[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 66 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SIMPSON (by request):
  S. 1749. A bill to amend title 38, sections 8101(2) and 
8109(h)(3)(B), United States Code, to delete the references therein to 
``working drawings'' and substitute therefor the words ``construction 
documents,'' and to further delete the references therein to 
``preliminary plans'' and to substitute therefor the words ``design 
development.''; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


                         veterans' legislation

 Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, as chairman of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee, I have today introduced, at the request of the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, S. 1749, a bill to amend certain 
provisions of title 38, United States Code, first, to delete references 
to ``working drawings'' and substitute therefor the words 
``construction documents;'' and second, to delete references to 
``preliminary plans'' and substitute therefor the words ``design 
development.'' The Secretary of Veterans Affairs submitted this 
legislation to the President of the Senate by letter dated September 
18, 1995.
  My introduction of this measure is in keeping with the policy which I 
have adopted of generally introducing--so that there will be specific 
bills to which my colleagues and others may direct their attention and 
comments--all administration-proposed draft legislation referred to the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee. Thus, I reserve the right to support or 
oppose the provisions of, as well as any amendment to, this 
legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record, together with the transmittal letter and the 
enclosed analysis of the draft legislation.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1749

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     section 8101(2) and section 8109(h)(3)(B) of title 38, United 
     States Code, are amended--
       Sec. 2. By striking the words ``working drawings'' each 
     time they appear and to substitute therefor in each instance 
     the words ``construction documents.''
       Sec. 3. By striking the words ``preliminary plans'' each 
     time they appear to substitute therefor in each instance the 
     words ``design development.''
                                                                    ____

                                                  The Secretary of


                                             Veterans Affairs,

                                   Washington, September 18, 1995.
     Hon. Albert Gore,
     President of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: There is transmitted herewith a draft 
     bill, ``To amend title 38, sections 8101(2) and 
     8109(h)(3)(B), United States Code, to delete the references 
     therein to ``working drawings'' and substitute therefor the 
     words ``construction documents,'' and to further delete the 
     references therein to ``preliminary plans'' and to substitute 
     therefor the words ``design development.'' It is requested 
     that the bill be referred to the appropriate committee and 
     that it be favorably considered for enactment.
       This draft bill would simply change terminology used in 
     reference to design activities to bring the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs in line with the terminology used in the 
     private design and construction industry. These proposed 
     changes are a result of the Department's Office of 
     Construction Management's restructuring its design activities 
     to follow those used by private industry.
       This proposal will not result in any additional costs to, 
     or savings for, the Department. The requested changes will 
     result only in greater uniformity of construction project 
     terminology between the Department and private industry.
       The Office of Management and Budget advises that there is 
     no objection from the standpoint of the Administration's 
     program to the submission of this legislative proposal to the 
     Congress.
           Sincerely yours,
                                                      Jesse Brown.
       Enclosures.
                                                                    ____


                      Section-by-Section Analysis

       Section 1 of the draft bill provides that section 8101(2) 
     and section 8109(h)(3)(B) of title 38 shall be amended.
       Section 2 of the draft bill would change the design 
     document references in sections 8101(2) and 8109(h)(3)(B), 
     from ``working drawings'' to ``construction documents.'' 
     Enactment of this change would represent a terminology change 
     only, which would result in terminology used within the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs paralleling that used within 
     the private design industry.
       Section 3 of the draft bill would change the design 
     document references in section 8101(2) from ``preliminary 
     plans'' to ``design development.'' Enactment of this change 
     would represent a terminology change only, which would result 
     in terminology used within the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     paralleling that used within the private design 
     industry.
                                 ______