[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2029 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 98
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2029
[Report No. 114-57]
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 4, 2015
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations
May 21, 2015
Reported by Mr. Kirk, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums
are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for military construction, the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2016, and for other purposes, namely:
<DELETED>TITLE I</DELETED>
<DELETED>DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Army</DELETED>
<DELETED> For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military installations,
facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by
law, including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other
personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and
for construction and operation of facilities in support of the
functions of the Commander in Chief, $663,245,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2020: Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed
$109,245,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect
and engineer services, and host nation support, as authorized by law,
unless the Secretary of the Army determines that additional obligations
are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the
reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps</DELETED>
<DELETED> For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations,
facilities, and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps as
currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services necessary
for the purposes of this appropriation, $1,349,678,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That of this amount, not
to exceed $91,649,000 shall be available for study, planning, design,
and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations are
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the
reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Air Force</DELETED>
<DELETED> For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military installations,
facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized
by law, $1,237,055,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:
Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $89,164,000 shall be
available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Air Force
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Defense-Wide</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and
real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense
(other than the military departments), as currently authorized by law,
$1,931,456,000 (reduced by $30,000,000) (increased by $30,000,000), to
remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That such amounts
of this appropriation as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense
may be transferred to such appropriations of the Department of Defense
available for military construction or family housing as the Secretary
may designate, to be merged with and to be available for the same
purposes, and for the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to
which transferred: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated,
not to exceed $160,404,000 (increased by $30,000,000) shall be
available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided
further, That none of the funds made available by this title may be
used to construct any fiscal year 2016 special operations command
military construction projects until the Commander of the Special
Operations Command has certified in writing and submits to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report that
includes the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) A definition of ``Special Operations Forces-
peculiar'' as it applies to the use of United States Special
Operations Command (USSOCOM) funding to meet military
construction requirements for facilities that provide
healthcare services or support fitness activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) A description of the decision-making process
used to determine whether a military construction project that
provides healthcare facilities or supports fitness activities
should be funded by the USSOCOM or the military
departments.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Provides a schematic of the human performance
centers by installation, a listing of the planned equipment
related to training and resiliency and a description of the
mission-critical benefit of each item, an explanation of why
the unique physical and psychological health services
incorporated could not be provided by the Defense Health Agency
or military services, and a planned staffing
breakdown.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Army National Guard</DELETED>
<DELETED> For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $167,437,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed
$20,337,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Director of the Army National Guard determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and
the reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Air National Guard</DELETED>
<DELETED> For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
Air National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $138,738,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed
$5,104,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Director of the Air National Guard determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and
the reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Army Reserve</DELETED>
<DELETED> For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States
Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $104,295,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That of the
amount appropriated, not to exceed $9,318,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as
authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve determines that
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the
determination and the reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Navy Reserve</DELETED>
<DELETED> For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $36,078,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed
$2,208,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations are
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the
reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Air Force Reserve</DELETED>
<DELETED> For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
Air Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $65,021,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That of the
amount appropriated, not to exceed $13,400,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as
authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force Reserve determines
that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
the determination and the reasons therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>North Atlantic Treaty Organization</DELETED>
<DELETED>Security Investment Program</DELETED>
<DELETED> For the United States share of the cost of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for the
acquisition and construction of military facilities and installations
(including international military headquarters) and for related
expenses for the collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area
as authorized by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and
Military Construction Authorization Acts, $150,000,000, to remain
available until expended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Construction, Army</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the Army for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion,
extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $99,695,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2020.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation
and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction,
principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized
by law, $393,511,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine
Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law,
$16,541,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine
Corps</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine
Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing,
minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance
premiums, as authorized by law, $353,036,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Construction, Air Force</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion,
extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $160,498,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2020.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums,
as authorized by law, $331,232,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-
Wide</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses of family housing for the activities and
agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military
departments) for operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor
construction, as authorized by law, $58,668,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Department of Defense Base Closure Account</DELETED>
<DELETED> For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), $251,334,000, to remain
available until expended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Administrative Provisions</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 101. None of the funds made available in this title
shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract
for construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed
within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval
in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons
therefor.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 102. Funds made available in this title for
construction shall be available for hire of passenger motor
vehicles.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 103. Funds made available in this title for
construction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, for the construction of
access roads as authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States
Code, when projects authorized therein are certified as important to
the national defense by the Secretary of Defense.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 104. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used to begin construction of new bases in the United States for
which specific appropriations have not been made.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 105. None of the funds made available in this title
shall be used for purchase of land or land easements in excess of 100
percent of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or
the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except: (1) where there is a
determination of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by
the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General; (3) where
the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4) as otherwise
determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public
interest.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 106. None of the funds made available in this title
shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site preparation;
or (3) install utilities for any family housing, except housing for
which funds have been made available in annual Acts making
appropriations for military construction.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 107. None of the funds made available in this title
for minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity
from one base or installation to another, without prior notification to
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 108. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used for the procurement of steel for any construction project
or activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and
manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such
steel procurement.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department
of Defense for military construction or family housing during the
current fiscal year may be used to pay real property taxes in any
foreign nation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 110. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used to initiate a new installation overseas without prior
notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 111. None of the funds made available in this title
may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated by the
Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in Japan,
in any North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country, or in
countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded
to United States firms or United States firms in joint venture with
host nation firms.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 112. None of the funds made available in this title
for military construction in the United States territories and
possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries
bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated
by the Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor:
Provided, That this section shall not be applicable to contract awards
for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a United States
contractor exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a
foreign contractor by greater than 20 percent: Provided further, That
this section shall not apply to contract awards for military
construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and
responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the
appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, including the
Committees on Appropriations, of plans and scope of any proposed
military exercise involving United States personnel 30 days prior to
its occurring, if amounts expended for construction, either temporary
or permanent, are anticipated to exceed $100,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction in prior years shall be available for construction
authorized for each such military department by the authorizations
enacted into law during the current session of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 115. For military construction or family housing
projects that are being completed with funds otherwise expired or
lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used to pay the
cost of associated supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and
design on those projects and on subsequent claims, if any.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
funds made available to a military department or defense agency for the
construction of military projects may be obligated for a military
construction project or contract, or for any portion of such a project
or contract, at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after
the fiscal year for which funds for such project were made available,
if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from funds
available for military construction projects; and (2) do not exceed the
amount appropriated for such project, plus any amount by which the cost
of such project is increased pursuant to law.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 117. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14
days for a notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to
sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, such
additional amounts as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may
be transferred to: (1) the Department of Defense Family Housing
Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction in ``Family
Housing'' accounts, to be merged with and to be available for the same
purposes and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated
directly to the Fund; or (2) the Department of Defense Military
Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for
construction of military unaccompanied housing in ``Military
Construction'' accounts, to be merged with and to be available for the
same purposes and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated
directly to the Fund: Provided, That appropriations made available to
the Funds shall be available to cover the costs, as defined in section
502(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan
guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to the
provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States
Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving
military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting
facilities: Provided further, That the transfer authority in this
provision shall also be applicable to amounts appropriated for
construction in ``Family Housing'' accounts in section 2002 of Public
Law 112-10.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 118. In addition to any other transfer authority
available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be transferred from
the Department of Defense Base Closure Account to the fund established
by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan
Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated
with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 42 U.S.C.
3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall be merged with and be
available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the
fund to which transferred.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
funds made available in this title for operation and maintenance of
family housing shall be the exclusive source of funds for repair and
maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag
officer quarters: Provided, That not more than $15,000 per unit may be
spent annually for the maintenance and repair of any general or flag
officer quarters without 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a
notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480
and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, except that an after-the-
fact notification shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded
solely due to costs associated with environmental remediation that
could not be reasonably anticipated at the time of the budget
submission.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island
Improvement Account established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of
title 10, United States Code, are appropriated and shall be available
until expended for the purposes specified in subsection (i)(1) of such
section or until transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 121. During the 5-year period after appropriations
available in this Act to the Department of Defense for military
construction and family housing operation and maintenance and
construction have expired for obligation, upon a determination that
such appropriations will not be necessary for the liquidation of
obligations or for making authorized adjustments to such appropriations
for obligations incurred during the period of availability of such
appropriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations may be
transferred into the appropriation ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations,
Construction, Defense'', to be merged with and to be available for the
same time period and for the same purposes as the appropriation to
which transferred.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 122. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none
of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Secretary of
the Army to relocate a unit in the Army that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) performs a testing mission or function that is
not performed by any other unit in the Army and is specifically
stipulated in title 10, United States Code; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) is located at a military installation at which
the total number of civilian employees of the Department of the
Army and Army contractor personnel employed exceeds 10 percent
of the total number of members of the regular and reserve
components of the Army assigned to the installation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if the
Secretary of the Army certifies to the congressional defense committees
that in proposing the relocation of the unit of the Army, the Secretary
complied with Army Regulation 5-10 relating to the policy, procedures,
and responsibilities for Army stationing actions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 123. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made
available in an account funded under the headings in this title may be
transferred among projects and activities within the account in
accordance with the reprogramming guidelines for military construction
and family housing construction contained in Department of Defense
Financial Management Regulation 7000.14-R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, of
February 2009, as in effect on the date of enactment of this
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 124. None of the funds made available in this title
may be obligated or expended for planning and design and construction
of projects at Arlington National Cemetery.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(rescission of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 125. Of the unobligated balances available for
``Military Construction, Army'', from prior appropriation Acts (other
than appropriations designated by law as being for contingency
operations directly related to the global war on terrorism or as an
emergency requirement), $96,000,000 are hereby rescinded.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (rescission of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 126. Of the unobligated balances available for
``Military Construction, Air Force'', from prior appropriation Acts
(other than appropriations designated by law as being for contingency
operations directly related to the global war on terrorism or as an
emergency requirement), $52,600,000 are hereby rescinded.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(rescission of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 127. Of the unobligated balances available for
``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', from prior appropriation Acts
(other than appropriations designated by law as being for contingency
operations directly related to the global war on terrorism or as an
emergency requirement), $134,000,000 are hereby rescinded.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(rescission of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 128. Of the unobligated balances made available in
prior appropriation Acts for the fund established in section 1013(d) of
the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 3374) (other than appropriations designated by law as being for
contingency operations directly related to the global war on terrorism
or as an emergency requirement), $103,918,000 are hereby
rescinded.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 129. For the purposes of this Act, the term
``congressional defense committees'' means the Committees on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs of the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 130. None of the funds made available by this title
may be used to carry out the closure or realignment of Lajes Air Force
Base, Azores, and, unless and until the Secretary of Defense certifies
in writing to the congressional defense committees that, based on
operational requirements, Lajes Air Force Base is not an optimal
location for the Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex, none of the funds
made available by this title may be used to construct phase two of the
Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex Consolidation at Royal Air Force
Croughton, United Kingdom.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 131. Notwithstanding section 124, for an additional
amount for ``Military Construction, Army'' in this title, $30,000,000
is provided for advances to the Federal Highway Administration,
Department of Transportation, for construction of access roads as
authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE II</DELETED>
<DELETED>DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS</DELETED>
<DELETED>Veterans Benefits Administration</DELETED>
<DELETED>compensation and pensions</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf
of veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as
authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61
of title 38, United States Code; pension benefits to or on behalf of
veterans as authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38,
United States Code; and burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement
Program for Survivors, emergency and other officers' retirement pay,
adjusted-service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due on
commercial life insurance policies guaranteed under the provisions of
title IV of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et
seq.) and for other benefits as authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977,
and 2106, and chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United
States Code, $166,271,436,000, to remain available until expended, of
which $87,146,761,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016:
Provided, That not to exceed $15,562,000 of the amount made available
for fiscal year 2016 and $16,021,000 of the amount made available for
fiscal year 2017 under this heading shall be reimbursed to ``General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', and
``Information Technology Systems'' for necessary expenses in
implementing the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38,
United States Code, the funding source for which is specifically
provided as the ``Compensation and Pensions'' appropriation: Provided
further, That such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying
patient basis, shall be reimbursed to ``Medical Care Collections Fund''
to augment the funding of individual medical facilities for nursing
home care provided to pensioners as authorized.</DELETED>
<DELETED>readjustment benefits</DELETED>
<DELETED> For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 21, 30,
31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United
States Code, $32,088,826,000, to remain available until expended, of
which $16,743,904,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016:
Provided, That expenses for rehabilitation program services and
assistance which the Secretary is authorized to provide under
subsection (a) of section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, other
than under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that subsection, shall
be charged to this account.</DELETED>
<DELETED>veterans insurance and indemnities</DELETED>
<DELETED> For military and naval insurance, national service life
insurance, servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans
insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by
chapters 19 and 21, title 38, United States Code, $169,080,000, to
remain available until expended, of which $91,920,000 shall become
available on October 1, 2016.</DELETED>
<DELETED>veterans housing benefit program fund</DELETED>
<DELETED> For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as
may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by subchapters
I through III of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code: Provided,
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
Provided further, That during fiscal year 2016, within the resources
available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans
are authorized for specially adapted housing loans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $164,558,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>vocational rehabilitation loans program account</DELETED>
<DELETED> For the cost of direct loans, $31,000, as authorized by
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs,
including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in
section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further,
That funds made available under this heading are available to subsidize
gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to
exceed $2,952,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct loan program, $367,000, which may be paid to the
appropriation for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits
Administration''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>native american veteran housing loan program account</DELETED>
<DELETED> For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan
program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United
States Code, $1,134,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Veterans Health Administration</DELETED>
<DELETED>medical services</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by
law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of
the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in section
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and treatment
in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and
including medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food
services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees hired under
title 38, United States Code, aid to State homes as authorized by
section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, assistance and support
services for caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38,
United States Code, loan repayments authorized by section 604 of the
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law
111-163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), and hospital care and
medical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States
Code; $969,554,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously
appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1,
2015; and, in addition, $51,673,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall
become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available until
September 30, 2017: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a priority
for the provision of medical treatment for veterans who have service-
connected disabilities, lower income, or have special needs: Provided
further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provision of
basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment priority groups 1
through 6: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing
of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities to
enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions based on
requirements established by the Secretary: Provided further, That the
implementation of the program described in the previous proviso shall
incur no additional cost to the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>medical support and compliance</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses in the administration of the
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and
research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in
support of capital policy activities; and administrative and legal
expenses of the Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed
the Department as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651
et seq.), $6,524,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become available
on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available until September 30,
2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>medical facilities</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation
of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other
necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for
administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project
management, real property acquisition and disposition, construction,
and renovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of
the Department; for oversight, engineering, and architectural
activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, altering,
improving, or providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes
under the jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise provided for,
either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees and purchase
of materials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services,
$5,074,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become available on October
1, 2016, and shall remain available until September 30, 2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>medical and prosthetic research</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical
and prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter 73 of
title 38, United States Code, $621,813,000, plus reimbursements, shall
remain available until September 30, 2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>National Cemetery Administration</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery
Administration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise provided
for, including uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as
authorized by law; purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for use in
cemeterial operations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair,
alteration or improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the
National Cemetery Administration, $266,220,000, of which not to exceed
$26,600,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Departmental Administration</DELETED>
<DELETED>general administration</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary operating expenses of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including administrative
expenses in support of Department-wide capital planning, management and
policy activities, uniforms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed
$25,000 for official reception and representation expenses; hire of
passenger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services
Administration for security guard services, $336,659,000 (reduced by
$8,000,000) (increased by $8,000,000) (reduced by $500,000) (increased
by $500,000) (reduced by $2,000,000) (reduced by $50,000) (increased by
$50,000) (reduced by $3,200,000), of which not to exceed $10,100,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided, That funds
provided under this heading may be transferred to ``General Operating
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>board of veterans appeals</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans
Appeals, $107,884,000 (increased by $2,000,000), of which not to exceed
$10,788,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>general operating expenses, veterans benefits
administration</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of passenger
motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General Services Administration
for security guard services, and reimbursement of the Department of
Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, $2,697,734,000 (reduced
by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)
(increased by $5,000,000): Provided, That expenses for services and
assistance authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of
section 3104(a) of title 38, United States Code, that the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs determines are necessary to enable entitled veterans:
(1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and to obtain
and maintain suitable employment; or (2) to achieve maximum
independence in daily living, shall be charged to this account:
Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading,
not to exceed $134,800,000 shall remain available until September 30,
2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>information technology systems</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses for information technology systems
and telecommunications support, including developmental information
systems and operational information systems; for pay and associated
costs; and for the capital asset acquisition of information technology
systems, including management and related contractual costs of said
acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with operations
authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code,
$4,038,363,000 (increased by $3,200,000), plus reimbursements:
Provided, That $1,115,757,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of
which not to exceed $34,800,000 shall remain available until September
30, 2017: Provided further, That $2,417,863,000 shall be for
operations and maintenance, of which not to exceed $167,900,000 shall
remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided further, That
$504,743,000 shall be for information technology systems development,
modernization, and enhancement, and shall remain available until
September 30, 2017: Provided further, That amounts made available for
information technology systems development, modernization, and
enhancement may not be obligated or expended until the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs or the Chief Information Officer of the Department of
Veterans Affairs submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress a certification of the amounts, in parts or in full,
to be obligated and expended for each development project: Provided
further, That amounts made available for salaries and expenses,
operations and maintenance, and information technology systems
development, modernization, and enhancement may be transferred among
the three subaccounts after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests
from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued: Provided
further, That amounts made available for the ``Information Technology
Systems'' account for development, modernization, and enhancement may
be transferred among projects or to newly defined projects: Provided
further, That no project may be increased or decreased by more than
$1,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to make the transfer and an
approval is issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has
elapsed: Provided further, That funds under this heading may be used
by the Interagency Program Office through the Department of Veterans
Affairs to define data standards, code sets, and value sets used to
enable interoperability: Provided further, That of the funds made
available for information technology systems development,
modernization, and enhancement for VistA Evolution, not more than 25
percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress, and such Committees approve, a report that describes: (1) the
status of and changes to the VistA Evolution program plan dated March
24, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the ``Plan''), the VistA 4 product
roadmap dated February 26, 2015 (``Roadmap''), and the VistA 4
Incremental Life Cycle Cost Estimate, dated October 26, 2014; (2) any
changes to the scope or functionality of projects within the VistA
Evolution program as established in the Plan; (3) actual program costs
incurred to date; (4) progress in meeting the schedule milestones that
have been established in the Plan; (5) a Project Management
Accountability System (PMAS) Dashboard Progress report that identifies
each VistA Evolution project being tracked through PMAS, what
functionality it is intended to provide, and what evaluation scores it
has received throughout development; (6) the definition being used for
interoperability between the electronic health record systems of the
Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
metrics to measure the extent of interoperability, the milestones and
timeline associated with achieving interoperability, and the baseline
measurements associated with interoperability; (7) progress toward
developing and implementing all components and levels of
interoperability, including semantic interoperability; (8) the change
management tools in place to facilitate the implementation of VistA
Evolution and interoperability; and (9) any changes to the governance
structure for the VistA Evolution program and its chain of
decisionmaking authority: Provided further, That the funds made
available under this heading for information technology systems
development, modernization, and enhancement, shall be for the projects,
and in the amounts, specified under this heading in the report
accompanying this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>office of inspector general</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General,
to include information technology, in carrying out the provisions of
the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), $131,766,000, of
which not to exceed $12,600,000 shall remain available until September
30, 2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED>construction, major projects</DELETED>
<DELETED> For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any
of the facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction
or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the
purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title
38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning,
architectural and engineering services, construction management
services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated
with equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of
claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction
costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is
more than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38,
United States Code, or where funds for a project were made available in
a previous major project appropriation, $561,800,000, of which
$527,800,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020, and of
which $34,000,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided,
That except for advance planning activities, including needs
assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other
capital asset management related activities, including portfolio
development and management activities, and investment strategy studies
funded through the advance planning fund and the planning and design
activities funded through the design fund, including needs assessments
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and salaries and
associated costs of the resident engineers who oversee those capital
investments funded through this account, and funds provided for the
purchase of land for the National Cemetery Administration through the
land acquisition line item, none of the funds made available under this
heading shall be used for any project which has not been approved by
the Congress in the budgetary process: Provided further, That funds
made available under this heading for fiscal year 2016, for each
approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a
construction documents contract by September 30, 2016; and (2) by the
awarding of a construction contract by September 30, 2017: Provided
further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
written report on any approved major construction project for which
obligations are not incurred within the time limitations established
above.</DELETED>
<DELETED>construction, minor projects</DELETED>
<DELETED> For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any
of the facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction
or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including
planning and assessments of needs which may lead to capital
investments, architectural and engineering services, maintenance or
guarantee period services costs associated with equipment guarantees
provided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite
utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and site
acquisition, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316,
2404, 2406, and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, not
otherwise provided for, where the estimated cost of a project is equal
to or less than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title
38, United States Code, $406,200,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2020, along with unobligated balances of previous
``Construction, Minor Projects'' appropriations which are hereby made
available for any project where the estimated cost is equal to or less
than the amount set forth in such section: Provided, That funds made
available under this heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the
nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the
Department which are necessary because of loss or damage caused by any
natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2) temporary measures necessary
to prevent or to minimize further loss by such causes.</DELETED>
<DELETED>grants for construction of state extended care
facilities</DELETED>
<DELETED> For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State
nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel, modify, or
alter existing hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary facilities in
State homes, for furnishing care to veterans as authorized by sections
8131 through 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $80,000,000, to
remain available until expended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>grants for construction of veterans cemeteries</DELETED>
<DELETED> For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in
establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as authorized
by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, $45,000,000, to remain
available until expended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Administrative Provisions</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2016 for
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' may be transferred as necessary
to any other of the mentioned appropriations: Provided, That before a
transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress the authority to make the transfer and such Committees issue
an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has
elapsed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 202. Amounts made available for the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016, in this or any other Act, under
the ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and
``Medical Facilities'' accounts may be transferred among the accounts:
Provided, That any transfers between the ``Medical Services'' and
``Medical Support and Compliance'' accounts of 1 percent or less of the
total amount appropriated to the account in this or any other Act may
take place subject to notification from the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
of the amount and purpose of the transfer: Provided further, That any
transfers between the ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical Support and
Compliance'' accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the
cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may take place only after the
Secretary requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is
issued: Provided further, That any transfers to or from the ``Medical
Facilities'' account may take place only after the Secretary requests
from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 203. Appropriations available in this title for
salaries and expenses shall be available for services authorized by
section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor
vehicles; lease of a facility or land or both; and uniforms or
allowances therefore, as authorized by sections 5901 through 5902 of
title 5, United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the
appropriations for ``Construction, Major Projects'', and
``Construction, Minor Projects'') shall be available for the purchase
of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or
home.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be
available for hospitalization or examination of any persons (except
beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or examination under the
laws providing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving such
treatment under sections 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States
Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of the
cost of such hospitalization or examination is made to the ``Medical
Services'' account at such rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 206. Appropriations available in this title for
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' shall be available for payment
of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded by law
against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter
of fiscal year 2015.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall be
available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior year
appropriations accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 3334, and
3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, except that if such
obligations are from trust fund accounts they shall be payable only
from ``Compensation and Pensions''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
during fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from
the National Service Life Insurance Fund under section 1920 of title
38, United States Code, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund under
section 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United States
Government Life Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United
States Code, reimburse the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans
Benefits Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems''
accounts for the cost of administration of the insurance programs
financed through those accounts: Provided, That reimbursement shall be
made only from the surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance
program during fiscal year 2016 that are available for dividends in
that program after claims have been paid and actuarially determined
reserves have been set aside: Provided further, That if the cost of
administration of such an insurance program exceeds the amount of
surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement shall be
made only to the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided further,
That the Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for
fiscal year 2016 which is properly allocable to the provision of each
such insurance program and to the provision of any total disability
income insurance included in that insurance program.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease
proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account
during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services,
may be obligated during the fiscal year in which the proceeds are
received.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for
salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be available to
reimburse the Office of Resolution Management of the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint
Adjudication under section 319 of title 38, United States Code, for all
services provided at rates which will recover actual costs but not to
exceed $43,700,000 for the Office of Resolution Management and
$3,400,000 for the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint
Adjudication: Provided, That payments may be made in advance for
services to be furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further,
That amounts received shall be credited to the ``General
Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems'' accounts for
use by the office that provided the service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 211. No appropriations in this title shall be
available to enter into any new lease of real property if the estimated
annual rental cost is more than $1,000,000, unless the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs submits a request to enter into such lease to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress and (1) the
Committees approve the request; or (2) the Committees have not rejected
the request before the date that is 15 days after the date on which the
request is received.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 212. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs
shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical
services provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in
section 1729(a)(2) of such title, unless that person has disclosed to
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may
require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement information for
purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That the Secretary
may recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the United
States, the reasonable charges for such care or services from any
person who does not make such disclosure as required: Provided
further, That any amounts so recovered for care or services provided in
a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal
year in which amounts are received.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 213. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activities
(including disposal) may be deposited into the ``Construction, Major
Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts and be used
for construction (including site acquisition and disposition),
alterations, and improvements of any medical facility under the
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such
sums as realized are in addition to the amount provided for in
``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor
Projects''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 214. Amounts made available under ``Medical
Services'' are available--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) for furnishing recreational facilities,
supplies, and equipment; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and
other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for
beneficiaries receiving care in the Department.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 215. Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United
States Code, may be transferred to ``Medical Services'', to remain
available until expended for the purposes of that account.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 216. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter
into agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are
party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health
Service, and Indian tribes and tribal organizations serving rural
Alaska which have entered into contracts with the Indian Health Service
under the Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act, to
provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care. The
Secretary shall require participating veterans and facilities to comply
with all appropriate rules and regulations, as established by the
Secretary. The term ``rural Alaska'' shall mean those lands sited
within the external boundaries of the Alaska Native regions specified
in sections 7(a)(1)-(4) and (7)-(12) of the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1606), and those lands within the
Alaska Native regions specified in sections 7(a)(5) and 7(a)(6) of the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1606), which
are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage, the
Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the
Matanuska Susitna Borough.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 217. Such sums as may be deposited to the Department
of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 of
title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Construction,
Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts, to
remain available until expended for the purposes of these
accounts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 218. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used to implement any policy prohibiting the Directors of the
Veterans Integrated Service Networks from conducting outreach or
marketing to enroll new veterans within their respective
Networks.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 219. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
quarterly report on the financial status of the Veterans Health
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 220. Amounts made available under the ``Medical
Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'',
``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'',
``General Administration'', and ``National Cemetery Administration''
accounts for fiscal year 2016 may be transferred to or from the
``Information Technology Systems'' account: Provided, That such
transfers may not result in a more than 10 percent aggregate increase
in the total amount made available by this Act for the ``Information
Technology Systems'' account: Provided further, That before a transfer
may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 221. Of the amounts made available to the Department
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016, in this or any other Act,
under the ``Medical Facilities'' account for nonrecurring maintenance,
not more than 20 percent of the funds made available shall be obligated
during the last 2 months of that fiscal year: Provided, That the
Secretary may waive this requirement after providing written notice to
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 222. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for ``Medical Services'',
``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'',
``Construction, Minor Projects'', and ``Information Technology
Systems'', up to $266,303,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law
111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of the facilities
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by
section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That
additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this
section to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That
section 223 of Title II of Division I of Public Law 113-235 is
repealed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 223. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department
of Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2016, for
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'', up to $265,675,000, plus reimbursements, may be
transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
(Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of
the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat.
4500): Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from
accounts designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense-
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon
written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 224. Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United
States Code, for healthcare provided at facilities designated as
combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
(Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for
transfer to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
(Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for operations of the
facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat.
4500).</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 225. Of the amounts available in this title for
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'', a minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD-
VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d)
of title 38, United States Code, to remain available until expended,
for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States
Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including rescissions of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 226. (a) Of the funds appropriated in title II of
division I of Public Law 113-235, the following amounts which became
available on October 1, 2015, are hereby rescinded from the following
accounts in the amounts specified:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical
Services'', $1,400,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical
Support and Compliance'', $100,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical
Facilities'', $250,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) In addition to amounts provided elsewhere in this Act,
an additional amount is appropriated to the following accounts in the
amounts specified to remain available until September 30,
2017:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical
Services'', $1,400,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical
Support and Compliance'', $100,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical
Facilities'', $250,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of all bid
savings for a major construction project within 15 days of being
identified that total at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the
programmed amount of the project, whichever is less.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 228. None of the funds made available for
``Construction, Major Projects'' may be used for a project in excess of
the scope specified for that project in the original justification data
provided to the Congress as part of the request for appropriations
unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives approval from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 229. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
quarterly report that contains the following information from each
Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office: (1) the average time
to complete a disability compensation claim; (2) the number of claims
pending more than 125 days; (3) error rates; (4) the number of claims
personnel; (5) any corrective action taken within the quarter to
address poor performance; (6) training programs undertaken; (7) the
number and results of Quality Review Team audits; and (8) the number of
informal claims that are unprocessed: Provided, That each quarterly
report shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the end of the
respective quarter.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
reprogramming request if at any point during fiscal year 2016 the
funding allocated for a medical care program that is not estimated
through the Enrollee Health Care Projection Model is adjusted by more
than $25,000,000 from the allocation shown in the corresponding
congressional budget justification. Amounts may only be reprogrammed as
requested under this section if: (1) the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress approve the request; or (2) the Committees
have not rejected the request before the date that is 15 days after the
date on which the request is received.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 231. Of the funds provided to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for ``Medical Services'' and
``Medical Support and Compliance'', a maximum of $5,000,000 may be
obligated from the ``Medical Services'' account and a maximum of
$154,596,000 may be obligated from the ``Medical Support and
Compliance'' account for the VistA Evolution and electronic health
record interoperability projects: Provided, That funds in addition to
these amounts may be obligated for the VistA Evolution and electronic
health record interoperability projects upon written notification by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 232. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide
written notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes which result in the
transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalents from one organizational
unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs to another.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(rescission of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 233. (a) There is hereby rescinded an aggregate
amount of $101,000,000 from the total budget authority provided for
fiscal year 2016 for discretionary accounts of the Department of
Veterans Affairs in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) this Act; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) any advance appropriation for fiscal year 2016
in prior appropriation Acts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report specifying the
account and amount of each rescission not later than 20 days following
enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 234. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide
on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress notification of any single national outreach and awareness
marketing campaign in which obligations exceed $2,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 235. None of the funds available to the Department
of Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may be used to replace
the current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Networks
select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and
equipment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 236. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon
determination that such action is necessary to address needs of the
Veterans Health Administration, may transfer to the ``Medical
Services'' account any discretionary appropriations made available for
fiscal year 2016 in this title (except appropriations made to the
``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''
account) or any discretionary unobligated balances within the
Department of Veterans Affairs, including those appropriated for fiscal
year 2016, that were provided in advance by appropriations Acts:
Provided, That transfers shall be made only with the approval of the
Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That the transfer
authority provided in this section is in addition to any other transfer
authority provided by law: Provided further, That no amounts may be
transferred from amounts that were designated by Congress as an
emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget
or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985:
Provided further, That such authority to transfer may not be used
unless for higher priority items, based on emergent healthcare
requirements, than those for which originally appropriated and in no
case where the item for which funds are requested has been denied by
Congress: Provided further, That, upon determination that all or part
of the funds transferred from an appropriation are not necessary, such
amounts may be transferred back to that appropriation and shall be
available for the same purposes as originally appropriated: Provided
further, That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and receive
approval of that request.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 237. Amounts made available for the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016, under the ``Board of Veterans
Appeals'' and the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits
Administration'' accounts may be transferred between such accounts:
Provided, That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and receive
approval from such Committees for such request.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(rescission of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 238. Of the unobligated balances available within
the ``DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund'', $15,000,000 are
hereby rescinded.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 239. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not
reprogram funds among major construction projects or programs if such
instance of reprogramming will exceed $5,000,000, unless such
reprogramming is approved by the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED>(rescissions of funds)</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 240. Of the discretionary funds made available in
Public Law 113-235 for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal
year 2016, $197,923,000 are rescinded from ``Medical Services'',
$42,272,000 are rescinded from ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and
$15,353,000 are rescinded from ``Medical Facilities''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 241. The amounts otherwise made available by this
Act for the following accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs
are hereby reduced by the following amounts:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) ``Veterans Benefits Administration--Veterans
Housing Benefit Program Fund'', $3,098,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) ``Veterans Benefits Administration--Vocational
Rehabilitation Loans Program Account'', $10,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) ``Veterans Benefits Administration--Native
American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account'',
$25,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) ``Veterans Health Administration--Medical and
Prosthetic Research'', $3,109,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) ``National Cemetery Administration'',
$1,654,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) ``Departmental Administration--General
Administration'', $3,877,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) ``Departmental Administration--Board of
Veterans Appeals'', $786,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) ``Departmental Administration--General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'',
$36,568,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) ``Departmental Administration--Information
Technology Systems'', $7,958,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) ``Departmental Administration--Office of
Inspector General'', $993,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE III</DELETED>
<DELETED>RELATED AGENCIES</DELETED>
<DELETED>American Battle Monuments Commission</DELETED>
<DELETED>salaries and expenses</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the
American Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition of land
or interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and repair of
uniforms for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments outside of
the United States and its territories and possessions; rent of office
and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one
replacement basis only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to
exceed $7,500 for official reception and representation expenses; and
insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when
required by law of such countries, $75,100,000, to remain available
until expended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>foreign currency fluctuations account</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the
American Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be necessary, to
remain available until expended, for purposes authorized by section
2109 of title 36, United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED>United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims</DELETED>
<DELETED>salaries and expenses</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses for the operation of the United
States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by sections
7251 through 7299 of title 38, United States Code, $32,141,000:
Provided, That $2,500,000 shall be available for the purpose of
providing financial assistance as described, and in accordance with the
process and reporting procedures set forth, under this heading in
Public Law 102-229.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Department of Defense--Civil</DELETED>
<DELETED>Cemeterial Expenses, Army</DELETED>
<DELETED>salaries and expenses</DELETED>
<DELETED> For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and
improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's
Home National Cemetery, including the purchase or lease of passenger
motor vehicles for replacement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to
exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation expenses,
$70,800,000, of which not to exceed $5,000,000 shall remain available
until September 30, 2017. In addition, such sums as may be necessary
for parking maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from
the ``Lease of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense
Agencies'' account.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Armed Forces Retirement Home</DELETED>
<DELETED>trust fund</DELETED>
<DELETED> For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement
Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home--
Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement
Home--Gulfport, Mississippi, to be paid from funds available in the
Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $64,300,000, of which
$1,000,000 shall remain available until expended for construction and
renovation of the physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement Home--
Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement
Home--Gulfport, Mississippi.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Administrative Provisions</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 301. Funds appropriated in this Act under the
heading ``Department of Defense--Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army'',
may be provided to Arlington County, Virginia, for the relocation of
the federally owned water main at Arlington National Cemetery, making
additional land available for ground burials.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 302. Amounts deposited during the current fiscal
year into the special account established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are
appropriated and shall be available until expended to support
activities at the Army National Military Cemeteries.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE IV</DELETED>
<DELETED>OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS</DELETED>
<DELETED>DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps</DELETED>
<DELETED> For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Navy
and Marine Corps'', $244,004,000 to remain available until September
30, 2020, for projects outside of the United States: Provided, That
such amount is designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii)
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Air Force</DELETED>
<DELETED> For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Air
Force''$75,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2020, for
projects outside of the United States: Provided, That such amount is
designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global
War on Terrorism pursuant to section 215(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.</DELETED>
<DELETED>Military Construction, Defense-Wide</DELETED>
<DELETED> For an additional amount for ``Military Construction,
Defense-Wide'', $212,996,000 to remain available until September 30,
2020, for projects outside of the United States: Provided, That such
amount is designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii)
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE V</DELETED>
<DELETED>GENERAL PROVISIONS</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 501. No part of any appropriation contained in this
Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal
year unless expressly so provided herein.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 502. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used for any program, project, or activity, when it is made
known to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are made
available that the program, project, or activity is not in compliance
with any Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of
private property rights, or unfunded mandates.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 503. All departments and agencies funded under this
Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory
authorities and funding, to expand their use of ``E-Commerce''
technologies and procedures in the conduct of their business practices
and public service activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 504. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and
notifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Subcommittee on Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 505. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the
United States Government except pursuant to a transfer made by, or
transfer authority provided in, this or any other appropriations
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 506. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used for a project or program named for an individual serving as
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the United States House
of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 507. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in
this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public
Web site of that agency any report required to be submitted by the
Congress in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head
of the agency that it shall serve the national interest.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the public posting of the report compromises
national security; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the report contains confidential or
proprietary information.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so
only after such report has been made available to the requesting
Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than 45 days.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 508. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such
network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of
pornography.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement
agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations,
prosecution, or adjudication activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 509. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used by an agency of the executive branch to pay for first-class
travel by an employee of the agency in contravention of sections 301-
10.122 through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal
Regulations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 510. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used to execute a contract for goods or services, including
construction services, where the contractor has not complied with
Executive Order No. 12989.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 511. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans
Affairs to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles for any executive
fleet, or for an agency's fleet inventory, except in accordance with
Presidential Memorandum--Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24,
2011.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 512. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated
or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in this Act
may be used to construct, renovate, or expand any facility in the
United States, its territories, or possessions to house any individual
detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the
purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the
control of the Department of Defense.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to
any modification of facilities at United States Naval Station,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) An individual described in this subsection is any
individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a
member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) is--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in the custody or under the effective
control of the Department of Defense; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) otherwise under detention at United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.</DELETED>
<DELETED>spending reduction account</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 513. The amount by which the applicable allocation
of new budget authority made by the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives under section 302(b) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 exceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority
is $0.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 514. The amounts otherwise provided by this Act are
revised by reducing the amount made available for ``Department of
Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--Information Technology
Services'' (and the amount specified under such heading for operations
and maintenance), and by increasing the amount made available for
``Veterans Health Administration--Medical Services'', by
$2,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 515. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to carry out the closure or transfer of the United States
Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 516. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to carry out the Appraised Value Offer program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 517. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a performance
award under section 5384 of title 5, United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 518. None of the funds made available by this Act
for benefits for homeless veterans and training and outreach programs
may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in contravention of
subchapter III of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 519. Not more than $4,400,000 of the funds provided
by this Act under the heading ``Department of Veterans Affairs--
Departmental Administration--General Administration'' may be used for
the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, and the amount
otherwise provided under such heading is hereby reduced by
$1,500,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 520. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to end, suspend, or relocate hospital-based services with
respect to a health care facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs
that is--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the subject of an environmental impact
statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) designated as a National Historic Landmark by
the National Park Service; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) located in a highly rural area.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 521. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to propose, plan for, or execute a new or additional Base
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 522. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to enter into a contract with any offeror or any of its
principals if the offeror certifies, as required by Federal Acquisition
Regulation, that the offeror or any of its principals:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) within a 3-year period preceding this offer
has been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against
it for: commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection
with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public
(Federal, State, or local) contract or subcontract; violation
of Federal or State antitrust statutes relating to the
submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft,
forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records,
making false statements, tax evasion, violating Federal
criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) are presently indicted for, or otherwise
criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity with,
commission of any of the offenses enumerated above in
subsection (A); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) within a 3-year period preceding this offer,
has been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in an amount
that exceeds $3,000 for which the liability remains
unsatisfied.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 523. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used in contravention of subtitle D of title VIII of the Carl
Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2015.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 524. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to pay an award or bonus under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5,
United States Code, to any employee of the Office of Construction and
Facilities Management of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 525. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to pay the salary of any employee of the Department of
Veterans Affairs who is a member of an Amputee Clinic Team (as
described in VHA Handbook 1173.3, ``Amputee Clinic Teams and Artificial
Limbs'', dated June 4, 2004) and who is not credentialed in accordance
with VHA Directive 2012-030, ``Credentialing of Health Care
Professionals'', issued on October 11, 2012.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 526. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to transfer any funds from the Veterans Choice Fund
established by section 802 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 128 Stat.
1802).</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 527. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) carry out the memorandum from the Veterans
Benefit Administration known as Fast Letter 13-10, issued on
May 20, 2013; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) create or maintain any patient record-keeping
system other than those currently approved by the Department of
Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington, D.C.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Sec. 528. For an additional amount for ``Department of
Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--General Operating
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', there is hereby
appropriated, and the amount otherwise provided by this Act for
``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--General
Administration'' is hereby reduced by, $5,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2016''.</DELETED>
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for military construction, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Military Construction, Army
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of
temporary or permanent public works, military installations,
facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by
law, including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other
personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and
for construction and operation of facilities in support of the
functions of the Commander in Chief, $663,245,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2020: Provided, That, of this amount, not to
exceed $109,245,000 shall be available for study, planning, design,
architect and engineer services, and host nation support, as authorized
by law, unless the Secretary of the Army determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and
the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of
temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, facilities,
and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps as currently authorized
by law, including personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command
and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this
appropriation, $1,619,699,000, to remain available until September 30,
2020: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $91,649,000 shall
be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Air Force
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of
temporary or permanent public works, military installations,
facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized
by law, $1,389,185,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:
Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $89,164,000 shall be
available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Air Force
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Defense-Wide
(including transfer of funds)
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of
temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and
real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense
(other than the military departments), as currently authorized by law,
$2,290,767,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:
Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation as may be determined
by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such appropriations
of the Department of Defense available for military construction or
family housing as the Secretary may designate, to be merged with and to
be available for the same purposes, and for the same time period, as
the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further,
That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed $160,404,000 shall be
available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Army National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $197,237,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed
$20,337,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Director of the Army National Guard determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and
the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Air National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air
National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter
1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $138,738,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed
$5,104,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Director of the Air National Guard determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and
the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Army Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States
Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $113,595,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That, of the
amount appropriated, not to exceed $9,318,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as
authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve determines that
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the
determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Navy Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the
reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $36,078,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed
$2,208,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations are
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the
reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air
Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States
Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $65,021,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That, of the
amount appropriated, not to exceed $13,400,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as
authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force Reserve determines
that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
the determination and the reasons therefor.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Security Investment Program
For the United States share of the cost of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for the acquisition and
construction of military facilities and installations (including
international military headquarters) and for related expenses for the
collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by
section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $120,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Family Housing Construction, Army
For expenses of family housing for the Army for construction,
including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and
alteration, as authorized by law, $99,695,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2020.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army
For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation and
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction,
principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized
by law, $393,511,000.
Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion,
extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $16,541,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2020.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums,
as authorized by law, $353,036,000.
Family Housing Construction, Air Force
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for construction,
including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and
alteration, as authorized by law, $160,498,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2020.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for operation and
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction,
principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized
by law, $331,232,000.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide
For expenses of family housing for the activities and agencies of
the Department of Defense (other than the military departments) for
operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor construction, as
authorized by law, $58,668,000.
Department of Defense Base Closure Account
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account
1990, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), $251,334,000, to remain
available until expended.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 101. None of the funds made available in this title shall be
expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for
construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed
within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval
in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons
therefor.
Sec. 102. Funds made available in this title for construction
shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehicles.
Sec. 103. Funds made available in this title for construction may
be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department
of Transportation, for the construction of access roads as authorized
by section 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects
authorized therein are certified as important to the national defense
by the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 104. None of the funds made available in this title may be
used to begin construction of new bases in the United States for which
specific appropriations have not been made.
Sec. 105. None of the funds made available in this title shall be
used for purchase of land or land easements in excess of 100 percent of
the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, except: (1) where there is a
determination of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by
the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General; (3) where
the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4) as otherwise
determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public interest.
Sec. 106. None of the funds made available in this title shall be
used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site preparation; or (3)
install utilities for any family housing, except housing for which
funds have been made available in annual Acts making appropriations for
military construction.
Sec. 107. None of the funds made available in this title for minor
construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one
base or installation to another, without prior notification to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 108. None of the funds made available in this title may be
used for the procurement of steel for any construction project or
activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and
manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such
steel procurement.
Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of Defense
for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal
year may be used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation.
Sec. 110. None of the funds made available in this title may be
used to initiate a new installation overseas without prior notification
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 111. None of the funds made available in this title may be
obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated by the
Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in Japan,
in any North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country, or in
countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded
to United States firms or United States firms in joint venture with
host nation firms.
Sec. 112. None of the funds made available in this title for
military construction in the United States territories and possessions
in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the
Arabian Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated by the
Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided,
That this section shall not be applicable to contract awards for which
the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a United States contractor
exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign
contractor by greater than 20 percent: Provided further, That this
section shall not apply to contract awards for military construction on
Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid is
submitted by a Marshallese contractor.
Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the appropriate
committees of both Houses of Congress, including the Committees on
Appropriations, of plans and scope of any proposed military exercise
involving United States personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if
amounts expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, are
anticipated to exceed $100,000.
Sec. 114. Not more than 20 percent of the funds made available in
this title which are limited for obligation during the current fiscal
year shall be obligated during the last 2 months of the fiscal year.
Sec. 115. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for
construction in prior years shall be available for construction
authorized for each such military department by the authorizations
enacted into law during the current session of Congress.
Sec. 116. For military construction or family housing projects
that are being completed with funds otherwise expired or lapsed for
obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used to pay the cost of
associated supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design on
those projects and on subsequent claims, if any.
Sec. 117. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds
made available to a military department or defense agency for the
construction of military projects may be obligated for a military
construction project or contract, or for any portion of such a project
or contract, at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after
the fiscal year for which funds for such project were made available,
if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from funds
available for military construction projects; and (2) do not exceed the
amount appropriated for such project, plus any amount by which the cost
of such project is increased pursuant to law.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 118. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a
notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480
and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, such additional amounts as
may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to:
(1) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund from
amounts appropriated for construction in ``Family Housing'' accounts,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the
same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund; or
(2) the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing
Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction of military
unaccompanied housing in ``Military Construction'' accounts, to be
merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the same
period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided,
That appropriations made available to the Funds shall be available to
cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan guarantees issued by the
Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV of
chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative
means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military
unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 119. In addition to any other transfer authority available to
the Department of Defense, amounts may be transferred from the accounts
established by sections 2906(a)(1) and 2906A(a)(1) of the Defense Base
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), to the fund
established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and
Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for
expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred
under 42 U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall be merged
with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time
period as the fund to which transferred.
Sec. 120. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made
available in this title for operation and maintenance of family housing
shall be the exclusive source of funds for repair and maintenance of
all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters:
Provided, That not more than $35,000 per unit may be spent annually for
the maintenance and repair of any general or flag officer quarters
without 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a notification
provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of
title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress, except that an after-the-fact notification
shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded solely due to costs
associated with environmental remediation that could not be reasonably
anticipated at the time of the budget submission: Provided further,
That the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is to report annually
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress all
operation and maintenance expenditures for each individual general or
flag officer quarters for the prior fiscal year.
Sec. 121. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account
established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of title 10, United
States Code, are appropriated and shall be available until expended for
the purposes specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until
transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 122. During the 5-year period after appropriations available
in this Act to the Department of Defense for military construction and
family housing operation and maintenance and construction have expired
for obligation, upon a determination that such appropriations will not
be necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making
authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obligations incurred
during the period of availability of such appropriations, unobligated
balances of such appropriations may be transferred into the
appropriation ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'',
to be merged with and to be available for the same time period and for
the same purposes as the appropriation to which transferred.
Sec. 123. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in an
account funded under the headings in this title may be transferred
among projects and activities within the account in accordance with the
reprogramming guidelines for military construction and family housing
construction contained in Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation 7000.14-R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, of February 2009, as in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 124. None of the funds made available in this title may be
obligated or expended for planning and design and construction of
projects at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sec. 125. For an additional amount for ``Military Construction,
Army'', $34,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:
Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department
of the Army's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 submitted to
Congress: Provided further, That such funding is subject to
authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out
construction: Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure
plan for funds provided under this section.
Sec. 126. For an additional amount for ``Military Construction,
Navy and Marine Corps'', $34,320,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2020: Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to
carry out construction projects, in priority order, identified in the
Department of the Navy's Unfunded Priority List for fiscal year 2016:
Provided further, That such funding is subject to authorization prior
to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out construction:
Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds
provided under this section.
Sec. 127. For an additional amount for ``Military Construction,
Army National Guard'', $51,300,000, to remain available until September
30, 2020: Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department
of the Army's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 submitted to
Congress: Provided further, That such funding is subject to
authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out
construction: Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure
plan for funds provided under this section.
Sec. 128. For an additional amount for ``Military Construction,
Army Reserve'', $34,200,000, to remain available until September 30,
2020: Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department
of the Army's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 submitted to
Congress: Provided further, That such funding is subject to
authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out
construction: Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure
plan for funds provided under this section.
(rescissions of funds)
Sec. 129. Of the unobligated balances available from prior
Appropriations Acts (other than appropriations that were designated by
the Congress as an emergency requirement or as being for Overseas
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to a concurrent
resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985) the following funds are hereby rescinded from the
following accounts and programs in the specified amounts:
``Military Construction, Army'', $85,000,000;
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $86,400,000; and
``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', $133,000,000.
(rescission of funds)
Sec. 130. Of the unobligated balances made available in prior
appropriations Acts for the fund established in section 1013(d) of the
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 3374), $65,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
Sec. 131. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the
funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act
may be used to consolidate or relocate any element of a United States
Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron
Engineer (RED HORSE) outside of the United States until the Secretary
of the Air Force (1) completes an analysis and comparison of the cost
and infrastructure investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED
HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within the United
States; (2) provides to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress (``the Committees'') a report detailing the findings of the
cost analysis; and (3) certifies in writing to the Committees that the
preferred site for the consolidation or relocation yields the greatest
savings for the Air Force: Provided, That the term ``United States''
in this section does not include any territory or possession of the
United States.
TITLE II
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Benefits Administration
compensation and pensions
(including transfer of funds)
For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of
veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as authorized
by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38,
United States Code; pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as
authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United
States Code; and burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program
for Survivors, emergency and other officers' retirement pay, adjusted-
service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due on commercial
life insurance policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV of
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et seq.) and
for other benefits as authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106,
and chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code,
$166,271,436,000, to remain available until expended, of which
$87,146,761,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016: Provided,
That not to exceed $15,562,000 of the amount appropriated for fiscal
year 2016 and $16,021,000 of the amount made available for fiscal year
2017 under this heading shall be reimbursed to ``General Operating
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', and ``Information
Technology Systems'' for necessary expenses in implementing the
provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States Code,
the funding source for which is specifically provided as the
``Compensation and Pensions'' appropriation: Provided further, That
such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall
be reimbursed to ``Medical Care Collections Fund'' to augment the
funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home care provided
to pensioners as authorized.
readjustment benefits
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits to or
on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35,
36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code,
$32,088,826,000, to remain available until expended, of which
$16,743,904,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016: Provided,
That expenses for rehabilitation program services and assistance which
the Secretary is authorized to provide under subsection (a) of section
3104 of title 38, United States Code, other than under paragraphs (1),
(2), (5), and (11) of that subsection, shall be charged to this
account.
veterans insurance and indemnities
For military and naval insurance, national service life insurance,
servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans insurance, and
veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by chapters 19 and 21,
title 38, United States Code, $169,080,000, to remain available until
expended, of which $91,920,000 shall become available on October 1,
2016.
veterans housing benefit program fund
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by subchapters I
through III of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code: Provided,
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
Provided further, That, during fiscal year 2016, within the resources
available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans
are authorized for specially adapted housing loans.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $164,558,000.
vocational rehabilitation loans program account
For the cost of direct loans, $31,000, as authorized by chapter 31
of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including
the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds
made available under this heading are available to subsidize gross
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed
$2,952,381.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct loan program, $367,000, which may be paid to the appropriation
for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''.
native american veteran housing loan program account
For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan program
authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States
Code, $1,134,000.
Veterans Health Administration
medical services
For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by law,
inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in section
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and treatment
in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and
including medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food
services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees hired under
title 38, United States Code, aid to State homes as authorized by
section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, assistance and support
services for caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38,
United States Code, loan repayments authorized by section 604 of the
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law
111-163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), and hospital care and
medical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States
Code; $1,134,197,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously
appropriated under this heading that become available on October 1,
2015; and, in addition, $51,673,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall
become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available until
September 30, 2017: Provided, That, of the amount made available on
October 1, 2016, under this heading, $1,400,000,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2018: Provided further, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall establish a priority for the provision of medical
treatment for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower
income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
give priority funding for the provision of basic medical benefits to
veterans in enrollment priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further,
That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs
from Veterans Health Administration facilities to enrolled veterans
with privately written prescriptions based on requirements established
by the Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation of the
program described in the previous proviso shall incur no additional
cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That, of
the amount made available on October 1, 2016, under this heading, not
less than $900,000,000 shall be available for highly effective
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) clinical treatments including clinical
treatments with modern medications that have significantly higher cure
rates than older medications, are easier to prescribe, and have fewer
and milder side effects.
medical support and compliance
For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical,
hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research
activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in support of
capital policy activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the
Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as
authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the
Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.),
$6,524,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become available on October
1, 2016, and shall remain available until September 30, 2017:
Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2016, under
this heading, $100,000,000 shall remain available until September 30,
2018.
medical facilities
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of
hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other necessary
facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for administrative
expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real
property acquisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of
any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department;
for oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not charged to
project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, or providing
facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of
the Department, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by
the hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases
of facilities; and for laundry services, $5,074,000,000, plus
reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2016, and shall
remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided, That, of the
amount made available on October 1, 2016, under this heading,
$250,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2018.
medical and prosthetic research
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical and
prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter 73 of
title 38, United States Code, $621,813,000, plus reimbursements, shall
remain available until September 30, 2017.
National Cemetery Administration
For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Administration for
operations and maintenance, not otherwise provided for, including
uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as authorized by
law; purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial
operations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or
improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the National
Cemetery Administration, $266,220,000, of which not to exceed
$26,600,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017.
Departmental Administration
general administration
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary operating expenses of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including administrative expenses
in support of Department-Wide capital planning, management and policy
activities, uniforms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for
official reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger motor
vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services Administration for
security guard services, $311,591,000, of which not to exceed
$10,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided,
That funds provided under this heading may be transferred to ``General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''.
board of veterans appeals
For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans Appeals,
$107,884,000, of which not to exceed $10,788,000 shall remain available
until September 30, 2017.
general operating expenses, veterans benefits administration
For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of passenger
motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General Services Administration
for security guard services, and reimbursement of the Department of
Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, $2,697,734,000:
Provided, That expenses for services and assistance authorized under
paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 3104(a) of title 38,
United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines
are necessary to enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum extent
feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable
employment; or (2) to achieve maximum independence in daily living,
shall be charged to this account: Provided further, That, of the funds
made available under this heading, not to exceed $160,000,000 shall
remain available until September 30, 2017.
information technology systems
For necessary expenses for information technology systems and
telecommunications support, including developmental information systems
and operational information systems; for pay and associated costs; and
for the capital asset acquisition of information technology systems,
including management and related contractual costs of said
acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with operations
authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code,
$4,106,363,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That $1,115,757,000
shall be for pay and associated costs, of which not to exceed
$34,800,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided
further, That $2,512,863,000 shall be for operations and maintenance,
of which not to exceed $175,000,000 shall remain available until
September 30, 2017: Provided further, That $477,743,000 shall be for
information technology systems development, modernization, and
enhancement, and shall remain available until September 30, 2017:
Provided further, That amounts made available for information
technology systems development, modernization, and enhancement may not
be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the
Chief Information Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs submits
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
certification of the amounts, in parts or in full, to be obligated and
expended for each development project: Provided further, That amounts
made available for salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance,
and information technology systems development, modernization, and
enhancement may be transferred among the three subaccounts after the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests from the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the
transfer and an approval is issued: Provided further, That amounts
made available for the ``Information Technology Systems'' account for
development, modernization, and enhancement may be transferred among
projects or to newly defined projects: Provided further, That no
project may be increased or decreased by more than $1,000,000 of cost
prior to submitting a request to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress to make the transfer and an approval is issued,
or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided
further, That funds under this heading may be used by the Interagency
Program Office through the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a
standard data reference terminology model: Provided further, That, of
the funds made available for information technology systems
development, modernization, and enhancement for VistA Evolution, not
more than 25 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress, and such Committees approve, a report that
describes: (1) the status of and changes to the VistA Evolution program
plan dated March 24, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the ``Plan''),
the VistA 4 product roadmap dated February 26, 2015 (``Roadmap''), and
the VistA 4 Incremental Life Cycle Cost Estimate, dated October 26,
2014; (2) any changes to the scope or functionality of projects within
the VistA Evolution program as established in the Plan; (3) actual
program costs incurred to date; (4) progress in meeting the schedule
milestones that have been established in the Plan; (5) a Project
Management Accountability System (PMAS) Dashboard Progress report that
identifies each VistA Evolution project being tracked through PMAS,
what functionality it is intended to provide, and what evaluation
scores it has received throughout development; (6) the definition being
used for interoperability between the electronic health record systems
of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs,
the metrics to measure the extent of interoperability, the milestones
and timeline associated with achieving interoperability, and the
baseline measurements associated with interoperability; (7) progress
toward developing and implementing all components and levels of
interoperability, including semantic interoperability; (8) the change
management tools in place to facilitate the implementation of VistA
Evolution and interoperability; and (9) any changes to the governance
structure for the VistA Evolution program and its chain of
decisionmaking authority: Provided further, That the funds made
available under this heading for information technology systems
development, modernization, and enhancement, shall be for the projects,
and in the amounts, specified under this heading in the report
accompanying this Act.
office of inspector general
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, to
include information technology, in carrying out the provisions of the
Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), $126,766,000, of which
$12,676,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017.
construction, major projects
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the
facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction or for
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the
purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title
38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning,
architectural and engineering services, construction management
services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated
with equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of
claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction
costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is
more than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38,
United States Code, or where funds for a project were made available in
a previous major project appropriation, $1,027,064,000, of which
$967,064,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020, and of
which $60,000,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided,
That except for advance planning activities, including needs
assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other
capital asset management related activities, including portfolio
development and management activities, and investment strategy studies
funded through the advance planning fund and the planning and design
activities funded through the design fund, including needs assessments
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and salaries and
associated costs of the resident engineers who oversee those capital
investments funded through this account, and funds provided for the
purchase of land for the National Cemetery Administration through the
land acquisition line item, none of the funds made available under this
heading shall be used for any project which has not been approved by
the Congress in the budgetary process: Provided further, That funds
made available under this heading for fiscal year 2016, for each
approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a
construction documents contract by September 30, 2016; and (2) by the
awarding of a construction contract by September 30, 2017: Provided
further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a
written report on any approved major construction project for which
obligations are not incurred within the time limitations established
above: Provided further, That, of the amount made available on October
1, 2016, under this heading, $490,700,000 for Veterans Health
Administration major construction projects shall not be available until
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
(1) Enters into an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, to serve as the design and construction agent for
Veterans Health Administration projects with a Total Estimated
Cost of $250,000,000 or above.
(2) That such an agreement will designate the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers as the design and construction agent to
serve as--
(A) the overall construction project manager, with
a dedicated project delivery team including engineers,
medical facility designers, and professional project
managers;
(B) the facility design manager, with a dedicated
design manager and technical support;
(C) the design agent, with standardized and
rigorous facility designs;
(D) the architect/engineer designer; and
(E) the overall construction agent, with a
dedicated construction and technical team during pre-
construction, construction, and commissioning phases.
(3) Certifies in writing that such an agreement is in
effect and will prevent subsequent major construction project
cost overruns, provides a copy of the agreement entered into
(and any required supplementary information) to the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, and a period of
60 days has elapsed.
construction, minor projects
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the
facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction or for
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including planning and
assessments of needs which may lead to capital investments,
architectural and engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period
services costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under the
project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm
drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, or for any of
the purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of
title 38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, where the
estimated cost of a project is equal to or less than the amount set
forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code,
$378,080,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, along with
unobligated balances of previous ``Construction, Minor Projects''
appropriations which are hereby made available for any project where
the estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth in
such section: Provided, That funds made available under this heading
shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities under the
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department which are necessary
because of loss or damage caused by any natural disaster or
catastrophe; and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to
minimize further loss by such causes.
grants for construction of state extended care facilities
For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State nursing
home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel, modify, or alter
existing hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary facilities in State
homes, for furnishing care to veterans as authorized by sections 8131
through 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $100,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
grants for construction of veterans cemeteries
For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in
establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as authorized
by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, $46,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
Administrative Provisions
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2016 for
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' may be transferred as necessary
to any other of the mentioned appropriations: Provided, That, before a
transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress the authority to make the transfer and such Committees issue
an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 202. Amounts made available for the Department of Veterans
Affairs for fiscal year 2016, in this Act or any other Act, under the
``Medical Services'', ``Medical support and compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'' accounts may be transferred among the accounts: Provided,
That any transfers between the ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical
Support and Compliance'' accounts of 1 percent or less of the total
amount appropriated to the account in this or any other Act may take
place subject to notification from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the
amount and purpose of the transfer: Provided further, That any
transfers between the ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical Support and
Compliance'' accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the
cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may take place only after the
Secretary requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is
issued: Provided further, That any transfers to or from the ``Medical
Facilities'' account may take place only after the Secretary requests
from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
Sec. 203. Appropriations available in this title for salaries and
expenses shall be available for services authorized by section 3109 of
title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of
a facility or land or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as
authorized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States
Code.
Sec. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the
appropriations for ``Construction, Major Projects'', and
``Construction, Minor Projects'') shall be available for the purchase
of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home.
Sec. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be available for
hospitalization or examination of any persons (except beneficiaries
entitled to such hospitalization or examination under the laws
providing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving such
treatment under sections 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States
Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of the
cost of such hospitalization or examination is made to the ``Medical
Services'' account at such rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 206. Appropriations available in this title for
``Compensation and pensions'', ``Readjustment benefits'', and
``Veterans insurance and indemnities'' shall be available for payment
of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded by law
against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter
of fiscal year 2015.
Sec. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall be
available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior year
appropriations accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 3334, and
3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, except that if such
obligations are from trust fund accounts they shall be payable only
from ``Compensation and Pensions''.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during
fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from the
National Service Life Insurance Fund under section 1920 of title 38,
United States Code, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund under
section 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United States
Government Life Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United
States Code, reimburse the ``General operating expenses, Veterans
Benefits Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems''
accounts for the cost of administration of the insurance programs
financed through those accounts: Provided, That reimbursement shall be
made only from the surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance
program during fiscal year 2016 that are available for dividends in
that program after claims have been paid and actuarially determined
reserves have been set aside: Provided further, That, if the cost of
administration of such an insurance program exceeds the amount of
surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement shall be
made only to the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided further,
That the Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for
fiscal year 2016 which is properly allocable to the provision of each
such insurance program and to the provision of any total disability
income insurance included in that insurance program.
Sec. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds to
reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account during a
prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services, may be
obligated during the fiscal year in which the proceeds are received.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for salaries and
other administrative expenses shall also be available to reimburse the
Office of Resolution Management of the Department of Veterans Affairs
and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication
under section 319 of title 38, United States Code, for all services
provided at rates which will recover actual costs but not to exceed
$43,700,000 for the Office of Resolution Management and $3,400,000 for
the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication:
Provided, That payments may be made in advance for services to be
furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further, That amounts
received shall be credited to the ``General Administration'' and
``Information Technology Systems'' accounts for use by the office that
provided the service.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 211. Of the amounts made available to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for the Office of Rural Health
under the heading ``Medical Services'', including any advance
appropriation for fiscal year 2016 provided in prior appropriation
Acts, up to $20,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with funds
appropriated under the heading ``Grants for Construction of State
Extended Care Facilities''.
Sec. 212. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be
available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services
provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United States
Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in section
1729(a)(2) of such title, unless that person has disclosed to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may
require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement information for
purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That the Secretary
may recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the United
States, the reasonable charges for such care or services from any
person who does not make such disclosure as required: Provided
further, That any amounts so recovered for care or services provided in
a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal
year in which amounts are received.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 213. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceeds or
revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activities (including
disposal) may be deposited into the ``Construction, Major Projects''
and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts and be used for
construction (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations,
and improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums as realized
are in addition to the amount provided for in ``Construction, Major
Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects''.
Sec. 214. Amounts made available under ``Medical Services'' are
available--
(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and
equipment; and
(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other
expenses incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries
receiving care in the Department.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 215. Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical Care
Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States
Code, may be transferred to ``Medical Services'', to remain available
until expended for the purposes of that account: Provided, That, for
fiscal year 2016, up to $27,000,000 deposited in the Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund shall be transferred to
``Information Technology Systems'', to remain available until expended,
for development of the Medical Care Collections Fund electronic data
exchange provider and payer system.
Sec. 216. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into
agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party
to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service, and
Indian tribes and tribal organizations serving rural Alaska which have
entered into contracts with the Indian Health Service under the Indian
Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act, to provide
healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care. The Secretary
shall require participating veterans and facilities to comply with all
appropriate rules and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The
term ``rural Alaska'' shall mean those lands sited within the external
boundaries of the Alaska Native regions specified in sections 7(a)(1)-
(4) and (7)-(12) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended
(43 U.S.C. 1606), and those lands within the Alaska Native regions
specified in sections 7(a)(5) and 7(a)(6) of the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1606), which are not within the
boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage, the Fairbanks North Star
Borough, the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the Matanuska Susitna Borough.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 217. Such sums as may be deposited to the Department of
Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 of title
38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Construction, Major
Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts, to remain
available until expended for the purposes of these accounts.
Sec. 218. None of the funds made available in this title may be
used to implement any policy prohibiting the Directors of the Veterans
Integrated Services Networks from conducting outreach or marketing to
enroll new veterans within their respective Networks.
Sec. 219. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly
report on the financial status of the Veterans Health Administration.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 220. Amounts made available under the ``Medical Services'',
``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', ``General
Administration'', and ``National Cemetery Administration'' accounts for
fiscal year 2016 may be transferred to or from the ``Information
Technology Systems'' account: Provided, That, before a transfer may
take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority
to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
Sec. 221. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act or any other Act for the Department of Veterans
Affairs may be used in a manner that is inconsistent with: (1) section
842 of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the
Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-115; 119 Stat. 2506); or (2)
section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 222. Of the amounts made available to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016, in this Act or any other Act,
under the ``Medical Facilities'' account for nonrecurring maintenance,
not more than 20 percent of the funds made available shall be obligated
during the last 2 months of that fiscal year: Provided, That the
Secretary may waive this requirement after providing written notice to
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 223. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for ``Medical Services'',
``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'',
``Construction, Minor Projects'', and ``Information Technology
Systems'', up to $266,303,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law
111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of the facilities
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by
section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That
additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this
section to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That
section 223 of Title II of Division I of Public Law 113-235 is
repealed.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 224. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of
Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2016, for
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'', up to $265,675,000, plus reimbursements, may be
transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
(Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of
the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat.
4500): Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from
accounts designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense-
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon
written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 225. Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical Care
Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States
Code, for healthcare provided at facilities designated as combined
Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public
Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for transfer
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law
111-84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for operations of the facilities
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by
section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500).
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 226. Of the amounts available in this title for ``Medical
Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'', a minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD-
VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d)
of title 38, United States Code, to remain available until expended,
for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States
Code.
(including rescissions of funds)
Sec. 227. (a) Of the funds appropriated in division I of Public Law
113-235, the following amounts which become available on October 1,
2015, are hereby rescinded from the following accounts in the amounts
specified:
(1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services'',
$1,400,000,000.
(2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Support and
Compliance'', $150,000,000.
(3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Facilities'',
$250,000,000.
(b) In addition to amounts provided elsewhere in this Act, an
additional amount is appropriated to the following accounts in the
amounts specified to remain available until September 30, 2017:
(1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services'',
$1,400,000,000.
(2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Support and
Compliance'', $100,000,000.
(3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Facilities'',
$250,000,000.
Sec. 228. The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of all bid savings in major construction projects that total
at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of the
project, whichever is less: Provided, That such notification shall
occur within 14 days of a contract identifying the programmed amount:
Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to the
obligation of such bid savings and shall describe the anticipated use
of such savings.
Sec. 229. The scope of work for a project included in
``Construction, Major Projects'' may not be increased above the scope
specified for that project in the original justification data provided
to the Congress as part of the request for appropriations.
Sec. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly
report that contains the following information from each Veterans
Benefits Administration Regional Office: (1) the average time to
complete a disability compensation claim; (2) the number of claims
pending more than 125 days; (3) error rates; (4) the number of claims
personnel; (5) any corrective action taken within the quarter to
address poor performance; (6) training programs undertaken; and (7) the
number and results of Quality Review Team audits: Provided, That each
quarterly report shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the end
of the respective quarter.
Sec. 231. Of the funds provided to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical
Support and Compliance'', a maximum of $5,000,000 may be obligated from
the ``Medical Services'' account and a maximum of $154,596,000 may be
obligated from the ``Medical Support and Compliance'' account for the
VistA Evolution and electronic health record interoperability projects:
Provided, That funds in addition to these amounts may be obligated for
the VistA Evolution and electronic health record interoperability
projects upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 232. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide written
notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes which result in the
transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalents from one organizational
unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs to another.
Sec. 233. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide on a
quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress notification of any single national outreach and awareness
marketing campaign in which obligations exceed $2,000,000.
Sec. 234. Not more than $4,400,000 of the funds provided in this
Act under the heading ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental
Administration--General Administration'' may be used for the Office of
Congressional and Legislative Affairs.
Sec. 235. None of the funds available to the Department of
Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may be used to replace the
current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Networks select
and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment.
(rescissions of funds)
Sec. 236. Of the discretionary funds made available in title II of
division I of Public Law 113-235 for the Department of Veterans Affairs
for fiscal year 2016, $198,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical
Services'', $42,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical Support and
Compliance'', and $15,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical
Facilities''.
(rescissions of funds)
Sec. 237. (a) There is hereby rescinded an aggregate amount of
$55,000,000 from the total budget authority provided for fiscal year
2016 for discretionary accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in--
(1) this Act; or
(2) any advance appropriation for fiscal year 2016 in prior
appropriation Acts.
(b) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress a report specifying the account and amount
of each rescission not later than 30 days following enactment of this
Act.
(rescission of funds)
Sec. 238. Of the unobligated balances available within the ``DOD-
VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund'', $50,000,000 are hereby
rescinded.
(rescissions of funds)
Sec. 239. Of the discretionary funds made available in title II of
division I of Public Law 113-235 for the Department of Veterans Affairs
for fiscal year 2015, $1,052,000 are rescinded from ``General
Administration'', and $5,000,000 are rescinded from ``Construction,
Minor Projects''.
(rescissions of funds)
Sec. 240. (a) There is hereby rescinded an aggregate amount of
$90,293,000 from prior year unobligated balances available within
discretionary accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(b) No funds may be rescinded from amounts provided under the
following headings:
(1) ``Medical Services'';
(2) ``Medical and Prosthetic Research'';
(3) ``National Cemetery Administration'';
(4) ``Board of Veterans Appeals'';
(5) ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits
Administration'';
(6) ``Office of Inspector General'';
(7) ``Grants for Construction of State Extended Care
Facilities''; and
(8) ``Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries''.
(c) No amounts may be rescinded from amounts that were designated
by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Concurrent
Resolution on the Budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985, as amended.
(d) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress a report specifying the account and amount
of each rescission not later than 30 days following enactment of this
Act.
Sec. 241. Section 2302(a)(2)(A)(viii) of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by inserting ``or under title 38'' after ``of this
title''.
Sec. 242. The Department of Veterans Affairs is authorized to
administer financial assistance grants and enter into cooperative
agreements with organizations, utilizing a competitive selection
process, to train and employ homeless and at-risk veterans in natural
resource conservation management.
Sec. 243. Section 312 of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c)(1) Whenever the Inspector General, in carrying out the duties
and responsibilities established under the Inspector General Act of
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), issues a work product that makes a recommendation
or otherwise suggests corrective action, the Inspector General shall--
``(A) submit the work product to--
``(i) the Secretary;
``(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate;
``(iii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives;
``(iv) if the work product was initiated
upon request by an individual or entity other
than the Inspector General, that individual or
entity; and
``(v) any Member of Congress upon request;
and
``(B) the Inspector General shall submit all final
work products to--
``(i) if the work product was initiated
upon request by an individual or entity other
than the Inspector General, that individual or
entity; and
``(ii) any Member of Congress upon request;
and
``(C) not later than 3 days after the work product
is submitted in final form to the Secretary, post the
work product on the Internet website of the Inspector
General.
``(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
authorize the public disclosure of information that is
specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision
of law.''.
Sec. 244. None of the funds provided in this Act may be used to
pay the salary of any individual who (a) was the Executive Director of
the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction, and (b) who
retired from Federal service in the midst of an investigation,
initiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, into delays and cost
overruns associated with the design and construction of the new medical
center in Aurora, Colorado.
Sec. 245. Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available
to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Services''
account for fiscal year 2016 in this Act of any other Act, not less
than $10,000,000 shall be used to hire additional caregiver support
coordinators to support the programs of assistance and support for
caregivers of veterans under section 1720G of title 38, United States
Code.
Sec. 246. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used
in a manner that would--
(1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to participate
in a State-approved medicinal marijuana program;
(2) deny any services from the Department to a veteran who
is participating in such a program; or
(3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health care
provider of the Department to make appropriate recommendations,
fill out forms, or take steps to comply with such a program.
TITLE III
RELATED AGENCIES
American Battle Monuments Commission
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American
Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition of land or
interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and repair of uniforms
for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments outside of the
United States and its territories and possessions; rent of office and
garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one replacement
basis only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $7,500
for official reception and representation expenses; and insurance of
official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when required by law of
such countries, $75,100,000, to remain available until expended.
foreign currency fluctuations account
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American
Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be necessary, to remain
available until expended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of
title 36, United States Code.
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses for the operation of the United States Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by sections 7251 through
7298 of title 38, United States Code, $32,141,000: Provided, That
$2,500,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing financial
assistance as described, and in accordance with the process and
reporting procedures set forth, under this heading in Public Law 102-
229.
Department of Defense--Civil
Cemeterial Expenses, Army
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and improvement
of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National
Cemetery, including the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles
for replacement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed $1,000
for official reception and representation expenses, $70,800,000, of
which not to exceed $28,000,000 shall remain available until September
30, 2018. In addition, such sums as may be necessary for parking
maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from the ``Lease of
Department of Defense Real Property for Defense Agencies'' account.
Armed Forces Retirement Home
trust fund
For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home to
operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington,
District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport,
Mississippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed Forces
Retirement Home Trust Fund, $64,300,000, of which $1,000,000 shall
remain available until expended for construction and renovation of the
physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington,
District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport,
Mississippi.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 301. Funds appropriated in this Act under the heading
``Department of Defense--Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army'', may be
provided to Arlington County, Virginia, for the relocation of the
federally owned water main at Arlington National Cemetery, making
additional land available for ground burials.
Sec. 302. Amounts deposited during the current fiscal year to the
special account established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are appropriated and
shall be available until expended to support activities at the Army
National Military Cemeteries.
TITLE IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall
remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless
expressly so provided herein.
Sec. 402. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used
for any program, project, or activity, when it is made known to the
Federal entity or official to which the funds are made available that
the program, project, or activity is not in compliance with any Federal
law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property
rights, or unfunded mandates.
Sec. 403. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016 for
pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be absorbed within the
levels appropriated in this Act.
Sec. 404. No part of any funds appropriated in this Act shall be
used by an agency of the executive branch, other than for normal and
recognized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or
propaganda purposes, and for the preparation, distribution, or use of
any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, radio, television, or film
presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before
Congress, except in presentation to Congress itself.
Sec. 405. All departments and agencies funded under this Act are
encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory authorities and
funding, to expand their use of ``E-Commerce'' technologies and
procedures in the conduct of their business practices and public
service activities.
Sec. 406. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and notifications
required by this Act shall be submitted to the Subcommittee on Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
Sec. 407. None of the funds made available in this Act may be
transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United
States Government except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer
authority provided in, this or any other appropriations Act.
Sec. 408. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this
Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public Web
site of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress
in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the
agency that it shall serve the national interest.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
(1) the public posting of the report compromises national
security; or
(2) the report contains confidential or proprietary
information.
(c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only
after such report has been made available to the requesting Committee
or Committees of Congress for no less than 45 days.
Sec. 409. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be
used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network
blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement
agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations,
prosecution, or adjudication activities.
Sec. 410. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated or
otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in this Act may
be used to construct, renovate, or expand any facility in the United
States, its territories, or possessions to house any individual
detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the
purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the
control of the Department of Defense.
(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any
modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba.
(c) An individual described in this subsection is any individual
who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United States Naval Station,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who--
(1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of
the Armed Forces of the United States; and
(2) is--
(A) in the custody or under the effective control
of the Department of Defense; or
(B) otherwise under detention at United States
Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction, Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016''.
Calendar No. 98
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2029
[Report No. 114-57]
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 4, 2015
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations
May 21, 2015
Reported with an amendment