[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5526 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5526

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force 
    on Medical Facility Improvements in Puerto Rico, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2008

  Mr. Fortuno (for himself and Mr. Serrano) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force 
    on Medical Facility Improvements in Puerto Rico, 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. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Residents of Puerto Rico have served with honor and 
        distinction in the Armed Forces of the United States in every 
        major war and conflict the Nation has fought since 1917.
            (2) Puerto Rico consistently ranks alongside the top five 
        States in per capita military service.
            (3) Numerous residents of Puerto Rico have won the Bronze 
        Star with valor device, the Silver Star, the Distinguished 
        Flying Cross, and the Distinguished Service Medal.
            (4) Four residents of Puerto Rico have received the Medal 
        of Honor, the highest award given for valor on the battlefield.
            (5) 18,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in World War I.
            (6) 65,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in World War II, 
        including 200 Puerto Rican women.
            (7) 61,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in the Korean 
        War, during which the 65th Infantry Regiment, comprised mostly 
        of Puerto Rican soldiers and known as the Borinqueneers, 
        particularly distinguished itself for bravery.
            (8) 48,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in Vietnam, with 
        430 killed and over 3,000 wounded.
            (9) 2,600 residents of Puerto Rico were mobilized for 
        Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
            (10) 3,400 residents of Puerto Rico have served, and over 
        230 have been killed or wounded, in the Nation's current war on 
        terrorism, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 
        Iraqi Freedom.
            (11) Residents of Puerto Rico have always proudly answered 
        the call to defend this nation and to sacrifice for the cause 
        of liberty, notwithstanding the fact that they cannot vote for 
        their commander-in-chief.
            (12) In section 821 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, 
        and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461; 120 
        Stat. 3448), Congress expressed its sense that the need for 
        medical facility improvements in San Juan, Puerto Rico was not 
        being adequately addressed and directed the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs to ``take steps to explore all options for 
        addressing that concern, including the option of a public/
        private partnership to construct and operate a facility that 
        would replace the current Department of Veterans Affairs 
        medical center in San Juan, Puerto Rico''.
            (13) Congress directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
        submit a report to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and House of Representatives ``identifying and outlining 
        the various options available to the Department'' for 
        retrofitting and renovating or replacing the current Veterans 
        Affairs medical center in San Juan.
            (14) On June 26, 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        submitted its ``Report to Congress on Options for Medical 
        Facility Improvements in San Juan, Puerto Rico'', in which it 
        identified and outlined four potential options available to the 
        Department for medical facility improvements in Puerto Rico and 
        analyzed the medical, legal, and financial implications 
        associated with each option.
            (15) In that report, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        affirmed that medical facility improvements in Puerto Rico 
        would support the Department's strategic goals, including 
        improving the quality of life for veterans with disabilities, 
        ensuring a smooth transition for veterans from active military 
        service to civilian life, and improving the health and 
        socioeconomic well-being of veterans.
            (16) In that report, the Department also stated that 
        upgrades to the existing medical facility in San Juan were 
        ``necessary to ensure the long-term safety of patients and 
        staff''.

SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON MEDICAL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN PUERTO RICO.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a task force to be known as the Task Force on Medical 
Facility Improvements in Puerto Rico (hereinafter in this section 
referred to as the ``Task Force'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The members of the Task Force shall be 
        appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and shall 
        include--
                    (A) appropriate employees of the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs;
                    (B) appropriate representatives of veterans' 
                organizations based in Puerto Rico; and
                    (C) appropriate representatives of the government 
                of Puerto Rico.
            (2) Number; terms of service; pay and allowances.--The 
        Secretary shall determine the number, terms of service, and pay 
        and allowances of members of the Task Force appointed by the 
        Secretary.
    (c) Responsibilities.--The Task Force shall--
            (1) consider options to renovate or replace the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs hospital in Puerto Rico, including--
                    (A) the four options outlined in the report of the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs entitled ``Report to 
                Congress on Options for Medical Facility Improvements 
                in San Juan, Puerto Rico'' submitted pursuant to 
                section 821 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and 
                Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461; 
                120 Stat. 3448); and
                    (B) any option not specifically discussed in such 
                report that the Task Force determines is appropriate 
                for consideration, especially any such option involving 
                a public-private partnership to renovate or replace the 
                hospital; and
            (2) make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to 
        which of the options considered under paragraph (1) should be 
        implemented.
    (d) Contract Authority.--Upon the request of the Task Force, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into a contract with an 
appropriate entity to assist the Task Force in carrying out its 
responsibilities under this section.
    (e) Stakeholder Interests and Concerns.--In carrying out the 
responsibilities under this section, the Task Force shall ensure that 
the full range of stakeholder interests and concerns are considered.
    (f) Reports.--
            (1) Report to secretary.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date on which the Task Force is established under subsection 
        (a), the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs a report containing the findings and recommendations of 
        the Task Force under subsection (c).
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days after 
        receiving the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress such report together 
        with any recommendations of the Secretary.
    (g) Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate 30 days after the 
Secretary submits the report under subsection (f)(2).
                                 <all>