[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H5640-H5650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AND VETERANS HEALTH CARE CHOICE IMPROVEMENT ACT 
                                OF 2015


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous materials on H.R. 3236.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 388, I call up 
the bill (H.R. 3236) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, 
highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs 
funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, to provide resource flexibility 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care services, and for 
other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill contains an emergency designation 
pursuant to section 4(g)(1) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. 
Accordingly, the Chair must put the question of consideration under 
section 4(g)(2) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.
  The question is, Will the House now consider the bill?
  The question of consideration was decided in the affirmative.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 388, the bill 
is considered read.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3236

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS; TABLE OF 
                   CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Surface 
     Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement 
     Act of 2015''.
       (b) Reconciliation of Funds.--The Secretary of 
     Transportation shall reduce the amount apportioned or 
     allocated for a program, project, or activity under this Act 
     in fiscal year 2015 by amounts apportioned or allocated 
     pursuant to the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 
     2014 and the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, 
     including the amendments made by such Acts, for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015.
       (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; reconciliation of funds; table of contents.

           TITLE I--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM EXTENSION

                    Subtitle A--Federal-Aid Highways

Sec. 1001. Extension of Federal-aid highway programs.
Sec. 1002. Administrative expenses.

[[Page H5641]]

            Subtitle B--Extension of Highway Safety Programs

Sec. 1101. Extension of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
              highway safety programs.
Sec. 1102. Extension of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
              programs.
Sec. 1103. Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.

               Subtitle C--Public Transportation Programs

Sec. 1201. Formula grants for rural areas.
Sec. 1202. Apportionment of appropriations for formula grants.
Sec. 1203. Authorizations for public transportation.
Sec. 1204. Bus and bus facilities formula grants.

                    Subtitle D--Hazardous Materials

Sec. 1301. Authorization of appropriations.

                      TITLE II--REVENUE PROVISIONS

Sec. 2001. Extension of Highway Trust Fund expenditure authority.
Sec. 2002. Funding of Highway Trust Fund.
Sec. 2003. Modification of mortgage reporting requirements.
Sec. 2004. Consistent basis reporting between estate and person 
              acquiring property from decedent.
Sec. 2005. Clarification of 6-year statute of limitations in case of 
              overstatement of basis.
Sec. 2006. Tax return due dates.
Sec. 2007. Transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health 
              accounts.
Sec. 2008. Equalization of Highway Trust Fund excise taxes on liquefied 
              natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and compressed 
              natural gas.

                    TITLE III--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 3001. Service fees.

                     TITLE IV--VETERANS PROVISIONS

Sec. 4001. Short title.
Sec. 4002. Plan to consolidate programs of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs to improve access to care.
Sec. 4003. Funding account for non-Department care.
Sec. 4004. Temporary authorization of use of Veterans Choice Funds for 
              certain programs.
Sec. 4005. Modifications of Veterans Choice Program.
Sec. 4006. Limitation on dialysis pilot program.
Sec. 4007. Amendments to Internal Revenue Code with respect to health 
              coverage of veterans.
Sec. 4008. Emergency designations.

           TITLE I--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM EXTENSION

                    Subtitle A--Federal-Aid Highways

     SEC. 1001. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 1001(a) of the Highway and 
     Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (128 Stat. 1840) is 
     amended by striking ``July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``October 
     29, 2015''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) Highway trust fund.--Section 1001(b)(1) of the Highway 
     and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (128 Stat. 1840) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(1) Highway trust fund.--Except as provided in section 
     1002, there is authorized to be appropriated out of the 
     Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account)--
       ``(A) for fiscal year 2015, a sum equal to the total amount 
     authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund 
     (other than the Mass Transit Account) for programs, projects, 
     and activities for fiscal year 2014 under divisions A and E 
     of MAP-21 (Public Law 112-141) and title 23, United States 
     Code (excluding chapter 4 of that title); and
       ``(B) for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015, \29/366\ of the total amount 
     authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund 
     (other than the Mass Transit Account) for programs, projects, 
     and activities for fiscal year 2015 under divisions A and E 
     of MAP-21 (Public Law 112-141) and title 23, United States 
     Code (excluding chapter 4 of that title).''.
       (2) General fund.--Section 1123(h)(1) of MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 
     202 note) is amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 2013 
     and 2014 and $24,986,301 out of the general fund of the 
     Treasury to carry out the program for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and $2,377,049 out 
     of the general fund of the Treasury to carry out the program 
     for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on 
     October 29, 2015''.
       (c) Use of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1001(c)(1) of the Highway and 
     Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (128 Stat. 1840) is 
     amended by striking ``(1) In general.--'' and all that 
     follows through ``to carry out programs'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise expressly provided 
     in this subtitle, funds authorized to be appropriated under 
     subsection (b)(1)--
       ``(A) for fiscal year 2015 shall be distributed, 
     administered, limited, and made available for obligation in 
     the same manner and at the same levels as the amounts of 
     funds authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust 
     Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for fiscal year 
     2014; and
       ``(B) for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015, shall be distributed, 
     administered, limited, and made available for obligation in 
     the same manner and at the same levels as \29/366\ of the 
     amounts of funds authorized to be appropriated out of the 
     Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for 
     fiscal year 2015,
     to carry out programs''.
       (2) Obligation ceiling.--Section 1102 of MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 
     104 note) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2); and
       (ii) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
       ``(3) $40,256,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(4) $3,189,683,060 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.'';
       (B) in subsection (b)(12)--
       (i) by striking ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2014'' 
     and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015''; and
       (ii) by striking ``, and for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015, only in an 
     amount equal to $639,000,000, less any reductions that would 
     have otherwise been required for that year by section 251A of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 
     (2 U.S.C. 901a), then multiplied by \304/365\ for that 
     period'' and inserting ``, and for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015, only in an 
     amount equal to $639,000,000, less any reductions that would 
     have otherwise been required for that year by section 251A of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 
     (2 U.S.C. 901a), then multiplied by \29/366\ for that 
     period'';
       (C) in subsection (c)--
       (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2014 and for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' 
     and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and 
     for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on 
     October 29, 2015''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A) by striking ``for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2014, and ending on July 31, 2015, that is equal to \304/365\ 
     of such unobligated balance'' and inserting ``for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015, 
     that is equal to \29/366\ of such unobligated balance'';
       (D) in subsection (d) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
     by striking ``2015'' and inserting ``2016''; and
       (E) in subsection (f)(1) in the matter preceding 
     subparagraph (A) by striking ``each of fiscal years 2013 
     through 2014 and for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, 
     and ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 through 2015 and for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015''.

     SEC. 1002. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

       Section 1002 of the Highway and Transportation Funding Act 
     of 2014 (128 Stat. 1842) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``for administrative 
     expenses of the Federal-aid highway program $366,465,753 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015.'' and inserting ``for administrative expenses of 
     the Federal-aid highway program--
       ``(1) $440,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(2) $34,863,388 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (b)(2) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(2) for fiscal year 2015 and for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015, subject to 
     the limitations on administrative expenses under the heading 
     `Federal Highway Administration' in appropriations Acts that 
     apply, respectively, to that fiscal year and period.''.

            Subtitle B--Extension of Highway Safety Programs

     SEC. 1101. EXTENSION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY 
                   ADMINISTRATION HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Extension of Programs.--
       (1) Highway safety programs.--Section 31101(a)(1) of MAP-21 
     (126 Stat. 733) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) $235,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(D) $18,620,219 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (2) Highway safety research and development.--Section 
     31101(a)(2) of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 733) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) $113,500,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(D) $8,993,169 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (3) National priority safety programs.--Section 31101(a)(3) 
     of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 733) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) $272,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(D) $21,551,913 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.

[[Page H5642]]

       (4) National driver register.--Section 31101(a)(4) of MAP-
     21 (126 Stat. 733) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(D) $396,175 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, 
     and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (5) High visibility enforcement program.--
       (A) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 31101(a)(5) 
     of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 733) is amended--
       (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (ii) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(D) $2,297,814 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (B) Law enforcement campaigns.--Section 2009(a) of SAFETEA-
     LU (23 U.S.C. 402 note) is amended--
       (i) in the first sentence by striking ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 and 2014 and in the period beginning on October 1, 
     2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``each of 
     fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and in the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence by striking ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 and 2014 and in the period beginning on October 1, 
     2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``each of 
     fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and in the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.
       (6) Administrative expenses.--Section 31101(a)(6) of MAP-21 
     (126 Stat. 733) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(D) $2,020,492 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (b) Cooperative Research and Evaluation.--Section 403(f)(1) 
     of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``each fiscal year ending before October 1, 2014, and 
     $2,082,192 of the total amount available for apportionment to 
     the States for highway safety programs under section 402(c) 
     in the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on 
     July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``each fiscal year ending 
     before October 1, 2015, and $198,087 of the total amount 
     available for apportionment to the States for highway safety 
     programs under section 402(c) in the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.
       (c) Applicability of Title 23.--Section 31101(c) of MAP-21 
     (126 Stat. 733) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2013 
     and 2014 and for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and 
     ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 through 2015 and for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.

     SEC. 1102. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY 
                   ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) Motor Carrier Safety Grants.--Section 31104(a) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (9); and
       (2) by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the following:
       ``(10) $218,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(11) $17,273,224 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (b) Administrative Expenses.--Section 31104(i)(1) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (I); and
       (2) by striking subparagraph (J) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(J) $259,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(K) $20,521,858 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (c) Grant Programs.--
       (1) Commercial driver's license program improvement 
     grants.--Section 4101(c)(1) of SAFETEA-LU (119 Stat. 1715) is 
     amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 2013 and 2014 and 
     $24,986,301 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and 
     ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 through 2015 and $2,377,049 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 
     2015''.
       (2) Border enforcement grants.--Section 4101(c)(2) of 
     SAFETEA-LU (119 Stat. 1715) is amended by striking ``each of 
     fiscal years 2013 and 2014 and $26,652,055 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' 
     and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and 
     $2,535,519 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015''.
       (3) Performance and registration information system 
     management grant program.--Section 4101(c)(3) of SAFETEA-LU 
     (119 Stat. 1715) is amended by striking ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 and 2014 and $4,164,384 for the period beginning 
     on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' and 
     inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and 
     $396,175 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015''.
       (4) Commercial vehicle information systems and networks 
     deployment program.--Section 4101(c)(4) of SAFETEA-LU (119 
     Stat. 1715) is amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014 and $20,821,918 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and $1,980,874 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on 
     October 29, 2015''.
       (5) Safety data improvement grants.--Section 4101(c)(5) of 
     SAFETEA-LU (119 Stat. 1715) is amended by striking ``each of 
     fiscal years 2013 and 2014 and $2,498,630 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' 
     and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and 
     $237,705 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015''.
       (d) High-Priority Activities.--Section 31104(k)(2) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``each of 
     fiscal years 2006 through 2014 and up to $12,493,151 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 
     2015,'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2006 through 
     2015 and up to $1,188,525 for the period beginning on October 
     1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.
       (e) New Entrant Audits.--Section 31144(g)(5)(B) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``per fiscal 
     year and up to $26,652,055 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting 
     ``per fiscal year and up to $2,535,519 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 
     2015,''.
       (f) Outreach and Education.--Section 4127(e) of SAFETEA-LU 
     (119 Stat. 1741) is amended by striking ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 and 2014 and $3,331,507 to the Federal Motor 
     Carrier Safety Administration for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and $316,940 to the 
     Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 
     2015,''.
       (g) Grant Program for Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators.--
     Section 4134(c) of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 31301 note) is 
     amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 2005 through 2014 
     and $832,877 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and 
     ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2005 through 2015 and $79,235 for the period beginning 
     on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.

     SEC. 1103. DINGELL-JOHNSON SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACT.

       Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 777c) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
     by striking ``each fiscal year through 2014 and for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 
     2015'' and inserting ``each fiscal year through 2015 and for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on 
     October 29, 2015''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A) by striking ``for each fiscal 
     year ending before October 1, 2014, and for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' 
     and inserting ``for each fiscal year ending before October 1, 
     2015, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015,''.

               Subtitle C--Public Transportation Programs

     SEC. 1201. FORMULA GRANTS FOR RURAL AREAS.

       Section 5311(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``for each fiscal year 
     ending before October 1, 2014, and $4,164,384 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' 
     and inserting ``for each fiscal year ending before October 1, 
     2015, and $396,175 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``for each fiscal year 
     ending before October 1, 2014, and $20,821,918 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' 
     and inserting ``for each fiscal year ending before October 1, 
     2015, and $1,980,874 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.

     SEC. 1202. APPORTIONMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FORMULA 
                   GRANTS.

       Section 5336(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``for each fiscal year ending before 
     October 1, 2014, and $24,986,301 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting 
     ``for each fiscal year ending before October 1, 2015, and 
     $2,377,049 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015,''.

     SEC. 1203. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

       (a) Formula Grants.--Section 5338(a) of title 49, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and $7,158,575,342 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015'' and inserting ``$8,595,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2015, and $681,024,590 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``and $107,274,521 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015,'' and inserting ``$128,800,000 for fiscal 2015, and 
     $10,205,464 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``for each of fiscal 
     years 2013 and 2014 and $8,328,767 for the period beginning 
     on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and 
     inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2013 through

[[Page H5643]]

     2015 and $792,350 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (C) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``and $3,713,505,753 
     for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on 
     July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``$4,458,650,000 for fiscal 
     year 2015, and $353,281,011 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (D) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``and $215,132,055 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015,'' and inserting ``$258,300,000 for fiscal year 
     2015, and $20,466,393 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (E) in subparagraph (E)--
       (i) by striking ``and $506,222,466 for the period beginning 
     on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and 
     inserting ``$607,800,000 for fiscal year 2015, and 
     $48,159,016 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (ii) by striking ``and $24,986,301 for the period beginning 
     on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and 
     inserting ``$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2015, and $2,377,049 
     for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on 
     October 29, 2015,''; and
       (iii) by striking ``and $16,657,534 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' 
     and inserting ``$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2015, and 
     $1,584,699 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (F) in subparagraph (F) by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014 and $2,498,630 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and $237,705 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 
     29, 2015,'';
       (G) in subparagraph (G) by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014 and $4,164,384 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and $396,175 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 
     29, 2015,'';
       (H) in subparagraph (H) by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014 and $3,206,575 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting 
     ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and $305,055 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 
     29, 2015,'';
       (I) in subparagraph (I) by striking ``and $1,803,927,671 
     for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on 
     July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``$2,165,900,000 for fiscal 
     year 2015, and $171,615,027 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,'';
       (J) in subparagraph (J) by striking ``and $356,304,658 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015,'' and inserting ``$427,800,000 for fiscal year 
     2015, and $33,896,721 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''; and
       (K) in subparagraph (K) by striking ``and $438,009,863 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015,'' and inserting ``$525,900,000 for fiscal year 
     2015, and $41,669,672 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.
       (b) Research, Development Demonstration and Deployment 
     Projects.--Section 5338(b) of title 49, United States Code, 
     is amended by striking ``and $58,301,370 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' 
     and inserting ``$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2015, and 
     $5,546,448 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015''.
       (c) Transit Cooperative Research Program.--Section 5338(c) 
     of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and 
     $5,830,137 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and 
     ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``$7,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2015, and $554,645 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015''.
       (d) Technical Assistance and Standards Development.--
     Section 5338(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``and $5,830,137 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting 
     ``$7,000,000 for fiscal year 2015, and $554,645 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 
     29, 2015''.
       (e) Human Resources and Training.--Section 5338(e) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and 
     $4,164,384 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and 
     ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``$5,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2015, and $396,175 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015''.
       (f) Capital Investment Grants.--Section 5338(g) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and 
     $1,558,295,890 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, 
     and ending on July 31, 2015'' and inserting ``$1,907,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2015, and $151,101,093 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 
     2015''.
       (g) Administration.--Section 5338(h) of title 49, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and $86,619,178 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 
     2015'' and inserting ``$104,000,000 for fiscal year 2015, and 
     $8,240,437 for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
     ending on October 29, 2015'';
       (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014 and not less than $4,164,384 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' 
     and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and 
     not less than $396,175 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3) by striking ``each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014 and not less than $832,877 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 31, 2015,'' 
     and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and 
     not less than $79,235 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.

     SEC. 1204. BUS AND BUS FACILITIES FORMULA GRANTS.

       Section 5339(d)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``each of fiscal years 2013 and 2014 and 
     $54,553,425 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and 
     ending on July 31, 2015,'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2013 through 2015 and $5,189,891 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 
     2015,'';
       (2) by striking ``$1,041,096 for such period'' and 
     inserting ``$99,044 for such period''; and
       (3) by striking ``$416,438 for such period'' and inserting 
     ``$39,617 for such period''.

                    Subtitle D--Hazardous Materials

     SEC. 1301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 5128(a) of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2); and
       (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
       ``(3) $42,762,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       ``(4) $3,388,246 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015.''.
       (b) Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund.--
     Section 5128(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the paragraph heading by striking ``Fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014'' and inserting ``Fiscal years 2013 through 
     2015''; and
       (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
     ``fiscal years 2013 and 2014'' and inserting ``fiscal years 
     2013 through 2015''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Fiscal year 2016.--From the Hazardous Materials 
     Emergency Preparedness Fund established under section 
     5116(i), the Secretary may expend for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2015, and ending on October 29, 2015--
       ``(A) $14,896 to carry out section 5115;
       ``(B) $1,727,322 to carry out subsections (a) and (b) of 
     section 5116, of which not less than $1,081,557 shall be 
     available to carry out section 5116(b);
       ``(C) $11,885 to carry out section 5116(f);
       ``(D) $49,522 to publish and distribute the Emergency 
     Response Guidebook under section 5116(i)(3); and
       ``(E) $79,235 to carry out section 5116(j).''.
       (c) Hazardous Materials Training Grants.--Section 5128(c) 
     of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``each of the fiscal years 2013 and 2014 and $3,331,507 for 
     the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on July 
     31, 2015,'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2013 through 
     2015 and $316,940 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2015, and ending on October 29, 2015,''.

                      TITLE II--REVENUE PROVISIONS

     SEC. 2001. EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY TRUST FUND EXPENDITURE 
                   AUTHORITY.

       (a) Highway Trust Fund.--Section 9503 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``August 1, 2015'' in subsections 
     (b)(6)(B), (c)(1), and (e)(3) and inserting ``October 30, 
     2015'', and
       (2) by striking ``Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 
     2015'' in subsections (c)(1) and (e)(3) and inserting 
     ``Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice 
     Improvement Act of 2015''.
       (b) Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.--Section 
     9504 of such Code is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 
     2015'' each place it appears in subsection (b)(2) and 
     inserting ``Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care 
     Choice Improvement Act of 2015'', and
       (2) by striking ``August 1, 2015'' in subsection (d)(2) and 
     inserting ``October 30, 2015''.
       (c) Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.--Section 
     9508(e)(2) of such Code is amended by striking ``August 1, 
     2015'' and inserting ``October 30, 2015''.

     SEC. 2002. FUNDING OF HIGHWAY TRUST FUND.

       Section 9503(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8) and 
     by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph:
       ``(7) Additional sums.--Out of money in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, there is hereby appropriated--
       ``(A) $6,068,000,000 to the Highway Account (as defined in 
     subsection (e)(5)(B)) in the Highway Trust Fund; and
       ``(B) $2,000,000,000 to the Mass Transit Account in the 
     Highway Trust Fund.''.

     SEC. 2003. MODIFICATION OF MORTGAGE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Information Return Requirements.--Section 6050H(b)(2) 
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
     ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C), by redesignating 
     subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (G) and by inserting after 
     subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(D) the amount of outstanding principal on the mortgage 
     as of the beginning of such calendar year,

[[Page H5644]]

       ``(E) the date of the origination of the mortgage,
       ``(F) the address (or other description in the case of 
     property without an address) of the property which secures 
     the mortgage, and''.
       (b) Statements to Individuals.--Section 6050H(d)(2) of such 
     Code is amended by striking ``subsection (b)(2)(C)'' and 
     inserting ``subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (F) of 
     subsection (b)(2)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to returns required to be made, and statements 
     required to be furnished, after December 31, 2016.

     SEC. 2004. CONSISTENT BASIS REPORTING BETWEEN ESTATE AND 
                   PERSON ACQUIRING PROPERTY FROM DECEDENT.

       (a) Property Acquired From a Decedent.--Section 1014 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Basis Must Be Consistent With Estate Tax Return.--For 
     purposes of this section--
       ``(1) In general.--The basis of any property to which 
     subsection (a) applies shall not exceed--
       ``(A) in the case of property the final value of which has 
     been determined for purposes of the tax imposed by chapter 11 
     on the estate of such decedent, such value, and
       ``(B) in the case of property not described in subparagraph 
     (A) and with respect to which a statement has been furnished 
     under section 6035(a) identifying the value of such property, 
     such value.
       ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall only apply to any 
     property whose inclusion in the decedent's estate increased 
     the liability for the tax imposed by chapter 11 (reduced by 
     credits allowable against such tax) on such estate.
       ``(3) Determination.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
     basis of property has been determined for purposes of the tax 
     imposed by chapter 11 if--
       ``(A) the value of such property is shown on a return under 
     section 6018 and such value is not contested by the Secretary 
     before the expiration of the time for assessing a tax under 
     chapter 11,
       ``(B) in a case not described in subparagraph (A), the 
     value is specified by the Secretary and such value is not 
     timely contested by the executor of the estate, or
       ``(C) the value is determined by a court or pursuant to a 
     settlement agreement with the Secretary.
       ``(4) Regulations.--The Secretary may by regulations 
     provide exceptions to the application of this subsection.''.
       (b) Information Reporting.--
       (1) In general.--Subpart A of part III of subchapter A of 
     chapter 61 of such Code is amended by inserting after section 
     6034A the following new section:

     ``SEC. 6035. BASIS INFORMATION TO PERSONS ACQUIRING PROPERTY 
                   FROM DECEDENT.

       ``(a) Information With Respect to Property Acquired From 
     Decedents.--
       ``(1) In general.--The executor of any estate required to 
     file a return under section 6018(a) shall furnish to the 
     Secretary and to each person acquiring any interest in 
     property included in the decedent's gross estate for Federal 
     estate tax purposes a statement identifying the value of each 
     interest in such property as reported on such return and such 
     other information with respect to such interest as the 
     Secretary may prescribe.
       ``(2) Statements by beneficiaries.--Each person required to 
     file a return under section 6018(b) shall furnish to the 
     Secretary and to each other person who holds a legal or 
     beneficial interest in the property to which such return 
     relates a statement identifying the information described in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Time for furnishing statement.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each statement required to be furnished 
     under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be furnished at such time as 
     the Secretary may prescribe, but in no case at a time later 
     than the earlier of--
       ``(i) the date which is 30 days after the date on which the 
     return under section 6018 was required to be filed (including 
     extensions, if any), or
       ``(ii) the date which is 30 days after the date such return 
     is filed.
       ``(B) Adjustments.--In any case in which there is an 
     adjustment to the information required to be included on a 
     statement filed under paragraph (1) or (2) after such 
     statement has been filed, a supplemental statement under such 
     paragraph shall be filed not later than the date which is 30 
     days after such adjustment is made.
       ``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such 
     regulations as necessary to carry out this section, including 
     regulations relating to--
       ``(1) the application of this section to property with 
     regard to which no estate tax return is required to be filed, 
     and
       ``(2) situations in which the surviving joint tenant or 
     other recipient may have better information than the executor 
     regarding the basis or fair market value of the property.''.
       (2) Penalty for failure to file.--
       (A) Return.--Section 6724(d)(1) of such Code is amended by 
     striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B), by striking 
     the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ``, 
     and'', and by adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(D) any statement required to be filed with the Secretary 
     under section 6035.''.
       (B) Statement.--Section 6724(d)(2) of such Code is amended 
     by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (GG), by 
     striking the period at the end of subparagraph (HH) and 
     inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(II) section 6035 (other than a statement described in 
     paragraph (1)(D)).''.
       (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
     A of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 6034A 
     the following new item:

``Sec. 6035. Basis information to persons acquiring property from 
              decedent.''.
       (c) Penalty for Inconsistent Reporting.--
       (1) In general.--Section 6662(b) of such Code is amended by 
     inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:
       ``(8) Any inconsistent estate basis.''.
       (2) Inconsistent basis reporting.--Section 6662 of such 
     Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(k) Inconsistent Estate Basis Reporting.--For purposes of 
     this section, there is an `inconsistent estate basis' if the 
     basis of property claimed on a return exceeds the basis as 
     determined under section 1014(f).''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to property with respect to which an estate tax 
     return is filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2005. CLARIFICATION OF 6-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN 
                   CASE OF OVERSTATEMENT OF BASIS.

       (a) In General.--Section 6501(e)(1)(B) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i), by 
     redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii), and by inserting 
     after clause (i) the following new clause:
       ``(ii) An understatement of gross income by reason of an 
     overstatement of unrecovered cost or other basis is an 
     omission from gross income; and'', and
       (2) by inserting ``(other than in the case of an 
     overstatement of unrecovered cost or other basis)'' in clause 
     (iii) (as so redesignated) after ``In determining the amount 
     omitted from gross income''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to--
       (1) returns filed after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, and
       (2) returns filed on or before such date if the period 
     specified in section 6501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 (determined without regard to such amendments) for 
     assessment of the taxes with respect to which such return 
     relates has not expired as of such date.

     SEC. 2006. TAX RETURN DUE DATES.

       (a) Due Dates for Returns of Partnerships, S Corporations, 
     and C Corporations.--
       (1) Partnerships and s corporations.--
       (A) In general.--So much of subsection (b) of 6072 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as precedes the second sentence 
     thereof is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Returns of Partnerships and S Corporations.--Returns 
     of partnerships under section 6031 and returns of S 
     corporations under sections 6012 and 6037 made on the basis 
     of the calendar year shall be filed on or before the 15th day 
     of March following the close of the calendar year, and such 
     returns made on the basis of a fiscal year shall be filed on 
     or before the 15th day of the third month following the close 
     of the fiscal year.''.
       (B) Conforming amendment.--Section 6072(a) of such Code is 
     amended by striking ``6017, or 6031'' and inserting ``or 
     6017''.
       (2) Conforming amendments relating to c corporation due 
     date of 15th day of fourth month following taxable year.--
       (A) Section 170(a)(2)(B) of such Code is amended by 
     striking ``third month'' and inserting ``fourth month''.
       (B) Section 563 of such Code is amended by striking ``third 
     month'' each place it appears and inserting ``fourth month''.
       (C) Section 1354(d)(1)(B)(i) of such Code is amended by 
     striking ``3d month'' and inserting ``4th month''.
       (D) Subsections (a) and (c) of section 6167 of such Code 
     are each amended by striking ``third month'' and inserting 
     ``fourth month''.
       (E) Section 6425(a)(1) of such Code is amended by striking 
     ``third month'' and inserting ``fourth month''.
       (F) Subsections (b)(2)(A), (g)(3), and (h)(1) of section 
     6655 of such Code are each amended by striking ``3rd month'' 
     and inserting ``4th month''.
       (G) Section 6655(g)(4) of such Code is amended by 
     redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F) and by 
     inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) Subsection (b)(2)(A) shall be applied by substituting 
     `3rd month' for `4th month'.''.
       (3) Effective dates.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the amendments made by this subsection shall apply to returns 
     for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.
       (B) Special rule for c corporations with fiscal years 
     ending on june 30.--In the case of any C corporation with a 
     taxable year ending on June 30, the amendments made by this 
     subsection shall apply to returns for taxable years beginning 
     after December 31, 2025.

[[Page H5645]]

       (b) Modification of Due Dates by Regulation.--In the case 
     of returns for taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     2015, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary's 
     designee, shall modify appropriate regulations to provide as 
     follows:
       (1) The maximum extension for the returns of partnerships 
     filing Form 1065 shall be a 6-month period ending on 
     September 15 for calendar year taxpayers.
       (2) The maximum extension for the returns of trusts filing 
     Form 1041 shall be a 5\1/2\-month period ending on September 
     30 for calendar year taxpayers.
       (3) The maximum extension for the returns of employee 
     benefit plans filing Form 5500 shall be an automatic 3\1/2\-
     month period ending on November 15 for calendar year plans.
       (4) The maximum extension for the returns of organizations 
     exempt from income tax filing Form 990 (series) shall be an 
     automatic 6-month period ending on November 15 for calendar 
     year filers.
       (5) The maximum extension for the returns of organizations 
     exempt from income tax that are required to file Form 4720 
     returns of excise taxes shall be an automatic 6-month period 
     beginning on the due date for filing the return (without 
     regard to any extensions).
       (6) The maximum extension for the returns of trusts 
     required to file Form 5227 shall be an automatic 6-month 
     period beginning on the due date for filing the return 
     (without regard to any extensions).
       (7) The maximum extension for filing Form 6069, Return of 
     Excise Tax on Excess Contributions to Black Lung Benefit 
     Trust Under Section 4953 and Computation of Section 192 
     Deduction, shall be an automatic 6-month period beginning on 
     the due date for filing the return (without regard to any 
     extensions).
       (8) The maximum extension for a taxpayer required to file 
     Form 8870 shall be an automatic 6-month period beginning on 
     the due date for filing the return (without regard to any 
     extensions).
       (9) The due date of Form 3520-A, Annual Information Return 
     of a Foreign Trust with a United States Owner, shall be the 
     15th day of the 3d month after the close of the trust's 
     taxable year, and the maximum extension shall be a 6-month 
     period beginning on such day.
       (10) The due date of Form 3520, Annual Return to Report 
     Transactions with Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain 
     Foreign Gifts, for calendar year filers shall be April 15 
     with a maximum extension for a 6-month period ending on 
     October 15.
       (11) The due date of FinCEN Report 114 (relating to Report 
     of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) shall be April 15 
     with a maximum extension for a 6-month period ending on 
     October 15 and with provision for an extension under rules 
     similar to the rules in Treas. Reg. section 1.6081-5. For any 
     taxpayer required to file such Form for the first time, any 
     penalty for failure to timely request for, or file, an 
     extension, may be waived by the Secretary.
       (c) Corporations Permitted Statutory Automatic 6-Month 
     Extension of Income Tax Returns.--
       (1) In general.--Section 6081(b) of such Code is amended--
       (A) by striking ``3 months'' and inserting ``6 months'', 
     and
       (B) by adding at the end the following: ``In the case of 
     any return for a taxable year of a C corporation which ends 
     on December 31 and begins before January 1, 2026, the first 
     sentence of this subsection shall be applied by substituting 
     `5 months' for `6 months'. In the case of any return for a 
     taxable year of a C corporation which ends on June 30 and 
     begins before January 1, 2026, the first sentence of this 
     subsection shall be applied by substituting `7 months' for `6 
     months'.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall apply to returns for taxable years beginning after 
     December 31, 2015.

     SEC. 2007. TRANSFERS OF EXCESS PENSION ASSETS TO RETIREE 
                   HEALTH ACCOUNTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 420(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``December 31, 2021'' and 
     inserting ``December 31, 2025''.
       (b) Conforming ERISA Amendments.--
       (1) Sections 101(e)(3), 403(c)(1), and 408(b)(13) of the 
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 
     1021(e)(3), 1103(c)(1), 1108(b)(13)) are each amended by 
     striking ``MAP-21' '' and inserting ``Surface Transportation 
     and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015''.
       (2) Section 408(b)(13) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1108(b)(13)) 
     is amended by striking ``January 1, 2022'' and inserting 
     ``January 1, 2026''.

     SEC. 2008. EQUALIZATION OF HIGHWAY TRUST FUND EXCISE TAXES ON 
                   LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS, 
                   AND COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS.

       (a) Liquefied Petroleum Gas.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4041(a)(2)(B) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``and'' at the 
     end of clause (i), by redesignating clause (ii) as clause 
     (iii), and by inserting after clause (i) the following new 
     clause:
       ``(ii) in the case of liquefied petroleum gas, 18.3 cents 
     per energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline, and''.
       (2) Energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline.--Section 
     4041(a)(2) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(C) Energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline.--For 
     purposes of this paragraph, the term `energy equivalent of a 
     gallon of gasoline' means, with respect to a liquefied 
     petroleum gas fuel, the amount of such fuel having a Btu 
     content of 115,400 (lower heating value). For purposes of the 
     preceding sentence, a Btu content of 115,400 (lower heating 
     value) is equal to 5.75 pounds of liquefied petroleum gas.''.
       (b) Liquefied Natural Gas.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4041(a)(2)(B) of such Code, as 
     amended by subsection (a)(1), is amended by striking ``and'' 
     at the end of clause (ii), by striking the period at the end 
     of clause (iii) and inserting ``, and'' and by inserting 
     after clause (iii) the following new clause:
       ``(iv) in the case of liquefied natural gas, 24.3 cents per 
     energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel.''.
       (2) Energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel.--Section 
     4041(a)(2) of such Code, as amended by subsection (a)(2), is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) Energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel.--For 
     purposes of this paragraph, the term `energy equivalent of a 
     gallon of diesel' means, with respect to a liquefied natural 
     gas fuel, the amount of such fuel having a Btu content of 
     128,700 (lower heating value). For purposes of the preceding 
     sentence, a Btu content of 128,700 (lower heating value) is 
     equal to 6.06 pounds of liquefied natural gas.''.
       (3) Conforming amendments.--Section 4041(a)(2)(B)(iii) of 
     such Code, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended--
       (A) by striking ``liquefied natural gas,'', and
       (B) by striking ``peat), and'' and inserting ``peat) and''.
       (c) Energy Equivalent of a Gallon of Gasoline to Compressed 
     Natural Gas.--Section 4041(a)(3) of such Code is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) Energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline.--For 
     purposes of this paragraph, the term `energy equivalent of a 
     gallon of gasoline' means 5.66 pounds of compressed natural 
     gas.''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to any sale or use of fuel after December 31, 
     2015.

                    TITLE III--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 3001. SERVICE FEES.

       Paragraph (4) of section 44940(i) of title 49, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraphs:
       ``(K) $1,560,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
       ``(L) $1,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.''.

                     TITLE IV--VETERANS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 4001. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``VA Budget and Choice 
     Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 4002. PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE.

       (a) Plan.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop 
     a plan to consolidate all non-Department provider programs by 
     establishing a new, single program to be known as the 
     ``Veterans Choice Program'' to furnish hospital care and 
     medical services to veterans enrolled in the system of 
     patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of title 
     38, United States Code, at non-Department facilities.
       (b) Elements.--The plan developed under subsection (a) to 
     establish the Veterans Choice Program to furnish hospital 
     care and medical services at non-Department facilities shall 
     include, at a minimum, the following:
       (1) A standardized method to furnish such care and services 
     that incorporates the strengths of the non-Department 
     provider programs into a single streamlined program that the 
     Secretary administers uniformly in each Veterans Service 
     Integrated Network and throughout the medical system of the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (2) An identification of the eligibility requirements for 
     any such care and services, including with respect to 
     service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected 
     disabilities.
       (3) A description of the authorization process for such 
     care or medical services, including with respect to 
     identifying the roles of clinicians, schedulers, any third-
     party administrators, the Chief Business Office of the 
     Department, and any other entity involved in the 
     authorization process.
       (4) The structuring of the billing and reimbursement 
     process, including the use of third-party medical claims 
     adjudicators or technology that supports automatic 
     adjudication.
       (5) A description of the reimbursement rate to be paid to 
     health care providers under such program.
       (6) An identification of how the Secretary will determine 
     the eligibility requirements of health care providers at non-
     Department facilities to participate in such program, 
     including how the Secretary plans to structure a non-
     Department care network to allow the maximum amount of 
     flexibility in providing care and services under the program.
       (7) An explanation of the processes to be used to ensure 
     that the Secretary will fully comply with all requirements of 
     chapter 39 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred 
     to as the ``Prompt Payment Act''), in paying for such care 
     and services furnished at non-Department facilities.
       (8) A description of how, to the greatest extent 
     practicable, the Secretary plans to use infrastructure and 
     networks of non-Department provider programs that exist as of 
     the date of the plan to implement such program.

[[Page H5646]]

       (9) A description of how--
       (A) health care providers at non-Department facilities that 
     furnish such care or services to veterans under such program 
     will have access to, and transmit back to the Department, the 
     medical records of such veterans; and
       (B) the Department will receive from such non-Department 
     providers such medical records and any other relevant 
     information.
       (10) A description of how the Secretary plans to ensure an 
     efficient transition to such program for veterans who 
     participate in the non-Department provider programs, 
     including a timeline, milestones, and estimated costs for 
     implementation, outreach, and training.
       (c) Submission.--Not later than November 1, 2015, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
     containing--
       (1) a description of each non-Department provider program 
     and the statutory authority for each such program;
       (2) the plan under subsection (a);
       (3) the estimated costs and budgetary requirements to 
     implement the plan and to furnish hospital care and medical 
     services pursuant to such plan; and
       (4) any recommendations for legislative proposals the 
     Secretary determines necessary to implement such plan.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``non-Department facility'' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 1701 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (2) The term ``non-Department provider programs'' means 
     each program administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs under which the Secretary enters into contracts or 
     other agreements with health care providers at non-Department 
     facilities to furnish hospital care and medical services to 
     veterans, including pursuant to the following:
       (A) Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code.
       (B) The Veterans Choice Program established by section 101 
     of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
     2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note).
       (C) The Patient Centered Community Care Program (known as 
     ``PC3'').
       (D) The pilot program established by section 403 of the 
     Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 
     2008 (Public Law 110-387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) (known as 
     ``Project ARCH'').
       (E) Contracts relating to dialysis.
       (F) Agreements entered into by the Secretary with--
       (i) the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Indian 
     Health Service, or any the head of any other department or 
     agency of the Federal Government; or
       (ii) any academic affiliate or other non-governmental 
     entity.
       (G) Programs relating to emergency care, including under 
     sections 1725 and 1728 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 4003. FUNDING ACCOUNT FOR NON-DEPARTMENT CARE.

       Each budget of the President submitted to Congress under 
     section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 
     2017 and each fiscal year thereafter shall include an 
     appropriations account for non-Department provider programs 
     (as defined in section 2(d)) to be comprised of--
       (1) discretionary medical services funding that is 
     designated for hospital care and medical services furnished 
     at non-Department facilities; and
       (2) any funds transferred for such purpose from the 
     Veterans Choice Fund established by section 802 of the 
     Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 
     (Public Law 113-146; 128 Stat. 1802).

     SEC. 4004. TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF VETERANS CHOICE 
                   FUNDS FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 802 of the 
     Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 
     (Public Law 113-146; 128 Stat. 1802) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Any amounts'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided by paragraph (3), any 
     amounts''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following paragraph:
       ``(3) Temporary authority for other uses.--
       ``(A) Other non-department care.--In addition to the use of 
     amounts described in paragraph (1), of the amounts deposited 
     in the Veterans Choice Fund, not more than $3,348,500,000 may 
     be used by the Secretary during the period described in 
     subparagraph (C) for amounts obligated by the Secretary on or 
     after May 1, 2015, to furnish health care to individuals 
     pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, at 
     non-Department facilities, including pursuant to non-
     Department provider programs other than the program 
     established by section 101.
       ``(B) Hepatitis c.--Of the amount specified in subparagraph 
     (A), not more than $500,000,000 may be used by the Secretary 
     during the period described in subparagraph (C) for 
     pharmaceutical expenses relating to the treatment of 
     Hepatitis C.
       ``(C) Period described.--The period described in this 
     subparagraph is the period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of the VA Budget and Choice Improvement Act and 
     ending on October 1, 2015.
       ``(D) Reports.--Not later than 14 days after the date of 
     the enactment of the VA Budget and Choice Improvement Act, 
     and not less frequently than once every 14-day period 
     thereafter during the period described in subparagraph (C), 
     the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report detailing--
       ``(i) the amounts used by the Secretary pursuant to 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
       ``(ii) an identification of such amounts listed by the non-
     Department provider program for which the amounts were used.
       ``(E) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
       ``(i) The term `appropriate congressional committees' 
     means--

       ``(I) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       ``(II) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the Senate.

       ``(ii) The term `non-Department facilities' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 1701 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       ``(iii) The term `non-Department provider program' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 4002(d) of the VA Budget 
     and Choice Improvement Act.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (d)(1) of such 
     section is amended by inserting before the period at the end 
     the following: ``(or for hospital care and medical services 
     pursuant to subsection (c)(3) of this section)''.

     SEC. 4005. MODIFICATIONS OF VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM.

       (a) Increased Period of Follow-Up Care.--Subsection (h) of 
     section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
     Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 
     1701 note) is amended by striking ``(but for a period not 
     exceeding 60 days)''.
       (b) Expansion of Eligibility.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (1) of subsection (b) and 
     inserting the following new paragraph:
       ``(1) the veteran is enrolled in the patient enrollment 
     system of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and 
     operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, 
     including any such veteran who has not received hospital care 
     or medical services from the Department and has contacted the 
     Department seeking an initial appointment from the Department 
     for the receipt of such care or services; and''; and
       (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``In the case'' and 
     all that follows through ``, when'' and insert ``When''.
       (c) Expansion of Providers.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by adding at the end the 
     following new clause:
       ``(v) Subject to subsection (d)(5), a health care provider 
     not otherwise covered under any of clauses (i) through 
     (iv).''; and
       (2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(5) Agreements with other providers.--In accordance with 
     the rates determined pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     may enter into agreements under paragraph (1) for furnishing 
     care and services to eligible veterans under this section 
     with an entity specified in subsection (a)(1)(B)(v) if the 
     entity meets criteria established by the Secretary for 
     purposes of this section.''.
       (d) Clarification of Wait Times.--Subparagraph (A) of 
     subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(A) attempts, or has attempted, to schedule an 
     appointment for the receipt of hospital care or medical 
     services under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, 
     but is unable to schedule an appointment within--
       ``(i) the wait-time goals of the Veterans Health 
     Administration for the furnishing of such care or services; 
     or
       ``(ii) with respect to such care or services that are 
     clinically necessary, the period determined necessary for 
     such care or services if such period is shorter than such 
     wait-time goals;''.
       (e) Modification of Distance Requirement.--Subparagraph (B) 
     of subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(B) resides more than 40 miles (as calculated based on 
     distance traveled) from--
       ``(i) with respect to a veteran who is seeking primary 
     care, a medical facility of the Department, including a 
     community-based outpatient clinic, that is able to provide 
     such primary care by a full-time primary care physician; or
       ``(ii) with respect to a veteran not covered under clause 
     (i), the medical facility of the Department, including a 
     community-based outpatient clinic, that is closest to the 
     residence of the veteran;''.

     SEC. 4006. LIMITATION ON DIALYSIS PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) Limitation.--None of the funds authorized to be 
     appropriated or otherwise made available to the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may be used to expand the dialysis pilot 
     program or to create any new dialysis capability provided by 
     the Department in a facility that is not an initial facility 
     under the dialysis pilot program until--
       (1) an independent analysis of the dialysis pilot program 
     is conducted for each such initial facility;
       (2) the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional 
     committees the report under subsection (b); and
       (3) a period of 180 days has elapsed following the date on 
     which the Secretary submits such report.
       (b) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report containing the following:
       (1) The independent analysis described in subsection 
     (a)(1).

[[Page H5647]]

       (2) A five-year dialysis investment plan explaining all of 
     the options of the Secretary for delivering dialysis care to 
     veterans, including how and where such care will be 
     delivered.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (2) The term ``dialysis pilot program'' means the pilot 
     demonstration program approved by the Under Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs for Health in August 2010 and by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs in September 2010 to provide 
     dialysis care to patients at certain outpatient facilities 
     operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (3) The term ``initial facility'' means one of the four 
     outpatient facilities identified by the Secretary to 
     participate in the dialysis pilot program prior to the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4007. AMENDMENTS TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE WITH RESPECT 
                   TO HEALTH COVERAGE OF VETERANS.

       (a) Exemption in Determination of Employer Health Insurance 
     Mandate.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4980H(c)(2) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(F) Exemption for health coverage under tricare or the 
     veterans administration.--Solely for purposes of determining 
     whether an employer is an applicable large employer under 
     this paragraph for any month, an individual shall not be 
     taken into account as an employee for such month if such 
     individual has medical coverage for such month under--
       ``(i) chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, including 
     coverage under the TRICARE program, or
       ``(ii) under a health care program under chapter 17 or 18 
     of title 38, United States Code, as determined by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
     shall apply to months beginning after December 31, 2013.
       (b) Eligibility for Health Savings Account Not Affected by 
     Receipt of Medical Care for Service-Connected Disability.--
       (1) In general.--Section 223(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(C) Special rule for individuals eligible for certain 
     veterans benefits.--An individual shall not fail to be 
     treated as an eligible individual for any period merely 
     because the individual receives hospital care or medical 
     services under any law administered by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs for a service-connected disability (within 
     the meaning of section 101(16) of title 38, United States 
     Code).''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
     shall apply to months beginning after December 31, 2015.

     SEC. 4008. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS.

       (a) In General.--This title, except for section 4007, is 
     designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 
     933(g)).
       (b) Designation in Senate.--In the Senate, this title, 
     except for section 4007, is designated as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 
     (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for 
     fiscal year 2010.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill shall be debatable for 1 hour, 
equally divided among and controlled by the respective chairs and 
ranking minority members of the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Veterans' Affairs.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott), the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Miller), and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) each will 
control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3236 is a 3-month clean extension to 
the surface transportation legislation. It is the right thing to do.
  It gives the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Ways and Means the time to work out a long-term solution 
to the surface transportation bill, which we need to pass for the 
health of this country.
  Importantly, it gives the House of Representatives the ability to do 
its constitutional duty to be heard on important legislation that is 
important to all 50 States and all 435 congressional districts.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I would direct anyone interested in this 
legislation to my remarks on the 5-month bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask all 435 Members of the House to 
support H.R. 3236 with a ``yes'' vote.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I just want to echo the comments of the prior chair. We think this is 
the right solution. This is very similar to the bill we passed earlier. 
We believe this gives us the time we need to try and put together a 
long-term highway solution. That is why we are in favor of this.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, here we are with another short-term extension of the 
highway trust fund. It is silly; it is counterproductive. Anybody who 
knows anything knows this is ridiculous. They say we have got to have 
time to work out a compromise. How many years do you need time?
  When I served in the State legislature in my home State of 
Washington, a businessman once told me that businessowners don't care 
what the rate is or how long; they just want to know how long they have 
to deal with something.
  Now, how can businesses do any kind of planning in this country when 
they get 1-, 2-, and 3-month extensions? This is the 25th time that we 
have done a short-term extension of the highway trust fund. Put another 
way, this is the 25th time the Congress has shirked its responsibility 
to the taxpayers and businesses to provide reliable transportation 
infrastructure across this country.
  Now, as I thought about this debate, I was reminded of a tube of 
toothpaste that lays in my bathroom. It is about one-third gone. All of 
you have one of these at home that is laying there.
  You know what you do; you keep squeezing it one more time. You say: 
Can I get one more brush out of this? Will I get one more? Can I get 
one more? That is what we have been doing here. We are squeezing the 
tube one more time. We are going to be back.
  You save your toothpaste because it is going to be back; it is going 
to be back in November or December. We are going to be right back down 
here squeezing to get a little bit.
  Now, my belief is that it is time that we stop this. It is time for a 
long-term funding bill, and we should have done it this time.
  Now, in order to make this bill even worse, they wrap in the 
toothpaste tube of the Veterans Administration. Let's give a little bit 
of money here, a little bit of money there; and we will see if we can 
kind of move it along and then stay out of trouble. We never fix 
anything here.
  This Congress is the Congress of the half-empty toothpaste tube. I 
will probably vote with everybody else because you don't want the 
Veterans Administration to be having problems and you don't want the 
hospital construction to stop.
  We will vote for it, but it is foolish, and it is a statement about 
the failure of the Republican Party to deal with major issues.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Sam Johnson), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the chairman. I come to the floor 
today to talk about our bill, H.R. 2514, the Help Veterans Save for 
Health Care Act, which is part of the legislation now before us.
  As a 29-year Air Force veteran and former POW, it is no secret I am a 
proud advocate for America's veterans. They bravely served our country. 
They deserve the best care when they return home. Unfortunately, the VA 
has failed to uphold its end of the bargain. We have been working hard 
to fix it.
  To add insult to injury, the IRS--yes, the IRS--has also let down our 
veterans. Right now, the IRS prohibits veterans from contributing to a 
health savings account for a period of time if they choose to get care 
at the VA.
  These health savings accounts enable Americans to save and pay for 
medical expenses; yet, here, we have the IRS standing in the way of 
veterans, keeping them from getting the care they want, need, and 
deserve. That is wrong.

[[Page H5648]]

  Bottom line, veterans shouldn't have to choose between getting care 
at the VA for a service-connected disability or being able to save for 
health care, including their families. My bill would allow veterans to 
do both.
  In closing, I thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for 
their support. I would also like to thank the chairman for working with 
me on this, but most importantly, I want to personally thank each of 
our veterans who faithfully serve to protect this great Nation.
  Let's get this done.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the gentleman from Washington 
for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I agree with the gentleman. I agree that we are 
squeezing and squeezing and extending and extending when we know better 
and we know the difference. We know that we could have a meaningful 
solution to the problem that we face. We know it. We come and we kick 
the can a little bit, add a little bit more to it.
  Like him, I am going to vote for it. But I am going to vote for it 
not because I think it is the best approach; I am going to vote for it 
because I want to see construction crews continue to work. I want to 
see families who are looking for paychecks be able to continue to get 
them.
  I am going to vote for it because I want to see roads and bridges and 
highways repaired. I want to see veterans be able to go to the doctor 
and not wonder whether or not the doctor is going to be there to take 
care of them.
  So, yes, I will vote for it; and I will look up and see that we will 
be back in December voting again, but we do what we have to do. We have 
to keep America working. I will vote for it to keep America working.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let's review this week. When I got on the plane from 
Seattle, we were supposed to be here on Friday. By the time I landed at 
Dulles Airport, they had already given away Friday. We weren't going to 
have any votes on Friday. So now the week is 1 day short. They 
continued to ineptly manage this place in such a way, Mr. Speaker, that 
they are now giving away Thursday.
  Now they want to hurry out of here. They want to get out of here. 
They don't want the American people to see what they are really doing.
  If you look at this transportation issue, what is making us 
uncompetitive in the rest of the world is that everywhere else they are 
spending money on infrastructure. People know you have to have roads, 
you have to have high-speed stuff in the ground that will carry a 
little bit of a message here and there. All that wiring, all that stuff 
that we could be doing, we should be doing. We should be planning. But 
there isn't any State that can plan with this kind of a highway bill.
  Now, why aren't we doing the thing today that is right? Well, because 
the Senate has come up with a great proposal. They have a 6-year 
authorization, but they come up with 3 years of money. How does a State 
plan with that? We are authorized for 6 years out to whatever that 
would be, and we are going to wind up only getting money for 3 years. 
How do we do bond issues in the State when we don't know what the Feds 
are going to do? This kind of planning makes government fail. And it is 
what the Republicans want: a Federal Government that fails.
  Now, there was a guy named Eisenhower. When he became President, he 
came in and said: You know something? This country needs roads. And he 
created the entire system. He was a Republican from Kansas, of all 
places, and he understood what the country needed to move forward.
  People said in the last election what we need to do is elect 
Republicans. By God, if we get Republicans, we will get what we need in 
this country. Well, I don't know if they knew what they were voting 
for, but what they got is a Senate and House that can't come up with a 
highway bill. They have been here for 8 months. Everybody knows we need 
it. The sources of revenue are not mysteries.
  Russell Long used to say about taxation: ``Don't tax you, don't tax 
me, tax that fellow behind the tree.''
  We know there is nobody behind the tree. We are going to have to 
raise some taxes to do what is necessary.
  Well, there are those guys that have that money overseas. Maybe we 
can get those guys who have got that overseas money and bring it back 
and fund this. I guess they are behind the tree. But they also live 
here, so they are not really behind the tree.
  This argument is going to go on in December or whenever this thing 
ends. It doesn't really make any difference. We will come back here, 
and we will get out our toothpaste tube and we will squeeze a little 
bit more out of it just to see if we can brush our teeth one more time. 
That is what this is about. We have done it on issue after issue here, 
and somebody has to call the Republican Party on this.
  The American people should understand, they are not serious about 
running government for the things that affect ordinary human beings. A 
transit system in a State is absolutely important. As cities get more 
crowded and more crowded and there is no parking, if you don't have a 
transit system that works, you can't have development. Everybody wants 
development.
  Where the heck are you going to put the development? Out in the 
bushes? No. You are going to put it in the city where the people live. 
But if they can't move around and get to the jobs, you have got 
terrible problems. In every city and everybody's district, if you have 
got a city with over 50,000, you have got problems with traffic, and 
yet we can't get a transportation bill out of here that goes for more 
than 3 months. Now, that is pathetic.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I disagree with the gentleman. I 
think we should pass this bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  First of all, I want to thank the chairman for his continued 
bipartisan work on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. We all want to do 
what is best for the veterans, and the chairman has continued to work 
toward that goal.
  On this past Monday, 62 years after the signing of the Korean 
Armistice Agreement, the committee laid a wreath at the Tomb of the 
Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery in honor of our fallen military 
members. Today, we need more than a ceremony. We should honor our 
veterans now by passing H.R. 3236.
  I support this legislation because it addresses the $3 million 
shortfall for fiscal year 2015 at the VA and keeps hospitals and 
medical facilities open for our veterans through the end of the fiscal 
year. Let me repeat that. It will allow the VA to keep hospitals and 
clinics open for our veterans through the end of this fiscal year.
  This legislation allows the VA to use $3.348 billion that was 
appropriated for the Choice Program to use for non-VA care, to pay for 
health care provided to veterans and family members under the programs 
provided by non-VA providers from May 1 to October 1, 2015. The VA has 
completed more than 56 million appointments between June 1, 2014, and 
May 31, 2015. That is 2.6 million more than the same time last year.
  H.R. 3236 allows the VA to access $3 billion from the Choice fund and 
$348 million from other unobligated accounts. Of that amount, $500 
million may be used for pharmaceutical expenses related to the 
treatment of hepatitis C at the VA. This is a cure that many of our 
veterans need, especially those who served in Vietnam.
  Three times in this fiscal year, the Secretary has testified before 
the VA committee, and he has consistently been asking for the authority 
to run the VA like a business.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I want to thank Chairman Miller of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, Ranking Member Brown, and, of

[[Page H5649]]

course, Chairman Dent, who chairs the Appropriations MILCON-VA 
Subcommittee, where I serve as ranking member.
  Today, this body is debating text within the highway bill to address 
the Department of Veterans Affairs' $3 billion budget shortfall for 
veterans' health care in FY 2015. Without this legislation, the VA 
could run out of money by September. Costs have exploded by more than 
10 percent in the last year as a result of higher demand, while the 
budget increased by only 2.8 percent.
  Additionally, costs for treatments have increased. For example, due 
to the new lifesaving hepatitis C medicine costing as much as $1,000 
for a single pill, the VA's $700 million FY 2015 budget for hepatitis C 
has already been exceeded with more than 2 months left in the fiscal 
year.
  This situation is a prime example of how the sequester caps imposed 
by the Budget Control Act and locked in by the Republican budget 
constrain our ability to deal with issues responsibly and in a timely 
manner. It is well past time that we come to the table to break the 
cycle of irresponsible funding levels that are shortchanging our 
veterans' health care.
  While the House-passed FY 2016 MILCON-VA Appropriations bill adds 
$970 million for VA medical care advance appropriations within the FY 
2015 bill, the amount still remains $330 million below the VA request, 
most likely leading to another budget shortfall in FY 2016. Today's 
bill is only a Band-Aid, a temporary solution, because of budget caps.
  To be clear, if we continue to ignore the new reality of increased 
demand and higher costs, delivery of healthcare services to millions of 
currently enrolled veterans will be devastated for the foreseeable 
future.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. If Congress continues to function under these 
budgets caps, we will see more gaps in access, utilization, safety, 
and, ultimately, a lower standard of care. Even further, the caps limit 
Congress' options to create jobs, keep our communities safe, research 
lifesaving medical treatments, and give our children a better 
education.
  I urge Members to vote for this bill to ensure that veterans continue 
to receive the care which they have earned, but we cannot continue to 
govern in this fashion. Today, we must take the next step towards a 
more responsible budgeting process so we can eventually stop lurching 
from one crisis to the next. To do so, the budget caps must be directly 
addressed in order to properly invest in veterans' health care as well 
as advance other priorities assisting hard-working Americans.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon 
(Mr. Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  It is a little frustrating as we watch these disparate subjects 
lumped together on the floor with truncated debate. I want to speak to 
just one element that we are discussing here today, and that deals with 
the extension of transportation funding.
  The passage of this bill will represent the 34th short-term extension 
of the surface transportation bill. What country became great building 
its infrastructure 8 months at a time? 6 months at a time? a year at a 
time? It is a failure on the part of Congress to be able to understand 
that you cannot pay for 2015 infrastructure needs with 1993 dollars--
the last time we adjusted the user fee, the gas tax that supports the 
highway trust fund.

                              {time}  1645

  I do see a little tiny glimmer of daylight with the 3-month 
extension. I have personally been urging the President to indicate that 
this is the last extension that he will sign.
  The House Ways and Means Committee could pass a funding measure in a 
week if we would roll up our sleeves. We have legislation there that is 
supported by the U.S. Chamber, AFL-CIO, by truckers, transit, the AAA, 
a wide array of people who say: Step up, raise our user fee, fund the 
transportation system, and do it right.
  We used to have the finest infrastructure in the world. Now, we are 
about 25th in the world and falling further.
  If the Ways and Means Committee would spend a week listening to the 
people who build, maintain, operate, and use our infrastructure, we 
could come to a resolution.
  Ronald Reagan's approach was to raise the user fee 125 percent in 
1982.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. If we did our job, sending clear signals about 
transportation funding, the appropriating committee, the T&I, if they 
knew what they were working with, could come forth with a bill easily 
in 2 months, so we wouldn't have to continue this charade.
  We could put hundreds of thousands of people to work at family-wage 
jobs in every city around the country; we would meet our obligations, 
and we would stop this shameful exercise of abrogating our 
responsibility to rebuild and renew.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have, sir?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 3 minutes 
remaining.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I believe that the Secretary needs that authority. In addition to 
solving the fiscal crisis, this bill will enable the Secretary to run 
VA more like a business, and that, Mr. Speaker, means a more efficient 
VA and better care for our veterans.
  In closing, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to 
ensure that our veterans are taken care of.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, only 2 weeks ago, buried in a letter from the Deputy 
Secretary, the Department of Veterans Affairs made a startling 
announcement. That announcement was, unless Congress intervened, the VA 
healthcare system would shut down in August, due to a massive budget 
shortfall that resulted from larger than anticipated demand for non-VA 
care and increased costs for hepatitis C treatment.
  A VA healthcare system shutdown would be an unprecedented event in 
these United States' history. The possibility of a shutdown was never 
mentioned, even once, during a hearing that I called in late June, 
where VA first publicly admitted its budget troubles, or during any of 
the four times that Secretary McDonald testified before Congress this 
year or anywhere in the quarterly financial plan that VA submitted in 
March, showing that VA was operating under budget so far this fiscal 
year.
  Once again, this Congress comes to rescue a mismanaged Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today, H.R. 3236 will come to the floor of 
the House with a critical 3 month extension to the Highway Trust fund 
as well as changes to Department of Veterans Affairs' spending 
authorities. In particular, it contains changes to the Veterans 
Affairs' Choice Program that I believe are very important for Guam. It 
expands eligibility for the program and codifies some of the changes 
that the VA has made since the inception of the program to make it more 
accessible to veterans in rural or isolated communities and reduces 
some barriers to timely care.
  Though this bill is a good step towards better care for our veterans, 
there are many more improvements that I will continue to work for with 
my colleagues and the VA. There is still a need for greater flexibility 
in the reimbursement rate to health care providers which could be an 
issue on Guam in the near future. Further, there is a need to improve 
the methods in which our veterans and their records can move back and 
forth between VA and non-VA providers. Additionally, though I would 
have preferred to see additional appropriations to cover the shortfall 
in the other programs that are covering non-VA provided care for our 
veterans, I have been assured that the movement of funds within the VA 
accounts will not negatively affect the care our veterans are receiving 
through the Choice Program and that the transfer is temporary. I will 
continue to urge the Obama Administration to provide adequate funding 
for all VA programs, but particularly the Choice program which has a 
lot of interest and support on Guam. The Choice

[[Page H5650]]

program has the ability to, in the long-term, address some of the 
systemic issues to VA care in isolated areas of the country.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 388, the previous question is ordered on 
the bill.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 385, 
nays 34, answered ``present'' 1, not voting 13, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 486]

                               YEAS--385

     Abraham
     Adams
     Aderholt
     Aguilar
     Allen
     Ashford
     Babin
     Barr
     Barton
     Bass
     Beatty
     Becerra
     Benishek
     Bera
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (MI)
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Blackburn
     Blum
     Blumenauer
     Bonamici
     Bost
     Boustany
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brat
     Brooks (AL)
     Brown (FL)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Burgess
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Calvert
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Carter (GA)
     Cartwright
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chabot
     Chaffetz
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Coffman
     Cohen
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Comstock
     Conaway
     Connolly
     Conyers
     Cook
     Costello (PA)
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Curbelo (FL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny
     Davis, Rodney
     DeFazio
     Delaney
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Denham
     Dent
     DeSantis
     DeSaulnier
     DesJarlais
     Deutch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dold
     Donovan
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Duckworth
     Duffy
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellmers (NC)
     Emmer (MN)
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Esty
     Farenthold
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fincher
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fleming
     Flores
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Foster
     Foxx
     Frankel (FL)
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Gibbs
     Gibson
     Gohmert
     Goodlatte
     Gowdy
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Grayson
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Griffith
     Grijalva
     Guinta
     Guthrie
     Gutierrez
     Hahn
     Hanna
     Hardy
     Harper
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings
     Heck (NV)
     Heck (WA)
     Hensarling
     Herrera Beutler
     Higgins
     Hill
     Himes
     Hinojosa
     Holding
     Honda
     Hoyer
     Hudson
     Huelskamp
     Huffman
     Huizenga (MI)
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Hurd (TX)
     Hurt (VA)
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson Lee
     Jeffries
     Jenkins (KS)
     Jenkins (WV)
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jolly
     Jordan
     Joyce
     Kaptur
     Katko
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger (IL)
     Kirkpatrick
     Kline
     Knight
     Kuster
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latta
     Lawrence
     Lee
     Lewis
     Lieu, Ted
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Love
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
     Lynch
     MacArthur
     Maloney, Carolyn
     Maloney, Sean
     Marchant
     Marino
     Massie
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers
     McNerney
     McSally
     Meadows
     Meehan
     Meeks
     Meng
     Messer
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Moolenaar
     Mooney (WV)
     Mullin
     Murphy (FL)
     Murphy (PA)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Newhouse
     Noem
     Nolan
     Norcross
     Nugent
     Nunes
     O'Rourke
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Pallone
     Palmer
     Pascrell
     Paulsen
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peterson
     Pingree
     Pittenger
     Pitts
     Pocan
     Poe (TX)
     Poliquin
     Pompeo
     Posey
     Price, Tom
     Quigley
     Rangel
     Ratcliffe
     Reed
     Reichert
     Rice (NY)
     Richmond
     Rigell
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rohrabacher
     Rokita
     Rooney (FL)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Rouzer
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Russell
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Scalise
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Sewell (AL)
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sinema
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Speier
     Stefanik
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Stutzman
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takai
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tipton
     Titus
     Tonko
     Torres
     Trott
     Tsongas
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Hollen
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Walters, Mimi
     Walz
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters, Maxine
     Watson Coleman
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Westmoreland
     Williams
     Wilson (FL)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yarmuth
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (AK)
     Young (IA)
     Young (IN)
     Zeldin
     Zinke

                                NAYS--34

     Amash
     Amodei
     Barletta
     Beyer
     Bridenstine
     Buck
     Byrne
     Clark (MA)
     DeGette
     Garrett
     Gosar
     Grothman
     Hice, Jody B.
     Jones
     Lummis
     McClintock
     McDermott
     Moulton
     Mulvaney
     Neugebauer
     Pearce
     Perry
     Polis
     Renacci
     Ribble
     Rice (SC)
     Salmon
     Sanford
     Scott (VA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Visclosky
     Walker
     Weber (TX)
     Welch

                        ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--1

       
     McCollum
       

                             NOT VOTING--13

     Brooks (IN)
     Carney
     Carter (TX)
     Clawson (FL)
     Cooper
     Costa
     Labrador
     Levin
     Lujan Grisham (NM)
     Moore
     Peters
     Price (NC)
     Whitfield

                              {time}  1731

  Mr. WALKER and Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts changed their vote from 
``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Messrs. HONDA, HOYER, RICHMOND, CLYBURN, ISRAEL, CLEAVER, KILDEE, 
JOHNSON of Georgia, and YOHO changed their vote from ``nay'' to 
``yea.''
  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 486, I was unavoidably 
detained in DC traffic while returning from a meeting at the White 
House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''
  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 486, had I been present, I 
would have voted ``yes.''
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to 
circumstances beyond my control, I regretfully missed rollcall vote 486 
on July 29th. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for a vote taken 
on the House floor today, as I was unavoidably detained. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Vote No. 486.

                          ____________________