[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5286 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5286

To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary 
              of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 19, 2016

Mr. Miller of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee 
 on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary 
              of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``VA Construction 
and Lease Authorization, Health, and Benefits Enhancement Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

                    Subtitle A--Non-Department Care

Sec. 101. Veterans Care Agreements.
Sec. 102. Payment of health care providers.
                      Subtitle B--Patient Advocacy

Sec. 111. Community meetings on improving care furnished by Department 
                            of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 112. Improvement of awareness of Patient Advocacy Program and 
                            patient bill of rights of Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 113. Comptroller General report on Patient Advocacy Program of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
            Subtitle C--Complementary and Integrative Health

Sec. 121. Pilot program on integration of complementary alternative 
                            medicines and related issues for veterans 
                            and family members of veterans.
              Subtitle D--Fitness of Health Care Providers

Sec. 131. Additional requirements for hiring of health care providers 
                            by Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 132. Provision of information on health care providers of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs to State 
                            Medical Boards.
Sec. 133. Report on compliance by Department of Veterans Affairs with 
                            reviews of health care providers leaving 
                            the Department or transferring to other 
                            facilities.
                       Subtitle E--Other Matters

Sec. 141. Audit of Veterans Health Administration programs of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
             TITLE II--CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES MATTERS

Sec. 201. Authorization of certain major medical facility projects of 
                            the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Submission of information.
Sec. 203. Authorization of major medical facility leases.
Sec. 204. Authorization of sale of Pershing Hall.
Sec. 205. Authority to enter into certain leases at the Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Campus.
             TITLE III--MATTERS RELATING TO TOXIC EXPOSURE

Sec. 301. Definitions.
Sec. 302. National center for research on the diagnosis and treatment 
                            of health conditions of the descendants of 
                            individuals exposed to toxic substances 
                            during service in the Armed Forces that are 
                            related to such service.
Sec. 303. Advisory Board.
Sec. 304. Declassification review by Department of Defense of certain 
                            incidents of exposure of members of the 
                            Armed Forces to toxic substances.
Sec. 305. National outreach campaign on potential long-term health 
                            effects of exposure to toxic substances by 
                            members of the Armed Forces and their 
                            descendants.
                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Special compensation for loss or loss of use of creative 
                            organs.
Sec. 402. Information technology system to assess and improve the 
                            family caregiver program; authority to 
                            expand program.
Sec. 403. Extension of cost-of-living adjustments for disability 
                            compensation.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

    Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States 
Code.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

                    Subtitle A--Non-Department Care

SEC. 101. VETERANS CARE AGREEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by inserting 
after section 1703 the following new section:
``Sec. 1703A. Veterans Care Agreements with certain health care 
              providers
    ``(a) Veterans Care Agreements.--(1) In addition to furnishing 
hospital care, medical services, or extended care under this chapter at 
facilities of the Department or under contracts or sharing agreements 
entered into pursuant to provisions of law other than this section, the 
Secretary may furnish such care and services to eligible veterans 
through the use of agreements entered into under this section by the 
Secretary with eligible providers.
    ``(2) The Secretary may enter into Veterans Care Agreements under 
this section with eligible providers to furnish hospital care, medical 
services, and extended care to veterans whom the Secretary determines 
that furnishing such care and services at facilities of the Department 
or under contracts or sharing agreements under provisions of law other 
than this section is impracticable or inadvisable because of the 
medical condition of the veteran, the travel involved, or the nature of 
the care or services required, or a combination of such factors.
    ``(3) The Secretary may enter into Veterans Care Agreements under 
this section with eligible providers if the Secretary determines that 
the hospital care or medical services to be furnished under the 
agreement is not available to be furnished by a non-Department health 
care provider under a contract or sharing agreement entered into 
pursuant to provisions of law other than this section.
    ``(b) Veteran Eligibility.--Eligibility of a veteran for care and 
services under this section shall be determined as if such care or 
services were furnished in a facility of the Department, and provisions 
of this title applicable to veterans receiving such care and services 
in a facility of the Department shall apply to veterans receiving care 
and services under this section.
    ``(c) Provider Eligibility.--Subject to the certification process 
pursuant to subsection (d)(1), a provider of hospital care, medical 
services, or extended care is eligible to enter into a Veterans Care 
Agreement under this section if the Secretary determines that the 
provider meets each of the following criteria:
            ``(1) The gross annual revenue of the provider in the year 
        preceding the year in which the provider enters into the 
        Veterans Care Agreement does not exceed $11,000,000 (as 
        adjusted in a manner similar to amounts adjusted pursuant to 
        section 5312 of this title) or, with respect to a provider that 
        is a nursing care facility (skilled nursing facility), 
        $27,500,000 (as so adjusted).
            ``(2) The provider does not otherwise provide such care or 
        services to patients pursuant to a contract entered into with a 
        department or agency of the Federal Government.
            ``(3) The provider is--
                    ``(A) a provider of services that has enrolled and 
                entered into a provider agreement under section 1866(a) 
                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a));
                    ``(B) a physician or supplier that has enrolled and 
                entered into a participation agreement under section 
                1842(h) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(h));
                    ``(C) a provider of items and services receiving 
                payment under a State plan under title XIX of such Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or a waiver of such a plan;
                    ``(D) an Aging and Disability Resource Center, an 
                area agency on aging, or a State agency (as defined in 
                section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
                U.S.C. 3002)); or
                    ``(E) a center for independent living (as defined 
                in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
                U.S.C. 796a)).
            ``(4) Any additional criteria determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(d) Provider Certification.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a 
process for the certification of eligible providers to enter into 
Veterans Care Agreements under this section that shall, at a minimum, 
set forth the following:
            ``(A) Procedures for the submission of applications for 
        certification and deadlines for actions taken by the Secretary 
        with respect to such applications.
            ``(B) Standards and procedures for the approval and denial 
        of certifications and the revocation of certifications.
            ``(C) Procedures for assessing eligible providers based on 
        the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse of such providers similar 
        to the level of screening under section 1866(j)(2)(B) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(j)(2)(B)) and the standards 
        set forth under section 9.104 of title 48, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, or any successor regulation.
            ``(D) Requirement for denial or revocation of certification 
        if the Secretary determines that the otherwise eligible 
        provider is--
                    ``(i) excluded from participation in a Federal 
                health care program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of 
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(f))) under 
                section 1128 or 1128A of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1320a-7 and 1320a-7a); or
                    ``(ii) identified as an excluded source on the list 
                maintained in the System for Award Management, or any 
                successor system.
            ``(E) Procedures by which a provider whose certification is 
        denied or revoked under the procedures established under this 
        subsection will be identified as an excluded source on the list 
        maintained in the System for Award Management, or successor 
        system, if the Secretary determines that such exclusion is 
        appropriate.
    ``(2) To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall establish the 
procedures under paragraph (1) in a manner that takes into account any 
certification process administered by another department or agency of 
the Federal Government that an eligible provider has completed by 
reason of being a provider described in any of subparagraphs (A) 
through (E) of subsection (c)(3).
    ``(e) Terms of Agreements.--(1) The Secretary shall ensure that 
each Veterans Care Agreement include provisions requiring the eligible 
provider to do the following:
            ``(A) To accept payment for care and services furnished 
        under this section in accordance with paragraph (2).
            ``(B) To accept payment under subparagraph (A) as payment 
        in full for care and services furnished under this section and 
        to not seek any payment for such care and services from the 
        recipient of such care.
            ``(C) To furnish under this section only the care and 
        services authorized by the Department under this section unless 
        the eligible provider receives prior written consent from the 
        Department to furnish care and services outside the scope of 
        such authorization.
            ``(D) To bill the Department for care and services 
        furnished under this section in accordance with a methodology 
        established by the Secretary for purposes of this section.
            ``(E) Not to seek to recover or collect from a health-plan 
        contract or third party (as those terms are defined in section 
        1729 of this title) for any care or services for which payment 
        is made by the Department under this section.
            ``(F) To provide medical records for veterans furnished 
        care and services under this section to the Department in a 
        timeframe and format specified by the Secretary for purposes of 
        this section, except the Secretary may not require that any 
        payment by the Secretary to the eligible provider be contingent 
        on such provision of medical records.
            ``(G) To meet other such terms and conditions, including 
        quality of care assurance standards, as the Secretary may 
        specify for purposes of this section.
    ``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) through (G), rates 
negotiated for care and services furnished under a Veterans Care 
Agreement shall not be more than the rates paid by the United States to 
a provider of services (as defined in section 1861(u) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(u))) or a supplier (as defined in section 
1861(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(d))) under the Medicare program 
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) 
for the same care or services.
    ``(B) With respect to the furnishing of care or services under this 
section to an eligible veteran who resides in a highly rural area (as 
defined under the rural-urban commuting area codes developed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may negotiate a rate that 
is more than the rate paid by the United States as described in 
subparagraph (B).
    ``(C) With respect to furnishing care or services under a Veterans 
Care Agreement in Alaska, the Alaska Fee Schedule of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs will be followed, except for when another payment 
agreement, including a contract or provider agreement, is in place.
    ``(D) With respect to furnishing care or services under a Veterans 
Care Agreement in a State with an All-Payer Model Agreement under the 
Social Security Act that became effective on or after January 1, 2014, 
the Medicare payment rates under clause (i) shall be calculated based 
on the payment rates under such agreement, or any such successor 
agreement.
    ``(E) With respect to furnishing care or services under a Veterans 
Care Agreement in a region in which the Secretary determines that 
adjusting the rate paid by the United States as described in 
subparagraph (A) is appropriate, the Secretary may negotiate such an 
adjusted rate.
    ``(F) With respect to furnishing care or services under a Veterans 
Care Agreement in a location or in a situation in which an exception to 
the rates paid by the United States under the Medicare program under 
title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) for the 
same care or services applies, the Secretary shall follow such 
exception.
    ``(G) With respect to furnishing care or services under a Veterans 
Care Agreement for care or services not covered under the Medicare 
program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et 
seq.), the Secretary shall establish a schedule of fees for such care 
or services.
    ``(f) Exclusion of Certain Federal Contracting Provisions.--(1) 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may enter 
into a Veterans Care Agreement using procedures other than competitive 
procedures.
    ``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and unless 
otherwise provided in this section, an eligible provider that enters 
into a Veterans Care Agreement under this section is not subject to, in 
the carrying out of the agreement, any provision of law that providers 
of services and suppliers under the original Medicare fee-for-service 
program under parts A and B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) or the Medicaid program under title XIX of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) are not subject to.
    ``(B) In addition to the provisions of laws covered by subparagraph 
(A), an eligible provider shall be subject to the following provisions 
of law:
            ``(i) Any applicable law regarding integrity, ethics, or 
        fraud, or that subject a person to civil or criminal penalties.
            ``(ii) Section 431 of title 18.
            ``(iii) Section 1352 of title 31, except for the filing 
        requirements under subsection (b) of such section.
            ``(iv) Section 4705 or 4712 of title 41, and any other 
        applicable law regarding the protection of whistleblowers.
            ``(v) Section 4706(d) of title 41.
            ``(vi) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
        2000e et seq.) to the same extent as such title applies with 
        respect to the eligible provider in providing care or services 
        through an agreement or arrangement other than under a Veterans 
        Care Agreement.
    ``(C) An eligible provider that receives a payment from the Federal 
Government pursuant to a Veterans Care Agreement shall not be treated 
as a Federal contractor or subcontractor by the Office of Federal 
Contract Compliance Programs of the Department of Labor based on the 
work performed or actions taken by such eligible provider that resulted 
in the receipt of such payments.
    ``(g) Termination of a Veterans Care Agreement.--(1) An eligible 
provider may terminate a Veterans Care Agreement with the Secretary 
under this section at such time and upon such notice to the Secretary 
as the Secretary may specify for purposes of this section.
    ``(2) The Secretary may terminate a Veterans Care Agreement with an 
eligible provider under this section at such time and upon such notice 
to the eligible provider as the Secretary may specify for the purposes 
of this section, if the Secretary--
            ``(A) determines that the eligible provider failed to 
        comply with the provisions of the agreement or this section or 
        other applicable provision of law;
            ``(B) makes a revocation pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(4);
            ``(C) ascertains that the eligible provider has been 
        convicted of a felony or other serious offense under Federal or 
        State law and determines that the continued participation of 
        the eligible provider would be detrimental to the best 
        interests of veterans of the Department; or
            ``(D) determines that it is reasonable to terminate the 
        agreement based on the health care needs of veterans.
    ``(h) Disputes.--(1) The Secretary shall establish administrative 
procedures for eligible providers with which the Secretary has entered 
into a Veterans Care Agreement to present any dispute arising under or 
related to the agreement.
    ``(2) Before using any dispute resolution mechanism under chapter 
71 of title 41 with respect to a dispute arising under a Veterans Care 
Agreement under this section, an eligible provider must first exhaust 
the administrative procedures established by the Secretary under 
paragraph (1).
    ``(i) Annual Reports.--Not later than October 1 of the year 
following the fiscal year in which the Secretary first enters into a 
Veterans Care Agreement, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report 
that includes--
            ``(1) a list of all Veterans Care Agreements entered into 
        as of the date of the report; and
            ``(2) summaries of each determination made by the Secretary 
        under subsection (h)(2) during the fiscal year covered by the 
        report.
    ``(j) Quality of Care.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall use the quality of care standards set forth or used by the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    ``(k) Delegation.--The Secretary may delegate the authority to 
enter into or terminate a Veterans Care Agreement, or to make a 
determination described in subsection (h)(2), at a level not below the 
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Community Care.
    ``(l) Sunset.--The Secretary may not enter into or renew a Veterans 
Care Agreement under this section after September 30, 2017.
    ``(m) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `appropriate congressional committees' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
                House of Representatives and the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
                of Representatives and the Senate.
            ``(2) The term `eligible provider' means a provider of 
        hospital care, medical services, or extended care that the 
        Secretary determines is eligible to enter into Veterans Care 
        Agreements under subsection (c).
            ``(3) The term `Veterans Care Agreement' means an agreement 
        entered into by the Secretary with an eligible provider under 
        subsection (a)(1).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1703 the following new item:

``1703A. Veterans Care Agreements with certain health care 
                            providers.''.

SEC. 102. PAYMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 is amended by inserting after section 
1703A, as added by section 101, the following new section:
``Sec. 1703B. Payment of health care providers
    ``(a) Prompt Payment.--If, in making payments to non-Department 
health care providers under contracts or sharing agreements entered 
into pursuant to this chapter or any other provision of law, the 
Secretary is required to pay any fees or penalties by reason of not 
fully complying with chapter 39 of title 31 (commonly referred to as 
the `Prompt Payment Act'), such fees or penalties shall be derived from 
the Medical Services account of the Department.
    ``(b) Quarterly Reports.--On a quarterly basis during fiscal years 
2018 through 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report, with respect to the quarter covered by the report, identifying 
each fee or penalty paid by the Secretary for not fully complying with 
chapter 39 of title 31 as described in subsection (a) and including an 
explanation of the reason the Secretary did not fully comply with such 
chapter 39.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1703A, as added by section 101, the following new item:

``1703B. Payment of health care providers.''.

                      Subtitle B--Patient Advocacy

SEC. 111. COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON IMPROVING CARE FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Community Meetings.--
            (1) Medical centers.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once 
        every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary shall ensure that each 
        medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs hosts a 
        community meeting open to the public on improving health care 
        furnished by the Secretary.
            (2) Community based outpatient clinics.--Not later than one 
        year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less 
        frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary shall ensure 
        that each community based outpatient clinic of the Department 
        hosts a community meeting open to the public on improving 
        health care furnished by the Secretary.
    (b) Attendance by Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 
or Designee.--
            (1) In general.--Each community meeting hosted by a medical 
        facility or community based outpatient clinic under subsection 
        (a) shall be attended by the Director of the Veterans 
        Integrated Service Network in which the medical facility or 
        community based outpatient clinic, as the case may be, is 
        located. Subject to paragraph (2), the Director may delegate 
        such attendance only to an employee who works in the Office of 
        the Director.
            (2) Attendance by director.--Each Director of a Veterans 
        Integrated Service Network shall personally attend not less 
        than one community meeting under subsection (a) hosted by each 
        medical facility located in the Veterans Integrated Service 
        Network each year.
    (c) Notice.--The Secretary shall notify the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House 
of Representatives, and each Member of Congress (as defined in section 
104) who represents the area in which the medical facility is located 
of a community meeting under subsection (a) by not later than 10 days 
before such community meeting occurs.

SEC. 112. IMPROVEMENT OF AWARENESS OF PATIENT ADVOCACY PROGRAM AND 
              PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in as many prominent locations 
as the Secretary determines appropriate to be seen by the largest 
percentage of patients and family members of patients at each medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs--
            (1) display the purposes of the Patient Advocacy Program of 
        the Department and the contact information for the patient 
        advocate at such medical facility; and
            (2) display the rights and responsibilities of--
                    (A) patients and family members and patients at 
                such medical facility; and
                    (B) with respect to community living centers and 
                other residential facilities of the Department, 
                residents and family members of residents at such 
                medical facility.

SEC. 113. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON PATIENT ADVOCACY PROGRAM OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
report on the Patient Advocacy Program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (in this section referred to as the ``Program'').
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) A description of the Program, including--
                    (A) the purpose of the Program;
                    (B) the activities carried out under the Program; 
                and
                    (C) the sufficiency of the Program in achieving the 
                purpose of the Program.
            (2) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing of 
        employees of the Department responsible for carrying out the 
        Program.
            (3) An assessment of the sufficiency of the training of 
        such employees.
            (4) An assessment of--
                    (A) the awareness of the Program among veterans and 
                family members of veterans; and
                    (B) the use of the Program by veterans and family 
                members of veterans.
            (5) Such recommendations and proposals for improving or 
        modifying the Program as the Comptroller General considers 
        appropriate.
            (6) Such other information with respect to the Program as 
        the Comptroller General considers appropriate.

            Subtitle C--Complementary and Integrative Health

SEC. 121. PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEGRATION OF COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE 
              MEDICINES AND RELATED ISSUES FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY 
              MEMBERS OF VETERANS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall commence a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 
        advisability of using wellness-based programs (as defined by 
        the Secretary) to complement the provision of pain management 
        and related health care services, including mental health care 
        services, to veterans.
            (2) Matters addressed.--In carrying out the pilot program, 
        the Secretary shall assess the following:
                    (A) Means of improving coordination between 
                Federal, State, local, and community providers of 
                health care in the provision of pain management and 
                related health care services to veterans.
                    (B) Means of enhancing outreach, and coordination 
                of outreach, by and among providers of health care 
                referred to in subparagraph (A) on the pain management 
                and related health care services available to veterans.
                    (C) Means of using wellness-based programs of 
                providers of health care referred to in subparagraph 
                (A) as complements to the provision by the Department 
                of pain management and related health care services to 
                veterans.
                    (D) Whether wellness-based programs described in 
                subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) are effective in enhancing the quality 
                        of life and well-being of veterans;
                            (ii) are effective in increasing the 
                        adherence of veterans to the primary pain 
                        management and related health care services 
                        provided such veterans by the Department;
                            (iii) have an effect on the sense of well-
                        being of veterans who receive primary pain 
                        management and related health care services 
                        from the Department; and
                            (iv) are effective in encouraging veterans 
                        receiving health care from the Department to 
                        adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
    (b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program 
under subsection (a)(1) for a period of three years.
    (c) Locations.--
            (1) Facilities.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
        program under subsection (a)(1) at facilities of the Department 
        providing pain management and related health care services, 
        including mental health care services, to veterans. In 
        selecting such facilities to carry out the pilot program, the 
        Secretary shall select not fewer than 15 medical centers of the 
        Department, of which not fewer than two shall be polytrauma 
        rehabilitation centers of the Department.
            (2) Medical centers with prescription rates of opioids that 
        conflict with care standards.--In selecting the medical centers 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to 
        medical centers of the Department at which there is a 
        prescription rate of opioids that conflicts with or is 
        otherwise inconsistent with the standards of appropriate and 
        safe care.
    (d) Provision of Services.--Under the pilot program under 
subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall provide covered services to 
covered veterans by integrating complementary and alternative medicines 
and integrative health services with other services provided by the 
Department at the medical centers selected under subsection (c).
    (e) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of the pilot program under 
subsection (a)(1), a covered veteran is any veteran who--
            (1) has a mental health condition diagnosed by a clinician 
        of the Department;
            (2) experiences chronic pain;
            (3) has a chronic condition being treated by a clinician of 
        the Department; or
            (4) is not described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) and 
        requests to participate in the pilot program or is referred by 
        a clinician of the Department who is treating the veteran.
    (f) Covered Services.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of the pilot program, covered 
        services are services consisting of complementary and 
        integrative health services as selected by the Secretary.
            (2) Administration of services.--Covered services shall be 
        administered under the pilot program as follows:
                    (A) Covered services shall be administered by 
                professionals or other instructors with appropriate 
                training and expertise in complementary and integrative 
                health services who are employees of the Department or 
                with whom the Department enters into an agreement to 
                provide such services.
                    (B) Covered services shall be included as part of 
                the Patient Aligned Care Teams initiative of the Office 
                of Patient Care Services, Primary Care Program Office, 
                in coordination with the Office of Patient Centered 
                Care and Cultural Transformation.
                    (C) Covered services shall be made available to--
                            (i) covered veterans who have received 
                        conventional treatments from the Department for 
                        the conditions for which the covered veteran 
                        seeks complementary and integrative health 
                        services under the pilot program; and
                            (ii) covered veterans who have not received 
                        conventional treatments from the Department for 
                        such conditions.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 months after the date on 
        which the Secretary commences the pilot program under 
        subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
        the pilot program.
            (2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include 
        the following:
                    (A) The findings and conclusions of the Secretary 
                with respect to the pilot program under subsection 
                (a)(1), including with respect to--
                            (i) the use and efficacy of the 
                        complementary and integrative health services 
                        established under the pilot program;
                            (ii) the outreach conducted by the 
                        Secretary to inform veterans and community 
                        organizations about the pilot program; and
                            (iii) an assessment of the benefit of the 
                        pilot program to covered veterans in mental 
                        health diagnoses, pain management, and 
                        treatment of chronic illness.
                    (B) Identification of any unresolved barriers that 
                impede the ability of the Secretary to incorporate 
                complementary and integrative health services with 
                other health care services provided by the Department.
                    (C) Such recommendations for the continuation or 
                expansion of the pilot program as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
    (h) Complementary and Integrative Health Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``complementary and integrative health'' shall have the 
meaning given that term by the National Institutes of Health.

              Subtitle D--Fitness of Health Care Providers

SEC. 131. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRING OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS 
              BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    As part of the hiring process for each health care provider 
considered for a position at the Department of Veterans Affairs after 
the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall require from the medical board of each State in which the health 
care provider has a medical license--
            (1) information on any violation of the requirements of the 
        medical license of the health care provider during the 20-year 
        period preceding the consideration of the health care provider 
        by the Department; and
            (2) information on whether the health care provider has 
        entered into any settlement agreement for the disciplinary 
        charge relating to the practice of medicine by the health care 
        provider.

SEC. 132. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO STATE MEDICAL BOARDS.

    Notwithstanding section 552a of title 5, United States Code, with 
respect to each health care provider of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs who has violated a requirement of the medical license of the 
health care provider, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide 
to the medical board of each State in which the health care provider is 
licensed detailed information with respect to such violation, 
regardless of whether such board has formally requested such 
information.

SEC. 133. REPORT ON COMPLIANCE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WITH 
              REVIEWS OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT 
              OR TRANSFERRING TO OTHER FACILITIES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report on the compliance by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with the policy of the Department--
            (1) to conduct a review of each health care provider of the 
        Department who transfers to another medical facility of the 
        Department, retires, or is terminated to determine whether 
        there are any concerns, complaints, or allegations of 
        violations relating to the medical practice of the health care 
        provider; and
            (2) to take appropriate action with respect to any such 
        concern, complaint, or allegation.

                       Subtitle E--Other Matters

SEC. 141. AUDIT OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Audit.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter 
into a contract with a nongovernmental entity under which the entity 
shall conduct audits of the programs of the Veterans Health 
Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify ways 
to improve the furnishing of benefits and health care administered by 
the Veterans Health Administration to veterans and families of 
veterans.
    (b) Audit Requirements.--In carrying out each audit under 
subsection (a), the entity shall perform the following:
            (1) Five-year risk assessments to identify the functions, 
        staff organizations, and staff offices of the Veterans Health 
        Administration that would lead towards the greatest improvement 
        in furnishing of benefits and health care to veterans and 
        families of veterans.
            (2) Development of plans that are informed by the risk 
        assessment under paragraph (1) to conduct audits of the 
        functions, staff organizations, and staff offices identified 
        under paragraph (1).
            (3) Conduct audits in accordance with the plans developed 
        pursuant to paragraph (2).
    (c) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which each 
audit is completed under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate a report that includes--
            (1) a summary of the audit;
            (2) the findings of the entity that conducted the audit 
        with respect to the audit; and
            (3) such recommendations as the Secretary determines 
        appropriate for legislative or administrative action to improve 
        the furnishing of benefits and health care to veterans and 
        families of veterans.

             TITLE II--CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES MATTERS

SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out 
the following major medical facility projects, with each project to be 
carried out in an amount not to exceed the amount specified for that 
project:
            (1) Seismic corrections to buildings, including 
        retrofitting and replacement of high-risk buildings, in San 
        Francisco, California, in an amount not to exceed $175,880,000.
            (2) Seismic corrections to facilities, including facilities 
        to support homeless veterans, at the medical center in West Los 
        Angeles, California, in an amount not to exceed $100,250,000.
            (3) Seismic corrections to the mental health and community 
        living center in Long Beach, California, in an amount not to 
        exceed $282,100,000.
            (4) Construction of an outpatient clinic, administrative 
        space, cemetery, and columbarium in Alameda, California, in an 
        amount not to exceed $83,782,000.
            (5) Realignment of medical facilities in Livermore, 
        California, in an amount not to exceed $188,650,000.
            (6) Construction of a replacement community living center 
        in Perry Point, Maryland, in an amount not to exceed 
        $92,700,000.
            (7) Seismic corrections and other renovations to several 
        buildings and construction of a specialty care building in 
        American Lake, Washington, in an amount not to exceed 
        $13,830,000.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations for Construction.--There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
fiscal year 2016 or the year in which funds are appropriated for the 
Construction, Major Projects, account, $937,192,000 for the projects 
authorized in subsection (a).
    (c) Limitation.--The projects authorized in subsection (a) may only 
be carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2016 pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations in subsection (b);
            (2) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a 
        fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 that remain available for 
        obligation;
            (3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a 
        fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 that remain available for 
        obligation;
            (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for fiscal year 2016 for a category of activity not specific to 
        a project;
            (5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 for a category of 
        activity not specific to a project; and
            (6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
        for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 for a category of 
        activity not specific to a project.

SEC. 202. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
for each project authorized in section 2(a), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate the following information:
            (1) A line item accounting of expenditures relating to 
        construction management carried out by the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs for such project.
            (2) The future amounts that are budgeted to be obligated 
        for construction management carried out by the Department for 
        such project.
            (3) A justification for the expenditures described in 
        paragraph (1) and the future amounts described in paragraph 
        (2).
            (4) Any agreement entered into by the Secretary regarding 
        the Army Corps of Engineers providing services relating to such 
        project, including reimbursement agreements and the costs to 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs for such services.

SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major 
medical facility leases at the locations specified, and in an amount 
for each lease not to exceed the amount shown for such location (not 
including any estimated cancellation costs):
            (1) For an outpatient clinic, Ann Arbor, Michigan, an 
        amount not to exceed $17,093,000.
            (2) For an outpatient mental health clinic, Birmingham, 
        Alabama, an amount not to exceed $6,971,000.
            (3) For an outpatient specialty clinic, Birmingham, 
        Alabama, an amount not to exceed $10,479,000.
            (4) For research space, Boston, Massachusetts, an amount 
        not to exceed $5,497,000.
            (5) For research space, Charleston, South Carolina, an 
        amount not to exceed $6,581,000.
            (6) For an outpatient clinic, Daytona Beach, Florida, an 
        amount not to exceed $12,664,000.
            (7) For Chief Business Office Purchased Care office space, 
        Denver, Colorado, an amount not to exceed $17,215,000.
            (8) For an outpatient clinic, Gainesville, Florida, an 
        amount not to exceed $4,686,000.
            (9) For an outpatient clinic, Hampton Roads, Virginia, an 
        amount not to exceed $18,124,000.
            (10) For research space Mission Bay, California, an amount 
        not to exceed $23,454,000.
            (11) For an outpatient clinic, Missoula, Montana, an amount 
        not to exceed $7,130,000.
            (12) For an outpatient clinic, Northern Colorado, Colorado, 
        an amount not to exceed $8,776,000.
            (13) For an outpatient clinic, Ocala, Florida, an amount 
        not to exceed $5,279,000.
            (14) For an outpatient clinic, Oxnard, California, an 
        amount not to exceed $6,297,000.
            (15) For an outpatient clinic, Pike County, Georgia, an 
        amount not to exceed $5,757,000.
            (16) For an outpatient clinic, Portland, Maine, an amount 
        not to exceed $6,846,000.
            (17) For an outpatient clinic, Raleigh, North Carolina, an 
        amount not to exceed $21,607,000.
            (18) For an outpatient clinic, Santa Rosa, California, an 
        amount not to exceed $6,498,000.

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF SALE OF PERSHING HALL.

    Section 403 of the Veterans' Benefits Programs Improvement Act of 
1991 (Public Law 102-86; 38 U.S.C. 2400 note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Authorization of Sale.--(1) The Secretary may sell for fair 
market value Pershing Hall and transfer and convey to the purchaser all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in or to such property. 
The Secretary shall determine fair market value based on an independent 
assessment conducted by another department or agency of the Federal 
Government or a nongovernmental entity. The Secretary may only accept 
money as consideration for such sale.
    ``(2) If the Secretary sells Pershing Hall pursuant to paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall return to the entity from which the United 
States acquired Pershing Hall pursuant to the Act of June 28, 1935 
(Chapter 323; 49 Stat. 426), any personal property (including 
memorabilia regarding General Pershing and the American Expeditionary 
Forces in France during World War I) in the possession of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs as of the date of the enactment of this 
subsection that was located in Pershing Hall (or otherwise associated 
with Pershing Hall) on the date of such acquisition.
    ``(3) The funds received by the Secretary pursuant to the sale of 
Pershing Hall under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the 
`Construction, Major Projects' account of the Department and be made 
available, without fiscal year limitation, for the purposes of such 
account.
    ``(4)(A) Effective on the day after the date of the sale of 
Pershing Hall authorized under paragraph (1), the authority of the 
Secretary to carry out subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) shall 
terminate except for purposes of carrying out paragraph (2) of this 
subsection.
    ``(B) Effective on the date that is one year after the date of the 
sale of Pershing Hall authorized under paragraph (1), the Pershing Hall 
Revolving Fund shall be abolished and the corpus of the fund, including 
accrued interest, shall be deposited in the `Construction, Major 
Projects' account of the Department and be made available, without 
fiscal year limitation, for the purposes of such account.''.

SEC. 205. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN LEASES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS WEST LOS ANGELES CAMPUS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out 
leases described in subsection (b) at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California (hereinafter 
in this section referred to as the ``Campus'').
    (b) Leases Described.--Leases described in this subsection are the 
following:
            (1) Any enhanced-use lease of real property under 
        subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, for 
        purposes of providing supportive housing, as that term is 
        defined in section 8161(3) of such title, that principally 
        benefit veterans and their families.
            (2) Any lease of real property for a term not to exceed 50 
        years to a third party to provide services that principally 
        benefit veterans and their families and that are limited to one 
        or more of the following purposes:
                    (A) The promotion of health and wellness, including 
                nutrition and spiritual wellness.
                    (B) Education.
                    (C) Vocational training, skills building, or other 
                training related to employment.
                    (D) Peer activities, socialization, or physical 
                recreation.
                    (E) Assistance with legal issues and Federal 
                benefits.
                    (F) Volunteerism.
                    (G) Family support services, including child care.
                    (H) Transportation.
                    (I) Services in support of one or more of the 
                purposes specified in subparagraphs (A) through (H).
            (3) A lease of real property for a term not to exceed 10 
        years to The Regents of the University of California, a 
        corporation organized under the laws of the State of 
        California, on behalf of its University of California, Los 
        Angeles (UCLA) campus (hereinafter in this section referred to 
        as ``The Regents''), if--
                    (A) the lease is consistent with the master plan 
                described in subsection (g);
                    (B) the provision of services to veterans is the 
                predominant focus of the activities of The Regents at 
                the Campus during the term of the lease;
                    (C) The Regents expressly agrees to provide, during 
                the term of the lease and to an extent and in a manner 
                that the Secretary considers appropriate, additional 
                services and support (for which The Regents is not 
                compensated by the Secretary or through an existing 
                medical affiliation agreement) that--
                            (i) principally benefit veterans and their 
                        families, including veterans that are severely 
                        disabled, women, aging, or homeless; and
                            (ii) may consist of activities relating to 
                        the medical, clinical, therapeutic, dietary, 
                        rehabilitative, legal, mental, spiritual, 
                        physical, recreational, research, and 
                        counseling needs of veterans and their families 
                        or any of the purposes specified in any of 
                        subparagraphs (A) through (I) of paragraph (1); 
                        and
                    (D) The Regents maintains records documenting the 
                value of the additional services and support that The 
                Regents provides pursuant to subparagraph (C) for the 
                duration of the lease and makes such records available 
                to the Secretary.
    (c) Limitation on Land-Sharing Agreements.--The Secretary may not 
carry out any land-sharing agreement pursuant to section 8153 of title 
38, United States Code, at the Campus unless such agreement--
            (1) provides additional health care resources to the 
        Campus; and
            (2) benefits veterans and their families other than from 
        the generation of revenue for the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs.
    (d) Revenues From Leases at the Campus.--Any funds received by the 
Secretary under a lease described in subsection (b) shall be credited 
to the applicable Department medical facilities account and shall be 
available, without fiscal year limitation and without further 
appropriation, exclusively for the renovation and maintenance of the 
land and facilities at the Campus.
    (e) Easements.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
        (other than Federal laws relating to environmental and historic 
        preservation), pursuant to section 8124 of title 38, United 
        States Code, the Secretary may grant easements or rights-of-way 
        on, above, or under lands at the Campus to--
                    (A) any local or regional public transportation 
                authority to access, construct, use, operate, maintain, 
                repair, or reconstruct public mass transit facilities, 
                including, fixed guideway facilities and transportation 
                centers; and
                    (B) the State of California, County of Los Angeles, 
                City of Los Angeles, or any agency or political 
                subdivision thereof, or any public utility company 
                (including any company providing electricity, gas, 
                water, sewage, or telecommunication services to the 
                public) for the purpose of providing such public 
                utilities.
            (2) Improvements.--Any improvements proposed pursuant to an 
        easement or right-of-way authorized under paragraph (1) shall 
        be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
            (3) Termination.--Any easement or right-of-way authorized 
        under paragraph (1) shall be terminated upon the abandonment or 
        nonuse of the easement or right-of-way and all right, title, 
        and interest in the land covered by the easement or right-of-
        way shall revert to the United States.
    (f) Prohibition on Sale of Property.--Notwithstanding section 8164 
of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary may not sell or 
otherwise convey to a third party fee simple title to any real property 
or improvements to real property made at the Campus.
    (g) Consistency With Master Plan.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
each lease carried out under this section is consistent with the draft 
master plan approved by the Secretary on January 28, 2016, or successor 
master plans.
    (h) Compliance With Certain Laws.--
            (1) Laws relating to leases and land use.--If the Inspector 
        General of the Department of Veterans Affairs determines, as 
        part of an audit report or evaluation conducted by the 
        Inspector General, that the Department is not in compliance 
        with all Federal laws relating to leases and land use at the 
        Campus, or that significant mismanagement has occurred with 
        respect to leases or land use at the Campus, the Secretary may 
        not enter into any lease or land-sharing agreement at the 
        Campus, or renew any such lease or land-sharing agreement that 
        is not in compliance with such laws, until the Secretary 
        certifies to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, 
        the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives, and each Member of the Senate and the House of 
        Representatives who represents the area in which the Campus is 
        located that all recommendations included in the audit report 
        or evaluation have been implemented.
            (2) Compliance of particular leases.--Except as otherwise 
        expressly provided by this section, no lease may be entered 
        into or renewed under this section unless the lease complies 
        with chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, and all 
        Federal laws relating to environmental and historic 
        preservation.
    (i) Veterans and Community Oversight and Engagement Board.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a 
        Veterans and Community Oversight and Engagement Board (in this 
        subsection referred to as the ``Board'') for the Campus to 
        coordinate locally with the Department of Veterans Affairs to--
                    (A) identify the goals of the community and veteran 
                partnership;
                    (B) provide advice and recommendations to the 
                Secretary to improve services and outcomes for 
                veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and the families 
                of such veterans and members; and
                    (C) provide advice and recommendations on the 
                implementation of the draft master plan approved by the 
                Secretary on January 28, 2016, and on the creation and 
                implementation of any successor master plans.
            (2) Members.--The Board shall be comprised of a number of 
        members that the Secretary determines appropriate, of which not 
        less than 50 percent shall be veterans. The nonveteran members 
        shall be family members of veterans, veteran advocates, service 
        providers, real estate professionals familiar with housing 
        development projects, or other stakeholders.
            (3) Community input.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Board shall--
                    (A) provide the community opportunities to 
                collaborate and communicate with the Board, including 
                by conducting public forums on the Campus; and
                    (B) focus on local issues regarding the Department 
                that are identified by the community, including with 
                respect to health care, benefits, and memorial services 
                at the Campus and implementation of the draft master 
                plan and any subsequent plans.
    (j) Notification and Reports.--
            (1) Congressional notification.--With respect to each lease 
        or land-sharing agreement intended to be entered into or 
        renewed at the Campus, the Secretary shall notify the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives, and each Member of the 
        Senate and the House of Representatives who represents the area 
        in which the Campus is located of the intent of the Secretary 
        to enter into or renew the lease or land-sharing agreement not 
        later than 45 days before entering into or renewing the lease 
        or land-sharing agreement.
            (2) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
        annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, and each 
        Member of the Senate and the House of Representatives who 
        represents the area in which the Campus is located an annual 
        report evaluating all leases and land-sharing agreements 
        carried out at the Campus, including--
                    (A) an evaluation of the management of the revenue 
                generated by the leases; and
                    (B) the records described in subsection (b)(3)(D).
            (3) Inspector general report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than each of two years 
                and five years after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act, and as determined necessary by the Inspector 
                General of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
                thereafter, the Inspector General shall submit to the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives, and each Member of the Senate and the 
                House of Representatives who represents the area in 
                which the Campus is located a report on all leases 
                carried out at the Campus and the management by the 
                Department of the use of land at the Campus, including 
                an assessment of the efforts of the Department to 
                implement the master plan described in subsection (g) 
                with respect to the Campus.
                    (B) Consideration of annual report.--In preparing 
                each report required by subparagraph (A), the Inspector 
                General shall take into account the most recent report 
                submitted to Congress by the Secretary under paragraph 
                (2).
    (k) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as a limitation on the authority of the Secretary to enter 
into other agreements regarding the Campus that are authorized by law 
and not inconsistent with this section.
    (l) Principally Benefit Veterans and Their Families Defined.--In 
this section the term ``principally benefit veterans and their 
families'', with respect to services provided by a person or entity 
under a lease of property or land-sharing agreement--
            (1) means services--
                    (A) provided exclusively to veterans and their 
                families; or
                    (B) that are designed for the particular needs of 
                veterans and their families, as opposed to the general 
                public, and any benefit of those services to the 
                general public is ancillary to the intended benefit to 
                veterans and their families; and
            (2) excludes services in which the only benefit to veterans 
        and their families is the generation of revenue for the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (m) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Prohibition on disposal of property.--Section 224(a) of 
        the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related 
        Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161; 121 
        Stat. 2272) is amended by striking ``The Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs'' and inserting ``Except as authorized under the VA 
        Construction and Lease Authorization, Health, and Benefits 
        Enhancement Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs''.
            (2) Enhanced-use leases.--Section 8162(c) is amended by 
        inserting ``, other than an enhanced-use lease under the VA 
        Construction and Lease Authorization, Health, and Benefits 
        Enhancement Act,'' before ``shall be considered''.

             TITLE III--MATTERS RELATING TO TOXIC EXPOSURE

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Armed force.--The term ``Armed Force'' means the United 
        States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, 
        including the reserve components thereof.
            (2) Descendant.--The term ``descendant'' means, with 
        respect to an individual, the biological child or grandchild of 
        that individual.
            (3) Exposed.--The term ``exposed'' means, with respect to a 
        toxic substance, that an individual came into contact with that 
        toxic substance in a manner that could be hazardous to the 
        health of that individual, that may include if that toxic 
        substance was inhaled, ingested, or touched the skin or eyes.
            (4) Exposure.--The term ``exposure'' means, with respect to 
        a toxic substance, an event during which an individual was 
        exposed to that toxic substance.
            (5) Toxic substance.--The term ``toxic substance'' means 
        any substance determined by the Administrator of the 
        Environmental Protection Agency to be harmful to the 
        environment or hazardous to the health of an individual if 
        inhaled or ingested by or absorbed through the skin of that 
        individual.
            (6) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 302. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT 
              OF HEALTH CONDITIONS OF THE DESCENDANTS OF INDIVIDUALS 
              EXPOSED TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES DURING SERVICE IN THE ARMED 
              FORCES THAT ARE RELATED TO SUCH SERVICE.

    (a) National Center.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall, in consultation with the Advisory Board established 
        under section 303, select a medical center of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs to serve as the national center for research 
        on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of 
        descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while 
        serving as members of the Armed Forces that are related to such 
        exposure (in this title referred to as the ``National 
        Center'').
            (2) Criteria for selection.--
                    (A) In general.--The National Center shall be 
                selected under paragraph (1) from among medical centers 
                of the Department with expertise described in 
                subparagraph (B), or that are affiliated with research 
                medical centers or teaching hospitals with such 
                expertise, that seek to be selected under this section.
                    (B) Expertise described.--The expertise described 
                in this subparagraph is--
                            (i) expertise in diagnosing and treating 
                        functional and structural birth defects; or
                            (ii) expertise in caring for individuals 
                        exposed to toxic substances and diagnosing and 
                        treating any health conditions resulting from 
                        such exposure.
                    (C) Preference.--Preference for selection under 
                paragraph (1) shall be given to medical centers of the 
                Department with expertise described in clauses (i) and 
                (ii) of subparagraph (B), or that are affiliated with 
                research medical centers or teaching hospitals with 
                such expertise.
    (b) Research.--
            (1) In general.--The National Center shall conduct research 
        on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of 
        descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while 
        serving as members of the Armed Forces that are related to that 
        exposure.
            (2) Studies.--In conducting research under paragraph (1), 
        the National Center shall study individuals, at the election of 
        the individual, for whom the Secretary has made one of the 
        following determinations:
                    (A)(i) The individual is a descendant of an 
                individual who served as a member of the Armed Forces;
                    (ii) such member was exposed to a toxic substance 
                while serving as a member of the Armed Forces; and
                    (iii) such descendant is afflicted with a health 
                condition that is related to the exposure of such 
                member to such toxic substance.
                    (B)(i) The individual was exposed to a toxic 
                substance while serving as a member of the Armed 
                Forces; and
                    (ii) such individual is afflicted with a health 
                condition that is related to the exposure of such 
                individual to such toxic substance.
            (3) Use of records.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of Defense or the 
                head of a Federal agency shall make available to the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs for review records held 
                by the Department of Defense, an Armed Force, or that 
                Federal agency, as appropriate, that might assist the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs in making the 
                determinations required by paragraph (2).
                    (B) Mechanism.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
                and the Secretary of Defense or the head of the 
                appropriate Federal agency shall jointly establish a 
                mechanism for the availability and review of records by 
                the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subparagraph 
                (A).
    (c) Social Workers.--The National Center shall employ not less than 
one licensed clinical social worker to coordinate access of individuals 
to appropriate Federal, State, and local social and health care 
programs and to handle case management.
    (d) Reimbursement for Necessary Travel and Room and Board.--The 
National Center shall reimburse any individual participating in a study 
pursuant to subsection (b), and any parent, guardian, spouse, or 
sibling who accompanies such individual, for the reasonable cost of--
            (1) travel to the National Center for participation in such 
        study; and
            (2) room and board during the period in which such 
        individual is participating in such study at the National 
        Center.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Annual report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not less frequently than annually, 
                the National Center shall submit to Congress and the 
                Advisory Board established under section 4 a report on 
                the functions of the National Center during the year 
                preceding the submittal of the report that includes a 
                summary of the research efforts of the National Center 
                that have been completed during such year and that are 
                ongoing as of the date of the submittal of the report.
                    (B) Upon request.--Upon the request of any 
                organization exempt from taxation under section 
                501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the 
                National Center shall submit a copy of a report 
                submitted under subparagraph (A) to such organization.
            (2) Quarterly report to advisory board.--Not less 
        frequently than quarterly, the National Center shall submit to 
        the Advisory Board a report on the functions of the National 
        Center during the quarter preceding the submittal of the report 
        that includes the following:
                    (A) A summary of the research efforts of the 
                National Center during such quarter.
                    (B) A description of any determinations made by the 
                National Center pursuant to such research efforts 
                regarding whether health conditions of descendants of 
                individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving 
                as members of the Armed Forces are related to that 
                exposure.

SEC. 303. ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish an advisory board (in this section referred to as the 
``Advisory Board'') to oversee and assess the National Center 
established under section 302 and to advise the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs with respect to the work of the National Center.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, the Director of the National Institute of 
        Environmental Health Sciences, and other heads of Federal 
        agencies as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines 
        appropriate--
                    (A) shall select not less than 13 voting members of 
                the Advisory Board, of whom--
                            (i) not less than three shall be members of 
                        organizations exempt from taxation under 
                        section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code 
                        of 1986;
                            (ii) not less than one shall be--
                                    (I) a descendant of an individual 
                                who was exposed to toxic substances 
                                while serving as a member of the Armed 
                                Forces and the descendant has 
                                manifested a structural or functional 
                                birth defect or a health condition that 
                                is related to the exposure of such 
                                individual to such toxic substance; or
                                    (II) a parent or child of that 
                                descendant;
                            (iii) not less than six shall be health 
                        professionals, scientists, or academics who are 
                        not employees of the Federal Government and 
                        have expertise in--
                                    (I) birth defects;
                                    (II) developmental disabilities;
                                    (III) epigenetics;
                                    (IV) public health;
                                    (V) the science of environmental 
                                exposure or environmental exposure 
                                assessment;
                                    (VI) the science of toxic 
                                substances; or
                                    (VII) medical and research ethics; 
                                and
                            (iv) additional members may be selected 
                        from among social workers and advocates for 
                        veterans or members of the Armed Forces who are 
                        not employees of the Federal Government; and
                    (B) may select nonvoting members from among 
                individuals described in clause (iii) or (iv) of 
                subparagraph (A) who are employees of the Federal 
                Government.
            (2) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall select a Chairperson 
        from among the members of the Advisory Board.
            (3) Terms.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member of the Advisory Board 
                shall serve a term of two or three years as determined 
                by the Secretary.
                    (B) Reappointment.--At the end of the term of a 
                member of the Advisory Board, the Secretary may 
                reselect the member for another term, except that no 
                member may serve more than four consecutive terms.
    (c) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall--
            (1) oversee and assess the work of the National Center;
            (2) not less frequently than quarterly, meet with the 
        director or another representative of the National Center on 
        the work conducted at the National Center, including the 
        research efforts of the National Center;
            (3) review the annual report submitted by the National 
        Center to Congress and the Advisory Board under section 
        302(e)(1); and
            (4) advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on--
                    (A) issues related to the research conducted at the 
                National Center;
                    (B) health conditions of descendants of individuals 
                exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of 
                the Armed Forces that are related to the exposure of 
                such individual to such toxic substance;
                    (C) health care services that are needed by the 
                descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances 
                while serving as members of the Armed Forces for health 
                conditions that are related to the exposure of such 
                individual to such toxic substance; and
                    (D) any determinations or recommendations that the 
                Advisory Board may have with respect to the feasibility 
                and advisability of the Department providing health 
                care services described in subparagraph (C) to 
                descendants described in such subparagraph, including a 
                description of changes to existing policy.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
        establishment of the Advisory Board under subsection (a), and 
        not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the 
        Advisory Board shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
        the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs a report on the recommendations of the Advisory Board.
            (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include recommendations for administrative or legislative 
        action, including recommendations for further research by the 
        National Center, with respect to each health condition of a 
        descendant of an individual exposed to a toxic substance while 
        serving as a member of the Armed Forces for which the National 
        Center has made one of the following determinations in 
        conducting research under section 302(b):
                    (A) The health condition is related to the exposure 
                of such individual to such toxic substance.
                    (B) It is unclear whether the health condition is 
                related to the exposure of such individual to such 
                toxic substance.
                    (C) The health condition is not related to the 
                exposure of such individual to such toxic substance.
    (e) Meetings.--The Advisory Board shall meet at the call of the 
Chair, but not less frequently than quarterly.
    (f) Compensation.--The members of the Advisory Board shall serve 
without compensation.
    (g) Expenses.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine 
the appropriate expenses of the Advisory Board.
    (h) Personnel.--
            (1) In general.--The Chairperson may, without regard to the 
        civil service laws and regulations, appoint an executive 
        director of the Advisory Board, who shall be a civilian 
        employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and such other 
        personnel as may be necessary to enable the Advisory Board to 
        perform its duties.
            (2) Approval.--The appointment of an executive director 
        under paragraph (1) shall be subject to approval by the 
        Advisory Board.
            (3) Compensation.--The Chairperson may fix the compensation 
        of the executive director and other personnel without regard to 
        the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
        of title 5, United States Code, except that the rate of pay for 
        the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the 
        rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 304. DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF CERTAIN 
              INCIDENTS OF EXPOSURE OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES TO 
              TOXIC SUBSTANCES.

    (a) Review.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a 
declassification review to determine what information may be made 
publicly available relating to any known incident in which not less 
than 100 members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance 
that resulted in at least one case of a disability that a specialist in 
the field of occupational medicine has determined to be credibly 
associated with that toxic substance.
    (b) Release of Declassified Information.--To the extent 
practicable, and subject to subsection (c) and consistent with national 
security, the Secretary of Defense shall make publicly available 
information declassified following the review required by subsection 
(a).
    (c) Limitation.--Information made publicly available pursuant to 
subsection (b) shall be limited to information necessary for an 
individual who was potentially exposed to a toxic substance to 
determine the following:
            (1) Whether that individual was exposed to that toxic 
        substance.
            (2) The potential severity of the exposure of that 
        individual to that toxic substance.
            (3) Any potential health conditions that may have resulted 
        from exposure to that toxic substance.

SEC. 305. NATIONAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGN ON POTENTIAL LONG-TERM HEALTH 
              EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES BY MEMBERS OF THE 
              ARMED FORCES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
Secretary of Defense, conduct a national outreach and education 
campaign directed toward members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and 
their family members to communicate the following information:
            (1) Information on--
                    (A) incidents of exposure of members of the Armed 
                Forces to toxic substances;
                    (B) health conditions resulting from such exposure; 
                and
                    (C) the potential long-term effects of such 
                exposure on the individuals exposed to those substances 
                and the descendants of those individuals.
            (2) Information on the National Center established under 
        section 302 for individuals eligible to participate in studies 
        conducted at the National Center.
    (b) Department of Veterans Affairs.--In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall design and implement the 
national outreach and education campaign conducted under subsection 
(a), including--
            (1) by distributing printed materials containing the 
        information described in subsection (a) to veterans;
            (2) by publishing such information on an Internet website 
        of the Department of Veterans Affairs that is available to the 
        public;
            (3) by presenting such information in person at facilities 
        that serve a large number of veterans or members of the Armed 
        Forces; and
            (4) by educating employees of all medical facilities of the 
        Department with respect to such information and providing such 
        employees with printed materials containing such information.
    (c) Department of Defense.--The Secretary of Defense shall assist 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in implementing the national outreach 
and education campaign conducted under subsection (a)--
            (1) by making the information described in subsection (a) 
        available to all members of the Armed Forces and their 
        families;
            (2) by notifying all members of the Armed Forces of such 
        information; and
            (3) by publishing such information on an Internet website 
        of the Department of Defense that is available to the public.
    (d) Department of Health and Human Services.--The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall assist the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs in implementing the national outreach and education campaign 
conducted under subsection (a)--
            (1) by making the information described in subsection (a) 
        available to members of the health care profession;
            (2) by notifying such members of such information; and
            (3) by publishing such information on an Internet website 
        of the Department of Health and Human Services that is 
        available to the public.

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 401. SPECIAL COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OR LOSS OF USE OF CREATIVE 
              ORGANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1114 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(u)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall pay to a 
covered veteran two lump-sum special compensation payments each in the 
amount of $10,000. The second such payment may not occur less than one 
year after the date of the first such payment.
    ``(2) Special compensation paid to a covered veteran under 
paragraph (1) is in addition to disability compensation paid to the 
veteran pursuant to subsection (k), except that in any month in which 
the veteran receives a payment of such special compensation, the 
veteran may not also receive such disability compensation pursuant to 
subsection (k).
    ``(3) A covered veteran shall submit to the Secretary a separate, 
specific application for each payment of special compensation paid 
under paragraph (1) in such form and in such manner as the Secretary 
considers appropriate.
    ``(4) In this subsection, the term `covered veteran' means a 
veteran who--
            ``(A) is paid disability compensation pursuant to 
        subsection (k) for--
                    ``(i) the anatomical loss of one or more creative 
                organs; or
                    ``(ii) the permanent or static loss of use of one 
                or more creative organs; and
            ``(B) is eligible for payments under the traumatic 
        servicemembers' group life insurance program under section 
        1980A of this title, or would be eligible for such payments but 
        for the service of the veteran occurring before the enactment 
        of such section, for qualifying losses relating to an injury 
        described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A).''.
    (b) Application.--Subsection (u) of section 1114 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with 
respect to a veteran who receives disability compensation on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate a report on special compensation paid under subsection 
(u) of section 1114 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a). Such report shall include the following:
            (1) The number of veterans who applied for such special 
        compensation.
            (2) The number of veterans whom the Secretary has paid such 
        special compensation.
            (3) A list, by frequency, of the service-connected 
        disabilities for which such special compensation was paid.

SEC. 402. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE THE 
              FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM; AUTHORITY TO EXPAND PROGRAM.

    (a) Implementation of New System.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        implement an information technology system that fully supports 
        the Program and allows for data assessment and comprehensive 
        monitoring of the Program.
            (2) Elements of system.--The information technology system 
        required to be implemented under paragraph (1) shall include 
        the following:
                    (A) The ability to easily retrieve data (at the 
                medical center and at aggregate levels) that will allow 
                all aspects of the Program and the workload trends for 
                the Program to be assessed and comprehensively 
                monitored.
                    (B) The ability or capacity to manage data to 
                accommodate any degree of expansion of the Program.
                    (C) The ability to integrate the system with other 
                relevant information technology systems of the Veterans 
                Health Administration.
            (3) Notification of implementation.--Not later than the 
        date on which the Secretary commences implementation of the 
        system under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives of the 
        date of such implementation.
    (b) Ongoing Monitoring of and Modifications to Program.--
            (1) Monitoring.--The Secretary shall use the system 
        implemented under subsection (a) to monitor and assess the 
        workload of the Program, including monitoring and assessment of 
        data on--
                    (A) the status of applications, appeals, and home 
                visits in connection with the Program; and
                    (B) the use of support services by caregivers 
                participating both in the Program of Comprehensive 
                Assistance for Families and the Program of General 
                Caregiver Support Services.
            (2) Modifications.--
                    (A) Based on the monitoring and assessment 
                conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
                identify and implement such modifications to the 
                Program as the Secretary considers necessary to ensure 
                the Program is functioning as intended and providing 
                veterans and caregivers participating in the Program 
                with services in a timely manner.
                    (B) Subparagraph (A) may not be construed to 
                authorize modifications to the Program that expand the 
                eligibility for the Program or increase the amount of 
                assistance furnished under the Program.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
        which the Secretary makes the notification under subsection 
        (a)(3), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
        Program, including with respect to expanding the program and 
        the implementation of subsections (a) and (b).
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A detailed plan to expand the Program to 
                caregivers of veterans who would be eligible for the 
                Program but for the serious injury of the veteran 
                having incurred in the line of duty before September 
                11, 2001, including--
                            (i) with respect to staffing, funding, 
                        eligibility criteria, and information 
                        technology systems (including modifications to 
                        such systems);
                            (ii) a phased implementation for such 
                        expansion; and
                            (iii) estimates of the amounts required to 
                        expand and sustain the program.
                    (B) A description of the modifications to the 
                Program, if any, that were identified and implemented 
                under subsection (b)(2).
                    (C) A description of--
                            (i) how the Secretary is using such system 
                        to monitor the workload of the Program; and
                            (ii) the subsequent effect on the 
                        performance of the Program, including the need 
                        for additional staff, resources, or information 
                        technology systems, or modifications to 
                        information technology systems.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``active military, naval, or air service'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United 
        States Code.
            (2) The term ``Program'' means the program of comprehensive 
        assistance for family caregivers under section 1720G(a) of 
        title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR DISABILITY 
              COMPENSATION.

    Section 1104(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``and fiscal years 2017 through 2027'' after ``through 
2013''.
                                 <all>