[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 42 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 42

To improve the management and performance of the capital asset programs 
 of the Department of Veterans Affairs so as to better serve veterans, 
   their families, caregivers, and survivors, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2023

   Mr. Tester (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Warner) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve the management and performance of the capital asset programs 
 of the Department of Veterans Affairs so as to better serve veterans, 
   their families, caregivers, and survivors, 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 ``Build, Utilize, 
Invest, Learn, and Deliver for Veterans Act of 2023'' or the ``BUILD 
for Veterans Act of 2023''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                   TITLE I--CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

Sec. 101. Improving capital asset staffing of Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 102. Development of performance metrics of capital asset 
                            management by Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs and monitoring for improvement.
Sec. 103. Expansion of membership of the Capital Asset Planning 
                            Committee.
                  TITLE II--STRATEGIC PLAN AND REPORTS

Sec. 201. Review of climate resilience of facilities, land, and other 
                            relevant capital assets of Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Strategic plan to improve planning, management, budgeting, 
                            staffing, capacity, and performance of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs capital 
                            asset activities.
Sec. 203. Centralized management of capital asset disposal and reuse 
                            and annual report on completion of disposal 
                            and reuse activities of Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 204. Report on options to improve minor construction program of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 205. Report on improvements to alignment of information technology 
                            funding and activation of medical and other 
                            space of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 206. Reports on key capital asset investments, activities, and 
                            performance of Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 207. Reports on projected need for funding for infrastructure and 
                            capital assets of Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 208. Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
                            reports on Department infrastructure 
                            projects.
Sec. 209. Comptroller General reports on capital asset program 
                            management and execution by Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 210. Report on dental care physical infrastructure needs of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 211. Report on long-term care physical infrastructure needs of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 212. Report on feasibility and advisability of using a dedicated 
                            budget account for maintenance of capital 
                            assets of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 213. Report on women veterans retrofit initiative.
Sec. 214. Report on capital asset and information technology needs of 
                            the research and development program of 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 215. Review and report on provisions of law relating to Department 
                            of Veterans Affairs capital asset 
                            management and oversight.
Sec. 216. Improving prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, 
                            fraud, and abuse in Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs capital asset projects and 
                            activities.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Capital asset.--The term ``capital asset'' means the 
        physical infrastructure, land, buildings, and other related 
        items under the operation and control of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, including the information technology and 
        other support systems needed to ensure the physical space can 
        be used to deliver intended services and functions of the 
        Department.

                   TITLE I--CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

SEC. 101. IMPROVING CAPITAL ASSET STAFFING OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) Capital Asset Personnel of the Department.--
            (1) Requirement for dedicated offices and sufficient 
        staff.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure 
        that the Department of Veterans Affairs has dedicated offices 
        or entities and sufficient staff, including at each medical 
        center of the Department, to conduct relevant critical 
        responsibilities for the life-cycle of capital asset management 
        at the local, regional, and central office level. This may 
        include ensuring such mix as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate of personnel with duties from the following 
        categories:
                    (A) Facility planning.
                    (B) Long-range capital planning.
                    (C) Management of projects and capital assets 
                relating to the execution of major construction 
                projects, minor construction projects, major leases, 
                minor leases, nonrecurring maintenance, and related 
                matters at medical centers and facilities of the 
                Department in the surrounding catchment areas of the 
                centers and facilities.
                    (D) Property disposal or transfer, environmental 
                remediation, and historic preservation.
                    (E) Engineering, including matters relating to 
                seismic repairs and projects.
                    (F) Maintenance and repair of existing 
                infrastructure.
                    (G) The collection of views of veterans and 
                employees of the Department to understand the capital 
                assets needs of the Department.
                    (H) Other relevant functions relating to the full 
                life-cycle of capital asset management of the 
                Department as determined by the Secretary.
            (2) Tasks.--To the greatest extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall ensure that each of the categories of duties 
        under paragraph (1) are assigned to a different individual or 
        group of individuals so as--
                    (A) to organize common work in a cohesive manner; 
                and
                    (B) not to overburden a small number of individuals 
                with such requirements.
            (3) Lead official.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) designate one individual as the lead senior 
                official responsible for integration and coordination 
                of, and accountability for, the evaluation of the 
                capital asset workforce needs of the Department, the 
                staffing model established under paragraph (4), and the 
                ongoing implementation and monitoring of actions to 
                ensure adequate capital asset staffing across the 
                Department, including those at the field, regional, and 
                central offices of the Veterans Health Administration, 
                the National Cemetery Administration, the Veterans 
                Benefits Administration, and the Office of Acquisition, 
                Logistics, and Construction; and
                    (B) notify the appropriate committees of Congress 
                who has been designated under subparagraph (A).
            (4) Staffing model.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                establish a staffing model for the relevant 
                administrations, staff offices, and other elements of 
                the Department to carry out paragraph (1) that--
                            (i) ensures a minimum base level of capital 
                        asset staffing; and
                            (ii) is adjusted based on the volume and 
                        complexity of capital asset work of a 
                        particular facility, catchment area, region, or 
                        central office responsibility.
                    (B) Update.--The Secretary shall update the 
                staffing model under subparagraph (A) regularly to 
                ensure it is effective in carrying out paragraph (1).
            (5) Treatment of states and territories without a medical 
        center.--In the case of a State or territory of the United 
        States in which the Department does not operate a full-service 
        medical center, the Secretary shall, in carrying out paragraph 
        (1), ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that the 
        Department has a dedicated office or entity and sufficient 
        staff at the largest medical facility of the Department in that 
        State or territory, and any reference in this section to a 
        medical center shall be deemed to be a reference to that 
        medical facility.
            (6) Purpose and intent.--The purpose of this subsection is 
        to ensure that field, regional, and central offices of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs have an appropriately sized and 
        credentialed capital asset workforce to allow for efficient and 
        effective execution of their relevant segment of capital asset 
        work. Nothing in this subsection is intended to mandate a 
        realignment of capital asset workforce roles, responsibilities, 
        and reporting structures.
    (b) Qualifications.--The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate 
professional certifications, educational background, and other 
qualifications are in effect for individuals employed in a position at 
a dedicated office or entity required by subsection (a) to manage the 
duties under the categories set forth under subsection (a)(1).
    (c) Duties of Dedicated Offices or Entities at Medical Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The duties of a dedicated office or entity 
        required by subsection (a) at a medical center of the 
        Department may include such combination of the following duties 
        as the Secretary considers appropriate to achieve efficient and 
        effective capital asset management and performance as it 
        pertains to relevant activities at the field level:
                    (A) The development, monitoring, and implementation 
                of capital asset objectives for the catchment area 
                surrounding the medical center, including community-
                based outpatient clinics and other sites of care of the 
                Department in that area.
                    (B) The coordination of capital asset management 
                and planning with counterparts at other medical centers 
                of the Department in the region and facility planners 
                for the Veterans Integrated Service Network or Networks 
                in the region.
                    (C) Effective delivery of capital asset projects.
                    (D) Maintenance and repair of infrastructure.
                    (E) Capital asset disposal or transfer, 
                environmental remediation, and historic preservation.
                    (F) Regularly monitoring state-of-the-art best 
                practices in health care capital asset delivery and 
                management.
                    (G) Constantly monitoring the needs of veterans and 
                employees of the Department as it relates to medical 
                space and services at the medical center and facilities 
                in the catchment area surrounding the medical center to 
                forward plan and identify and submit plans, through 
                processes of the Department, to meet those needs, 
                including by formulating local and regional capital 
                improvement and asset management plans for medical 
                facilities of the Department through the regular 
                collection of--
                            (i) views and expectations of veterans, 
                        including as expressed by relevant local or 
                        national veterans service organizations, in 
                        that area who are eligible users of health care 
                        and related services provided by the Department 
                        with respect to--
                                    (I) preferences and needs of those 
                                veterans for the care received from 
                                medical facilities of the Department in 
                                that area; and
                                    (II) the need for improvements and 
                                enhancements to infrastructure of the 
                                Department; and
                            (ii) views of relevant medical staff of the 
                        Department at the medical center and facilities 
                        in that catchment area regarding their 
                        preferences and needs for how to deliver health 
                        care to veterans and how those preferences 
                        impact the infrastructure needs of the 
                        Department.
                    (H) Understanding the capital asset policies, 
                procedures, and directives of the Department, including 
                those issued by the central office of the Department, 
                the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Integrated 
                Service Networks, the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, 
                and Construction, the Office of Asset Enterprise 
                Management, the Office of General Counsel, the Office 
                of Information and Technology, or any successor 
                offices, and any other office of the Department with 
                significant responsibility over capital asset 
                management and planning.
                    (I) Implementing locally the policies, procedures, 
                and directives described in subparagraph (H).
                    (J) Providing feedback regarding ways in which the 
                policies, procedures and directives described in 
                subparagraph (H) can be improved.
                    (K) Understanding the importance for collaboration 
                and coordination among all relevant offices of the 
                Department, including the Office of Acquisition, 
                Logistics, and Construction, the Office of Asset 
                Enterprise Management, the Office of Information and 
                Technology, or successor offices with similar 
                functions, and other internal stakeholders as required 
                to achieve success in all phases of capital asset 
                management.
            (2) Collection of views and expectations.--
                    (A) In general.--Views and expectations may be 
                collected under paragraph (1)(G) through multiple 
                channels and the process used for such collection shall 
                ensure that the views and expectations collected 
                provide a representative sample of the population from 
                which such views and expectations are collected.
                    (B) Confidentiality.--Any information collected 
                under paragraph (1)(G) shall be collected in a manner 
                that provides an option for submission of views that 
                are anonymous and confidential.
                    (C) Inclusion of diverse viewpoints.--In collecting 
                views and expectations of veterans and medical staff 
                under paragraph (1)(G), an office, entity, or relevant 
                staff described in subsection (a) for a medical center 
                of the Department shall ensure that the viewpoints of a 
                diverse population of veterans being served by the 
                medical center and medical staff of the medical center 
                or in the catchment area of the medical center are 
                captured.
                    (D) Coordination with existing efforts of 
                department.--In carrying out paragraph (1)(G) and this 
                paragraph, the Secretary shall use, as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate, existing efforts and expertise 
                of the Department through the Veterans Health 
                Administration, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and 
                Construction, the Office of Asset Enterprise 
                Management, and the Veterans Experience Office.
                    (E) Usage of views and expectations.--The views and 
                expectations collected under paragraph (1)(G) shall be 
                used to inform the offices, entities, or relevant staff 
                described in subsection (a)(1) and the broader 
                leadership of a medical center and Veterans Integrated 
                Service Networks of the Department to develop plans for 
                capital asset improvement.
    (d) Development of Standard Process To Solicit Views on 
Effectiveness.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary 
        shall develop a standardized process to regularly solicit 
        feedback from individuals and entities described in paragraph 
        (2) regarding the effectiveness of and ways to improve--
                    (A) the infrastructure and capital asset management 
                investment processes and procedures of the central 
                office of the Department and Veterans Integrated 
                Service Networks of the Department; and
                    (B) the guidance of the central office and Veterans 
                Integrated Service Networks regarding such processes 
                and procedures to the medical centers, facilities in 
                the surrounding catchment areas of those medical 
                centers, and Veterans Integrated Service Networks, as 
                appropriate.
            (2) Individuals and entities described.--The individuals 
        and entities described in this paragraph are the following:
                    (A) Each office, entity, or relevant staff 
                described in subsection (a)(1) for a medical center of 
                the Department.
                    (B) Medical staff of the Department at facilities 
                in the surrounding catchment area of the medical 
                center.
                    (C) Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
                    (D) Staff of offices within the central office of 
                the Department, including the Office of Acquisition, 
                Logistics, and Construction, the Office of Asset 
                Enterprise Management, and the Office of Information 
                and Technology, or successor offices with similar 
                functions.
                    (E) The Veterans Health Administration, including 
                its Office of Healthcare Environment and Facilities 
                Programs.
                    (F) Such other offices as the Secretary determines 
                relevant.
            (3) Alignment with market area assessments.--To the degree 
        practicable, the Secretary shall align the process developed 
        and standardized under paragraph (1) with the performance of 
        market area assessments under section 7330C(a) of title 38, 
        United States Code.
            (4) Confidentiality.--Any information collected under 
        paragraph (1) shall be collected in a manner that provides an 
        option for submission of views that are anonymous and 
        confidential.
    (e) Use of Report Findings.--The Secretary shall use the results of 
the report required under section 202 in establishing the offices, 
entities, or organizational structures required under subsection (a) 
and carrying out any other requirements of this section.

SEC. 102. DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE METRICS OF CAPITAL ASSET 
              MANAGEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
              MONITORING FOR IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (1) develop meaningful and measurable goals and metrics--
                    (A) to assess the performance of the capital asset 
                management programs of the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs, including those carried out by a non-
                Department Federal entity under section 8103(e)(1) of 
                title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary to 
                make sound decisions regarding construction, leasing, 
                acquisition, maintenance, and disposal of capital 
                assets; and
                    (B) that are in alignment with Department strategic 
                plans, budgets, and mission to serve veterans, their 
                families, and caregivers;
            (2) develop an internal dashboard or other tool to monitor 
        progress towards meeting those goals;
            (3) establish and implement internal governance processes 
        to direct necessary changes to improve performance and 
        achievement of those goals; and
            (4) submit to appropriate committees of Congress a report 
        on the development of those goals and metrics in paragraph (1) 
        and the implementation of the internal dashboard or other tool 
        under paragraph (2) and the internal governance process under 
        paragraph (3).
    (b) Internal Dashboard.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
internal dashboard developed under subsection (a)(2) includes 
meaningful and relevant metrics that--
            (1) evaluate capital asset management performance of the 
        Department and provide relevant information to guide necessary 
        improvements; and
            (2) are developed consistent with recommendations set forth 
        by the Comptroller General of the United States.
    (c) Consideration of Part Two of Strategic Plan to Improve VA's 
Delivery and Management of Capital Asset.--In developing the internal 
dashboard under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall consider the 
findings in part two of the Strategic Plan to Improve VA's Delivery and 
Management of Capital Asset required under section 202(a)(4).

SEC. 103. EXPANSION OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE CAPITAL ASSET PLANNING 
              COMMITTEE.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, in order to facilitate Federal health infrastructure planning, 
coordination, and investment, the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall 
modify the membership of the Capital Asset Planning Committee 
established as a subordinate entity of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established 
under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, to include the 
following:
            (1) Not fewer than one officer or employee of the Indian 
        Health Service.
            (2) Not fewer than one officer or employee of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services who is not an employee 
        of the Indian Health Service.

                  TITLE II--STRATEGIC PLAN AND REPORTS

SEC. 201. REVIEW OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE OF FACILITIES, LAND, AND OTHER 
              RELEVANT CAPITAL ASSETS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a 
comprehensive review of the climate resilience of facilities, land, and 
other relevant capital assets under the authority and jurisdiction of 
the Secretary.
    (b) Elements.--
            (1) In general.--The review conducted under subsection (a) 
        shall--
                    (A) provide a comprehensive assessment of existing 
                facilities, land, and other relevant capital assets 
                that may be at risk due to changes in the climate, 
                including potential vulnerabilities related to--
                            (i) proximity to a body of water;
                            (ii) proximity to an area prone to 
                        flooding;
                            (iii) proximity to an area prone to wild 
                        fire;
                            (iv) proximity to an area prone to 
                        tornadoes, hurricanes, or other storms; and
                            (v) such other matters as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate after consulting with the 
                        United States Global Change Research Program on 
                        the best available observations and forward-
                        looking climate projections by region, 
                        including sea level rise data;
                    (B) include a description of strategies to improve 
                the climate resilience of existing facilities, land, 
                and other relevant capital assets at risk due to 
                changes in the climate, including potential 
                modifications to facility operations and maintenance 
                practices, and the cost of such strategies;
                    (C) include an analysis of the current design 
                standards and building codes used by the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs to site, plan, build, lease, renovate, 
                and purchase land, facilities, infrastructure, and 
                other capital assets of the Department and whether 
                those design standards and building codes reflect both 
                observed and forward-looking climate information;
                    (D) include an analysis of the effect of climate 
                change on energy usage, energy sources, and utility 
                systems of the Department and the Department's 
                mitigation strategies;
                    (E) use, in consultation with the United States 
                Global Change Research Program, forward-looking climate 
                information and other projections to anticipate 
                changing environmental conditions during the design 
                life of existing or planned facilities, land, and other 
                capital assets of the Department and make relevant 
                decisions and planning strategies based on this 
                information;
                    (F) after consulting with the United States Global 
                Change Research Program and other relevant Federal and 
                non-Federal entities, include recommendations for best 
                practices, standards, and solutions for future 
                placement, planning, renovation, leasing, purchase, 
                construction, and disposal of facilities and land of 
                the Department so as to avoid or mitigate the 
                challenges resulting from placing a facility in an area 
                at risk of being vulnerable to harm from the impacts of 
                changing environmental conditions; and
                    (G) assess how the Department can incorporate 
                climate resilience information into its processes and 
                procedures for capital asset investment decisions.
            (2) Sources of information and projections.--Sources of 
        information and projections used under paragraph (1)(E) may 
        include the Bureau of the Census (for population projections), 
        the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
        (for land use change projections and climate projections), the 
        United States Geological Survey (for land use change 
        projections), the United States Global Change Research Program 
        and the National Climate Assessment (for climate observations 
        and projections), and such other sources as the Secretary 
        considers reliable in consultation with the United States 
        Global Change Research Program.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Mission critical assets.--Not later than 540 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
        detailing the results of the review conducted under subsection 
        (a) with respect to mission critical capital assets of the 
        Department and the actions the Secretary will take in response 
        to the findings of such review.
            (2) All assets.--Not later than one year after the date on 
        which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report detailing the results of the review conducted 
        under subsection (a) with respect to all capital assets of the 
        Department and the actions the Secretary will take in response 
        to the findings of such review.
            (3) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) shall include, with respect to the assets covered by 
        the respective report, the following:
                    (A) Recommendations for legislative and 
                administrative action to mitigate and respond to the 
                findings contained in the review conducted under 
                subsection (a).
                    (B) A description of action taken or to be taken by 
                the Secretary to improve the climate resilience of 
                existing facilities, land, infrastructure and other 
                relevant capital assets under the jurisdiction or 
                control of the Department.
                    (C) A description of changes in policy, directives, 
                and procedures of the Department to mitigate, plan for, 
                and improve resilience of future constructed, leased, 
                or other facilities, land, infrastructure, and other 
                relevant capital assets under the jurisdiction or 
                control of the Department.
                    (D) A description of how the Department will 
                incorporate climate resilience information into its 
                processes and procedures for capital asset investment 
                decisions.
                    (E) A description of changes the Department will 
                make to ensure the facilities, land, infrastructure, 
                and other relevant capital assets of the Department are 
                available to furnish care and services under section 
                1785 of title 38, United States Code, during or 
                following a disaster or emergency.
                    (F) The estimated cost to implement the changes 
                described in the report.
                    (G) The estimated timeline to implement the changes 
                described in the report.
                    (H) Such other matters, recommendations, or 
                requests as the Secretary considers appropriate, 
                including recommendations for relevant legislative or 
                administrative action.
            (4) Updates.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than five years after 
                the date on which the Secretary submits the report 
                under paragraph (2) and not less frequently than once 
                every five years thereafter until the date that is 23 
                years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
                Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
                Congress an update of the report submitted under 
                paragraph (2).
                    (B) Contents.--Each update submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall describe the efforts of the 
                Department since the submittal of the latest report or 
                update, as the case may be, relating to matters covered 
                by the report and such other matters as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
    (d) Climate Resilience Defined.--In this section, the term 
``climate resilience'' means--
            (1) anticipating, preparing for, and adapting to changing 
        environmental conditions such as variations in average weather 
        conditions that persist over multiple decades or longer that 
        encompass increases and decreases in temperature, shifts in 
        precipitation, and changing risk of certain types of severe 
        weather events; and
            (2) the ability to withstand, respond to, and recover 
        rapidly from disruptions while ensuring the sustainment of 
        mission-critical operations.

SEC. 202. STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPROVE PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, BUDGETING, 
              STAFFING, CAPACITY, AND PERFORMANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS CAPITAL ASSET ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Initial Strategic Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        strategic plan to improve the planning, management, budgeting, 
        staffing, capacity, and performance by the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs relating to capital assets. Such strategic 
        plan shall be known as the ``Strategic Plan to Improve VA's 
        Delivery and Management of Capital Assets'' (in this subsection 
        referred to as the ``Plan'').
            (2) Structure.--The Plan shall consist of not fewer than 
        two parts as set forth in this subsection.
            (3) Part one.--
                    (A) In general.--Part one of the Plan shall focus 
                on the human capital needs for the capital asset and 
                related areas workforce of the Department (in this 
                subsection referred to as ``Part One'').
                    (B) Elements.--Part One shall include the 
                following:
                            (i) A description of the steps being taken 
                        by the Department, including by the lead 
                        official designated under section 101(a)(3), 
                        and the steps that the Department plans to take 
                        during the 10-year period following the date of 
                        the Plan, including a specific timeline, to 
                        ensure sufficient capital asset personnel at 
                        the local, regional, and central office levels 
                        of the Department are available and prepared--
                                    (I) to execute the current level of 
                                capital asset work, including 
                                maintenance, delivery of new 
                                facilities, disposal, and reuse;
                                    (II) to handle future capital asset 
                                work described in subclause (I) during 
                                such 10-year period; and
                                    (III) to perform any other capital 
                                asset activities as identified by the 
                                Secretary.
                            (ii) A plan that addresses the needed 
                        capital asset workforce of the Department by--
                                    (I) identifying and describing the 
                                staffing needs and status of such 
                                workforce, including--
                                            (aa) the number of 
                                        currently authorized positions;
                                            (bb) the number of filled 
                                        positions of those positions 
                                        authorized;
                                            (cc) the number of unfilled 
                                        positions of those positions 
                                        authorized, including reasons 
                                        why those positions are not 
                                        filled and steps the Department 
                                        is taking to fill those 
                                        positions;
                                            (dd) the number of current 
                                        positions needed above the 
                                        level currently authorized; and
                                            (ee) future needs, 
                                        including expected growth or 
                                        reduction of personnel, during 
                                        the 10-year period following 
                                        the date of the Plan;
                                    (II) providing the data under 
                                subclause (I) at the Departmental 
                                level, disaggregated by relevant 
                                divisions of the Department and by--
                                            (aa) data for the Veterans 
                                        Health Administration, broken 
                                        out by field, Veterans 
                                        Integrated Service Network, and 
                                        central office, including the 
                                        Office of Healthcare 
                                        Environment and Facilities 
                                        Programs;
                                            (bb) data for the Office of 
                                        Acquisition, Logistics, and 
                                        Construction, broken out by 
                                        field, region, and central 
                                        office;
                                            (cc) data for the National 
                                        Cemetery Administration, broken 
                                        out by field, region, and 
                                        central office;
                                            (dd) data for the Veterans 
                                        Benefits Administration, broken 
                                        out by field, region, and 
                                        central office;
                                            (ee) data for the Office of 
                                        Asset Enterprise Management;
                                            (ff) data for the Office of 
                                        Information and Technology, 
                                        broken out by field, region, 
                                        and central office; and
                                            (gg) data for all other 
                                        offices of the Department not 
                                        covered under items (aa) 
                                        through (ff) that have capital 
                                        asset staff or significant 
                                        capital asset responsibilities 
                                        or are key enablers and support 
                                        functions for capital asset 
                                        management at the field, 
                                        regional, or central office 
                                        level; and
                                    (III) including an estimate of the 
                                funding required to accomplish filling 
                                the unfilled and future positions 
                                specified under subclause (I) during 
                                the 10-year period following the date 
                                of the Plan.
                            (iii) A description of the efforts taken 
                        and planned to be taken by the Department to 
                        recruit, retain, and develop the existing and 
                        future capital asset workforce of the 
                        Department.
                            (iv) A description of any changes needed to 
                        the qualifications, standards, position 
                        descriptions and other related matters to 
                        ensure the qualification standards of the 
                        workforce, including those resulting from 
                        implementation of section 101(b)--
                                    (I) match the needs of the 
                                Department; and
                                    (II) align where appropriate with 
                                relevant Federal Government and 
                                industry standards and best practices.
                            (v) A description of how the Department 
                        will coordinate the capital asset human capital 
                        efforts of the Department across the Veterans 
                        Health Administration, the Office of 
                        Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, the 
                        National Cemetery Administration, the Veterans 
                        Benefits Administration, the Office of Asset 
                        Enterprise Management, or similar successor 
                        offices, and other entities of the Department 
                        so as to leverage collective efforts, reduce 
                        unnecessary duplication, and identify 
                        opportunities for collaboration and efficiency.
                            (vi) With respect to a Department-wide 
                        succession plan for leadership and mission-
                        critical occupations in the capital asset 
                        workforce of the Department--
                                    (I) if such a plan is not already 
                                developed, a timeline for the 
                                development of such a plan; and
                                    (II) if such a plan is already 
                                developed, the current implementation 
                                status of such plan.
                            (vii) An assessment of different regional 
                        challenges in rural, suburban, and urban areas 
                        to recruit and retain the necessary capital 
                        asset workforce of the Department and steps to 
                        be taken by the Department in response to such 
                        challenges.
                            (viii) With respect to the report published 
                        by the National Academies of Sciences, 
                        Engineering, and Medicine on December 24, 2019, 
                        entitled ``Facilities Staffing Requirement for 
                        VHA-Resource Planning and Methodology for the 
                        Future''--
                                    (I) a description of the 
                                recommendations from the report that 
                                have already implemented;
                                    (II) a plan and timeline to 
                                implement the recommendations from the 
                                report that have not already been 
                                implemented and the Secretary plans to 
                                implement; and
                                    (III) for each recommendation from 
                                the report that has not already been 
                                implemented and the Secretary does not 
                                plan to implement, a description of the 
                                recommendation and a justification for 
                                the decision not to implement the 
                                recommendation.
                            (ix) A description of how the Department 
                        will leverage, where appropriate and relevant, 
                        contract support and partnerships with other 
                        Federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and 
                        other entities to meet the short-, medium-, and 
                        long-term human capital needs for 
                        infrastructure to ensure that the Department 
                        has the experience and workforce needed to 
                        match the current and future projected 
                        infrastructure workload of the Department.
                            (x) A description of any improvements to 
                        training or curriculum of the Department that 
                        are needed to enhance the education of the 
                        capital asset employees of the Department to 
                        ensure they are as proficient as possible in 
                        their jobs.
                            (xi) A description of the status of the 
                        implementation of the staffing model 
                        established under section 101(a)(4).
                            (xii) A description of such legislative or 
                        administrative action as the Secretary 
                        considers necessary to recruit, retain, and 
                        develop a strong capital asset management 
                        workforce.
                            (xiii) Such other matters as the Secretary 
                        considers necessary.
                    (C) Staff covered by strategic plan.--Part One 
                shall cover all relevant staff required for the 
                effective management of the entire life-cycle of 
                facilities, land, infrastructure, and other relevant 
                capital assets of the Department, including the 
                following:
                            (i) Individuals who keep facilities clean, 
                        such as janitorial and housekeeping staff and 
                        housekeeping aids.
                            (ii) Individuals who maintain facilities, 
                        such as through repairs and preventative 
                        maintenance.
                            (iii) Groundskeepers.
                            (iv) Planners, engineers, and architects.
                            (v) Project managers.
                            (vi) Individuals with expertise in real 
                        estate, acquisition, leasing, and easements.
                            (vii) Energy or utility experts, including 
                        experts with respect to energy efficiency and 
                        renewable energy.
                            (viii) Individuals who work in--
                                    (I) capital asset management;
                                    (II) healthcare architecture and 
                                engineering;
                                    (III) environmental management; or
                                    (IV) occupational safety and 
                                health.
                            (ix) Individuals who conduct contracting, 
                        including contracting officers, related to 
                        capital assets locally, regionally, or 
                        nationally for all various types of 
                        construction or infrastructure work, such as 
                        minor construction, major construction, 
                        nonrecurring maintenance, and leases.
                            (x) Individuals knowledgeable in relevant 
                        rules and procedures related to property 
                        disposal or transfer, environmental 
                        remediation, historic preservation, and other 
                        similar topics.
                            (xi) Relevant legal counsel and staff of 
                        the Office of General Counsel needed to perform 
                        relevant duties that occur throughout the 
                        entire life-cycle of capital asset management 
                        activities.
                            (xii) Any other position that has a 
                        critical role, including supporting or enabling 
                        functions, in the planning, contracting, 
                        delivery, maintenance, upkeep, and disposal of 
                        capital assets.
                            (xiii) Any other positions the Secretary 
                        determines relevant.
            (4) Part two.--
                    (A) In general.--Part two of the Plan shall cover 
                the methods undertaken by the Department to accomplish 
                changes to improve the planning, execution, and 
                delivery of capital asset projects of the Department, 
                such as maintenance, renovations, land acquisition, 
                disposal, reuse, or new construction or leasing, 
                including through better planning, project management, 
                cost, and schedule performance (in this subsection 
                referred to as ``Part Two'').
                    (B) Elements.--Part Two shall include the 
                following:
                            (i) A timeline for accomplishing the 
                        changes described in subparagraph (A).
                            (ii) A description of the steps the 
                        Department is taking or plans to take to 
                        shorten the time it takes from project concept 
                        to completion while controlling costs and 
                        budget, and achieving established goals.
                            (iii) A description of the steps the 
                        Department is taking or plans to take to 
                        increase the capacity and ability of the 
                        Department to complete a larger number of 
                        projects in a given year.
                            (iv) A description of what new or modified 
                        contracting or other services, arrangements, 
                        strategies, contract vehicles or mechanisms, 
                        innovations, pilots, and partnerships the 
                        Department is planning to use during the five-
                        year period following the date of the Plan, 
                        including--
                                    (I) a timeline of how and when the 
                                Department will test and implement 
                                those approaches; and
                                    (II) a description of any 
                                limitations under current law 
                                (including regulations) that would 
                                prevent or are preventing the 
                                Department from using innovative 
                                contracting vehicles, services, 
                                arrangements, administrative action, or 
                                other agreements and strategies and 
                                what legislative changes are needed to 
                                facilitate use of those approaches, 
                                including a description of whether each 
                                limitation is a limitation for all 
                                Federal agencies or only for the 
                                Department.
                            (v) A description of the costs incurred or 
                        added to meet Federal or Department standards, 
                        including those for resiliency, accessibility, 
                        and other areas that are needed and may be 
                        greater or more stringent than private industry 
                        standards.
                            (vi) A description of the steps the 
                        Department is taking or plans to take to 
                        improve capital project delivery by 
                        standardizing facility design, modularizing 
                        facilities components, and taking other steps 
                        to accelerate project delivery while 
                        maintaining flexibility, agility, and quality, 
                        including a timeline for the completion of such 
                        steps.
                            (vii) A description of steps the Department 
                        is taking or plans to take to make all of its 
                        relevant capital assets energy efficient.
                            (viii) The steps the Secretary is taking or 
                        plans to take to ensure the Office of 
                        Information and Technology and the Office of 
                        Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction of the 
                        Department, or similar successor offices, are 
                        integrated into all relevant aspects of the 
                        capital asset planning and implementation 
                        process of the Department, including at the 
                        earliest stage of every relevant capital asset 
                        project in the field so as to improve 
                        communication, coordination, and project scope, 
                        cost, and schedule.
                            (ix) A description of any other actions the 
                        Department is taking or plans to take to 
                        improve its delivery and management of capital 
                        assets.
                            (x) A description of such legislative or 
                        administrative action as the Secretary 
                        considers necessary to more effectively manage 
                        and deliver needed capital assets of the 
                        Department.
                            (xi) Such other matters as the Secretary 
                        considers necessary.
    (b) Subsequent Reports.--Not later than three years after the date 
on which the strategic plan required by subsection (a) is submitted 
pursuant to paragraph (1) of such subsection, and once every three 
years thereafter for a period of six years, the Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report including--
            (1) a description of any changes with respect to the 
        matters described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) 
        since the strategic plan was submitted or the previous report 
        was submitted under this subsection, whichever may have been 
        more recent;
            (2) an explanation of which plans, actions, and initiatives 
        contained in the strategic plan or previous report, as the case 
        may be, were carried out;
            (3) a list of plans, actions, and initiatives from the 
        strategic plan or previous report, as the case may be, that 
        were not carried out and the reasons for such lack of action;
            (4) a discussion of the results and performance of the 
        Department since the strategic plan or the previous report, as 
        the case may be, including in cost savings, faster project 
        delivery, increased capacity to complete an increased number of 
        projects in a given year, and reduction in the number of 
        unaddressed priority capital asset improvements; and
            (5) such other matters as the Secretary considers 
        necessary.

SEC. 203. CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT OF CAPITAL ASSET DISPOSAL AND REUSE 
              AND ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPLETION OF DISPOSAL AND REUSE 
              ACTIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Centralized Management.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall, to the greatest extent practicable, centralize and 
        consolidate the management and oversight of all disposal and 
        reuse activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs within 
        one office or sub-office of the Department which shall have the 
        sole focus of property disposal, including reuse, transfer, and 
        demolition.
            (2) Plans and goals.--The office or sub-office described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be focused on developing and implementing a 
        measurable plan with yearly goals to dispose of, reuse, or 
        transfer relevant capital assets.
            (3) Consolidation of functions and employees.--To the 
        greatest extent practical, the Secretary shall consolidate the 
        functions and employees of the office or sub-office described 
        in paragraph (1) within one organization element of the 
        Department so as to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and 
        accountability.
            (4) Disposal management report.--
                    (A) Report required.--Not later than one year after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
                shall submit to the appropriate Committees of Congress 
                a report on the actions of the Secretary to carry out 
                this subsection.
                    (B) Contents.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
                            (i) A description of whether and how the 
                        consolidation has been carried out as required 
                        by this subsection.
                            (ii) Identification of the responsible 
                        single official with oversight over all capital 
                        asset disposals of the Department.
                            (iii) Observations or conclusions regarding 
                        the challenges of managing capital asset 
                        disposals of the Department.
                            (iv) Such recommendations for 
                        administrative or legislative action as the 
                        Secretary may have to improve the organization 
                        and effectiveness of the capital asset disposal 
                        work of the Department.
    (b) Initial Disposal and Reuse Progress Report.--
            (1) Report required.--The Secretary shall include with the 
        budget justification materials that are submitted to Congress 
        in support of the Department budget for the first fiscal year 
        beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act (as 
        submitted with the budget of the President for such fiscal year 
        under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) a report 
        containing a specific timeline to accomplish the disposal and 
        reuse actions the Secretary included in the disposal and reuse 
        reports included in the annual budget of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs submitted by the President under section 
        1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, or similar future 
        reports.
            (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A)(i) A description of a specific timeline and 
                plan to sell, reuse, dispose of, demolish, transfer, or 
                otherwise manage the capital assets, including 
                individual structures and buildings, that the Secretary 
                has identified in the reports described in such 
                paragraph in the next fiscal year and over the next 
                five fiscal years.
                    (ii) A description under clause (i) shall--
                            (I) indicate those disposal projects that 
                        the Secretary believes have a business case to 
                        conduct a disposal and those that the Secretary 
                        believes lack a business case; and
                            (II) include an explanation for such 
                        reasoning.
                    (B) A list of any impediments or challenges, on a 
                project by project basis and in the aggregate, to 
                carrying out any action described in subparagraph (A), 
                including funding constraints, environmental 
                remediation and preservation mitigation and any need 
                for administrative or legislative action to address 
                those impediments or challenges.
                    (C) A discussion of whether disposal and reuse 
                actions do not get completed or initiated because they 
                may compete for resources with urgent health care 
                delivery or other more time-sensitive infrastructure or 
                other operational needs of the Department.
                    (D) A detailed cost estimate of the funding, 
                including funding type, needed to accomplish all of the 
                actions described in paragraph (1), including the 
                number of fiscal years for which such funding is needed 
                and an indication of what funding for capital asset 
                disposal and reuse activities is included in the budget 
                of the President with which the report under such 
                paragraph is included.
                    (E) A discussion of whether the Department would 
                benefit from having a distinct and separate account 
                within the budget of the Department dedicated to the 
                management of the disposal and reuse of these assets.
                    (F) The cost to maintain capital assets waiting to 
                be processed for disposal or reuse for the preceding 
                fiscal year, disaggregated by project.
                    (G) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
    (c) Subsequent Disposal and Reuse Progress Reports.--
            (1) Subsequent reports required.--For the first fiscal year 
        after the fiscal year referred to in subsection (b)(1) and each 
        fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall include with the 
        budget justification materials that are submitted to Congress 
        in support of the Department budget (as submitted with the 
        budget of the President for such fiscal year under section 
        1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) a report on actions 
        described in such subsection.
            (2) Contents.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) An update to the most recent report under 
                subsection (b) or this subsection, as applicable, with 
                respect to each of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of 
                paragraph (2) of such subsection.
                    (B) Information on how many disposal and reuse 
                actions from the previous year's report were 
                accomplished or not accomplished.
                    (C) Information about what may have inhibited the 
                accomplishment of those actions described in 
                subparagraph (B) that were not accomplished.
                    (D) A description of best practices or lessons 
                learned with respect to actions described in subsection 
                (b)(1).
                    (E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate and relevant.

SEC. 204. REPORT ON OPTIONS TO IMPROVE MINOR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on potential options 
and alternatives to improve, reform, and provide more flexibility to 
the minor construction activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
so as to increase effectiveness in commencing and delivering minor 
construction capital asset projects.
    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) A discussion regarding legislative or administrative 
        action to define the term ``minor construction'' for purposes 
        of Department budgeting and accounting by using an automatic 
        adjustment of the threshold using--
                    (A) an index to adjust for inflation; and
                    (B) another index to adjust for regional variations 
                and trends in the cost of construction.
            (2) A discussion of whether the practice of the Department 
        entering into multiple minor construction projects rather than 
        one larger major construction project is an efficient best 
        practice for delivery of capital asset projects.
            (3) A discussion of whether the Department should adopt any 
        best practices of other Federal agencies or non-Federal 
        entities for its minor construction capital asset projects.
            (4) Such other suggestions for legislative or 
        administrative action as the Secretary may have with respect to 
        the management, including project thresholds, of minor 
        construction capital asset projects.
            (5) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Major construction.--The term ``major construction'' 
        means capital project to construct, alter, extend, or improve 
        any facility that involves a total expenditure of more than 
        $20,000,000, including a major medical facility project (as 
        defined in section 8104(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code).
            (2) Minor construction.--The term ``minor construction'' 
        means a capital project to construct, alter, extend, or improve 
        any facility that involves a total expenditure of $20,000,000 
        or less.

SEC. 205. REPORT ON IMPROVEMENTS TO ALIGNMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
              FUNDING AND ACTIVATION OF MEDICAL AND OTHER SPACE OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on any potential 
improvements to the alignment of funding of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for information technology so as to facilitate more effective 
and efficient activation of medical and other relevant space of the 
Department.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) A description of any current limitations on funding 
        mechanisms, including the timing and sequencing of information 
        technology and health care resources that are needed to 
        purchase, procure, and install information technology equipment 
        and related information technology assets and services needed 
        for the activation of medical and other relevant space of the 
        Department, whether leased, owned, or otherwise under the 
        jurisdiction of the Department.
            (2) Any proposed solutions the Secretary may have to 
        address the limitations described in paragraph (1).
            (3) Any legislative or administrative action required to 
        achieve the solutions described in paragraph (2).
            (4) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 206. REPORTS ON KEY CAPITAL ASSET INVESTMENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND 
              PERFORMANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 8120 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 8120. Reports on key capital asset investments, activities, and 
              performance
    ``(a) Capital Asset Investment, Activities, and Performance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the end of 
        each fiscal year, and every 60 days thereafter until the end of 
        that fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress a report on key capital asset 
        investments, activities, and performance of the Department.
            ``(2) Elements.--
                    ``(A) First report in each fiscal year.--The first 
                report under paragraph (1) in each fiscal year shall 
                include the following:
                            ``(i) A brief summary of each capital asset 
                        project that was completed in the previous 
                        fiscal year.
                            ``(ii) A brief summary of the 
                        accomplishments, impediments, and challenges 
                        experienced by the Department with respect to 
                        capital asset projects in the previous fiscal 
                        year and a description of efforts made to 
                        address any such impediments and challenges.
                            ``(iii) With respect to each capital asset 
                        project completed in such year, the following:
                                    ``(I) The type of project (major 
                                construction, minor construction, non-
                                recurring maintenance, leases, or other 
                                category, including disposals).
                                    ``(II) The estimated total cost and 
                                the actual total cost of the project.
                                    ``(III) A description of the 
                                project.
                                    ``(IV) The location and facility 
                                with respect to which the project was 
                                carried out.
                                    ``(V) The fiscal quarter the 
                                project was expected to begin, the 
                                fiscal quarter the project began, the 
                                month and year the project was 
                                completed, and the fiscal quarter the 
                                facility in connection to such project 
                                was in use by veterans, employees of 
                                the Department, or other relevant 
                                users, as the case may be.
                            ``(iv) In the case of any capital asset 
                        project completed during the previous fiscal 
                        year with respect to which the final cost of 
                        the project (or any increment of the project) 
                        was more than 10 percent greater than the 
                        estimated cost of the project (or increment) or 
                        the completion of such project (or increment) 
                        was more than 180 days later than the planned 
                        schedule for such project (or increment)--
                                    ``(I) the reason for any such 
                                overage or delay; and
                                    ``(II) actions being taken to 
                                prevent any such overage or delay in 
                                future projects.
                            ``(v) A list of any capital asset projects 
                        cancelled during the previous fiscal year, 
                        including any projects in the design phase and 
                        including the reason for the cancellation.
                            ``(vi) A summary of total actual 
                        obligations for capital asset projects for the 
                        previous fiscal year, broken out by major 
                        construction, minor construction, non-recurring 
                        maintenance, and leases, from the medical 
                        facilities appropriation account of the 
                        Department.
                            ``(vii) A projected list of capital asset 
                        projects, broken out by type of project under 
                        subclause (I), that are expected to be 
                        initiated during the current fiscal year and 
                        those that are expected to be completed during 
                        the current fiscal year, which shall include 
                        the following:
                                    ``(I) The type of project (major 
                                construction, minor construction, non-
                                recurring maintenance, leases, or other 
                                category, including disposals).
                                    ``(II) The estimated total cost of 
                                the project.
                                    ``(III) A description of the 
                                project.
                                    ``(IV) The location and facility 
                                with respect to which the project was 
                                carried out or is expected to be 
                                carried out.
                                    ``(V) The fiscal quarter the 
                                project is expected to begin, the 
                                fiscal quarter the project is expected 
                                to be completed, and the fiscal quarter 
                                the facility in connection to such 
                                project is expected to be in use by 
                                veterans, employees of the Department, 
                                or other relevant users, as the case 
                                may be.
                            ``(viii) Projected total obligations for 
                        capital asset projects for the current fiscal 
                        year, broken out by major construction, minor 
                        construction, non-recurring maintenance, and 
                        leases, from the medical facilities 
                        appropriation account of the Department.
                            ``(ix) Such observations of best practices, 
                        impediments, and accomplishments related to the 
                        capital asset management and performance of the 
                        Department, including any legislative or 
                        administrative action, as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate with respect to such 
                        practices, impediments, and accomplishments.
                            ``(x) Meaningful metrics that show the 
                        progress of the Department toward meeting 
                        relevant goals of the Department relating to 
                        capital asset management.
                            ``(xi) Such other matters as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate.
                    ``(B) Subsequent reports.--Each report in a fiscal 
                year after the first report shall include, at a 
                minimum, relevant updates on any capital asset projects 
                that are ongoing during that fiscal year, including any 
                updates to information provided with respect to such 
                projects under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Metrics.--Beginning not later than two years 
                after the date of the enactment of the BUILD for 
                Veterans Act of 2023, the metrics described in 
                subparagraph (A)(x) shall include the metrics developed 
                under section 102(a)(1) of such Act.
            ``(3) Matters relating to reporting costs.--In each report 
        under paragraph (1), when reporting on costs for capital asset 
        projects, the Secretary may include information regarding 
        Federal requirements, including those specific to the 
        Department, that may not exist in the non-Federal construction 
        sector that may increase costs for capital asset projects.
    ``(b) Super Construction Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the end of 
        each fiscal year, and every 60 days thereafter until the end of 
        that fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress a report on the super construction 
        projects carried out by the appropriate non-Department Federal 
        entity described in section 8103(e)(1) of this title during 
        such year.
            ``(2) Elements.--Each report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include, for each project described in such paragraph--
                    ``(A) the budgetary and scheduling status of the 
                project, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal 
                quarter ending before the date on which the report is 
                required to be submitted; and
                    ``(B) the actual cost and schedule variances of the 
                project, as of such day, compared to the planned cost 
                and schedules for the project.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives.
            ``(2) Capital asset project.--The term `capital asset 
        project' means a capital asset investment or activity of the 
        Department.
            ``(3) Super construction project.--The term `super 
        construction project' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 8103(e)(3) of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 8120 and inserting the 
following new item:

``8120. Reports on key capital asset investments, activities, and 
                            performance.''.

SEC. 207. REPORTS ON PROJECTED NEED FOR FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
              CAPITAL ASSETS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Initial Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report summarizing the 
projected amount of funding for infrastructure and capital assets that 
the Department of Veterans Affairs will need for the 10 fiscal years 
that begin immediately following such date.
    (b) Subsequent Reports.--The Secretary shall include in the annual 
budget of the Department submitted by the President under section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2025 and each 
fiscal year thereafter a report described in subsection (a) relating to 
the 10 fiscal years that begin immediately following the date on which 
such budget is submitted.
    (c) Elements.--Each report required by this section shall include, 
for each fiscal year covered by the report and for the entire period 
covered by the report, the following:
            (1) The projected funding needs of the Department 
        disaggregated by funding purpose, including the following:
                    (A) Land acquisition.
                    (B) Operations and maintenance of facilities of the 
                existing capital asset portfolio of the Department to 
                include the minimum level of funding below which 
                facilities could not be appropriately maintained.
                    (C) Operations and maintenance of the planned 
                future capital asset portfolio of the Department.
                    (D) New construction, by type, including major 
                construction, minor construction, and nonrecurring 
                maintenance.
                    (E) Leasing.
                    (F) Activation of space.
                    (G) Disposal, reuse, and remediation.
                    (H) Staffing to support the planning, delivery, 
                management, and maintenance of the Department's current 
                and future capital asset portfolio.
                    (I) Such other categories as the Secretary deems 
                relevant.
            (2) The projected funding needs under paragraph (1) 
        disaggregated by--
                    (A) not fewer than five major components of the 
                Department that use infrastructure resources, including 
                the Veterans Health Administration, the National 
                Cemetery Administration, the Veterans Benefits 
                Administration, the Office of Information and 
                Technology, and all other staff offices of the 
                Department; and
                    (B) type of capital asset investment.
            (3) A description of the cost increases which may or have 
        been incurred because of the delay in adequate, stable, and 
        predictable funding and forward movement on capital asset 
        projects. Such description may include a discussion of the 
        negative effect of the lack of stable and predictable capital 
        asset funding on the ability of the Department to plan, staff, 
        and execute effective capital asset management.
            (4) A complete list of capital asset projects (regardless 
        of size or type) for which all relevant preparatory work has 
        been conducted and whose key limiting factor in commencing is 
        lack of sufficient funds.
            (5) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate, including matters relating to necessary 
        legislative or administrative action.

SEC. 208. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
              REPORTS ON DEPARTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and at least twice during the six-year period 
beginning on the date that is three years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report examining the management and performance of relevant capital 
asset projects of the Department.
    (b) Sample Projects.--The Inspector General shall select meaningful 
and representative samples of categories of projects and project 
management efforts for review, including those that were initiated 
before the date of the enactment of this Act and those that were 
initiated on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, such as 
major construction, minor construction, nonrecurring maintenance, major 
and minor leases, land acquisition, and disposals.
    (c) Elements.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) may 
include, at the discretion of the Inspector General, the following:
            (1) A comparison of planned versus actual cost, schedule, 
        and scope metrics.
            (2) Improvements or lack thereof to capital asset project 
        management, including staffing, at the local, regional, or 
        national levels.
            (3) Observations on key characteristics inhibiting 
        successful delivery of projects or allowing for successful 
        delivery of projects.
            (4) Identification of areas of waste, fraud, and abuse, if 
        any.
            (5) Such other matters as the Inspector General considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 209. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORTS ON CAPITAL ASSET PROGRAM 
              MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTION BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once every three 
years thereafter until the date that is 9 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
reviewing the progress of the Department of Veterans Affairs toward 
meeting the goals, metrics, and other plans of the Department under 
this Act, particularly under sections 101, 102, and 202.
    (b) Elements.--Each report required by subsection (a) may include 
the following:
            (1) A review of the performance of the Department related 
        to planning, oversight, management of human capital, 
        contracting, and execution of capital asset projects.
            (2) A review of how the Department is complying with the 
        requirements of this Act.
            (3) Such other topics as the Comptroller General considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 210. REPORT ON DENTAL CARE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report, disaggregated by medical center or 
other relevant health care facility of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, on--
            (1) the physical infrastructure needed (such as new 
        facilities, renovations, remodels, leases, or other 
        infrastructure) to provide dental services to veterans eligible 
        for such services under the laws administered by the Secretary; 
        and
            (2) the project by project cost and total cost to establish 
        the physical infrastructure specified under paragraph (1) and 
        an estimated timeline to complete such projects upon receipt of 
        appropriate funding.

SEC. 211. REPORT ON LONG-TERM CARE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report, disaggregated by 
medical center or other relevant health care facility of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, identifying the physical infrastructure needs of 
the Department to support current and future anticipated long-term care 
needs and models of care for veterans, including--
            (1) infrastructure needed to support the delivery of long-
        term care for women veterans, veterans with spinal cord 
        injuries and diseases, veterans with traumatic brain injury, 
        veterans with unique behavioral health needs, veterans with 
        memory loss, and other population groups with unique needs or 
        projected future needs;
            (2) information regarding the plans of the Department to 
        provide such care as the Department builds internal capacity 
        but space is not yet available to meet the demand for such 
        care; and
            (3) with respect to any projects needed to provide the 
        infrastructure specified under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) the estimated individual project cost and total 
                cost to accomplish those projects; and
                    (B) the estimated individual project timeline to 
                accomplish each such project upon receipt of 
                appropriate funding.
    (b) Inclusion of Information Regarding Prioritization of Certain 
Projects.--The Secretary shall include in the report required under 
subsection (a) information regarding how the infrastructure 
prioritization processes of the Department, such as the Strategic 
Capital Investment Planning process, or successor process, could be 
modified to include higher prioritization of projects that support the 
provision of a health care service that is not widely available, or is 
not available in compliance with appropriate quality or access 
standards, from non-Department providers.
    (c) Development of Report.--In developing the report required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with relevant regional and 
national program offices of the Veterans Health Administration with 
responsibility to manage the various health care services covered by 
the report, including long-term care and care relating to spinal cord 
injuries and diseases, to ensure that the report contains a holistic, 
comprehensive, and integrated plan to address the capital asset and 
other space needs for the population of veterans who require those 
services.
    (d) Indication of Types of Projects.--In the report required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall indicate the projects that can be 
most efficiently and effectively accomplished through smaller 
individual infrastructure projects or through a larger medical facility 
replacement or new site of care, as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 212. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF USING A DEDICATED 
              BUDGET ACCOUNT FOR MAINTENANCE OF CAPITAL ASSETS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the feasibility 
and advisability of requesting that Congress create a dedicated budget 
account from which the Department of Veterans Affairs would request 
funds, based on relevant methodology, formulas and percentages tied to 
the existing and future capital asset needs of the Department, and if 
such funds are provided, draw upon to pay for maintenance, preventative 
maintenance, and repair of the capital assets of the Department.
    (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) The best practices used by the Department, drawing from 
        the Federal Government, State and local governments, nonprofit 
        organizations, private industry, and other appropriate 
        entities, relating to stable and consistent planning and 
        budgeting for capital asset maintenance.
            (2) Relevant formulas and percentages that the Department 
        currently uses to identify the resources required for capital 
        asset maintenance or could use to dedicate or segment off funds 
        to pay for needed and expected maintenance costs based on the 
        size, need, complexity, and other requirements of the capital 
        asset portfolio of the Department.
            (3) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 213. REPORT ON WOMEN VETERANS RETROFIT INITIATIVE.

    Section 5102 of the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020 (title V of Public 
Law 116-315; 38 U.S.C. 8110 note) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection (c):
    ``(c) Report on Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of the enactment of the BUILD for Veterans Act of 2023, the 
        Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report containing--
                    ``(A) an identification of the funding requested 
                and the funding provided to the Department for 
                retrofitting prioritized under subsection (a) as of the 
                date of the report;
                    ``(B) a list of projects conducted with such 
                funding as of such date, including--
                            ``(i) amounts obligated for each such 
                        project;
                            ``(ii) the locations of each such project;
                            ``(iii) a short description of each such 
                        project; and
                            ``(iv) the status of each such project, 
                        including an estimated timeline to complete the 
                        project; and
                    ``(C) a list of projects for retrofitting 
                prioritized under subsection (a) as of such date that 
                remain unfunded as of such date, including--
                            ``(i) the estimated funding required for 
                        those projects to be completed, on a project by 
                        project basis; and
                            ``(ii) an estimated timeline to complete 
                        each such project if necessary funding and 
                        other resources are provided.
            ``(2) Updates.--Not later than one year after the submittal 
        of the report under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter 
        until the earlier of the date that is 10 years after the 
        submittal of such report or the date on which all projects 
        listed under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of such paragraph have 
        been completed, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress a report on--
                    ``(A) the progress made by the Secretary in 
                completing such projects; and
                    ``(B) an identification of the funding requested 
                and the funding provided to the Department to complete 
                such projects.
            ``(3) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this 
        subsection, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives.''.

SEC. 214. REPORT ON CAPITAL ASSET AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OF 
              THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report on the capital asset and information technology 
needs of the research and development program of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Contents.--
            (1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) A comprehensive summary of new facilities, 
                renovations of existing facilities, leasing of 
                facilities and any other such facilities or physical 
                infrastructure the Department requires to effectively 
                perform its research and development functions, 
                including projected functions.
                    (B) Detailed information on the information 
                technology resources, projects, equipment, and related 
                information technology needs, disaggregated by type of 
                information technology funding categories, such as 
                development or operations and maintenance, the 
                Department requires in order to make the research and 
                development program and activities of the Department 
                functional and high performing in the short, medium, 
                and long term, and those needed to enable employees of 
                the Department to perform their research and 
                development in an effective and efficient manner.
                    (C) Such matters as the Secretary deems relevant to 
                maintain and further improve and advance the research 
                and development functions of the Department through 
                improved capital asset and information technology 
                support.
            (2) Requirements.--
                    (A) Facilities.--
                            (i) Summaries by project.--In providing 
                        information under paragraph (1)(A), the 
                        Secretary shall provide estimated summaries for 
                        each project with cost data as well as a 
                        realistic multi-year plan to design and deliver 
                        the capital asset projects, assuming required 
                        funding is provided.
                            (ii) Identification of projects.--Each 
                        project shall be identified by its project type 
                        such as major construction, minor construction, 
                        nonrecurring maintenance, major lease, minor 
                        lease, or such other category as the Secretary 
                        determines may be appropriate.
                    (B) Information technology.--In providing 
                information under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall 
                provide estimated summaries for each project or 
                investment with individual and total cost data as well 
                as a realistic multi-year plan to develop relevant 
                requirements and acquire and deploy the relevant 
                information technology services, projects, equipment, 
                and related matters.
                    (C) Scope.--The scope of the report submitted under 
                subsection (a) is on the capital asset, information 
                technology, and other related critical support 
                functions, excluding human capital related needs, 
                needed for the Department to perform research and 
                development in an effective and efficient manner.
    (c) Considerations.--In preparing the report required by subsection 
(a), the Secretary may consider the following:
            (1) The findings of the 2012 final report of the Research 
        Infrastructure Program of the Department.
            (2) Current and updated data providing the most accurate 
        and holistic presentation of the physical infrastructure, 
        information technology, and other relevant support function 
        needs of the research and development program of the 
        Department.
            (3) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 215. REVIEW AND REPORT ON PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT AND 
              OVERSIGHT.

    (a) Review.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall review all 
relevant authorities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including 
those in section 312A of title 38, United States Code, and determine 
whether the provisions of such authorities are meaningful, relevant, 
and reflect the current operational needs, organization structure, and 
all other necessary requirements for the full life-cycle of effective 
and efficient management of capital assets.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
regarding whether the authorities reviewed under subsection (a) should 
be revised to align more closely with current and future projected 
operational needs of the Department.
    (c) Contents.--The report required by subsection (b) shall include 
the following:
            (1) An assessment of whether other offices, 
        administrations, or entities of the Department should be 
        directed to formally assume certain functions currently 
        assigned to officials of the Department, including to the 
        Deputy Secretary, the Director of Construction and Facilities 
        Management, the Under Secretary for Health, the Assistant 
        Secretary for Management, and the Chief Financial Officer, 
        pursuant to statute or Departmental practice, so as to match 
        operational realties and needs, directives, policies, and 
        procedures of the Department, to improve efficiencies, 
        streamline management and lines of authority, responsibility, 
        and accountability or other reasons that would be beneficial to 
        the capital asset management of the Department.
            (2) An assessment of whether capital asset functions 
        currently not clearly assumed or controlled by other entities 
        of the Department should be more clearly assigned to relevant 
        offices of the Department to match operational realities and 
        needs, directives, policies, and procedures of the Department, 
        to improve efficiencies, streamline management and lines of 
        authority and responsibility, or other reasons that would be 
        beneficial to the capital asset management of the Department.
            (3) Identification of whether any new offices, structures, 
        positions, or reporting lines should be created or modified in 
        the Department to improve operational effectiveness, 
        performance, and accountability for capital asset management.
            (4) An assessment of whether a modified Departmental 
        organizational structure and changes to relevant statutory 
        provisions could create a clearly identified single line of 
        accountability and responsibility for the full life-cycle of 
        capital asset management activities of the Department so as to 
        improve effectiveness, efficiency, performance, and stability 
        of Departmental capital asset management.
            (5) Specific reasons for the statutory or other changes 
        that are recommended in the report or if no changes are 
        necessary, a justification for not making any changes, 
        including a statement providing the single responsible 
        executive and office in charge of managing all capital asset 
        management activities of the Department as of the date of the 
        report.
            (6) Identification of such legislative or administrative 
        action as the Secretary determines necessary to implement the 
        changes necessary to improve capital asset management at the 
        Department.

SEC. 216. IMPROVING PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND REPORTING OF WASTE, 
              FRAUD, AND ABUSE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
              CAPITAL ASSET PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on actions the 
Department of Veterans Affairs is taking or plans to take to enhance 
the ability of the Department to prevent, detect, and report waste, 
fraud, and abuse occurring in capital asset projects of the Department, 
whether by employees, contractors, or other relevant persons or 
entities involved with the Department.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) An assessment of whether new training or enhancements 
        to existing training should be undertaken to improve the 
        prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, fraud, and 
        abuse.
            (2) Recommendations for such legislative and administrative 
        action as the Secretary determines appropriate to improve the 
        prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, fraud, and 
        abuse.
            (3) Such other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (c) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary--
            (1) shall consult with the Inspector General of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of 
        the United States on matters relating to best practices and 
        strategies to improve detection and prevention by the 
        Department of waste, fraud, and abuse in capital asset projects 
        and management; and
            (2) may consult with such other persons and entities on 
        such matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.
                                 <all>