[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 48 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 833. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
carry out certain major medical facility projects for which 
appropriations were made for fiscal year 2015, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I speak today regarding the 
introduction of a bill, cosponsored by Senator Boxer, to provide the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with the authority to obligate and 
expend previously appropriated funds in order to begin construction on 
critical projects in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Diego, CA, as 
well as in Canandaigua, NY.
  In December of 2014, Congress passed the Consolidated and Continuing 
Appropriations Act of 2015, which provided $446,800,000 for major 
construction projects at these Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. 
However, the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot spend the money that 
has already been appropriated and begin construction on these projects 
because it lacks a separate authorization, which is required by law.
  The funding provided for the three California projects will be used 
to make critical, time-sensitive seismic safety corrections to 
structures in West Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Diego. These 
buildings, which include a spinal cord injury clinic, a mental health 
care facility, and a community living center, are at exceptionally high 
risk of collapse or suffering severe damage during an earthquake. If a 
major earthquake struck in proximity to one of these Medical Centers 
while it was in use by veterans and the Department's employees, there 
could be numerous injuries and deaths. The U.S. Geological Survey 
estimates there is a greater than 99 percent chance that a magnitude 
6.7 or greater earthquake will strike California in the next 30 years.
  It is important to note that even less severe earthquakes can cause 
damage to seismically unsafe buildings that result in injuries and 
deaths. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services believes 
that the damage to seismically unfit buildings caused by the magnitude 
6.0 earthquake that hit Napa, CA, on August 24, 2014 at 3:20 a.m. would 
likely have resulted in many more deaths and injuries if it had struck 
during business hours when these structures were in use. As it was, the 
earthquake caused over 200 injuries and one fatality. In fact, the U.S. 
Geological Survey estimates that a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hits 
California every 1.2 years on average. This is a terrifying figure, and 
it is why I strongly believe that Congress must enact this legislation 
without delay.
  I appreciate that the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee worked 
extremely hard to pass important legislation last year to address the 
veterans' health care access crisis and that it, therefore, did not 
report a construction authorization bill. However, in the case of these 
four projects, the money has already been appropriated and is available 
for expenditure as soon as an authorization is forthcoming from 
Congress.
  More hearings and delays are unnecessary to determine whether the 
Senate should pass this legislation. The Senate Appropriations 
Committee held hearings with the Department on these projects in 2014 
as it reviewed the President's fiscal year 2015 Budget Request. The 
Committee marked up and reported the Military Construction, Veterans 
Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill in a bipartisan 
fashion. Congress voted in a bipartisan fashion to pass this bill and 
approve funding for these projects as part of the Consolidated and 
Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015.
  I want to reiterate that Congress appropriated funding for these four 
major medical projects in 2014, and the Department is ready to start 
construction today. However, due only to the lack of a separate 
authorization, the Department cannot start this vital work to protect 
our veterans and Federal employees. This is exactly why Americans 
believe that the Federal Government does not work. How does Congress 
explain this unnecessary delay to veterans who go to medical 
appointments in the buildings at risk of collapse or major damage? 
There is no reason to delay authorizing these projects when the money 
has already been appropriated.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in quickly approving this legislation 
so that the Department can begin modification of buildings that 
currently leave veterans and the Department's employees in harm's way 
before the next earthquake strikes California. Congress must act before 
the next earthquake strikes.
                                 ______