[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6719-H6727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EXPIRING AUTHORITIES ACT OF 2015
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 2082) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2082
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Department
of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects.
TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE
Sec. 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for
hospital care and nursing home care.
Sec. 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to
certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 103. Extension of authorization of appropriations for assistance
and support services for caregivers.
Sec. 104. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of
cost of care and services furnished to veterans with
health-plan contracts for non-service-connected
disability.
Sec. 105. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for
child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
Sec. 106. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service
organizations for transportation of highly rural
veterans.
Sec. 107. Extension of authority for DOD-VA Health Care Sharing
Incentive Fund.
Sec. 108. Extension of authority for joint Department of Defense-
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility
Demonstration Fund.
Sec. 109. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in
retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from
service.
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS
Sec. 201. Extension of authority for the Veterans' Advisory Committee
on Education.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real
property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
Sec. 204. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and
vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with
severe injuries or illnesses.
TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS
Sec. 301. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration
programs.
Sec. 302. Extension of authority for homeless women veterans and
homeless veterans with children reintegration program.
Sec. 303. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for
homeless veterans.
Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for
supportive services for very low-income veteran families
in permanent housing.
Sec. 305. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless
veterans with special needs.
Sec. 306. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless
Veterans.
Sec. 307. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation
services for seriously mentally ill and homeless
veterans.
Sec. 308. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling
services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness.
[[Page H6720]]
TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY
Sec. 401. Extension of authority for transportation of individuals to
and from Department facilities.
Sec. 402. Extension of authority for monthly assistance allowances
under the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and
Special Events.
Sec. 403. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of
Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic
of the Philippines.
Sec. 404. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress
regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative
error.
Sec. 405. Extension of authorization of appropriations for adaptive
sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the
Armed Forces.
Sec. 406. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority
Veterans.
Sec. 407. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility
for specially adapted housing assistance for certain
veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 408. Extension of authority to enter into agreement with the
National Academy of Sciences regarding associations
between diseases and exposure to dioxin and other
chemical compounds in herbicides.
Sec. 409. Extension of authority for performance of medical
disabilities examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 410. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
Sec. 411. Extension of requirement for annual report on Department of
Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency
Program Office.
Sec. 412. Modification of authorization of fiscal year 2008 major
medical facility project at Department medical center in
Tampa, Florida.
Sec. 413. Authorization of major medical facility projects.
TITLE V--MATTERS RELATING TO MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT IN DENVER
Sec. 501. Increase in authorization for Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facility project previously authorized.
Sec. 502. Project management of super construction projects.
TITLE VI--OTHER MATTERS
Sec. 601. Technical and clerical amendments.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS
FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE.
Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``September
30, 2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016''.
SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME
CARE TO CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED
DISABILITIES.
Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS.
Section 1720G(e) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) $625,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.''.
SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM THIRD
PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERVICES FURNISHED
TO VETERANS WITH HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NON-
SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.
Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended, in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2015'' and inserting
``October 1, 2016''.
SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON
ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS
RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.
(a) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (e) of section 205
of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of
2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710
note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2015'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of
such section is amended by striking ``and 2015'' and
inserting ``, 2015, and 2016''.
SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF
HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.
Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus
Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat.
1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ``2015''
and inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR DOD-VA HEALTH CARE
SHARING INCENTIVE FUND.
Section 8111(d)(3) is amended by striking ``September 30,
2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016''.
SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR JOINT DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL
FACILITY DEMONSTRATION FUND.
Section 1704(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2573), as
amended by section 722 of the Carl Levin and Howard P.
``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291;128 Stat. 3417), is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30,
2017''.
SEC. 109. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON
COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN
VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE.
(a) Extension.--Subsection (d) of section 203 of the
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
(Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1143) is amended by striking
``December 31, 2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of
such section is amended by striking ``and 2015'' and
inserting ``2015, and 2016''.
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS
SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS' ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF
REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.
Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1,
2015'' and inserting ``October 1, 2016''.
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.
Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``September 30, 2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016'';
and
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30,
2015,'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016,''.
SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION
AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES WITH SEVERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES.
Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of
Public Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is
amended by striking ``December 31, 2015'' and inserting
``December 31, 2016''.
TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS
SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.
Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ``2015'' and
inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS
AND HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN
REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.
Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking ``2015'' and
inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING
ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``September 30,
2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016''.
SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY
LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT
HOUSING.
Section 2044(e)(1)(E) is amended by striking ``fiscal years
2013 through 2015'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through
2016''.
SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR
HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2015'' and
inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 307. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND
REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY
ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) General Treatment.--Section 2031(b) is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2015'' and inserting ``September 30,
2016''.
(b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section
2033(d) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2015'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2016''.
[[Page H6721]]
SEC. 308. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFERRAL AND
COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AT
RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ``September 30,
2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016''.
TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY
SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPORTATION OF
INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.
Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY ASSISTANCE
ALLOWANCES UNDER THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL
VETERANS SPORTS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
Section 322(d)(4) is amended by striking ``2015'' and
inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE
IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Section 315(b) is amended by striking ``September 30,
2015'' and inserting ``September 30, 2016''.
SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REPORTS TO
CONGRESS REGARDING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE
OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.
Section 503(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2015''
and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR DISABLED VETERANS
AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
Section 521A(g)(1) is amended by striking ``2015'' and
inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
MINORITY VETERANS.
Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2015''
and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 407. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF
ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING
ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH
DISABILITIES CAUSING DIFFICULTY AMBULATING.
Section 2101(a)(4) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September 30, 2015''
and inserting ``September 30, 2016''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``each of fiscal years
2014 and 2015'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2014
through 2016''.
SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REGARDING
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DISEASES AND EXPOSURE TO
DIOXIN AND OTHER CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS IN
HERBICIDES.
Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law
102-4; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking ``December
31, 2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 409. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL
DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT
PHYSICIANS.
Subsection (c) of section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act
of 2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking
``December 31, 2015'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
SEC. 410. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.
Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring
Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-175; 38 U.S.C. 3684
note) is amended by striking ``one-year'' and inserting
``two-year''.
SEC. 411. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORT ON
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE.
Section 1635(h)(1) of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 10 U.S.C. 1071
note) is amended by striking ``2015'' and inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 412. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2008
MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT AT DEPARTMENT
MEDICAL CENTER IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.
(a) Modification of Authorization.--In chapter 3 of the
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252;
122 Stat. 2326), in the matter under the heading ``Department
of Veterans Affairs-Departmental Administration-Construction,
Major Projects'', after ``Five Year Capital Plan'' insert the
following: ``and for constructing a new bed tower at the
Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Tampa,
Florida, in lieu of providing bed tower upgrades at such
medical center''.
(b) Emergency Designation.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (a) 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)).
(2) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, subsection (a)
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.
SEC. 413. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS.
(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
carry out the following major medical facility projects, with
each project to be carried out in an amount not to exceed the
amount specified for that project:
(1) Construction of a community living center, outpatient
clinic, renovated domiciliary, and renovation of existing
buildings in Canandaigua, New York, in an amount not to
exceed $158,980,000.
(2) Seismic corrections to the mental health and community
living center in Long Beach, California, in an amount not to
exceed $126,100,000.
(3) Seismic correction of 12 buildings in West Los Angeles,
California, in an amount not to exceed $70,500,000.
(4) Construction of a spinal cord injury building and
seismic corrections in San Diego, California, in an amount
not to exceed $205,840,000.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
fiscal year 2015 or the year in which funds are appropriated
for the Construction, Major Projects, account, a total of
$561,420,000 for the projects authorized in subsection (a).
(c) Limitation.--The projects authorized under this section
may only be carried out using--
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2015 pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations in subsection (b);
(2) funds available for Construction, Major Projects for a
fiscal year before fiscal year 2015 that remain available for
obligation;
(3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a
fiscal year after fiscal year 2015 that remain available for
obligation;
(4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for fiscal year 2015 for a category of activity not specific
to a project;
(5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for a fiscal year before 2015 for a category of activity not
specific to a project; and
(6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for a fiscal year after 2015 for a category of activity not
specific to a project.
TITLE V--MATTERS RELATING TO MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT IN DENVER
SEC. 501. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT
PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.
(a) In General.--Section 2(a) of the Construction
Authorization and Choice Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19;
129 Stat. 215), as amended by section 1 of Public Law 114-25,
is further amended by striking ``$1,050,000,000'' and
inserting ``$1,675,000,000''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2016 authorizes the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer discretionary
unobligated balances appropriated for fiscal year 2015 and
discretionary advance appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to
fund the increase under subsection (a) of the authorization
to carry out the medical facility construction project in
Denver, Colorado, specified in section 2 of the Construction
Authorization and Choice Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19;
129 Stat. 215).
(c) Prohibition on Transfer of Certain Amounts.--The
Secretary may not transfer any amounts from the Veterans
Choice Fund established under section 802 of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law
113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) to fund the increase under
subsection (a) of the authorization to carry out the medical
facility construction project described in subsection (b).
SEC. 502. PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF SUPER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Section 8103 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e)(1) In the case of any super construction project, the
Secretary shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate
non-Department Federal entity to provide full project
management services for the super construction project,
including management over the project design, acquisition,
construction, and contract changes.
``(2) An agreement entered into under paragraph (1) with a
Federal entity shall provide that the Secretary shall
reimburse the Federal entity for all costs associated with
the provision of project management services under the
agreement.
``(3) In this subsection, the term `super construction
project' means a project for the construction, alteration, or
acquisition of a medical facility involving a total
expenditure of more than $100,000,000.''.
(b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall apply with respect to the following:
(1) The medical facility construction project in Denver,
Colorado, specified in section 2 of the Construction
Authorization and Choice Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19;
129 Stat. 215).
(2) Any super construction project (as defined in section
8103(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)) that is authorized on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
TITLE VI--OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 601. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.
Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 111(b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (g)(2)(A)''
and inserting ``subsection (g)(2)''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ``(42 U.S.C.
1395(l))'' and inserting ``(42 U.S.C. 1395m(l))'';
(2) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5
of such title, by striking the item relating to section 521A
and inserting the following:
[[Page H6722]]
``521A. Adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of
the Armed Forces.'';
(3) in section 1503(a)(5), by striking ``subclause'' and
inserting ``subparagraph'' each place it appears;
(4) in section 1710(e)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``(as defined in
section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (F)(viii), by striking
``Myleodysplasic'' and inserting ``Myelodysplastic'';
(5) in section 1710D(c)(1), by striking ``(as defined in
section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title)'';
(6) in section 1720G(a)(7)(B)(iii), by striking ``has'' and
inserting ``have'';
(7) in section 1781(a)(4), by striking the semicolon and
inserting a comma;
(8) in section 1832(b)(2), by striking ``(b)(2)'' and
inserting ``(b)(3)'';
(9) in section 2044(b)(1)(D), by striking ``federal'' and
inserting ``Federal'';
(10) in section 2101(a), by moving the margins of paragraph
(2), and of the subparagraphs, clauses, and subclauses
therein, 2 ems to the left;
(11) in section 2101(a)(2)(B) by striking clause (ii) and
inserting the following new clause (ii):
``(ii) The disability is due to--
``(I) blindness in both eyes, having only light perception,
plus
``(II) loss or loss of use of one lower extremity.''.
(12) in section 2109(a) by striking ``provisions of
section'' and inserting ``provisions of sections'';
(13) in section 2303(c), by striking ``internment'' and
inserting ``interment'';
(14) in section 2411(e)(1), by striking ``federal
official'' and inserting ``Federal official'';
(15) in section 3108(b)(4), by inserting ``the'' before
``rehabilitation program concerned'';
(16) in section 3313, by striking ``1070a'' each place it
appears and inserting ``1070a(b)'';
(17) in section 3313(e)(2)(A)(iii), by striking the second
period;
(18) in section 3313(g)(3)(A)(iii), by inserting a comma
after ``books'';
(19) in section 3319, by striking ``armed forces'' each
place it appears and inserting ``Armed Forces'';
(20) in section 4102A(c)(9)(A)(ii)(III), by striking the
quotation mark at the end;
(21) in section 5302A--
(A) by amending the enumerator and section heading to read
as follows:
``Sec. 5302A. Collection of indebtedness: certain debts of
members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die of injury
incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in a combat
zone''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``(as that term is
defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title)'';
(22) in section 7309(c)(1), by inserting ``the'' before
``Veterans Health Administration'';
(23) in section 7401(3)(A)(ii), by striking ``that'';
(24) in section 7683(d), by inserting a period at the end;
and
(25) in section 8162(a)(2), by inserting ``if'' after
``housing and''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
{time} 1230
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks on S. 2082.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, this bill, which is sponsored by our Senate colleague,
Senator Isakson, chairman of the Senate VA Committee, would extend a
number of expiring current authorities and critical programs at both
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor. These
include extensions for veterans' health care and homeless programs;
benefits for disabled veterans; vocational rehabilitation programs for
servicemembers and veterans; home loan programs; and a variety of
advisory committees, pilot programs, and medical facility projects.
Absent passage of this legislation today, these important and
noncontroversial authorizations and programs are set to expire at the
end of this fiscal or calendar year. These are not new programs, and
the costs have either been fully offset or have been assumed in the
baseline budget for fiscal year 2016. Furthermore, both the majority
and minority of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs
have worked on this language and agree on the need to extend all of
these programs.
In addition to the extensions that are included, this bill also
contains language that would increase the total authorization for the
Denver Replacement Medical Center project to $1.675 billion. This is an
increase of $625 million above the amounts that have previously been
authorized for this project.
To ensure that the many egregious mistakes the VA has made in Denver
are not repeated in the future, this bill would put into place initial
reforms for managing the most expensive VA construction projects.
Namely, these reforms include creating a new classification category
called a super construction project.
A super construction project would be defined as the construction,
alteration, or acquisition of a VA medical facility involving the total
expenditure of more than $100 million. Each super construction project
would be managed not by VA, but instead by a non-Department Federal
entity, such as the Army Corps of Engineers. Importantly, the bill
would classify the Denver project as a super construction project.
While I am supportive of the provisions of this bill up to this
point, I vehemently oppose and disagree with the Department's proposal
to cover some of the increased costs of the Denver project. This bill
could allow VA to proceed with the Department's proposed plan to use
$200 million in offsets from the medical services account and through
delayed activations for other construction projects.
Mr. Speaker, to understand the magnitude of the management
incompetence of the Department of Veterans Affairs as it relates to
construction, I think a little history is in order.
The replacement of the existing Denver VA Medical Center began as a
discussion item back in 1999. The project was first envisioned as a
shared facility on the former Fitzsimons Army Base in Aurora, Colorado.
The initial estimate for a shared facility was $328 million.
After undergoing numerous scope changes over a period of several
years, VA requested appropriations in 2010 for a stand-alone medical
center replacement with a total estimated cost of $800 million.
However, in December of last year, with less than 50 percent of the
facility complete and staring down the $800 million authorization cap,
the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals found VA to be in breach of its
contract with its general contractor Kiewit-Turner. As a result, VA had
no choice but to come to Congress and finally admit the severity of the
mismanagement and the cost and schedule overruns that have come to
characterize the Denver project.
In June, following an assessment to determine the probable cost of
completing the project, the Army Corps of Engineers provided the final
total required to finish the Denver project: $1.675 billion.
Several weeks ago, VA provided the committee with their plan as to
what budget resources would be made available to fund the remaining
dollars necessary for this project. This bill assumes that VA's plan is
an appropriate way to move forward on this project.
VA first proposes to use $100 million in offsets derived from the
higher than budgeted medical collections VA expects it will receive in
fiscal year 2015 and 2016. Under law, VA medical care collection funds
are retained by VA medical facilities to supplement their budgets to
care for veterans. Thus, their proposed offset actually reduces VA's
medical care budget by $100 million in fiscal year 2016 to partially
fund the remainder of the Denver project.
I would have reservations about reducing VA's medical care budget in
any year, but I am particularly concerned this year, because just a few
weeks ago, I am sure the Members will recall, VA sounded the alarm that
the funds budgeted for hepatitis C medications and care in the
community for fiscal year 2016 are short.
VA also stated that they would need to shut down the whole hospital
system. The whole hospital system would have to be shut down if
additional funds for fiscal year 2015 were not provided. As a result,
Congress met VA's eleventh hour plea with an additional $3.43 billion
to ensure that veterans
[[Page H6723]]
were not denied the care that they had earned.
Obviously, VA's proposal to cut medical care funds to complete the
Denver replacement hospital when the public record clearly reflects
VA's previous testimony over lack of funding in the medical care
account is entirely inconsistent and inappropriate. Frankly, it borders
on an attempt to mislead this Congress.
Secondly, VA proposes to use $100 million in offsets derived from
reductions in construction and leasing activation costs due to schedule
adjustments associated with several projects. When I asked what VA's
plan was to address the funding for these adjustments, VA's response
was that the Department would ensure that they request sufficient
activation funding in future budget years to account for the reductions
in the other projects.
In other words, it is not really an offset. They are going to ask for
the money back. So by reducing other projects by $100 million in one
year only to ask Congress next year for the funds to be replaced
strains credibility once again for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This isn't an offset. It is nothing more than a delayed supplemental
request. In other words, VA is expecting the taxpayers to bail them out
again. To agree to such a tactic would be akin to taking a child's
allowance away for misbehavior, only to increase it later to make up
for the reduction.
Offsetting the biggest construction failure in VA's history by
cutting money from VA's medical services account and delaying facility
activation costs until next year punishes the veterans of this Nation
and the taxpayers for VA's incompetence.
Now, I appreciate the challenge VA has in identifying available money
and producing a way ahead for this project that is fair to taxpayers
and veterans alike in a tight fiscal environment. However, VA continues
to be oblivious to the need to prioritize their spending.
For example, as I address this House this afternoon, VA officials
from across the country have gathered 40 miles away in Leesburg for a
leadership conference that is costing the Department $1 million. That
may seem like a small amount, but this is in addition to the $33.4
million that VA reported spending on conferences so far through the end
of the third quarter of this fiscal year. To repeat, VA has reported
spending $33.4 million so far through the end of the third quarter,
with at least one and, likely, several other costly conferences that
have yet to be accounted for.
What's more, Monday, the VA inspector general released a report on
VA's relocation expenses program, which found that senior Veterans
Benefits Administration officials had misused their positions for their
own personal and financial benefit. These senior officials engineered
the transfers of other senior officials as a way to increase pay for
themselves and to other senior executive service employees and work
around the pay freezes and bans on performance awards for senior
leaders. One VBA leader alone received almost $300,000 in relocation
expenses when she moved from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia.
In total, VBA spent over $1.7 million on reassignment expenses,
including almost $1.3 million on relocation expenses for senior
executives for fiscal years 2013 through 2015.
And now yesterday, the VA Office of Inspector General substantiated
allegations that the St. Louis VA Health Care System mental health
clinic inappropriately changed the status of mental health consults to
``complete'' prior to a provider actually completing the appointment
with a patient in 60 percent of sampled consults.
To make matters worse, the IG substantiated that, in a review of
fiscal 2013 facility performance pay assessments, eight full-time
outpatient psychiatrists received an average of nearly $14,000 in
performance pay. Seven of the eight psychiatrists met or exceeded the
productivity goal, and, as a result, each received an average of around
$2,900 for what proved to be faulty productivity achievements.
This is in keeping with the wanton and abusive VA spending practices
that the committee has uncovered at VA facilities across our country.
For example, the committee recently found that the VA Palo Alto
Health Care System has spent at least $6.3 million on art and
consulting services. These projects include an art installation on the
side of a parking garage that displays quotes by Abraham Lincoln and
Eleanor Roosevelt in--wait for it--Morse code that cost $285,000. It
actually lights up; also, a large rock sculpture in the courtyard in
the middle of the mental health center that cost $1.3 million--for a
rock; a stainless steel and aluminum sculpture in the aquatic center
entrance that cost $365,000; another sculpture that I am at a loss to
describe in an exterior lobby that cost $305,000; a sculpture in the
shape of a half arc that is located inside the mental health center
that cost $330,000. As many of these projects are not yet complete,
these costs actually could increase.
Let me be clear: spending money on conferences and relocation
expenses for VA employees and on art installations for VA facilities is
not more important than taking care of the veterans of this Nation,
providing them the health care that they have earned. It is simply
beyond me why VA would choose to pay to complete the Denver project by
cutting medical services and medical facility dollars, but not the
exorbitant conference spending, bloated relocation expenses, or art.
I remain committed to finding a way forward in Denver, and I am going
to be supporting the bill today. However, I am equally convinced that
we must ensure that the offsets that VA uses in Colorado do not come at
the expense of VA's most important mission: providing high-quality
health care for veterans. Unfortunately, VA's plan offers no assurance.
I am also frustrated that the Department's plan, which this bill
presumes is appropriate, offers no measure of accountability for those
responsible for allowing this project to balloon out of control. The VA
senior executives in charge of the Denver disaster collected massive
bonuses as projected costs increased and delays stretched on for years.
They have all retired with full retirement benefits. It is inexcusable.
To allow rewards, bonuses, and full retirement benefits to be
retained, even when the facts indicate that an employee has not
performed at the level expected, is not only wrong, it is a blatant and
woeful misuse of taxpayer dollars.
{time} 1245
I have said repeatedly that the great majority of VA employees are
hardworking public servants who go to work every day and live up to
President Lincoln's words, to provide quality health care and benefits
to our Nation's veterans.
What's more, I believe that the majority of VA employees who are
dedicated to the mission and purpose of the Department are just as
frustrated and demoralized as we are when they see problem employees
receiving bonuses or performance awards in spite of poor, unethical,
and sometimes illegal job performance.
I just wish that this legislation could assure those quality
employees that the veterans that they serve--that this Congress and
this Department are committed to breaking VA's vicious cycle of
ignoring and even rewarding poor performance.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman has 20 minutes remaining.
The gentleman from Florida has 4\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I
may consume.
I rise in support of S. 2082, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Expiring Authorities Act of 2015.
This bill is an important and necessary bill for us to take up and
pass today and send to the President. Let me repeat that. This bill is
an important and a necessary bill for us to take up and pass today and
send to the President.
S. 2082 makes sure that some of the vital programs we have in place
to take care of our veterans continue past the end of the fiscal year
and continue to help our veterans. I want to highlight just some of
those importance programs.
S. 2082 ensures that several programs serving the homeless veterans
continue, including the Homeless Veterans
[[Page H6724]]
and Homeless Veterans With Children Reintegration Programs.
S. 2082 ensures that there is adequate authorization levels for much-
needed assistance and support service for veterans' caregivers.
S. 2082 continues a successful pilot program that counsels newly
separated women veterans in retreat settings. This is an important
program.
I have a bill, H.R. 1575, that would make this program permanent and
has passed the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I hope it will be
brought to the floor soon so that we can vote for it.
S. 2082 also extends the authorization of the National Academy of
Sciences to continue its research into the health consequences of Agent
Orange exposure, providing the necessary link for the VA to make
disability presumptions.
I am disappointed that the provision mandating the Secretary to make
these presumptions is not in the bill, and I know that we will all work
together to make sure that the VA does the right thing for our
veterans.
S. 2082 extends the authorization for the VA to provide
transportation grants for highly rural veterans and the ability of the
VA to provide transportation to and from VA facilities. This is
important to ensure that our veterans have access to care.
S. 2082 extends the authorization of the VA to provide rehabilitation
and vocational benefits for our wounded warriors.
And, finally, S. 2082 provides for an increase in the authorization
level for the Denver Regional VA Medical Center. This center will
provide specialty care for all VISN 19, which includes Montana,
Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah, and Idaho. We need to finish
this project and better provide health care for our veterans.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), a distinguished member of the committee.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2082, and I thank
Chairman Miller for his efforts to extend authority for various VA
healthcare, benefits, disability, housing, education, job training, and
other assistance programs.
Part of this bill also ensures that Colorado veterans will receive a
completed, state-of-the-art new hospital in Denver.
In addition to funding the hospital, though, S. 2082 ensures that the
type of construction mismanagement and cost overruns will not happen on
future large-scale VA construction programs.
The VA has shown us on multiple projects, Denver being,
unfortunately, the largest, that they are not properly equipped to
handle these large construction projects with their own in-house
capabilities.
The bill requires that the Army Corps of Engineers or NAVFAC or a
different construction agency, but not the VA, will take on the task of
managing these large construction programs.
We must be good stewards of the taxpayers' money and use that money
wisely to care for the veterans. This bill is a step in the right
direction to get VA construction back on the right path, while
fulfilling the promise made with the hospital to our Nation's veterans.
We have a sacred trust to take care of the men and women who have
defended our country.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).
Ms. TITUS. I thank the ranking member for yielding and for her
leadership on the VA Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of this bill, S. 2082, the
VA Expiring Authorities Act.
As my colleagues have outlined, this legislation will extend the
authorization for some very good programs at the VA that provide
valuable support and services for our Nation's heroes.
I have serious concerns, however, about one provision included in the
bill. Title V raises the authorization for the Denver medical facility
by more than $600 million. This facility is already $1 billion over
budget and years behind schedule.
The bill, however, does not explain how we are going to pay for this
increase. That will come later today when the House considers a
continuing resolution to keep the government running for another 10
weeks. Buried in the CR is a provision that allows the VA to play a
shell game within their budget to pay for the Denver project.
Now, we all believe that veterans everywhere, including in Denver,
should have access to the best health care possible. But the funds for
the Denver project should not come at the expense of veterans in Nevada
and in other parts of the country.
Nonetheless, the VA has identified the $600 million to pay for the
Denver facility and has said that these specific cuts are designed to
``minimize the impact on veterans.''
Well, this couldn't be further from the truth, and it ignores
reality. It is the epitome of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Let me remind you that, in the summer of 2014, we passed an emergency
CHOICE Act of some $15 billion to help the VA with the healthcare
backlog.
Then the VA came back to us this summer and said they would have to
close hospitals if we didn't allow them to move some money out of the
CHOICE Act.
Then the VA came back and said they needed $200 million just to keep
the Denver project going for a while. Now the VA is saying: Oh, no
problem. We can just move $600 million out of existing programs so we
can help Denver without it hurting veterans.
How can they possibly do this?
The VA, I can tell you, has proposed cutting IT services, despite the
fact that many of their IT systems are 30 years old and need to be
replaced.
They want to cut funds for a program that helps recruit and retain
the best personnel to serve veterans at a time when they are struggling
to recruit and retain qualified employees, including specialists and
doctors. They want to cut eight construction projects around the
country, from operating rooms to a dialysis center.
Now, how can you say these cuts won't hurt veterans?
Now, we know a thing or two about sure things in Las Vegas. Well, I
can tell you it is a sure thing that, soon enough, the VA will be
coming back to Congress, proclaiming yet another doomsday if we don't
refill these accounts that they are now robbing.
So I say to you Congress needs to do its job and actually pay for
what we have bought. Wars are expensive. We need to recognize that. We
can't keep playing budget games and nickel-and-dime the services that
the brave men and women who fought in these wars need and deserve when
they come home.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Denver (Mr. Coffman), an able co-chair of the committee
who has been in the forefront of this entire fight looking at the cost
overruns, the mismanagement, and trying to keep this project on
schedule.
Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for the Veterans
Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015. This legislation will
continue numerous programs of critical importance to our Nation's
veterans, including a pilot program to increase women veterans' access
to health care, nursing home care authorities, and measures to combat
veteran homelessness.
I am proud that this legislation will allow for the completion of the
VA replacement hospital in Aurora, Colorado, an absolutely critical
project which will serve veterans not just in Colorado, but also in
Utah, Montana, Wyoming and parts of four other States.
In spite of the incredible mismanagement of this project by the VA
and a shocking lack of accountability for those responsible, completing
the hospital in Aurora has been my number one legislative priority. We
must not punish our Nation's veterans for the sins of incompetent VA
bureaucrats.
Finally, this bill would accomplish a goal that I have worked towards
for over a year, getting the VA out of the major construction business
once and for all.
For decades, the Government Accountability Office has highlighted
enormous construction management deficiencies by the VA.
After the GAO highlighted hundreds of millions in cost overruns in
April of 2013, the House passed my legislation, which would have handed
over the
[[Page H6725]]
worst VA projects to experts at the Army Corps of Engineers.
Worse, billions of dollars have been wasted by VA on mismanaged
construction projects which could have gone instead towards veterans'
health care and benefits.
I am proud that this bill will finally leave the construction
management of large projects to the experts, organizations like the
Army Corps of Engineers, and allow VA to focus back to its core
competencies, providing health care and benefits to our veterans.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Denver, Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter), who
really can give us a little institutional memory on the Denver regional
hospital and who has been at the forefront of this hospital and this
regional problem from the beginning.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank Ranking Member Brown for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the committee for
bringing S. 2082 to the floor for debate and hearing today.
I rise today to support S. 2082, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Expiring Authorities Act. The legislation before us passed the Senate
unanimously last week and is important for a number of VA programs our
veterans rely on day in and day out.
In addition to these important VA extensions, this legislation will
authorize completion of the VA Medical Center under construction in
Aurora, Colorado. This center is part of a major medical campus that
includes the University of Colorado Medical School as well as
Children's Hospital of Denver.
The professors at the University of Colorado are also many of the
doctors at the VA Medical Center. The center will include a full range
of medical, laboratory, research, and counseling services as well as a
30-bed spinal cord injury unit serving hundreds of thousands of
veterans throughout the Rocky Mountain West.
As the chairman mentioned, this hospital's genesis began under
President Clinton in 1999 with the Secretary of VA at that time. Under
George Bush, it went through four Secretaries of the VA and, under
President Obama, now two VA Secretaries.
{time} 1300
It is moving forward and, with this bill, will continue to move
forward.
There is no doubt the VA mismanaged this project from the start; and
as disappointing and unacceptable as this situation has been, we are
where we are. Under the leadership of Secretary McDonald and Deputy
Secretary Gibson, the VA has admitted their mistakes on this project,
and they are both personally involved in completion of this facility.
Today, construction continues on the project in earnest. The facility
is more than 50 percent complete, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
has been brought in to oversee completion of the medical center.
Bringing in the Army Corps is important so we, as a Congress, can be
certain that any additional funds spent on this project are spent
appropriately and the facility is completed without further delay.
The contractor, Kiewit-Turner, and subcontractors have shown
tremendous commitment to our Nation's veterans by building a world-
class facility, and I am confident they will deliver this facility to
our veterans throughout the Rocky Mountain West.
This bill requires the VA to use a non-VA Federal entity, like the
Army Corps, to complete major construction projects valued at over $100
million. This is critically important towards ensuring accountability
and preventing these large projects from being mismanaged again.
I want to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Brown, as well as
Congressman Charlie Dent and Congressman Bishop, for their work with me
and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), who now represents the
district.
There has been a great deal of anger at the VA recently and much of
it is well-deserved, but through the help of the Veterans' Affairs
Committee and the Appropriations Committee, Rocky Mountain veterans
will eventually see this medical center completed and receive the
health care that they earned by their service to the United States of
America.
I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from Florida, for yielding.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter) for working so closely with Mr. Coffman, a
true bipartisan effort, to see this project to completion.
Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duncan of Tennessee). The gentleman from
Florida has 1\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from Florida has
9 minutes remaining.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire from Ms. Brown if
she would yield 5 minutes of her time.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, since I have 9 minutes remaining,
and I have no further speakers, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida yields 5
minutes to the gentleman from Florida.
Without objection, the gentleman from Florida will control those 5
minutes.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida is recognized.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr.
Abraham), a member of the committee that has worked very hard on this
particular issue, especially the Expiring Authorities bill, the
chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs.
Mr. ABRAHAM. I thank the chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of S. 2082; however, I would
like to note that I am also deeply disappointed that we are not voting
on the House bills which would have limited awards and bonuses to VA
employees. It is my belief that we have missed an opportunity to bring
much-needed accountability to the VA, and know that I will work
tirelessly to bring accountability to the VA for the American people.
S. 2082, also known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring
Authorities Act of 2015, includes multiple necessary provisions
supporting our Nation's heroes, including veterans who are homeless,
disabled, or suffering from PTSD.
As chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs, I introduced a particular provision in S. 2082 to extend
contract exams for veterans applying for disability benefits. Extending
contract exams is a commonsense measure to cut through the bureaucratic
red tape and ensure our veterans are getting the care they need when
they need it.
Many veterans undergo a VA medical examination in support of their
application for disability benefits. The problem is that there are not
enough examiners to perform these evaluations in a timely manner in the
VA system.
Expanding contract exams will make it easier for the VA to arrange
for the veterans to get disability examinations by permitting a
licensed physician to conduct these examinations anywhere in the United
States as long as the doctor is under a VA contract. This is common
sense, and I urge passage of the bill.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the former chairman of the
Veterans Affairs Committee, a stalwart supporter of America's veterans.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank my good friend for yielding, and I
thank the gentlewoman from Florida, Corrine Brown, for her courtesy.
Mr. Speaker, I served on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for a
quarter of a century, including stints as vice chairman and full
committee chair. I believe that our Nation's veterans are fortunate to
have a great champion with the gentleman from Florida, Chairman Miller,
at the helm.
Chairman Miller has led the committee with aggressive oversight and
accountability of the often-troubled Department. He has shepherded
numerous bills into law, including the VA Choice Program, which expands
timely and local access to health care for veterans, and, working so
closely in a bipartisan way with Ranking Member Brown, ensured that the
VA has the resources and the authorities to meet
[[Page H6726]]
evolving needs. The chairman always puts veterans and their dependents
first.
Chairman Miller has explained the bill. I will just take a brief
moment to comment on title III.
Title III reauthorizes a number of provisions from a law that I wrote
back in 2001 known as the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance
Act, or Public Law 107-95. That law established the grant programs that
included female veterans, homeless veterans with special needs,
children, serious mental illnesses, and incarcerated veterans. The act
authorized dental care. We learned through our hearing process that not
only oral health--but overall health as well--is negatively affected
with broken and diseased teeth and gums. And you don't get a job with
busted teeth. Oral health was critical, so we put that into the bill.
Job training and expanded domiciliary care programs were also expanded.
It also authorized the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans and
launched the national goal, which has now been replicated since 2010,
of attempting to end chronic homelessness among veterans. We also did
the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and
the HUD-VASH program.
In 2001, the estimation from VA was that almost 300,000 veterans were
homeless at some time during that year. By fiscal year 2013, that
number had decreased to approximately 140,000 veterans. Of course we
now have a different, altered way of calculating, but, unfortunately,
on any given night last year, just under 50,000 veterans were still on
the street.
This legislation will go far and do much so that no veteran is on the
street and suffering homelessness. We need to bring them back into
society.
Again, I thank Chairman Miller for his strong leadership.
Thank you, Chairman Miller, for your leadership on this bill and your
staff's work to bring it to the floor in a timely manner to ensure that
the VA continues to provide the services necessary for veterans to
successfully transition back to civilian life and live independently.
Mr. Speaker, I served on the House Veteran's Affairs Committee for a
quarter of a century, including stints as vice and full committee chair
and I believe that our nation's veterans are fortunate to have a great
champion with Chairman Miller at the helm. Chairman Miller led the
committee with aggressive oversight and accountability of the often
troubled Department. You have shepherded numerous bills into law
including the VA Choice program which expands timely and local access
to healthcare for veterans and you've ensured that the VA has the
resources and authorities to meet evolving needs. You have always put
veterans and their dependents--first.
Mr. Speaker, the bill we are voting on today will reauthorize over 30
critical programs that provide healthcare, education, and child care
benefits to veterans and continue the VA's homeless veterans and
caregiver assistance.
Since Chairman Miller has explained the bill let me focus for a
moment on Title III which extends many provisions first authorized by
landmark legislation I authored in 2001 known as the Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Assistance Act (Public Law 107-95).
That law established the grant programs we are reauthorizing today
that focused on homeless female veterans; homeless veterans with
special needs, children, serious mental illnesses, and incarcerated
veterans. The Act authorized dental care--for better oral health and
overall health--job training and expanded domiciliary care programs. It
is hard to get a job if your teeth are cracked and deteriorated. It
authorized the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans and launched the
national goal of attempting to end chronic homelessness among veterans
within a decade of the enactment of the Act. And among its many other
provisions, it increased funding for two programs that were effective
but seriously underfunded.
The first was the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans
Reintegration Program--which helps homeless veterans reenter and stay
in the labor force. Allowing more veterans access to this program was
critical, as a steady job is key to successfully maintaining a
residence.
The second is the HUD-VASH program, which combines rental assistance
with case management and clinical services. After enactment,
utilization of these services spiked and more veterans received the
assistance that has led to self-sufficiency and independence.
Today, these programs continue to be a highly effective means of
reducing homelessness among our veterans population.
In 2001, it was estimated that almost 300,000 veterans experienced
homelessness that year. By fiscal year 2013, that number had decreased
to approximately 140,000 veterans.
The VA and HUD have since changed how they calculate homeless
veterans to a point-in-time estimate. The latest numbers show that we
still have much work to do: on any given night last year, just under
50,000 veterans were on the street.
Of course one homeless veteran is one too many. Yet we are continuing
to make progress and the numbers demonstrate how these programs,
coupled with other recent and successful programs like the Supportive
Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program which we are reauthorizing
today, are tangibly assisting homeless or potentially homeless women
and men who served in our nation's armed forces. It is estimated that
approximately 135,000 veterans and their families got assistance
through SSVF in (FY) 2015 including funds to Soldier On and other
initiatives in my state.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 2082,
sending this important bill to the President so that the vital programs
helping our veterans will continue past the end of this fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller).
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank Ranking Member Brown for her courtesy
in yielding an additional few minutes for some of our Members who
wanted to speak.
I, too, think it is very important that we pass this piece of
legislation today, but our job here is not finished. We must ensure
that the appropriators now do their job and make sure that VA doesn't,
as the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) said, rob Peter to pay Paul.
It is important that we not take necessary dollars away from veteran
health care in order to pay for their massive mismanagement of this
particular facility.
I urge a positive vote on this Senate bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend from
Florida for his work on the VA extenders bill. I appreciate his
partnership as we continue to fight for our veterans.
However, Mr. Speaker, I remain deeply disappointed that this
extenders bill does not include an extension of the Agent Orange Act.
As you know, Congress passed the Agent Orange Act in 1991 to ensure
care and compensation to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Before this bill, it was up to our veterans to prove their cancer or
Parkinson's was connected to their service in Vietnam and their
exposure to Agent Orange.
The Agent Orange Act changed all of that, shifting the burden of
proof from the veteran to the VA. Under the Agent Orange Act, the IOM
would study Agent Orange and determine which diseases were associated
with exposure to Agent Orange. This process removed the burden of proof
from our Vietnam veterans when they applied for disability
compensation.
Over the years, the IOM has issued reports that have led to the
presumption of service connection for diseases such as Parkinson's, B-
cell leukemia and early onset peripheral neuropathy. Without these
studies, thousands of Vietnam era veterans would have gone without the
benefits they greatly deserve.
The Agent Orange Act is set to expire tomorrow, but IOM is still
working on their last report.
And, despite the good the Agent Orange Act has done for our Vietnam
veterans, Congress is going to let this bill expire tomorrow.
And it's all because it costs too much.
Mr. Speaker, it never costs too much to ensure justice for our
veterans.
We should be ashamed that we are letting this bill expire and leaving
it up to the VA to add new diseases to the presumption list.
The Agent Orange Act has worked for our veterans for over a decade,
and it is irresponsible to let our oversight expire and simply leave it
up to the VA's discretion.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot step away from our responsibilities and hand
them over to an agency, simply because we do not like the price tag.
Instead, we should do the right thing and find an offset.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to demand Leadership go back and find an
offset outside of the VA to ensure our veterans get the benefits they
earned.
We have a responsibility to these veterans. They completed their
mission in Vietnam, now we must complete ours.
By finding an offset and passing this extension, we will make certain
that when the IOM's final report is published, the VA is obligated to
review it and follow their recommendations.
We owe these heroes nothing less.
Mr. TOM PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my
concerns regarding
[[Page H6727]]
two provisions in S. 2082, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring
Authorities Act of 2015: Sec. 501 the increased authorization for the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility project in Denver,
Colorado and Sec. 412 the modification of authorization for the VA
medical facility project in Tampa, Florida which is designated as an
emergency.
Sec. 501 Increased authorization for the VA medical facility project in
Denver, Colorado
Originally budgeted to be an $800 million dollar project, the VA is
now requesting yet another funding transfer from Congress to bring the
total price tag of this medical facility to an astounding $1.675
billion, more than $800 million dollars over budget. Mismanagement of
construction projects, and the unacceptable waste of taxpayer dollars,
unfortunately have been an ongoing problem at the VA. It is deplorable
and should not be tolerated by Congress or the Administration.
This project is a perfect example of why the VA is in dire need of
wholesale reform in addition to continued oversight by Congress to
ensure that the VA is transparent, accountable, and ultimately able to
best serve our nation's veterans. I fully support the House Committee
on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller's efforts to directly address
the construction problems at the VA and other efforts by his Committee
to enforce accountability agency-wide, including H.R. 1994, the VA
Accountability Act of 2015, which passed the U.S. House of
Representatives on July 29, 2015. I also applaud Chairman Miller's
version of an increased authorization for the Denver project bill, H.R.
3595, because it included offsets to help pay for the increase in costs
at the Denver facility. These offsetting policies in H.R. 3595 are a
clear indication that the U.S. House of Representatives is no longer
willing to tolerate misbehavior and poor performance at the VA and
include the following: limitation on awards and bonuses for VA
employees, reduction of benefits for members of the Senior Executive
Service at the VA convicted of certain crimes, and authority for the VA
Secretary to recoup bonuses or awards paid to employees in the past if
deemed appropriate pursuant to regulations. Unfortunately, S. 2082 does
not include these offsets and allows the VA to decide which funds to
transfer to the Denver project.
As Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget, I do not condone
mismanagement by any Federal agency, especially an agency tasked with
the heavy responsibility of taking care of the men and women who have
served our country in uniform. Our veterans should not be punished by
the lack of competence within the VA bureaucracy, which would be the
effect of not approving the transfer of additional funds for this
medical facility. However, the VA should not take the approval of this
newest transfer of funds as an indication of congressional support for
their mismanagement of the Denver facility. Further, the VA is hereby
placed on notice that the Budget Committee will work closely with the
Veterans' Affairs Committee in the months ahead to advance the long
overdue efforts to reform the department's dysfunctional operations.
Our veterans who have served this nation with honor and distinction
deserve nothing less than Congress' commitment to fix the management
problems at the VA.
Sec. 412 Modification of authorization for the VA medical facility
project in Tampa, Florida
S. 2082 calls for modifying the authorization for the Tampa facility
from ``providing bed tower upgrades,'' which was originally authorized
and appropriated in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L.
110-252), to ``constructing a new bed tower'' and designating this new
purpose of the monies as an emergency requirement. The emergency
designation, which is under the jurisdiction of the Budget Committee,
is defined for needs that are urgent, unforeseen, and would result in
imminent loss of life or property if left unmet. I do not believe that
the authorization modification in S. 2082 meets these criteria since it
is occurring seven years after the original emergency designation for
this purpose in P.L. 110-252. I think most members of Congress would
agree that this provision does not qualify as an emergency as defined
by the Committee's criteria and I am disappointed that this emergency
provision is included in S. 2082.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 2082.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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