[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION TO CARRY OUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE 
   EXISTING MEDICAL CENTER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN 
                            DENVER, COLORADO

  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1568, introduced earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1568) to extend the authorization to carry out 
     the replacement of the existing medical center of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver, Colorado, to 
     authorize transfers of amounts to carry out the replacement 
     of such medical center, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I thank Chairman Isakson of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee for his tireless work on this legislation and Senator 
Blumenthal as well as the cosponsor of this legislation tonight, 
Senator Bennet, my colleague from Colorado.
  This gives us the breathing room we need to finish the job in 
Colorado. We have more work to do with the Veterans' Administration, 
but tonight we can begin the process of starting to finish this job.
  I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1568) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1568

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT 
                   PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.

       Section 2(a) of the Construction Authorization and Choice 
     Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``in fiscal year 2015,''; and
       (2) by striking ``$900,000,000'' and inserting 
     ``$1,050,000,000''.

     SEC. 2. LIMITED, ONE-TIME AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER SPECIFIC 
                   AMOUNTS TO CARRY OUT MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
                   PROJECT IN DENVER, COLORADO.

       (a) In General.--Of the unobligated balances of amounts 
     available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer 
     amounts from the appropriations accounts under the following 
     headings, in the amounts and from the activities specified, 
     to the appropriations account under the heading 
     ``Construction, Major Projects'':
       (1) ``Medical Services'', $6,494,000 to be derived from 
     amounts available for the Human Capital Investment Plan.
       (2) ``Medical Support and Compliance'', $1,611,000 to be 
     derived from amounts available for the Human Capital 
     Investment Plan.
       (3) ``Medical Facilities'', $80,735,000 to be derived from 
     amounts available for green energy projects of the Department 
     and human capital investment plans.
       (4) ``National Cemetery Administration'', $60,000 to be 
     derived from amounts available for the Human Capital 
     Investment Plan.
       (5) ``General Administration'', $1,130,000 to be derived 
     from amounts available for the Office of the Secretary.
       (6) ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
     Administration'', $670,000 to be derived from amounts 
     available for the Human Capital Investment Plan.
       (7) ``Information Technology Systems'', $240,000 to be 
     derived from amounts available for the Human Capital 
     Investment Plan.
       (8) ``Construction, Minor Projects'', $3,000,000 to be 
     derived from amounts available for minor construction 
     projects at the staff offices of the Department.
       (b) Transfer of Amounts Available in Funds.--
       (1) Revolving supply fund.--Of the unobligated balances of 
     amounts available in the revolving supply fund of the 
     Department under section 8121 of title 38, United States 
     Code, the Secretary may transfer $20,030,000 to the 
     appropriations account under the heading ``Construction, 
     Major Projects''.
       (2) Franchise fund.--Of the unobligated balances of amounts 
     available in the Department of Veterans Affairs Franchise 
     Fund established in title I of the Departments of Veterans 
     Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-204; 31 
     U.S.C. 501 note), the Secretary may transfer $36,030,000 to 
     the appropriations account under the heading ``Construction, 
     Major Projects''.
       (c) Use of Amounts and Availability.--The amounts 
     transferred under subsections (a) and (b) shall--
       (1) be used only to carry out the major medical facility 
     construction project in Denver, Colorado, specified in 
     section 2 of the Construction Authorization and Choice 
     Improvement Act (Public Law 114-19); and
       (2) remain available until September 30, 2016.

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