[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H6094-H6096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VA MAJOR CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION AND EXPIRING AUTHORITIES EXTENSION
ACT OF 2012
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6375) to authorize certain Department of Veterans
Affairs major medical facility projects and leases, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6375
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``VA Major
Construction Authorization and Expiring Authorities Extension
Act of 2012''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects.
TITLE I--CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS
Sec. 101. Authorization of fiscal year 2013 major medical facility
projects.
[[Page H6095]]
Sec. 102. Authorization of major medical facility project in Miami,
Florida.
Sec. 103. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF CERTAIN EXPIRING AUTHORITIES
Sec. 201. Extension of authority to calculate the net value of real
property securing a defaulted loan for purposes of
liquidation.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of
Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic
of the Philippines.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority to provide treatment, rehabilitation,
and certain other services for seriously mentally ill and
homeless veterans.
Sec. 204. Extension of authority to provide expanded services to
homeless veterans.
Sec. 205. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for
homeless veterans.
Sec. 206. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless
Veterans.
Sec. 207. Extension of authority for the performance of medical
disability examinations by contract physicians.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
TITLE I--CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2013 MAJOR MEDICAL
FACILITY PROJECTS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the
following major medical facility projects in fiscal year 2013
in the amount specified for each project:
(1) Construction of a mental health building at the
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle,
Washington, in an amount not to exceed $222,000,000.
(2) Construction of a spinal cord injury center at the
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas,
in an amount not to exceed $155,200,000.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT IN
MIAMI, FLORIDA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
carry out the major medical facility project described in
subsection (b) in an amount not to exceed a total of
$41,000,000.
(b) Project Described.--The major medical facility project
described in this subsection is the renovation of the
surgical suite and operating rooms at the Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida.
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations for Construction.--
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2013 or the year in which
funds are appropriated for the Construction, Major Projects,
account $377,200,000 for the projects authorized in section
101.
(b) Limitation.--In addition to any limitations under
section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, or other
provision of law that apply to the projects authorized in
section 101 and 102, such projects may only be carried out
using--
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2013 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 2013 that remain available for
obligation;
(3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a
fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 that remain available for
obligation;
(4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for fiscal year 2013 for a category of activity not specific
to a project;
(5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for a fiscal year before 2013 for a category of activity not
specific to a project; and
(6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for a fiscal year after 2013 for a category of activity not
specific to a project.
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF CERTAIN EXPIRING AUTHORITIES
SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO CALCULATE THE NET VALUE
OF REAL PROPERTY SECURING A DEFAULTED LOAN FOR
PURPOSES OF LIQUIDATION.
Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1,
2012'' and inserting ``October 1, 2013''.
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE
IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Section 315(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012''
and inserting ``December 31, 2013''. Such section 315 shall
be carried out as amended by this section notwithstanding the
date described in section 151 of the Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2013.
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TREATMENT,
REHABILITATION, AND CERTAIN OTHER SERVICES FOR
SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2031(b) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2012'' and inserting ``December 31, 2013''.
SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE EXPANDED SERVICES
TO HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2033(d) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2012'' and inserting ``December 31, 2013''.
SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING
ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2012'' and inserting ``December 31, 2013''.
SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2012'' and inserting ``December 31, 2013''.
SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF
MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT
PHYSICIANS.
Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (38
U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2012'' and inserting ``December 31, 2013''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
This bill, as amended, would authorize certain Department of Veterans
Affairs major medical facility projects, and it would also extend
certain expiring authorities.
It encompasses VA's fiscal year for 2013, for major medical facility
projects, and already tracks with the resources we have already
provided to the Department for health care matters in the
appropriations bill that was passed by the House with bipartisan
support. It would aid in the delivery of health care to services and to
servicemembers, veterans, and their families in communities all across
this country.
It authorizes two major medical facility projects, the construction
of a mental health building at the VA Medical Center in Seattle,
Washington, in an amount not to exceed $222 million, and the
construction of a spinal cord injury center at the VA Medical Center in
Dallas, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $155.2 million.
Section 102 of the bill would authorize the renovation of the
surgical suite and operating rooms at the Medical Center in Miami, in
an amount not to exceed $41 million. I would note that this project was
originally undertaken by the Department in 2007 as two separate minor
construction projects.
However, in 2008, the two separate projects were combined into a
single initiative without the knowledge of VA's central office, or the
approval, in direct violation of established procedures. The VA
officials first became aware of this issue in February of this year,
and in April of this year they determined that the combined project
constituted a major construction project that had moved forward without
congressional authorization as required by law.
Work on the project is currently suspended, at a cost of
approximately $6,000 a day. As soon as our committee became aware of
the issue, we requested an in-depth briefing from VA officials to get
to the bottom of the issue and to ensure that the leaders of the VA
responsible for this egregious oversight were, in fact, held
accountable.
It's really nothing short of unacceptable to this committee and, I
would hope, to this Congress that this facility had been openly
flouting VA policy and, more importantly, breaking Federal law for 4
years without consequence before somebody at VA took notice.
How many other VA projects have moved forward without regard for
proper procedure, legal requirements, or congressional authorization;
and how long has the central office not been paying attention?
[[Page H6096]]
The committee will continue to be vigorous in our oversight. But in
the meantime, we cannot allow the American taxpayer or the veterans of
south Florida to suffer because of a bureaucratic failing or lack of
leadership.
The Department has proposed using approximately $12.1 million in
prior-year major construction advance planning funds to complete the
remainder of the Miami project; and I've been assured repeatedly by VA
officials that the use of this money will in no way negatively impact
the planning or design of any other project.
I've also been assured by the Department that once congressional
authorization is received, the project can be completed in 120 days.
I'm hopeful that the Department is correct in its assessment of the
work that remains and that this provision will allow for the completion
of this project to better serve the veterans in the Miami area.
Section 103 of this bill would authorize the appropriation of $377.2
million for VA major construction projects. Title II of this bill would
extend expiring authorities for several programs within VA, including
programs designed to help veterans keep their homes, gain greater
access to compensation and pension examinations, better serve veterans
living in the Philippines, and provide supportive services to those who
are homeless.
This legislation represents a bipartisan effort; and I'd like to
express my thanks to the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Michaud
for his hard work and leadership in quickly advancing this important
legislation to the floor.
And before I yield, I'd like to point out that the bill before us
today does not include major medical facility lease authorizations, as
it normally would, due to concerns raised late last week by the
Congressional Budget Office about how to properly account for the total
cost of VA's lease authorization.
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure our veterans and stakeholders that I am
committed to working closely with my colleagues in the Senate, the
administration's Office of Management and Budget, and the Congressional
Budget Office to find a way forward on those important authorizations
in the very near future.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 6375, as
amended.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I'd like to thank my colleagues for the hard work and effort on this
very important bill as well.
Each year, as we assess the construction needs of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, we do so with the safety and health of our veterans
in mind, as well as fulfilling our statutory requirements to authorize
major medical facility projects. This is a responsibility that we do
not take lightly.
{time} 1600
H.R. 6375, the VA Major Construction Authorization and Expiring
Authorities Extension Act of 2012, would authorize approximately over
$377 million for major medical facility projects. Specifically included
is the authorization for a mental health building at the VA Medical
Center in Seattle, Washington, and for a spinal cord injury facility at
the VA Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Speaker, these
authorizations provide the Department of Veterans Affairs the ability
to provide state-of-the-art health care and services to our Nation's
veterans wherever they choose to live.
I would like to take a few moments to comment on section 102, which
provides the authority for the renovation of the surgical suite and the
operating rooms at the VA Medical Center in Miami, Florida.
Earlier this year, it was brought to the committee's attention that
VA was going to need additional authorization to finish the renovation
of the operating suites in Miami. It is my understanding that, during
the design phase of the original projects, an assessment was conducted,
and the recommendation was to completely close down the surgical suite
because of infection control and safety issues related to construction.
Because of these, two smaller Miami projects were combined, and the
cost exceeded the monetary threshold of $10 million that governs the
need to seek congressional authority. Working in a bipartisan manner,
with the concerns for the safe continuation of surgery in the Miami VA
Medical Center always first and foremost in our minds, we have included
this project so that VA can move forward without delay.
In addition to major facility projects, H.R. 6375 provides for the
extension of certain expiring authorities. I am pleased to strongly
support the extensions of the programs that directly affect some of our
most vulnerable veterans--the serious mentally ill and homeless.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, we have also included an extension of VA's
contract authority with private providers of compensation and pension
exams.
I support these provisions, but I also want to ensure that we remain
vigilant in our oversight of this authority. As such, I am pleased to
see 1-year extensions of these authorities, and I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 6375.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers on this
particular piece of legislation.
Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would encourage my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle to support this particular piece of
legislation, which is very important for our veterans.
I would be remiss, though, if I didn't say that, like my colleague
from New York earlier, I am disappointed that we are leaving Washington
when we have a lot of work to do, such as the middle class tax cuts,
the farm bill, the Violence Against Women Act, and responsible deficit
reduction, as well as my bill that addresses the issue of our military,
members of which are supposed to be clothed from head to toe with
American-made clothing. The fact that the administration is not
complying with the Berry amendment is very disappointing. Hopefully, we
will be able to address these issues before the end of the year so that
we can take care of a lot of the concerns that my constituents have
brought forth.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 6375, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague for
helping to point out the fact that the Senate, itself, has not acted on
many of the pieces of legislation that, in fact, this House has passed
and sent over to it. It is a shame that, for the last 3 years, they
have not taken up such good legislation.
With that, I thank my colleagues once again for their support, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6375, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to authorize certain
Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities of
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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