[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Cardin):
  S. 2422. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
carry out certain major medical facility projects for which 
appropriations are being made for fiscal year 2016; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I speak today regarding the 
introduction of a bill, cosponsored by Senators Boxer and Cardin, to 
provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with the authority to 
obligate and expend appropriated funds in order to begin construction 
on critical projects in California, Kentucky, Maryland, and Washington. 
This is time-sensitive legislation, and I am working with my colleague 
and friend Chairman Isakson to move the bill by unanimous consent as 
soon as a final fiscal year 2016 funding measure is enacted.
  Last month, the Senate passed the fiscal year 2016 Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, which provided $822,800,000 for major construction projects at 
these Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. This bill passed without a 
single vote cast against it.
  However, the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot spend the money 
appropriated for fiscal year 2016 and begin construction on these 
projects because it lacks a separate authorization, which is required 
by law.
  The legislation I am introducing today simply provides the 
authorization, as required by law, to allow the Department to move 
forward its fiscal year 2016 projects.
  The fiscal year 2016 projects include critical, time-sensitive 
seismic safety corrections to structures in San Francisco, West Los 
Angeles, Long Beach, and American Lake. These buildings, which include 
health care facilities, veteran housing, and a community living center, 
are at an exceptionally high risk of collapse or suffering severe 
damage during an earthquake.
  If a major earthquake struck in proximity to one of these medical 
centers while it was in use by veterans and the department's employees, 
there could be numerous injuries and deaths.
  The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is a greater than 99 
percent chance that a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake will strike 
California in the next 30 years.
  It is important to note that even less severe earthquakes can cause 
damage to seismically unsafe buildings that result in injuries and 
deaths. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services believes 
that the damage to seismically unfit buildings caused by the magnitude 
6.0 earthquake that hit Napa, California on August 24, 2014, at 3:20 
a.m., would likely have resulted in many more deaths and injuries if it 
had struck during business hours when these structures were in use. As 
it was, the earthquake caused over 200 injuries and one fatality.
  In fact, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a 6.0 magnitude 
earthquake hits California every 1.2 years on average. This is a 
terrifying figure, and it is why I strongly believe that Congress must 
enact this legislation without delay.
  This is not a hypothetical situation. In 1971, the devastating San 
Fernando 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck and caused a total of 58 
deaths. The older, deficient buildings at the San Fernando VA medical 
center were demolished, killing 30 patients and 10 staff. The 
destruction on the Federal Government's VA campus was responsible for 
the majority of all deaths reported in this earthquake. Had the Federal 
buildings been structurally sound, there is a likelihood that many of 
these deaths could have been prevented. If there are any Senators in 
this body who might want to delay moving the fiscal year 2016 
construction authorizations, I urge them to think long and hard about 
this tragic event.
  In 2015, Congress did not authorize the Department's major 
construction projects until this past September; 10 months after funds 
were appropriated by Congress in the fiscal year 2015 Omnibus. I 
believe it would be a huge disserve to our veterans to allow such a 
lengthy delay to occur again.
  More hearings and delays are unnecessary to determine whether the 
Senate should pass this legislation. The Senate Appropriations 
Committee held hearings with the Department on these projects as it 
reviewed the President's fiscal year 2016 budget request. The Senate 
Committee marked up and reported the Military Construction, Veterans 
Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill in a bipartisan 
fashion. The Senate voted in a unanimous fashion to pass this bill just 
last month.
  I also understand there are concerns about the effectiveness of the 
Department's construction process, but the Senate's appropriations bill 
also included important provisions requiring the Department to work 
closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on improving the 
management controls for its next major construction projects.
  I want to reiterate that without a separate authorization, the 
Department cannot start this vital work to protect our veterans and 
federal employees.
  This is exactly why Americans believe that the Federal Government 
does not work. How does Congress explain this unnecessary delay to 
veterans who go to medical appointments in the buildings at risk of 
collapse or major damage? There is no reason to delay authorizing these 
projects when the money has already been appropriated.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in quickly approving this legislation 
so that the fiscal year 2016 construction projects can move forward. 
Congress must act before the next earthquake strikes.

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