[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3898 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3898

To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical center for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at a 
 site to be selected pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal medical 
  center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that would best serve the 
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries 
                            in Puerto Rico.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2004

    Mr. Acevedo-Vila (for himself, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Serrano, Ms. 
  Velazquez, and Mr. Filner) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical center for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at a 
 site to be selected pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal medical 
  center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that would best serve the 
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries 
                            in Puerto Rico.

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

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT, 
              COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a major medical 
facility project for the construction of a new (replacement) medical 
center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in an amount not to exceed 
$450,000,000. The project shall be carried out at the site selected 
pursuant to section 3.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2005 for the 
Construction, Major Projects, account $450,000,000 for the project 
authorized in section 1.
    (b) Limitation.--The project authorized in section 1 may only be 
carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2005 pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations in subsection (a);
            (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2005 that remain available 
        for obligation; and
            (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for fiscal year 2005 for a category of activity not specific to 
        a project.

SEC. 3. STUDY OF SITE FOR NEW MEDICAL CENTER IN COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO 
              RICO.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
Defense shall conduct a joint study of the locations in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico specified in subsection (b) to determine 
which of those two locations would be the preferable site for a new 
Federal medical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to serve the 
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries 
in Puerto Rico.
    (b) Specification of Sites.--The sites to be studied under 
subsection (a) are the following:
            (1) Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico.
            (2) Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.
    (c) Report to Congress.--The two Secretaries shall jointly submit 
to Congress a report setting forth the results of the study, including 
the recommendation of the Secretaries for the site for a new Federal 
medical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The report shall be 
submitted not later than six months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
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