[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6832 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 6832


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 12, 2008

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility 
leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009, to 
 extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Programs 
Extension and Construction Authorization Act of 2008''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
 TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND MAJOR MEDICAL 
                            FACILITY LEASES

Sec. 101. Authorization for fiscal year 2009 major medical facility 
                            projects.
Sec. 102. Modification of authorization amounts for certain major 
                            medical facility construction projects 
                            previously authorized.
Sec. 103. Authorization of fiscal year 2009 major medical facility 
                            leases.
Sec. 104. Authorization of construction of major medical facility, 
                            Okaloosa County, Florida.
Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 106. Report on facilities administration.
Sec. 107. Annual report on outpatient clinics.
               TITLE II--EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES

Sec. 201. Repeal of sunset on inclusion of noninstitutional extended 
                            care services in definition of medical 
                            services.
Sec. 202. Extension of recovery audit authority.
Sec. 203. Permanent authority for provision of hospital care, medical 
                            services, and nursing home care to veterans 
                            who participated in certain chemical and 
                            biological testing conducted by the 
                            Department of Defense.
Sec. 204. Extension of expiring collections authorities.
Sec. 205. Extension of nursing home care.
Sec. 206. Extension of authority to carry out income verification.
Sec. 207. Permanent authority to establish research corporations.
Sec. 208. Extension of certain veterans home loan guaranty programs.
Sec. 209. Extension of requirement to submit annual report on the 
                            Special Committee on Post-Traumatic-Stress 
                            Disorder.
Sec. 210. Extension of requirement to submit annual report on the 
                            Committee on Care of Severely Chronically 
                            Mentally Ill Veterans.
Sec. 211. Permanent requirement for biannual report on Women's Advisory 
                            Committee.
Sec. 212. Permanent authority for Advisory Committee on Minority 
                            Veterans.
Sec. 213. Extension of temporary increase in maximum loan guaranty 
                            amount for certain housing loans guaranteed 
                            by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
                        TITLE III--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 301. Increase in cap of number of veterans participating in 
                            independent living program.
Sec. 302. Enhancement of refinancing of home loans by veterans.
Sec. 303. Technical amendments.

 TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND MAJOR MEDICAL 
                            FACILITY LEASES

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
              PROJECTS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major 
medical facility projects in fiscal year 2009 in the amount specified 
for each project:
            (1) Seismic corrections, Building 2, at the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto 
        Division Palo Alto, California, in an amount not to exceed 
        $54,000,000.
            (2) Construction of a polytrauma healthcare and 
        rehabilitation center at the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, in an amount not to exceed 
        $66,000,000.
            (3) Seismic corrections, Building 1, at the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an 
        amount not to exceed $225,900,000.

SEC. 102. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN MAJOR 
              MEDICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY 
              AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Modification of Major Medical Facility Authorizations.--Section 
801(a) of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information 
Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``$300,000,000'' and inserting 
                ``$625,000,000''; and
                    (B) by striking the second sentence; and
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$98,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$769,200,000''.
    (b) Modification of Authorization for Certain Major Medical 
Facility Construction Projects Previously Authorized in Connection With 
Capital Asset Realignment Initiative.--
            (1) Correction of patient privacy deficiencies at the 
        department of veterans affairs medical center, gainesville, 
        florida.--Paragraph (5) of section 802 of the Veterans 
        Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 
        (Public Law 109-461) is amended by striking ``$85,200,000'' and 
        inserting ``$136,700,000''.
            (2) Construction of a new medical center facility at the 
        department of veterans affairs medical center, las vegas, 
        nevada.--Paragraph (7) of such section is amended by striking 
        ``$406,000,000'' and inserting ``$600,400,000''.
            (3) Construction of a new outpatient clinic, lee county, 
        florida.--Paragraph (8) of such section is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``ambulatory'' and all that follows 
                through ``purchase,'' and inserting ``outpatient clinic 
                in''; and
                    (B) by striking ``$65,100,000'' and inserting 
                ``$131,800,000''.
            (4) Construction of a new medical center facility, orlando, 
        florida.--Paragraph (11) of such section is amended by striking 
        ``$377,700,000'' and inserting ``$656,800,000''.
            (5) Consolidation of campuses at the university drive and 
        h. john heinz iii divisions, pittsburgh, pennsylvania.--
        Paragraph (12) of such section is amended by striking 
        ``$189,205,000'' and inserting ``$295,600,000''.

SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
              LEASES.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major 
medical facility leases in fiscal year 2009 at the locations specified, 
and in an amount for each lease not to exceed the amount shown for such 
location:
            (1) For an outpatient clinic, Brandon, Florida, $4,326,000.
            (2) For an outpatient clinic, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 
        $3,995,000.
            (3) For an outpatient clinic, Eugene, Oregon, $5,826,000.
            (4) For the expansion of an outpatient clinic, Green Bay, 
        Wisconsin, $5,891,000.
            (5) For an outpatient clinic, Greenville, South Carolina, 
        $3,731,000.
            (6) For an outpatient clinic, Mansfield, Ohio, $2,212,000.
            (7) For an outpatient clinic, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, 
        $6,276,000.
            (8) For an outpatient clinic, Mesa, Arizona, $5,106,000.
            (9) For interim research space, Palo Alto, California, 
        $8,636,000.
            (10) For the expansion of an outpatient clinic, Savannah, 
        Georgia, $3,168,000.
            (11) For an outpatient clinic, Sun City, Arizona, 
        $2,295,000.
            (12) For a primary care annex, Tampa, Florida, $8,652,000.

SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY, 
              OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

    (a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a major medical facility project to construct a new medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Okaloosa County, 
Florida, in an amount not to exceed $54,475,000.
    (b) Facility Location.--The facility authorized to be constructed 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be built in accordance with option 2 
of the report to Congress dated June 26, 2007, required to be submitted 
under section 823 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and 
Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461; 120 Stat. 
3449).
    (c) Plan for Sharing of Inpatient and Outpatient Services.--Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan 
that sets forth terms and conditions for the sharing of inpatient and 
outpatient services at the medical facility authorized to be 
constructed pursuant to subsection (a).

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009 Major 
Medical Facility Projects.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for the 
Construction, Major Projects, account--
            (1) $345,900,000 for the projects authorized in section 
        101;
            (2) $1,694,295,000 for the increased amounts authorized for 
        projects whose authorizations are modified by section 102; and
            (3) $54,475,000 for the project authorized in section 104.
    (b) Authorization For Appropriations For Fiscal Year 2009 Major 
Medical Facility Leases.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for the Medical 
Facilities account, $60,114,000, for the leases authorized in section 
103.

SEC. 106. REPORT ON FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
updating the progress of the Secretary in complying with section 312A 
of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 107. ANNUAL REPORT ON OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

    (a) Annual Report Required.--Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section:
``Sec. 8119. Annual report on outpatient clinics
    ``(a) Annual Report Required.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
committees an annual report on community-based outpatient clinics and 
other outpatient clinics of the Department. The report shall be 
submitted each year not later than the date on which the budget for the 
next fiscal year is submitted to the Congress under section 1105 of 
title 31.
    ``(b) Contents of Report.--Each report required under subsection 
(a) shall include the following:
            ``(1) A list of each community-based outpatient clinic and 
        other outpatient clinic of the Department, and for each such 
        clinic, the type of clinic, location, size, number of health 
        professionals employed by the clinic, workload, whether the 
        clinic is leased or constructed and operated by the Secretary, 
        and the annual cost of operating the clinic.
            ``(2) A list of community-based outpatient clinics and 
        other outpatient clinics that the Secretary opened during the 
        fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which the report 
        is submitted and a list of clinics the Secretary proposes 
        opening during the fiscal year during which the report is 
        submitted and the subsequent fiscal year, together with the 
        cost of activating each such clinic and the information 
        required to be provided under paragraph (1) for each such 
        clinic and proposed clinic.
            ``(3) A list of proposed community-based outpatient clinics 
        and other outpatient clinics that are, as of the date of the 
        submission of the report, under review by the National Review 
        Panel and a list of possible locations for future clinics 
        identified in the Department's strategic planning process, 
        including any identified locations in rural and underserved 
        areas.
            ``(4) A prioritized list of sites of care identified by the 
        Secretary that the Secretary could establish without carrying 
        out construction or entering into a lease, including--
                    ``(A) any such sites that could be expanded by 
                hiring additional staff or allocating staff to Federal 
                facilities or facilities operating in collaboration 
                with the Federal Government; and
                    ``(B) any sites established, or able to be 
                established, under sections 8111 and 8153 of this 
                title.''.
    (b) Deadline for First Annual Report.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit the first report required under section 8119(a) of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
subchapter I the following new item:

``8119. Annual report on outpatient clinics.''.

               TITLE II--EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES

SEC. 201. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON INCLUSION OF NONINSTITUTIONAL EXTENDED 
              CARE SERVICES IN DEFINITION OF MEDICAL SERVICES.

    Section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (10); and
            (2) in paragraph (6)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
                subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following new subparagraph (E):
                    ``(E) Noninstitutional extended care services, 
                including alternatives to institutional extended care 
                that the Secretary may furnish directly, by contract, 
                or through provision of case management by another 
                provider or payer.''.

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF RECOVERY AUDIT AUTHORITY.

    Section 1703(d)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2008'' and inserting ``September 30, 2013''.

SEC. 203. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF HOSPITAL CARE, MEDICAL 
              SERVICES, AND NURSING HOME CARE TO VETERANS WHO 
              PARTICIPATED IN CERTAIN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TESTING 
              CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

    (a) Permanent Authority.--Subsection (e)(3) of section 1710 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a period; and
            (3) by striking subparagraph (D).
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (e)(1)(E) of such section is 
amended by striking ``paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting 
``paragraph (2)''.

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Health Care Copayments.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``September 30, 2008'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2010''.
    (b) Medical Care Cost Recovery.--Section 1729(a)(2)(E) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``October 1, 2008'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2010''.

SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF NURSING HOME CARE.

    Section 1710A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2008'' and inserting ``December 31, 2013''.

SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT INCOME VERIFICATION.

    Section 5317(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2008'' and inserting ``September 30, 2010''.

SEC. 207. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH RESEARCH CORPORATIONS.

    (a) Repeal.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
section 7368.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 73 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 7368.

SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN VETERANS HOME LOAN GUARANTY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Extension of Demonstration Project on Adjustable Rate 
Mortgages.--Section 3707(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2012''.
    (b) Extension of Demonstration Project on Hybrid Adjustable Rate 
Mortgages.--Section 3707A(a) of such title is amended by striking 
``2008'' and inserting ``2012''.

SEC. 209. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON THE 
              SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POST-TRAUMATIC-STRESS DISORDER.

    Section 110(e)(2) of the Veterans' Health Care Act of 1984 (38 
U.S.C. 1712A note; Public Law 98-528) is amended by striking ``through 
2008'' and inserting ``through 2012''.

SEC. 210. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON THE 
              COMMITTEE ON CARE OF SEVERELY CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL 
              VETERANS.

    Section 7321(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``through 2008'' and inserting ``through 2012''.

SEC. 211. PERMANENT REQUIREMENT FOR BIANNUAL REPORT ON WOMEN'S ADVISORY 
              COMMITTEE.

    Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``through 2008''.

SEC. 212. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY 
              VETERANS.

    Section 544 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
subsection (e).

SEC. 213. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MAXIMUM LOAN GUARANTY 
              AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN HOUSING LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE 
              SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 2201 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 
(Public Law 110-289) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2008'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2011''.

                        TITLE III--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 301. INCREASE IN CAP OF NUMBER OF VETERANS PARTICIPATING IN 
              INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM.

    Section 3120(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2,500 veterans'' and inserting ``2,600 veterans''.

SEC. 302. ENHANCEMENT OF REFINANCING OF HOME LOANS BY VETERANS.

    (a) Inclusion of Refinancing Loans Among Loans Subject to Guaranty 
Maximum.--Section 3703(a)(1)(A)(i)(IV) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ``(5),'' after ``(3),''.
    (b) Increase in Maximum Percentage of Loan To-Value of Refinancing 
Loans Subject to Guaranty.--Section 3710(b)(8) of such title is amended 
by striking ``90 percent'' and inserting ``100 percent''.

SEC. 303. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Title 38.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 1712A--
                    (A) by striking subsection (g);
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as 
                subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and
                    (C) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``(including a Resource Center designated 
                under subsection (h)(3)(A) of this section)'';
            (2) in section 2065(b)(3)(C), by striking ``)'';
            (3) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
        36, by striking the item relating to section 3684A and 
        inserting the following new item:

``3684A. Procedures relating to computer matching program.'';
            (4) in section 4110(c)(1), by striking ``15'' and inserting 
        ``16'';
            (5) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
        51, by striking the item relating to section 5121 and inserting 
        the following new item:

``5121. Payment of certain accrued benefits upon death of a 
                            beneficiary.'';
            (6) in section 7458(b)(2), by striking ``pro rated'' and 
        inserting ``pro-rated'';
            (7) in section 8117(a)(1), by striking ``such such'' and 
        inserting ``such''; and
            (8) in each of sections 1708(d), 7314(f), 7320(j)(2), 
        7325(i)(2), and 7328(i)(2), by striking ``medical care 
        account'' and inserting ``medical services account''.
    (b) Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act 
of 2006.--Section 807(e) of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and 
Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461) is amended by 
striking ``Medical Care'' each place it appears and inserting ``Medical 
Facilities''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 11, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.