[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION AND CHOICE IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the 
bill (H.R. 2496) to extend the authorization for the replacement of the 
existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, 
Colorado, to make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, 
and Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman)?
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Reserving the right to object, I do not object, but I 
do want to thank my colleague from Colorado concerning what will be a 
short time to continue negotiations to finish our hospital in the 
Denver area.
  As we come into this Memorial Day weekend, veterans in the Rocky 
Mountain West have waited 15 years for this hospital to be built. 
Substantial construction has taken place. Any further delay just delays 
delivering good services--great services--to our veterans.
  We need to continue to move this along. The fact that we are moving 
beyond Memorial Day, keeping this project going forward, without 
mothballing it, is a step in the right direction; but, Mr. Speaker, I 
ask the majority and the Republican leadership to work with the VA to 
get this finished, so that we can provide the best medical care 
possible, similar to what Mrs. McMorris Rodgers was talking about at 
her hospital in Washington. We want that same thing in Denver, 
Colorado.
  We need to finish this hospital as soon as possible.
  I withdraw my reservation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman withdraws his reservation.
  Is there objection to the original request of the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Coffman)?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2496

       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 ``Construction Authorization 
     and Choice Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
                   CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     carry out the replacement of the existing Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, in 
     fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to exceed $900,000,000.
       (b) Limitation on Obligation of Funds.--Notwithstanding 
     section 8104(c) of title 38, United States Code, or any other 
     provision of law, funds may not be obligated or expended for 
     the project described in subsection (a) in an amount that 
     would cause the total amount obligated for that project to 
     exceed the amount specified in the law for that project (or 
     would add to total obligations exceeding such specified 
     amount).

     SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR EXPANDED 
                   AVAILABILITY OF HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL 
                   SERVICES FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE USE OF 
                   AGREEMENTS WITH NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS ENTITIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, 
     Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 
     38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``(as calculated 
     based on distance traveled)'' after ``40 miles''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking subclause (II), 
     and inserting the following new subclause (II):

       ``(II) faces an unusual or excessive burden in traveling to 
     such a medical facility of the Department based on--

       ``(aa) geographical challenges;
       ``(bb) environmental factors, such as roads that are not 
     accessible to the general public, traffic, or hazardous 
     weather;
       ``(cc) a medical condition that impacts the ability to 
     travel; or
       ``(dd) other factors, as determined by the Secretary.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and apply with respect to care or services provided on or 
     after such date.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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