[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2357-S2358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 2797. A bill to authorize major medical facility projects and 
major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for fiscal year 2009, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I introduce legislation requested by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as a courtesy to the Secretary and 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. Except in unusual circumstances, it 
is my practice to introduce legislation requested by the administration 
so that such measures will be available for review and consideration.
  This ``by-request'' bill would authorize $1.87 billion in 
construction projects in various areas of the country in fiscal year 
2009. It also would authorize one new polytrauma center in San Antonio, 
TX, and upgrades to the polytrauma center in Palo Alto, CA.
  The bill would also extend and increase the total authorizations for 
new VA Medical Centers in Denver, CO, and New Orleans, LA.
  Finally, this bill authorizes $60 million in leases for 12 outpatient 
clinics in various States and territories.
  I am introducing this bill for the review and consideration of my 
colleagues at the request of the administration. As chairman of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have not taken a position on this 
legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
a transmittal letter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2797

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR MEDICAL 
                   FACILITY PROJECTS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility projects in fiscal year 
     2009, with each project to be carried out in the amount 
     specified for each project:
       (1) Construction of an 80-bed replacement facility in Palo 
     Alto, California, to replace a seismically unsafe acute 
     psychiatric inpatient building, in an amount not to exceed 
     $54,000,000.
       (2) Construction of an outpatient clinic to meet the 
     increased demand for diagnostic procedures, ambulatory 
     surgery, and specialty care in Lee County, Florida, in an 
     amount not to exceed $131,800,000.
       (3) Seismic corrections to Building 1 at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 
     an amount not to exceed $225,900,000.
       (4) Construction of a facility for a state-of-the-art 
     polytrauma healthcare and rehabilitation center in San 
     Antonio, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $66,000,000.

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

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility projects in fiscal year 
     2009, as originally authorized by section 801 of the Veterans 
     Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 
     (Public Law 109-461; 120 Stat. 3442) and as follows with each 
     project to be carried out in the amount specified for that 
     project:
       (1) Replacement of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, in an amount not to exceed 
     $769,200,000.
       (2) Restoration, new construction, or replacement of the 
     medical center facility for the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, due to damage 
     from Hurricane Katrina, in an amount not to exceed 
     $625,000,000.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR MEDICAL 
                   FACILITY LEASES.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility leases in fiscal year 2009 
     at the locations specified, and in an amount for each lease 
     not to exceed the amount shown for each such location:
       (1) For an outpatient clinic, Brandon, Florida, $4,326,000.
       (2) For a community-based outpatient clinic, Colorado 
     Springs, Colorado, $3,995,000.
       (3) For an outpatient clinic, Eugene, Oregon, $5,826,000.
       (4) For expansion of an outpatient clinic, Green Bay, 
     Wisconsin, $5,891,000.
       (5) For an outpatient clinic, Greenville, South Carolina, 
     $3,731,000.
       (6) For a community-based outpatient clinic, Mansfield, 
     Ohio, $2,212,000.
       (7) For a satellite outpatient clinic, Mayaguez, Puerto 
     Rico, $6,276,000.
       (8) For a community-based outpatient clinic for Southeast 
     Phoenix, Mesa, Arizona, $5,106,000.
       (9) For interim research space, Palo Alto, California, 
     $8,636,000.
       (10) For expansion of a community-based outpatient clinic, 
     Savannah, Georgia, $3,168,000.
       (11) For a community-based outpatient clinic for Northwest 
     Phoenix, Sun City, Arizona, $2,295,000.
       (12) For a primary care annex, Tampa, Florida, $8,652,000.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Major Medical 
     Facility Projects.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for 
     the Construction, Major Projects, account--
       (1) $477,700,000 for the projects authorized in section 1; 
     and
       (2) $1,394,200,000 for projects whose authorization is 
     extended by section 2.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations for Medical Facility 
     Leases.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for the 
     Medical Facilities account, $60,114,000 for the leases 
     authorized in section 3.
       (c) Limitation.--The projects authorized in sections 1 and 
     2 may only be carried out using--
       (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2009 pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) of this 
     section;
       (2) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a 
     fiscal year before fiscal year 2009 that remain available for 
     obligation;
       (3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a 
     fiscal year after fiscal year 2009 that remain available for 
     obligation;
       (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for fiscal year 2009 for a category of activity not specific 
     to a project;
       (5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for a fiscal year before 2009 for a category of activity not 
     specific to a project; and
       (6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for a fiscal year after 2009 for a category of activity not 
     specific to a project.

[[Page S2358]]

     
                                  ____
                                Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

                                Washington, DC, February 13, 2008.
     Hon. Richard B. Cheney,
     President of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Vice President: I am pleased to submit the 
     enclosed draft bill to authorize $1,871,900,000 for 
     Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) major facility 
     construction projects for Fiscal Year 2009 and $60,114,000 
     for major facility leases for Fiscal Year 2009.
       Title 38 U.S.C. section 8104(a)(2) requires statutory 
     authorization for all VA major medical facility construction 
     projects and all major medical facility leases prior to the 
     appropriation of funds. In accordance with title 38, the 
     draft bill authorizes six major medical facility construction 
     projects and twelve major medical facility leases. The six 
     major medical facility construction projects are located in: 
     Lee County, Florida; Palo Alto, California; San Antonio, 
     Texas; San Juan, Puerto, Rico; Denver, Colorado; and New 
     Orleans, Louisiana. Previously, Congress authorized funds 
     necessary for Denver and New Orleans under P.L. 109-461. This 
     proposed bill would authorize additional funds necessary to 
     complete the remaining construction for these projects.
       The proposed project in Lee County provides a state-of-the-
     art ambulatory care facility which is expected to improve the 
     ``quality of life'' of the veteran population. Needed 
     services for diagnostic procedures, ambulatory surgery, and 
     specialty care will be provided in response to these areas 
     being identified as service shortfalls in the CARES analysis. 
     The proposed project in Palo Alto is required to replace a 
     functionally deficient and seismically unsafe acute 
     psychiatric inpatient building. This will be accomplished by 
     constructing an approximately 80-bed replacement facility. 
     The proposed project in San Antonio is for a state-of-the-art 
     polytrauma healthcare and rehabilitation center that will 
     include patient ward space and transitional housing space. 
     The proposed project in San Juan will provide needed seismic 
     corrections to Building 1 at the VA Medical Center.
       The proposed project in Denver will provide a replacement 
     facility near the University of Colorado, Fitzsimons campus. 
     The project will accommodate the tertiary, secondary and 
     primary care operations for the Eastern Colorado Health Care 
     System. Previous authorization, in the amount of $98,000,000, 
     provided pursuant to P.L. 109-461, only satisfied the cost of 
     land acquisition and some architect engineering costs. 
     Additional authorization is required to complete this 
     project.
       The proposed project in New Orleans will reestablish the 
     services in Southeast Louisiana that existed prior to 
     Hurricane Katrina. A tertiary care medical complex will be 
     constructed and will include 200 inpatient beds with 60 
     nursing home beds. Through P.L. 109-461, this project, as a 
     facility to be co-located with the Louisiana State University 
     Health Sciences Center in New Orleans (LSU), was authorized 
     in the amount of $300,000,000; however, additional 
     authorization is required to deliver the project described. 
     Authorization is requested in an amount not to exceed 
     $625,000,000 regardless of whether the project is co-located 
     with LSU as prescribed in P.L. 109-461.
       The proposed authorization will allow leases for Outpatient 
     Clinics in Brandon, Florida; Eugene, Oregon; and Greenville, 
     South Carolina. An Outpatient Clinic will be expanded through 
     a lease in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A lease for a Satellite 
     Outpatient Clinic will be acquired in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. 
     Leases for Community Based Outpatient Clinics will be 
     acquired in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mansfield; Ohio; 
     Mesa, Arizona; and Sun City, Arizona. A lease in Savannah, 
     Georgia, will expand its Community Based Outpatient Clinic. A 
     lease for Interim Research Space will be acquired in Palo 
     Alto, California. A lease for a Primary Care Annex will be 
     acquired in Tampa, Florida.
       The Office of Management and Budget advises that the 
     transmission of this legislative package is in accord with 
     the Administration's program.
           Sincerely yours,
                                                   James B. Peake.
                                 ______