[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5274-H5275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1700
FISCAL YEAR 2024 VETERANS AFFAIRS MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY AUTHORIZATION 
                                  ACT

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6324) to authorize major medical facility projects for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2024, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6324

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans 
     Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR FISCAL YEAR 
                   2024.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     carry out the following major medical facility projects in 
     fiscal year 2024 at the locations specified and in an amount 
     for each project not to exceed the amount specified for such 
     location:
       (1) Construction of a new specialty care building 201, 
     renovation of building 18, and expansion of parking 
     facilities in American Lake, Washington, in an amount not to 
     exceed $155,600,000.
       (2) Expansion of clinical space for mental health, 
     expansion of parking facilities, and land acquisition in 
     Dallas, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $93,100,000.
       (3) Construction of a new health care center and utility 
     plant in El Paso, Texas, in an amount not to exceed 
     $759,200,000.
       (4) Replacement of community living center and expansion of 
     parking facilities in Perry Point, Maryland, in an amount not 
     to exceed $274,310,000.
       (5) Seismic retrofit and renovation of buildings 100 and 
     101, roadway and site improvements, construction of a new 
     specialty care facility, and demolition and expansion of 
     parking facilities in Portland, Oregon, in an amount not to 
     exceed $613,000,000.
       (6) Initiation of replacement of the medical center of the 
     Sierra Nevada Health Care System of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, including land acquisition and preliminary 
     site work, in Reno, Nevada, in an amount not to exceed 
     $223,800,000.
       (7) Construction of a new spinal cord injury building, 
     partial renovation of building 1, parking facilities, central 
     utility plant upgrades, and the seismic retrofit of the 
     existing spinal cord injury building 11 at the San Diego 
     Health Care System of the Department in San Diego, 
     California, in an amount not to exceed $311,700,000.
       (8) Construction of a new research facility, parking 
     structure, and demolition in San Francisco, California, in an 
     amount not to exceed $264,500,000.
       (9) Seismic corrections for building 1, construction of a 
     new administrative building, and expansion of the outpatient 
     clinic and parking structure in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an 
     amount not to exceed $370,370,000.
       (10) Phase 1 of the replacement of bed tower, expansion of 
     clinical building, consolidation of administrative building 
     and warehouse, water tower, and new utility plant and parking 
     garages in St. Louis, Missouri, in an amount not to exceed 
     $135,340,000.
       (11) Construction of a new surgical and clinical space 
     tower, renovation of buildings 1 and 2, and demolition in 
     West Haven, Connecticut, in an amount not to exceed 
     $153,128,000.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
     fiscal year 2024 or the year in which funds are appropriated 
     for the Construction, Major Projects account, $3,354,048,000 
     for the projects authorized in subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H.R. 6324, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6324, as 
amended. H.R. 6324 will authorize major VA medical construction 
projects in Washington, Texas, Maryland, Oregon, Nevada, California, 
Missouri, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico.
  Updating VA's aging infrastructure is a constant process. In order to 
best serve our Nation's veterans and provide them with the modern 
healthcare that they deserve, it is essential that we fund projects 
like these.
  The projects in this bill include new healthcare centers, a community 
living center, specialty care buildings, mental health clinics, 
research facilities, and others. The average VA medical center is 
decades older than the average private hospital.
  I still believe the best way to solve the problem would be to align 
spending on VA facilities with the veteran population. Unfortunately, 
that is not being taken care of in the Senate. We have passed it out of 
here.
  We also need to fund the construction projects VA is requesting right 
now. This legislation would deliver new facilities in communities 
throughout the country.
  I recognize the work of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for 
helping with this legislation and bringing this bill to the floor on 
behalf of our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6324, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 6324, the Fiscal 
Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, as 
amended.
  I have always supported providing sufficient funding for VA 
construction projects which make critical investments in improving 
veterans' access to healthcare and modernizing the facilities where 
they receive their care.

[[Page H5275]]

  These investments come at a critical time, when VA employees are 
being asked to do more with less and provide world-class care in aging 
and outdated buildings.
  The average age of VA-owned buildings is approaching 60 years old, 
with 1,800 buildings still in active use that are designated as 
historic or eligible for historic status. Meanwhile, private-sector 
hospitals are less than 15 years old on average.
  Despite its aging infrastructure and these challenges, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs continues to deliver high-quality healthcare, with 
VA hospitals once again this year outperforming private hospitals on 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' annual hospital quality 
star ratings.
  To ensure VA can continue providing exceptional care for years to 
come, we must invest appropriately in its infrastructure.
  H.R. 6324, as amended, authorizes more than $3.35 billion for major 
medical facility construction projects in 11 locations, including: 
$759.2 million for construction of a new healthcare center and utility 
plant in El Paso, Texas; $274.3 million for replacement of a community 
living center and expansion of parking facilities in Perry Point, 
Maryland; $613 million for seismic retrofitting and renovation of 
buildings, construction of a new specialty care facility, and parking 
upgrades in Portland, Oregon; and $311.7 million for construction of a 
new spinal cord injury building, utility plant upgrades, seismic 
retrofitting, and other projects in San Diego, California.
  These projects will ensure the veterans in these communities have 
access to the highest level of care VA can provide. This legislation is 
a crucial step to continue our goal of making critical investments in 
the modernization of VA medical facilities.
  Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support H.R. 6324, as amended, I urge 
my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 6324, the 
Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization 
Act, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support 
the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 6324, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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