disposal'', with respect to the Lakeside Division facility, includes 
entering into a long-term lease or sharing agreement under which a 
party other than the Secretary has operational control of the facility.

SEC. 5. PLANS FOR FACILITIES IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND FAR SOUTH 
              TEXAS.

    (a) Plan.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop--
            (A) a plan to establish an inpatient facility to meet 
        hospital care needs of veterans who reside in southern New 
        Jersey; and
            (B) a plan for hospital care needs of veterans who reside 
        in far south Texas.
    (2) In developing the plans under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall, at a minimum, consider options using the existing authorities of 
section 8111 and 8153 of title 38, United States Code--
            (A) to establish a hospital staffed and managed by 
        employees of the Department, either in private or public 
        facilities, including Federal facilities; or
            (B) to enter into contracts with existing private 
        facilities and private providers for that care.
    (b) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on each plan under subsection (a) not later than January 31, 2004.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``far south Texas'' means the following 
        counties of the State of Texas: Bee, Calhoun, Crockett, DeWitt, 
        Dimmit, Goliad, Jackson, Victoria, Webb, Aransas, Duval, Jim 
        Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Brooks, Cameron, 
        Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, Willacy, and Zapata.
            (2) The term ``southern New Jersey'' means the following 
        counties of the State of New Jersey: Ocean, Burlington, Camden, 
        Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May.

SEC. 6. INCREASE IN MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION COST THRESHOLD.

    Section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``$4,000,000'' and inserting ``$6,000,000''.

SEC. 7. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE FACILITY, 
              CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

     The Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility located at 
820 South Damen Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, shall after the date of 
the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Jesse Brown 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''. Any reference to such 
facility in any law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record 
of the United States shall be considered to be a reference to the Jesse 
Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

SEC. 8. STUDY AND REPORT ON FEASIBILITY OF COORDINATION OF VETERANS 
              HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH NEW 
              UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a study to examine the feasibility of coordination by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs of its needs for inpatient hospital, 
medical care, and long-term care services for veterans with the pending 
construction of a new university medical center at the Medical 
University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
    (b) Matters To Be Included in Study.--(1) As part of the study 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the following:
            (A) Integration with the Medical University of South 
        Carolina of some or all of the services referred to in 
        subsection (a) through contribution to the construction of that 
        university's new medical facility or by becoming a tenant 
        provider in that new facility.
            (B) Construction by the Department of Veterans Affairs of a 
        new independent inpatient or outpatient facility alongside or 
        nearby the university's new facility.
    (2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the 
degree to which the Department of Veterans Affairs and the university 
medical center would be able to share expensive technologies and scarce 
specialty services that would affect any such plans of the Secretary or 
the university.
    (3) In carrying out the study, the Secretary shall especially 
consider the applicability of the authorities under section 8153 of 
title 38, United States Code (relating to sharing of health care 
resources between the Department and community provider organizations) 
to govern future arrangements and relationship between the Department 
and the Medical University of South Carolina.
    (c) Consultation With Secretary of Defense.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall consult with the Secretary of Defense in 
carrying out the study under this section. Such consultation shall 
include consideration of establishing a Department of Veterans Affairs-
Department of Defense joint health-care venture at the site referred to 
in subsection (a).
    (d) Report.--Not later than March 31, 2004, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the results of the study. The report 
shall include the Secretary's recommendations with respect to 
coordination described in subsection (a), including recommendations 
with respect to each of the matters referred to in subsection (b).
            Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to authorize the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out construction 
        projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, 
        establishing, and updating patient care facilities at 
        Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and for other 
        purposes.''.




                                                 Union Calendar No. 116

108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 1720

                          [Report No. 108-210]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

      To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
    construction projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, 
  establishing, and updating patient care facilities at Department of 
                   Veterans Affairs medical centers.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             July 15, 2003

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
          on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed