[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 30, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3139. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Crapo, and Mr. Risch) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2977 
submitted by Ms. Collins and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 
3944, making appropriations for military construction, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2026, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title II of division A, insert 
     the following:
       Sec. ___. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives, and each Member of Congress a report on the 
     current backlog in funding for construction and renovation of 
     State homes for veterans.
       (b) The report required by subsection (a) shall include the 
     following:
       (1) A list of all unfunded or partially funded applications 
     for construction grants for State homes, including those 
     identified on the priority lists for fiscal year 2024 and 
     2025.
       (2) The estimated total funding required to fully fund all 
     projects under such pending applications.
       (3) A description of the key hurdles to clearing the 
     backlog of construction grant applications, including 
     administrative, regulatory, and funding-related barriers.
       (4) Any recommendations for administrative or legislative 
     action to reduce delays and accelerate the approval and 
     completion of State home projects.
       (5) An exploration of potential options for interim or 
     alternative sources of funding to sustain or advance priority 
     projects currently awaiting Federal support, including an 
     evaluation of such options for feasibility and potential 
     impact.
       (c) The requirement under subsection (b)(5) shall not be 
     construed as relieving Congress of its responsibility to fund 
     State homes fully and in a timely manner.
       (d) In this section, the term ``State home'' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
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