[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2496 Received in Senate (RDS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2496


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 21, 2015

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
    To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing 
 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to 
     make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
          Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Construction Authorization and 
Choice Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
              CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out 
the replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center in Denver, Colorado, in fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to 
exceed $900,000,000.
    (b) Limitation on Obligation of Funds.--Notwithstanding section 
8104(c) of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, 
funds may not be obligated or expended for the project described in 
subsection (a) in an amount that would cause the total amount obligated 
for that project to exceed the amount specified in the law for that 
project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such specified 
amount).

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR EXPANDED AVAILABILITY 
              OF HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS 
              THROUGH THE USE OF AGREEMENTS WITH NON-DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS ENTITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, 
and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 
note) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``(as calculated 
        based on distance traveled)'' after ``40 miles''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking subclause (II), 
        and inserting the following new subclause (II):
                                    ``(II) faces an unusual or 
                                excessive burden in traveling to such a 
                                medical facility of the Department 
                                based on--
                                            ``(aa) geographical 
                                        challenges;
                                            ``(bb) environmental 
                                        factors, such as roads that are 
                                        not accessible to the general 
                                        public, traffic, or hazardous 
                                        weather;
                                            ``(cc) a medical condition 
                                        that impacts the ability to 
                                        travel; or
                                            ``(dd) other factors, as 
                                        determined by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with 
respect to care or services provided on or after such date.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2015.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.