[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 94 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H4336-H4337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION TO CARRY OUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE
EXISTING MEDICAL CENTER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN
DENVER, COLORADO
Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the bill (S. 1568) to extend the authorization to carry
out the replacement of the existing medical center of the Department of
Veterans Affairs in Denver, Colorado, to authorize transfers of amounts
to carry out the replacement of such medical center, and for other
purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carter of Georgia). Is there objection
to the request of the gentleman from Colorado?
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to object, although
I don't object.
I just want to thank my friend from Colorado, the authorizing
committee, and the appropriators for providing some time through the
end of the fiscal year. It gives the Army Corps of Engineers, the VA,
and the contractor an opportunity to continue construction of our big
VA Medical Center in Colorado. We still have a long-term solution that
has to be resolved, but this gives everybody some breathing room to get
that done.
With that, I withdraw my reservation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
The text of the bill is as follows:
[[Page H4337]]
S. 1568
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT
PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.
Section 2(a) of the Construction Authorization and Choice
Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19) is amended--
(1) by striking ``in fiscal year 2015,''; and
(2) by striking ``$900,000,000'' and inserting
``$1,050,000,000''.
SEC. 2. LIMITED, ONE-TIME AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER SPECIFIC
AMOUNTS TO CARRY OUT MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY
PROJECT IN DENVER, COLORADO.
(a) In General.--Of the unobligated balances of amounts
available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal
year 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer
amounts from the appropriations accounts under the following
headings, in the amounts and from the activities specified,
to the appropriations account under the heading
``Construction, Major Projects'':
(1) ``Medical Services'', $6,494,000 to be derived from
amounts available for the Human Capital Investment Plan.
(2) ``Medical Support and Compliance'', $1,611,000 to be
derived from amounts available for the Human Capital
Investment Plan.
(3) ``Medical Facilities'', $80,735,000 to be derived from
amounts available for green energy projects of the
Department.
(4) ``National Cemetery Administration'', $60,000 to be
derived from amounts available for the Human Capital
Investment Plan.
(5) ``General Administration'', $1,130,000 to be derived
from amounts available for the Office of the Secretary.
(6) ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits
Administration'', $670,000 to be derived from amounts
available for the Human Capital Investment Plan.
(7) ``Information Technology Systems'', $240,000 to be
derived from amounts available for the Human Capital
Investment Plan.
(8) ``Construction, Minor Projects'', $3,000,000 to be
derived from amounts available for minor construction
projects at the staff offices of the Department.
(b) Transfer of Amounts Available in Funds.--
(1) Revolving supply fund.--Of the unobligated balances of
amounts available in the revolving supply fund of the
Department under section 8121 of title 38, United States
Code, the Secretary may transfer $20,030,000 to the
appropriations account under the heading ``Construction,
Major Projects''.
(2) Franchise fund.--Of the unobligated balances of amounts
available in the Department of Veterans Affairs Franchise
Fund established in title I of the Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-204; 31
U.S.C. 501 note), the Secretary may transfer $36,030,000 to
the appropriations account under the heading ``Construction,
Major Projects''.
(c) Use of Amounts and Availability.--The amounts
transferred under subsections (a) and (b) shall--
(1) be used only to carry out the major medical facility
construction project in Denver, Colorado, specified in
section 2 of the Construction Authorization and Choice
Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19); and
(2) remain available until September 30, 2016.
The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third
time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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