[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15471-15479]
[From the U.S. 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.

[[Page 15472]]

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.

       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--

[[Page 15473]]

       (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''.

     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

[[Page 15474]]

     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:

``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

[[Page 15475]]

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 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

[[Page 15476]]

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 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

[[Page 15477]]

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 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).

[[Page 15478]]

  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 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

[[Page 15479]]

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 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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