[House Report 114-640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress   }                                      {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session      }                                      {      114-640

======================================================================
 
 DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
RELATED AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, AND FOR 
                             OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

                 June 22, 2016.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, from the committee of conference, submitted the 
                               following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 2577]

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendment of the House to the amendment 
of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2577), making appropriations 
for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban 
Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, having met, after 
full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do 
recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
      That the Senate recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the House to the amendment of the Senate and agree 
to the same with an amendment as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the 
House amendment, insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 
and Zika Response and Preparedness Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. References.
Sec. 4. Statement of appropriations.
Sec. 5. Availability of funds.

    DIVISION A--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED 
                    AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017

Title I--Department of Defense
Title II--Department of Veterans Affairs
Title III--Related agencies
Title IV--Overseas contingency operations
Title V--General provisions

   DIVISION B--ZIKA RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016

                     DIVISION C--ZIKA VECTOR CONTROL

                    DIVISION D--RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS

SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

    Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 
``this Act'' contained in any division of this Act shall be 
treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    The following sums in this Act are appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2017.

SEC. 5. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

    Each amount designated in this Act by the Congress as an 
emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 
shall be available (or rescinded, if applicable) only if the 
President subsequently so designates all such amounts and 
transmits such designations to the Congress.

   DIVISION A--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017

                                TITLE I

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                      Military Construction, Army

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment 
of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, 
facilities, and real property for the Army as currently 
authorized by law, including personnel in the Army Corps of 
Engineers and other personal services necessary for the 
purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and 
operation of facilities in support of the functions of the 
Commander in Chief, $513,459,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2021:  Provided, That, of this amount, not to 
exceed $98,159,000 shall be available for study, planning, 
design, architect and engineer services, and host nation 
support, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Army 
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such 
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons 
therefor.

              Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment 
of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, 
facilities, and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps as 
currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services 
necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, 
$1,021,580,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021:  
Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $88,230,000 shall 
be available for study, planning, design, and architect and 
engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary 
of the Navy determines that additional obligations are 
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination 
and the reasons therefor.

                    Military Construction, Air Force

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment 
of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, 
facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently 
authorized by law, $1,491,058,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2021:  Provided, That of this amount, not to 
exceed $143,582,000 shall be available for study, planning, 
design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by 
law, unless the Secretary of the Air Force determines that 
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and 
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor:  
Provided further, That none of the funds made available under 
this heading shall be for construction of the Joint 
Intelligence Analysis Complex Consolidation, Phase 3, at Royal 
Air Force Croughton, United Kingdom, unless authorized in an 
Act authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for 
military construction.

                  Military Construction, Defense-Wide

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment 
of temporary or permanent public works, installations, 
facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of 
the Department of Defense (other than the military 
departments), as currently authorized by law, $2,025,444,000, 
to remain available until September 30, 2021:  Provided, That 
such amounts of this appropriation as may be determined by the 
Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such appropriations 
of the Department of Defense available for military 
construction or family housing as the Secretary may designate, 
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes, 
and for the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to 
which transferred:  Provided further, That of the amount 
appropriated, not to exceed $180,775,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, 
as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense 
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such 
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons 
therefor.

               Military Construction, Army National Guard

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, 
and conversion of facilities for the training and 
administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions 
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 
$232,930,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021:  
Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
$8,729,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless 
the Director of the Army National Guard determines that 
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and 
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.

               Military Construction, Air National Guard

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, 
and conversion of facilities for the training and 
administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions 
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 
$143,957,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021:  
Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
$10,462,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless 
the Director of the Air National Guard determines that 
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and 
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.

                  Military Construction, Army Reserve

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, 
and conversion of facilities for the training and 
administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 
1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction 
Authorization Acts, $68,230,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2021:  Provided, That, of the amount 
appropriated, not to exceed $7,500,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, 
as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve 
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such 
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons 
therefor.

                  Military Construction, Navy Reserve

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, 
and conversion of facilities for the training and 
administration of the reserve components of the Navy and Marine 
Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States 
Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 
$38,597,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021:  
Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
$3,783,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless 
the Secretary of the Navy determines that additional 
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the 
determination and the reasons therefor.

                Military Construction, Air Force Reserve

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, 
and conversion of facilities for the training and 
administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by 
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military 
Construction Authorization Acts, $188,950,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2021:  Provided, That, of the 
amount appropriated, not to exceed $4,500,000 shall be 
available for study, planning, design, and architect and 
engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of 
the Air Force Reserve determines that additional obligations 
are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination 
and the reasons therefor.

                   North Atlantic Treaty Organization

                      Security Investment Program

    For the United States share of the cost of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for 
the acquisition and construction of military facilities and 
installations (including international military headquarters) 
and for related expenses for the collective defense of the 
North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by section 2806 of 
title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction 
Authorization Acts, $177,932,000, to remain available until 
expended.

               Department of Defense Base Closure Account

    For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure 
Account, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), 
$240,237,000, to remain available until expended.

                   Family Housing Construction, Army

    For expenses of family housing for the Army for 
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, 
expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 
$157,172,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021.

             Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army

    For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation 
and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor 
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance 
premiums, as authorized by law, $325,995,000.

           Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

    For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine 
Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement, 
addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized 
by law, $94,011,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2021.

    Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps

    For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine 
Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, 
leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, 
and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $300,915,000.

                 Family Housing Construction, Air Force

    For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, 
expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 
$61,352,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021.

          Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

    For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, 
minor construction, principal and interest charges, and 
insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $274,429,000.

         Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide

    For expenses of family housing for the activities and 
agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military 
departments) for operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor 
construction, as authorized by law, $59,157,000.

         Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund

    For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement 
Fund, $3,258,000, to remain available until expended, for 
family housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 
of title 10, United States Code, providing alternative means of 
acquiring and improving military family housing and supporting 
facilities.

                       Administrative Provisions

    Sec. 101.  None of the funds made available in this title 
shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee 
contract for construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, 
to be performed within the United States, except Alaska, 
without the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of 
Defense setting forth the reasons therefor.
    Sec. 102.  Funds made available in this title for 
construction shall be available for hire of passenger motor 
vehicles.
    Sec. 103.  Funds made available in this title for 
construction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, for the 
construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of 
title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized therein 
are certified as important to the national defense by the 
Secretary of Defense.
    Sec. 104.  None of the funds made available in this title 
may be used to begin construction of new bases in the United 
States for which specific appropriations have not been made.
    Sec. 105.  None of the funds made available in this title 
shall be used for purchase of land or land easements in excess 
of 100 percent of the value as determined by the Army Corps of 
Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except: 
(1) where there is a determination of value by a Federal court; 
(2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or the 
designee of the Attorney General; (3) where the estimated value 
is less than $25,000; or (4) as otherwise determined by the 
Secretary of Defense to be in the public interest.
    Sec. 106.  None of the funds made available in this title 
shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site 
preparation; or (3) install utilities for any family housing, 
except housing for which funds have been made available in 
annual Acts making appropriations for military construction.
    Sec. 107.  None of the funds made available in this title 
for minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate any 
activity from one base or installation to another, without 
prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 108.  None of the funds made available in this title 
may be used for the procurement of steel for any construction 
project or activity for which American steel producers, 
fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the opportunity 
to compete for such steel procurement.
    Sec. 109.  None of the funds available to the Department of 
Defense for military construction or family housing during the 
current fiscal year may be used to pay real property taxes in 
any foreign nation.
    Sec. 110.  None of the funds made available in this title 
may be used to initiate a new installation overseas without 
prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 111.  None of the funds made available in this title 
may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated 
by the Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be 
accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization member country, or in countries bordering the 
Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded to United 
States firms or United States firms in joint venture with host 
nation firms.
    Sec. 112.  None of the funds made available in this title 
for military construction in the United States territories and 
possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in 
countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be used to award any 
contract estimated by the Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a 
foreign contractor:  Provided, That this section shall not be 
applicable to contract awards for which the lowest responsive 
and responsible bid of a United States contractor exceeds the 
lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor 
by greater than 20 percent:  Provided further, That this 
section shall not apply to contract awards for military 
construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive 
and responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor.
    Sec. 113.  The Secretary of Defense shall inform the 
appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, including 
the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and scope of any 
proposed military exercise involving United States personnel 30 
days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for 
construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated to 
exceed $100,000.
    Sec. 114.  Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense 
for construction in prior years shall be available for 
construction authorized for each such military department by 
the authorizations enacted into law during the current session 
of Congress.
    Sec. 115.  For military construction or family housing 
projects that are being completed with funds otherwise expired 
or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used 
to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspection, 
overhead, engineering and design on those projects and on 
subsequent claims, if any.
    Sec. 116.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
funds made available to a military department or defense agency 
for the construction of military projects may be obligated for 
a military construction project or contract, or for any portion 
of such a project or contract, at any time before the end of 
the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal year for which funds 
for such project were made available, if the funds obligated 
for such project: (1) are obligated from funds available for 
military construction projects; and (2) do not exceed the 
amount appropriated for such project, plus any amount by which 
the cost of such project is increased pursuant to law.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 117.  Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14 
days for a notification provided in an electronic medium 
pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States 
Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress, such additional amounts as may be determined by the 
Secretary of Defense may be transferred to: (1) the Department 
of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund from amounts 
appropriated for construction in ``Family Housing'' accounts, 
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes and 
for the same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to 
the Fund; or (2) the Department of Defense Military 
Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from amounts 
appropriated for construction of military unaccompanied housing 
in ``Military Construction'' accounts, to be merged with and to 
be available for the same purposes and for the same period of 
time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund:  Provided, 
That appropriations made available to the Funds shall be 
available to cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan 
guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to the 
provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United 
States Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and 
improving military family housing, military unaccompanied 
housing, and supporting facilities.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 118.  In addition to any other transfer authority 
available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be 
transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 
to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration 
Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
3374) to pay for expenses associated with the Homeowners 
Assistance Program incurred under 42 U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any 
amounts transferred shall be merged with and be available for 
the same purposes and for the same time period as the fund to 
which transferred.
    Sec. 119.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
funds made available in this title for operation and 
maintenance of family housing shall be the exclusive source of 
funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, 
including general or flag officer quarters:  Provided, That not 
more than $35,000 per unit may be spent annually for the 
maintenance and repair of any general or flag officer quarters 
without 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a 
notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to 
sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, except 
that an after-the-fact notification shall be submitted if the 
limitation is exceeded solely due to costs associated with 
environmental remediation that could not be reasonably 
anticipated at the time of the budget submission:  Provided 
further,  That the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is 
to report annually to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance expenditures 
for each individual general or flag officer quarters for the 
prior fiscal year.
    Sec. 120.  Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement 
Account established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of title 
10, United States Code, are appropriated and shall be available 
until expended for the purposes specified in subsection (i)(1) 
of such section or until transferred pursuant to subsection 
(i)(3) of such section.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 121.  During the 5-year period after appropriations 
available in this Act to the Department of Defense for military 
construction and family housing operation and maintenance and 
construction have expired for obligation, upon a determination 
that such appropriations will not be necessary for the 
liquidation of obligations or for making authorized adjustments 
to such appropriations for obligations incurred during the 
period of availability of such appropriations, unobligated 
balances of such appropriations may be transferred into the 
appropriation ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, 
Defense'', to be merged with and to be available for the same 
time period and for the same purposes as the appropriation to 
which transferred.
    Sec. 122. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none of 
the funds made available in this Act may be used by the 
Secretary of the Army to relocate a unit in the Army that--
            (1) performs a testing mission or function that is 
        not performed by any other unit in the Army and is 
        specifically stipulated in title 10, United States 
        Code; and
            (2) is located at a military installation at which 
        the total number of civilian employees of the 
        Department of the Army and Army contractor personnel 
        employed exceeds 10 percent of the total number of 
        members of the regular and reserve components of the 
        Army assigned to the installation.
    (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if the 
Secretary of the Army certifies to the congressional defense 
committees that in proposing the relocation of the unit of the 
Army, the Secretary complied with Army Regulation 5-10 relating 
to the policy, procedures, and responsibilities for Army 
stationing actions.
    Sec. 123.  Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
in an account funded under the headings in this title may be 
transferred among projects and activities within the account in 
accordance with the reprogramming guidelines for military 
construction and family housing construction contained in 
Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation 7000.14-
R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, of March 2011, as in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act.
    Sec. 124.  None of the funds made available in this title 
may be obligated or expended for planning and design and 
construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery.
    Sec. 125.  For an additional amount for the accounts and in 
the amounts specified, to remain available until September 30, 
2021:
            ``Military Construction, Army'', $40,500,000;
            ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', 
        $227,099,000;
            ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $149,500,000;
            ``Military Construction, Army National Guard'', 
        $67,500,000;
            ``Military Construction, Air National Guard'', 
        $11,000,000;
            ``Military Construction, Army Reserve'', 
        $30,000,000:
  Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects identified in the respective military 
department's unfunded priority list for fiscal year 2017 
submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense:  Provided 
further, That such projects are subject to authorization prior 
to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out 
construction:  Provided further, That not later than 30 days 
after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military 
department concerned, or his or her designee, shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an 
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
    Sec. 126.  For an additional amount for ``Military 
Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $89,400,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2021:  Provided, That, such funds 
may only be obligated to carry out construction projects 
identified by the Department of the Navy in its June 8, 2016, 
unfunded priority list submission to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress detailing unfunded 
reprogramming and emergency construction requirements:  
Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy, or his or her designee, 
shall submit to the Committees an expenditure plan for funds 
provided under this section.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 127.  Of the unobligated balances available to the 
Department of Defense from prior appropriation Acts, the 
following funds are hereby rescinded from the following 
accounts in the amounts specified:
            ``Military Construction, Army'', $29,602,000;
            ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $51,460,000;
            ``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', 
        $171,600,000, of which $30,000,000 are to be derived 
        from amounts made available for Missile Defense Agency 
        planning and design; and
            ``North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security 
        Investment Program'', $30,000,000:
  Provided, That no amounts may be rescinded from amounts that 
were designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency 
Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget 
or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
1985, as amended.

                         (rescission of funds)

    Sec. 128.  Of the unobligated balances made available in 
prior appropriation Acts for the fund established in section 
1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan 
Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) (other than 
appropriations designated by law as being for contingency 
operations directly related to the global war on terrorism or 
as an emergency requirement), $25,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
    Sec. 129.  For the purposes of this Act, the term 
``congressional defense committees'' means the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, 
the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the 
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs of 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives.
    Sec. 130.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
be used to carry out the closure or realignment of the United 
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    Sec. 131.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this 
or any other Act may be used to consolidate or relocate any 
element of a United States Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable 
Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) outside 
of the United States until the Secretary of the Air Force (1) 
completes an analysis and comparison of the cost and 
infrastructure investment required to consolidate or relocate a 
RED HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within 
the United States; (2) provides to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress (``the Committees'') 
a report detailing the findings of the cost analysis; and (3) 
certifies in writing to the Committees that the preferred site 
for the consolidation or relocation yields the greatest savings 
for the Air Force:  Provided, That the term ``United States'' 
in this section does not include any territory or possession of 
the United States.

                                TITLE II

                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                    Veterans Benefits Administration

                       compensation and pensions

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of 
veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as 
authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, 
and 61 of title 38, United States Code; pension benefits to or 
on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, 
and 61 of title 38, United States Code; and burial benefits, 
the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors, emergency and 
other officers' retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and 
certificates, payment of premiums due on commercial life 
insurance policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV 
of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et 
seq.) and for other benefits as authorized by sections 107, 
1312, 1977, and 2106, and chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of 
title 38, United States Code, $90,119,449,000, to remain 
available until expended and to become available on October 1, 
2017:  Provided, That not to exceed $17,224,000 of the amount 
made available for fiscal year 2018 under this heading shall be 
reimbursed to ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
Administration'', and ``Information Technology Systems'' for 
necessary expenses in implementing the provisions of chapters 
51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States Code, the funding 
source for which is specifically provided as the ``Compensation 
and Pensions'' appropriation:  Provided further, That such sums 
as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall 
be reimbursed to ``Medical Care Collections Fund'' to augment 
the funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home 
care provided to pensioners as authorized.

                         readjustment benefits

    For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits 
to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 21, 30, 
31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, 
United States Code, $13,708,648,000, to remain available until 
expended and to become available on October 1, 2017:  Provided, 
That expenses for rehabilitation program services and 
assistance which the Secretary is authorized to provide under 
subsection (a) of section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, 
other than under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that 
subsection, shall be charged to this account.

                   veterans insurance and indemnities

    For military and naval insurance, national service life 
insurance, servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans 
insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized 
by chapters 19 and 21, title 38, United States Code, 
$124,504,000, to remain available until expended, of which 
$107,899,000 shall become available on October 1, 2017.

                 veterans housing benefit program fund

    For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by 
subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of title 38, United 
States Code:  Provided, That such costs, including the cost of 
modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:  Provided further, That, 
during fiscal year 2017, within the resources available, not to 
exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans are 
authorized for specially adapted housing loans.
    In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $198,856,000.

            vocational rehabilitation loans program account

    For the cost of direct loans, $36,000, as authorized by 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code:  Provided, That 
such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall 
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974:  Provided further, That funds made available under this 
heading are available to subsidize gross obligations for the 
principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $2,517,000.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the direct loan program, $389,000, which may be paid to the 
appropriation for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans 
Benefits Administration''.

          native american veteran housing loan program account

    For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan 
program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, 
United States Code, $1,163,000.

      general operating expenses, veterans benefits administration

    For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of 
passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General Services 
Administration for security guard services, and reimbursement 
of the Department of Defense for the cost of overseas employee 
mail, $2,856,160,000:  Provided, That expenses for services and 
assistance authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) 
of section 3104(a) of title 38, United States Code, that the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are necessary to 
enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum extent feasible, 
to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable 
employment; or (2) to achieve maximum independence in daily 
living, shall be charged to this account:  Provided further, 
That, of the funds made available under this heading, not to 
exceed 5 percent shall remain available until September 30, 
2018.

                     Veterans Health Administration

                            medical services

    For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by 
law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to 
beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
veterans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not 
under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including medical 
supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food services, 
and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees hired under 
title 38, United States Code, aid to State homes as authorized 
by section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, assistance and 
support services for caregivers as authorized by section 1720G 
of title 38, United States Code, loan repayments authorized by 
section 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 
U.S.C. 7681 note), and hospital care and medical services 
authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States Code; 
$1,078,993,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously 
appropriated under this heading that become available on 
October 1, 2016; and, in addition, $44,886,554,000, plus 
reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2017, and 
shall remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, 
That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2017, under 
this heading, $1,400,000,000 shall remain available until 
September 30, 2019:  Provided further, That, notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish a priority for the provision of medical 
treatment for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, 
lower income, or have special needs:  Provided further, That, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provision 
of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment priority 
groups 1 through 6:  Provided further, That, notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs from 
Veterans Health Administration facilities to enrolled veterans 
with privately written prescriptions based on requirements 
established by the Secretary:  Provided further, That the 
implementation of the program described in the previous proviso 
shall incur no additional cost to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs:  Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under 
this heading for medical supplies and equipment are available 
for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically for 
female veterans:  Provided further, That the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall provide access to therapeutic listening 
devices to veterans struggling with mental health related 
problems, substance abuse, or traumatic brain injury.

                         medical community care

    For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to 
individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
Code, at non-Department facilities, $7,246,181,000, plus 
reimbursements, of which $2,000,000,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2020; and, in addition, $9,409,118,000 
shall become available on October 1, 2017, and shall remain 
available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That of the 
amount made available on October 1, 2017, $1,500,000,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2021.

                     medical support and compliance

    For necessary expenses in the administration of the 
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; 
administrative expenses in support of capital policy 
activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the 
Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the 
Department as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 
U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $6,654,480,000, plus reimbursements, 
shall become available on October 1, 2017, and shall remain 
available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That, of the 
amount made available on October 1, 2017, under this heading, 
$100,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2019.

                           medical facilities

    For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of 
hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other 
necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for 
administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project 
management, real property acquisition and disposition, 
construction, and renovation of any facility under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; for oversight, 
engineering, and architectural activities not charged to 
project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, or providing 
facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the 
jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise provided for, 
either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees and 
purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for 
laundry services; $247,668,000, which shall be in addition to 
funds previously appropriated under this heading that become 
available on October 1, 2016; and, in addition, $5,434,880,000, 
plus reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2017, 
and shall remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, 
That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2017, under 
this heading, $250,000,000 shall remain available until 
September 30, 2019.

                    medical and prosthetic research

    For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical 
and prosthetic research and development as authorized by 
chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, $675,366,000, plus 
reimbursements, shall remain available until September 30, 
2018:  Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading 
are available for prosthetic research specifically for female 
veterans, and for toxic exposure research.

                    National Cemetery Administration

    For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery 
Administration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise 
provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor; 
cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of one 
passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial operations; hire 
of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or 
improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the 
National Cemetery Administration, $286,193,000, of which not to 
exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 
2018.

                      Departmental Administration

                         general administration

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For necessary operating expenses of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including 
administrative expenses in support of Department-wide capital 
planning, management and policy activities, uniforms, or 
allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official 
reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger motor 
vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services 
Administration for security guard services, $345,391,000, of 
which not to exceed 5 percent shall remain available until 
September 30, 2018:  Provided, That funds provided under this 
heading may be transferred to ``General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration''.

                       board of veterans appeals

    For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans 
Appeals, $156,096,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall 
remain available until September 30, 2018.

                     information technology systems

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For necessary expenses for information technology systems 
and telecommunications support, including developmental 
information systems and operational information systems; for 
pay and associated costs; and for the capital asset acquisition 
of information technology systems, including management and 
related contractual costs of said acquisitions, including 
contractual costs associated with operations authorized by 
section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, $4,278,259,000, 
plus reimbursements:  Provided, That $1,272,548,000 shall be 
for pay and associated costs, of which not to exceed 
$37,100,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2018:  
Provided further, That $2,534,442,000 shall be for operations 
and maintenance, of which not to exceed $180,200,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided further, 
That $471,269,000 shall be for information technology systems 
development, modernization, and enhancement, and shall remain 
available until September 30, 2018:  Provided further, That 
amounts made available for information technology systems 
development, modernization, and enhancement may not be 
obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
or the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress a certification of the amounts, in parts or 
in full, to be obligated and expended for each development 
project:  Provided further, That amounts made available for 
salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, and 
information technology systems development, modernization, and 
enhancement may be transferred among the three subaccounts 
after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests from the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the 
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued:  
Provided further, That amounts made available for the 
``Information Technology Systems'' account for development, 
modernization, and enhancement may be transferred among 
projects or to newly defined projects:  Provided further, That 
no project may be increased or decreased by more than 
$1,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to make 
the transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a 
period of 30 days has elapsed:  Provided further, That funds 
under this heading may be used by the Interagency Program 
Office through the Department of Veterans Affairs to define 
data standards, code sets, and value sets used to enable 
interoperability:  Provided further, That of the funds made 
available for information technology systems development, 
modernization, and enhancement for VistA Evolution or any 
successor program, not more than 25 percent may be obligated or 
expended until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
            (1) submits to the Committees on Appropriations of 
        both Houses of Congress the VistA Evolution Business 
        Case and supporting documents regarding continuation of 
        VistA Evolution or alternatives to VistA Evolution, 
        including an analysis of necessary or desired 
        capabilities, technical and security requirements, the 
        plan for modernizing the platform framework, and all 
        associated costs;
            (2) submits to the Committees on Appropriations of 
        both Houses of Congress, and such Committees approve, 
        the following: a report that describes a strategic plan 
        for VistA Evolution, or any successor program, and the 
        associated implementation plan including metrics and 
        timelines; a master schedule and lifecycle cost 
        estimate for VistA Evolution or any successor; and an 
        implementation plan for the transition from the Project 
        Management Accountability System to a new project 
        delivery framework, the Veteran-focused Integration 
        Process, that includes the methodology by which 
        projects will be tracked, progress measured, and 
        deliverables evaluated;
            (3) submits to the Committees on Appropriations of 
        both Houses of Congress a report outlining the 
        strategic plan to reach interoperability with private 
        sector healthcare providers, the timeline for reaching 
        ``meaningful use'' as defined by the Office of National 
        Coordinator for Health Information Technology for each 
        data domain covered under the VistA Evolution program, 
        and the extent to which the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs leverages the State Health Information 
        Exchanges to share health data with private sector 
        providers;
            (4) submits to the Committees on Appropriations of 
        both Houses of Congress, and such Committees approve, 
        the following: a report that describes the extent to 
        which VistA Evolution, or any successor program, 
        maximizes the use of commercially available software 
        used by DoD and the private sector, requires an open 
        architecture that leverages best practices and rapidly 
        adapts to technologies produced by the private sector, 
        enhances full interoperability between the VA and DoD 
        and between VA and the private sector, and ensures the 
        security of personally identifiable information of 
        veterans and beneficiaries; and
            (5) certifies in writing to the Committees on 
        Appropriations of both Houses of Congress that the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs has met the requirements 
        contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 
        Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66) which require that 
        electronic health record systems of the Department of 
        Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have 
        reached interoperability, comply with national 
        standards and architectural requirements identified by 
        the DoD/VA Interagency Program Office in collaboration 
        with the Office of National Coordinator for Health 
        Information Technology:
  Provided further, That the funds made available under this 
heading for information technology systems development, 
modernization, and enhancement, shall be for the projects, and 
in the amounts, specified under this heading in the joint 
explanatory statement accompanying this Act.

                      office of inspector general

    For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, 
to include information technology, in carrying out the 
provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App.), $160,106,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall 
remain available until September 30, 2018.

                      construction, major projects

    For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of 
the facilities, including parking projects, under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 
2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, not 
otherwise provided for, including planning, architectural and 
engineering services, construction management services, 
maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated with 
equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of 
claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system 
construction costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated 
cost of a project is more than the amount set forth in section 
8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, or where funds 
for a project were made available in a previous major project 
appropriation, $528,110,000, of which $478,110,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2021, and of which $50,000,000 
shall remain available until expended:  Provided, That except 
for advance planning activities, including needs assessments 
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other 
capital asset management related activities, including 
portfolio development and management activities, and investment 
strategy studies funded through the advance planning fund and 
the planning and design activities funded through the design 
fund, including needs assessments which may or may not lead to 
capital investments, and salaries and associated costs of the 
resident engineers who oversee those capital investments funded 
through this account and contracting officers who manage 
specific major construction projects, and funds provided for 
the purchase, security, and maintenance of land for the 
National Cemetery Administration through the land acquisition 
line item, none of the funds made available under this heading 
shall be used for any project that has not been notified to 
Congress through the budgetary process or that has not been 
approved by the Congress through statute, joint resolution, or 
in the explanatory statement accompanying such Act and 
presented to the President at the time of enrollment:  Provided 
further, That funds made available under this heading for 
fiscal year 2017, for each approved project shall be obligated: 
(1) by the awarding of a construction documents contract by 
September 30, 2017; and (2) by the awarding of a construction 
contract by September 30, 2018:  Provided further, That the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 
written report on any approved major construction project for 
which obligations are not incurred within the time limitations 
established above:  Provided further, That, of the amount made 
available under this heading, $222,620,000 for Veterans Health 
Administration major construction projects shall not be 
available until the Department of Veterans Affairs--
            (1) enters into an agreement with an appropriate 
        non-Department of Veterans Affairs Federal entity to 
        serve as the design and/or construction agent for any 
        Veterans Health Administration major construction 
        project with a Total Estimated Cost of $100,000,000 or 
        above by providing full project management services, 
        including management of the project design, 
        acquisition, construction, and contract changes, 
        consistent with section 502 of Public Law 114-58; and
            (2) certifies in writing that such an agreement is 
        executed and intended to minimize or prevent subsequent 
        major construction project cost overruns and provides a 
        copy of the agreement entered into and any required 
        supplementary information to the Committees on 
        Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                      construction, minor projects

    For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of 
the facilities, including parking projects, under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs which may 
lead to capital investments, architectural and engineering 
services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs 
associated with equipment guarantees provided under the 
project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm 
drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, or 
for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 
and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, not otherwise 
provided for, where the estimated cost of a project is equal to 
or less than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of 
title 38, United States Code, $372,069,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2021, along with unobligated balances of 
previous ``Construction, Minor Projects'' appropriations which 
are hereby made available for any project where the estimated 
cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth in such 
section:  Provided, That funds made available under this 
heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the nonmedical 
facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the 
Department which are necessary because of loss or damage caused 
by any natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2) temporary 
measures necessary to prevent or to minimize further loss by 
such causes.

       grants for construction of state extended care facilities

    For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State 
nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel, modify, 
or alter existing hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary 
facilities in State homes, for furnishing care to veterans as 
authorized by sections 8131 through 8137 of title 38, United 
States Code, $90,000,000, to remain available until expended.

             grants for construction of veterans cemeteries

    For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in 
establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as 
authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, 
$45,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                       Administrative Provisions

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 201.  Any appropriation for fiscal year 2017 for 
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and 
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' may be transferred as 
necessary to any other of the mentioned appropriations:  
Provided, That, before a transfer may take place, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 
the transfer and such Committees issue an approval, or absent a 
response, a period of 30 days has elapsed.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 202.  Amounts made available for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017, in this or any other 
Act, under the ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community 
Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical 
Facilities'' accounts may be transferred among the accounts:  
Provided, That any transfers among the ``Medical Services'', 
``Medical Community Care'', and ``Medical Support and 
Compliance'' accounts of 1 percent or less of the total amount 
appropriated to the account in this or any other Act may take 
place subject to notification from the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the amount and purpose of the transfer:  Provided 
further, That any transfers among the ``Medical Services'', 
``Medical Community Care'', and ``Medical Support and 
Compliance'' accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the 
cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may take place only 
after the Secretary requests from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 
the transfer and an approval is issued:  Provided further, That 
any transfers to or from the ``Medical Facilities'' account may 
take place only after the Secretary requests from the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the 
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
    Sec. 203.  Appropriations available in this title for 
salaries and expenses shall be available for services 
authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire 
of passenger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land or 
both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized by 
sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States Code.
    Sec. 204.  No appropriations in this title (except the 
appropriations for ``Construction, Major Projects'', and 
``Construction, Minor Projects'') shall be available for the 
purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new 
hospital or home.
    Sec. 205.  No appropriations in this title shall be 
available for hospitalization or examination of any persons 
(except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or 
examination under the laws providing such benefits to veterans, 
and persons receiving such treatment under sections 7901 
through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, or the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of the cost of such 
hospitalization or examination is made to the ``Medical 
Services'' account at such rates as may be fixed by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    Sec. 206.  Appropriations available in this title for 
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and 
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' shall be available for 
payment of prior year accrued obligations required to be 
recorded by law against the corresponding prior year accounts 
within the last quarter of fiscal year 2016.
    Sec. 207.  Appropriations available in this title shall be 
available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior 
year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 
3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, except that 
if such obligations are from trust fund accounts they shall be 
payable only from ``Compensation and Pensions''.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 208.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
during fiscal year 2017, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall, from the National Service Life Insurance Fund under 
section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, the Veterans' 
Special Life Insurance Fund under section 1923 of title 38, 
United States Code, and the United States Government Life 
Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United States 
Code, reimburse the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans 
Benefits Administration'' and ``Information Technology 
Systems'' accounts for the cost of administration of the 
insurance programs financed through those accounts:  Provided, 
That reimbursement shall be made only from the surplus earnings 
accumulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 
2017 that are available for dividends in that program after 
claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves have 
been set aside:  Provided further, That if the cost of 
administration of such an insurance program exceeds the amount 
of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement 
shall be made only to the extent of such surplus earnings:  
Provided further, That the Secretary shall determine the cost 
of administration for fiscal year 2017 which is properly 
allocable to the provision of each such insurance program and 
to the provision of any total disability income insurance 
included in that insurance program.
    Sec. 209.  Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease 
proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that 
account during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use 
lease services, may be obligated during the fiscal year in 
which the proceeds are received.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 210.  Funds available in this title or funds for 
salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be 
available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Employment 
Discrimination Complaint Adjudication under section 319 of 
title 38, United States Code, for all services provided at 
rates which will recover actual costs but not to exceed 
$47,668,000 for the Office of Resolution Management and 
$3,932,000 for the Office of Employment Discrimination 
Complaint Adjudication:  Provided, That payments may be made in 
advance for services to be furnished based on estimated costs:  
Provided further, That amounts received shall be credited to 
the ``General Administration'' and ``Information Technology 
Systems'' accounts for use by the office that provided the 
service.
    Sec. 211.  No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or 
medical services provided to any person under chapter 17 of 
title 38, United States Code, for a non-service-connected 
disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of such title, 
unless that person has disclosed to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may require, current, 
accurate third-party reimbursement information for purposes of 
section 1729 of such title:  Provided, That the Secretary may 
recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the United 
States, the reasonable charges for such care or services from 
any person who does not make such disclosure as required:  
Provided further, That any amounts so recovered for care or 
services provided in a prior fiscal year may be obligated by 
the Secretary during the fiscal year in which amounts are 
received.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 212.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing 
activities (including disposal) may be deposited into the 
``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor 
Projects'' accounts and be used for construction (including 
site acquisition and disposition), alterations, and 
improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or 
for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums as 
realized are in addition to the amount provided for in 
``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor 
Projects''.
    Sec. 213.  Amounts made available under ``Medical 
Services'' are available--
            (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, 
        supplies, and equipment; and
            (2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and 
        other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 
        beneficiaries receiving care in the Department.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 214.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical 
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, 
United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Medical 
Services'' and ``Medical Community Care'' accounts to remain 
available until expended for the purposes of these accounts.
    Sec. 215.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 
agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in the State 
of Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are 
party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian 
Health Service, to provide healthcare, including behavioral 
health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. The 
Secretary shall require participating veterans and facilities 
to comply with all appropriate rules and regulations, as 
established by the Secretary. The term ``rural Alaska'' shall 
mean those lands which are not within the boundaries of the 
municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 216.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 
of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the 
``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor 
Projects'' accounts, to remain available until expended for the 
purposes of these accounts.

                         (rescission of funds)

    Sec. 217.  Of the amounts appropriated in title II of 
division J of Public Law 114-113 under the heading ``Medical 
Services'' which become available on October 1, 2016, 
$7,246,181,000 are hereby rescinded.
    Sec. 218.  Not later than 30 days after the end of each 
fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
a report on the financial status of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for the preceding quarter:  Provided, That, at a 
minimum, the report shall include the direction contained in 
the paragraph entitled ``Quarterly reporting'', under the 
heading ``General Administration'' in the joint explanatory 
statement accompanying this Act.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 219.  Amounts made available under the ``Medical 
Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and 
Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``General Operating 
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', ``General 
Administration'', and ``National Cemetery Administration'' 
accounts for fiscal year 2017 may be transferred to or from the 
``Information Technology Systems'' account:  Provided, That 
such transfers may not result in a more than 10 percent 
aggregate increase in the total amount made available by this 
Act for the ``Information Technology Systems'' account:  
Provided further, That, before a transfer may take place, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 
make the transfer and an approval is issued.
    Sec. 220.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act or any other Act for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner that is inconsistent 
with: (1) section 842 of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing 
and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, 
and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 
109-115; 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 
38, United States Code.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 221.  Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017 for ``Medical Services'', 
``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', 
``Medical Facilities'', ``Construction, Minor Projects'', and 
``Information Technology Systems'', up to $274,731,000, plus 
reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint Department of 
Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 
Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-
84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of the 
facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as 
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 
Stat. 4500):  Provided, That additional funds may be 
transferred from accounts designated in this section to the 
Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress:  Provided further, 
That section 223 of title II of division J of Public Law 114-
113 is repealed.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 222.  Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2017, for 
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical 
Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'', up to 
$280,802,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the 
Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for 
operation of the facilities designated as combined Federal 
medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan 
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 
(Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500):  Provided, That 
additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in 
this section to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon 
written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 223.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical 
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, 
United States Code, for healthcare provided at facilities 
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described 
by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 
Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for transfer to the 
Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for 
operations of the facilities designated as combined Federal 
medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan 
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 
(Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500).

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 224.  Of the amounts available in this title for 
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical 
Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'', a minimum 
of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care 
Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d) of 
title 38, United States Code, to remain available until 
expended, for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 
38, United States Code.
    Sec. 225.  None of the funds available to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may be used to 
replace the current system by which the Veterans Integrated 
Service Networks select and contract for diabetes monitoring 
supplies and equipment.
    Sec. 226.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of 
all bid savings in a major construction project that total at 
least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of the 
project, whichever is less:  Provided, That such notification 
shall occur within 14 days of a contract identifying the 
programmed amount:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress 14 days prior to the obligation of such bid savings 
and shall describe the anticipated use of such savings.
    Sec. 227.  None of the funds made available for 
``Construction, Major Projects'' may be used for a project in 
excess of the scope specified for that project in the original 
justification data provided to the Congress as part of the 
request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs receives approval from the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 228.  Not later than 30 days after the end of each 
fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
a quarterly report containing performance measures and data 
from each Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office:  
Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include the 
direction contained in the section entitled ``Disability claims 
backlog'', under the heading ``General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration'' in the joint explanatory 
statement accompanying this Act.
    Sec. 229.  Of the funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017 for ``Medical Support and 
Compliance'' a maximum of $40,000,000 may be obligated from the 
``Medical Support and Compliance'' account for the VistA 
Evolution and electronic health record interoperability 
projects:  Provided, That funds in addition to these amounts 
may be obligated for the VistA Evolution and electronic health 
record interoperability projects upon written notification by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 230.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide 
written notification to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes 
which result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time 
equivalents from one organizational unit of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to another.
    Sec. 231.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide 
on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress notification of any single national 
outreach and awareness marketing campaign in which obligations 
exceed $2,000,000.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 232.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon 
determination that such action is necessary to address needs of 
the Veterans Health Administration, may transfer to the 
``Medical Services'' account any discretionary appropriations 
made available for fiscal year 2017 in this title (except 
appropriations made to the ``General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration'' account) or any 
discretionary unobligated balances within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, including those appropriated for fiscal year 
2017, that were provided in advance by appropriations Acts:  
Provided, That transfers shall be made only with the approval 
of the Office of Management and Budget:  Provided further, That 
the transfer authority provided in this section is in addition 
to any other transfer authority provided by law:  Provided 
further, That no amounts may be transferred from amounts that 
were designated by Congress as an emergency requirement 
pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985:  
Provided further, That such authority to transfer may not be 
used unless for higher priority items, based on emergent 
healthcare requirements, than those for which originally 
appropriated and in no case where the item for which funds are 
requested has been denied by Congress:  Provided further, That, 
upon determination that all or part of the funds transferred 
from an appropriation are not necessary, such amounts may be 
transferred back to that appropriation and shall be available 
for the same purposes as originally appropriated:  Provided 
further, That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 
the transfer and receive approval of that request.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 233.  Amounts made available for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017, under the ``Board of 
Veterans Appeals'' and the ``General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration'' accounts may be transferred 
between such accounts:  Provided, That before a transfer may 
take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request 
from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress the authority to make the transfer and receive 
approval of that request.
    Sec. 234.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 
reprogram funds among major construction projects or programs 
if such instance of reprogramming will exceed $5,000,000, 
unless such reprogramming is approved by the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                         (rescission of funds)

    Sec. 235.  Of the unobligated balances available within the 
``DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund'', $40,000,000 are 
hereby rescinded.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 236.  Of the discretionary funds made available in 
Public Law 114-113 for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
fiscal year 2017, $134,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical 
Services'', $26,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical Support 
and Compliance'', and $9,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical 
Facilities''.
    Sec. 237.  The amounts otherwise made available by this Act 
for the following accounts of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs are hereby reduced by the following amounts:
            (1) ``Veterans Health Administration--Medical and 
        Prosthetic Research'', $2,000,000.
            (2) ``Departmental Administration--Board of 
        Veterans Appeals'', $500,000.
            (3) ``Veterans Benefits Administration--General 
        Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', 
        $12,000,000.
            (4) ``Departmental Administration--Information 
        Technology Systems'', $8,000,000.
            (5) ``Departmental Administration--Office of 
        Inspector General'', $500,000.
    Sec. 238.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure 
that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 1720F(h) of 
title 38, United States Code--
            (1) provides to individuals who contact the hotline 
        immediate assistance from a trained professional; and
            (2) adheres to all requirements of the American 
        Association of Suicidology.
    Sec. 239. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall treat 
a marriage and family therapist described in subsection (b) as 
qualified to serve as a marriage and family therapist in the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless of any requirements 
established by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and 
Family Therapy Education.
    (b) A marriage and family therapist described in this 
subsection is a therapist who meets each of the following 
criteria:
            (1) Has a masters or higher degree in marriage and 
        family therapy, or a related field, from a regionally 
        accredited institution.
            (2) Is licensed as a marriage and family therapist 
        in a State (as defined in section 101(20) of title 38, 
        United States Code) and possesses the highest level of 
        licensure offered from the State.
            (3) Has passed the Association of Marital and 
        Family Therapy Regulatory Board Examination in Marital 
        and Family Therapy or a related examination for 
        licensure administered by a State (as so defined).
    Sec. 240.  None of the funds in this or any other Act may 
be used to close Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, 
domiciliaries, or clinics, conduct an environmental assessment, 
or to diminish healthcare services at existing Veterans Health 
Administration medical facilities located in Veterans 
Integrated Service Network 23 as part of a planned realignment 
of VA services until the Secretary provides to the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report including 
the following elements:
            (1) a national realignment strategy that includes a 
        detailed description of realignment plans within each 
        Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), including 
        an updated Long Range Capital Plan to implement 
        realignment requirements;
            (2) an explanation of the process by which those 
        plans were developed and coordinated within each VISN;
            (3) a cost vs. benefit analysis of each planned 
        realignment, including the cost of replacing Veterans 
        Health Administration services with contract care or 
        other outsourced services;
            (4) an analysis of how any such planned realignment 
        of services will impact access to care for veterans 
        living in rural or highly rural areas, including travel 
        distances and transportation costs to access a VA 
        medical facility and availability of local specialty 
        and primary care;
            (5) an inventory of VA buildings with historic 
        designation and the methodology used to determine the 
        buildings' condition and utilization;
            (6) a description of how any realignment will be 
        consistent with requirements under the National 
        Historic Preservation Act; and
            (7) consideration given for reuse of historic 
        buildings within newly identified realignment 
        requirements:  Provided, That, this provision shall not 
        apply to capital projects in VISN 23, or any other 
        VISN, which have been authorized or approved by 
        Congress.
    Sec. 241.  None of the funds appropriated in this or prior 
appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs may be used to transfer any 
amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to 
any other account within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    Sec. 242.  Paragraph (3) of section 403(a) of the Veterans' 
Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public 
Law 110-387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(3) Duration.--A veteran may receive health 
        services under this section during the period beginning 
        on the date specified in paragraph (2) and ending on 
        September 30, 2017.''.
    Sec. 243. (a) Section 1722A(a) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to opioid 
        antagonists furnished under this chapter to a veteran 
        who is at high risk for overdose of a specific 
        medication or substance in order to reverse the effect 
        of such an overdose.''.
    (b) Section 1710(g)(3) of such title is amended--
            (1) by striking ``with respect to home health 
        services'' and inserting ``with respect to the 
        following:''
                    ``(A) Home health services''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(B) Education on the use of opioid 
                antagonists to reverse the effects of overdoses 
                of specific medications or substances.''.
    Sec. 244.  Section 312 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended in subsection (c)(1) by striking the phrase ``that 
makes a recommendation or otherwise suggests corrective 
action,''.
    Sec. 245.  Of the funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 
2018 for ``Medical Services'', funds may be used in each year 
to carry out and expand the child care program authorized by 
section 205 of Public Law 111-163, notwithstanding subsection 
(e) of such section.
    Sec. 246.  Section 5701(l) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.

                   VA Patient Protection Act of 2016

    Sec. 247. (a) Procedure and Administration.--
    (1) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

               ``SUBCHAPTER II--WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS

``Sec. 731. Whistleblower complaint defined

    ``In this subchapter, the term `whistleblower complaint' 
means a complaint by an employee of the Department disclosing, 
or assisting another employee to disclose, a potential 
violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or gross 
mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or 
substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.

``Sec. 732. Treatment of whistleblower complaints

    ``(a) Filing.--(1) In addition to any other method 
established by law in which an employee may file a 
whistleblower complaint, an employee of the Department may file 
a whistleblower complaint in accordance with subsection (g) 
with a supervisor of the employee.
    ``(2) Except as provided by subsection (d)(1), in making a 
whistleblower complaint under paragraph (1), an employee shall 
file the initial complaint with the immediate supervisor of the 
employee.
    ``(b) Notification.--(1)(A) Not later than four business 
days after the date on which a supervisor receives a 
whistleblower complaint by an employee under this section, the 
supervisor shall notify, in writing, the employee of whether 
the supervisor determines that there is a reasonable likelihood 
that the complaint discloses a violation of any law, rule, or 
regulation, or gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse 
of authority, or substantial and specific danger to public 
health and safety.
    ``(B) The supervisor shall retain written documentation 
regarding the whistleblower complaint and shall submit to the 
next-level supervisor and the central whistleblower office 
described in subsection (h) a written report on the complaint.
    ``(2)(A) On a monthly basis, the supervisor shall submit to 
the appropriate director or other official who is superior to 
the supervisor a written report that includes the number of 
whistleblower complaints received by the supervisor under this 
section during the month covered by the report, the disposition 
of such complaints, and any actions taken because of such 
complaints pursuant to subsection (c).
    ``(B) In the case in which such a director or official 
carries out this paragraph, the director or official shall 
submit such monthly report to the supervisor of the director or 
official and to the central whistleblower office described in 
subsection (h).
    ``(c) Positive Determination.--If a supervisor makes a 
positive determination under subsection (b)(1) regarding a 
whistleblower complaint of an employee, the supervisor shall 
include in the notification to the employee under such 
subsection the specific actions that the supervisor will take 
to address the complaint.
    ``(d) Filing Complaint With Next-Level Supervisors.--(1) If 
any circumstance described in paragraph (3) is met, an employee 
may file a whistleblower complaint in accordance with 
subsection (g) with the next-level supervisor who shall treat 
such complaint in accordance with this section.
    ``(2) An employee may file a whistleblower complaint with 
the Secretary if the employee has filed the whistleblower 
complaint to each level of supervisors between the employee and 
the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (1).
    ``(3) A circumstance described in this paragraph is any of 
the following circumstances:
            ``(A) A supervisor does not make a timely 
        determination under subsection (b)(1) regarding a 
        whistleblower complaint.
            ``(B) The employee who made a whistleblower 
        complaint determines that the supervisor did not 
        adequately address the complaint pursuant to subsection 
        (c).
            ``(C) The immediate supervisor of the employee is 
        the basis of the whistleblower complaint.
    ``(e) Transfer of Employee Who Files Whistleblower 
Complaint.--If a supervisor makes a positive determination 
under subsection (b)(1) regarding a whistleblower complaint 
filed by an employee, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) inform the employee of the ability to 
        volunteer for a transfer in accordance with section 
        3352 of title 5; and
            ``(2) give preference to the employee for such a 
        transfer in accordance with such section.
    ``(f) Prohibition on Exemption.--The Secretary may not 
exempt any employee of the Department from being covered by 
this section.
    ``(g) Whistleblower Complaint Form.--(1) A whistleblower 
complaint filed by an employee under subsection (a) or (d) 
shall consist of the form described in paragraph (2) and any 
supporting materials or documentation the employee determines 
necessary.
    ``(2) The form described in this paragraph is a form 
developed by the Secretary, in consultation with the Special 
Counsel, that includes the following:
            ``(A) An explanation of the purpose of the 
        whistleblower complaint form.
            ``(B) Instructions for filing a whistleblower 
        complaint as described in this section.
            ``(C) An explanation that filing a whistleblower 
        complaint under this section does not preclude the 
        employee from any other method established by law in 
        which an employee may file a whistleblower complaint.
            ``(D) A statement directing the employee to 
        information accessible on the Internet website of the 
        Department as described in section 735(d).
            ``(E) Fields for the employee to provide--
                    ``(i) the date that the form is submitted;
                    ``(ii) the name of the employee;
                    ``(iii) the contact information of the 
                employee;
                    ``(iv) a summary of the whistleblower 
                complaint (including the option to append 
                supporting documents pursuant to paragraph 
                (1)); and
                    ``(v) proposed solutions to the complaint.
            ``(F) Any other information or fields that the 
        Secretary determines appropriate.
    ``(3) The Secretary, in consultation with the Special 
Counsel, shall develop the form described in paragraph (2) by 
not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 
section.
    ``(h) Central Whistleblower Office.--(1) The Secretary 
shall ensure that the central whistleblower office--
            ``(A) is not an element of the Office of the 
        General Counsel;
            ``(B) is not headed by an official who reports to 
        the General Counsel;
            ``(C) does not provide, or receive from, the 
        General Counsel any information regarding a 
        whistleblower complaint except pursuant to an action 
        regarding the complaint before an administrative body 
        or court; and
            ``(D) does not provide advice to the General 
        Counsel.
    ``(2) The central whistleblower office shall be responsible 
for investigating all whistleblower complaints of the 
Department, regardless of whether such complaints are made by 
or against an employee who is not a member of the Senior 
Executive Service.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the central 
whistleblower office maintains a toll-free hotline to 
anonymously receive whistleblower complaints.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall ensure that the central 
whistleblower office has such staff and resources as the 
Secretary considers necessary to carry out the functions of the 
central whistleblower office.
    ``(5) In this subsection, the term `central whistleblower 
office' means the Office of Accountability Review or a 
successor office that is established or designated by the 
Secretary to investigate whistleblower complaints filed under 
this section or any other method established by law.

``Sec. 733. Adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit 
                    prohibited personnel actions relating to 
                    whistleblower complaints

    ``(a) In General.--(1) In accordance with paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall carry out the following adverse actions 
against supervisory employees (as defined in section 7103(a) of 
title 5) whom the Secretary, an administrative judge, the Merit 
Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special Counsel, an 
adjudicating body provided under a union contract, a Federal 
judge, or the Inspector General of the Department determines 
committed a prohibited personnel action described in subsection 
(c):
            ``(A) With respect to the first offense, an adverse 
        action that is not less than a 12-day suspension and 
        not more than removal.
            ``(B) With respect to the second offense, removal.
    ``(2)(A) An employee against whom an adverse action under 
paragraph (1) is proposed is entitled to written notice.
    ``(B)(i) An employee who is notified under subparagraph (A) 
of being the subject of a proposed adverse action under 
paragraph (1) is entitled to 14 days following such 
notification to answer and furnish evidence in support of the 
answer.
    ``(ii) If the employee does not furnish any such evidence 
as described in clause (i) or if the Secretary determines that 
such evidence is not sufficient to reverse the determination to 
propose the adverse action, the Secretary shall carry out the 
adverse action following such 14-day period.
    ``(C) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of section 
7513 of title 5, subsection (c) of such section, paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (b) of section 7543 of such title, and 
subsection (c) of such section shall not apply with respect to 
an adverse action carried out under paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Limitation on Other Adverse Actions.--With respect to 
a prohibited personnel action described in subsection (c), if 
the Secretary carries out an adverse action against a 
supervisory employee, the Secretary may carry out an additional 
adverse action under this section based on the same prohibited 
personnel action if the total severity of the adverse actions 
do not exceed the level specified in subsection (a).
    ``(c) Prohibited Personnel Action Described.--A prohibited 
personnel action described in this subsection is any of the 
following actions:
            ``(1) Taking or failing to take a personnel action 
        in violation of section 2302 of title 5 against an 
        employee relating to the employee--
                    ``(A) filing a whistleblower complaint in 
                accordance with section 732 of this title;
                    ``(B) filing a whistleblower complaint with 
                the Inspector General of the Department, the 
                Special Counsel, or Congress;
                    ``(C) providing information or 
                participating as a witness in an investigation 
                of a whistleblower complaint in accordance with 
                section 732 or with the Inspector General of 
                the Department, the Special Counsel, or 
                Congress;
                    ``(D) participating in an audit or 
                investigation by the Comptroller General of the 
                United States;
                    ``(E) refusing to perform an action that is 
                unlawful or prohibited by the Department; or
                    ``(F) engaging in communications that are 
                related to the duties of the position or are 
                otherwise protected.
            ``(2) Preventing or restricting an employee from 
        making an action described in any of subparagraphs (A) 
        through (F) of paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Conducting a negative peer review or opening 
        a retaliatory investigation because of an activity of 
        an employee that is protected by section 2302 of title 
        5.
            ``(4) Requesting a contractor to carry out an 
        action that is prohibited by section 4705(b) or section 
        4712(a)(1) of title 41, as the case may be.

``Sec. 734. Evaluation criteria of supervisors and treatment of bonuses

    ``(a) Evaluation Criteria.--(1) In evaluating the 
performance of supervisors of the Department, the Secretary 
shall include the criteria described in paragraph (2).
    ``(2) The criteria described in this subsection are the 
following:
            ``(A) Whether the supervisor treats whistleblower 
        complaints in accordance with section 732 of this 
        title.
            ``(B) Whether the appropriate deciding official, 
        performance review board, or performance review 
        committee determines that the supervisor was found to 
        have committed a prohibited personnel action described 
        in section 733(b) of this title by an administrative 
        judge, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office 
        of Special Counsel, an adjudicating body provided under 
        a union contract, a Federal judge, or, in the case of a 
        settlement of a whistleblower complaint (regardless of 
        whether any fault was assigned under such settlement), 
        the Secretary.
    ``(b) Bonuses.--(1) The Secretary may not pay to a 
supervisor described in subsection (a)(2)(B) an award or bonus 
under this title or title 5, including under chapter 45 or 53 
of such title, during the one-year period beginning on the date 
on which the determination was made under such subsection.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary shall issue an order directing a supervisor described 
in subsection (a)(2)(B) to repay the amount of any award or 
bonus paid under this title or title 5, including under chapter 
45 or 53 of such title, if--
            ``(A) such award or bonus was paid for performance 
        during a period in which the supervisor committed a 
        prohibited personnel action as determined pursuant to 
        such subsection (a)(2)(B);
            ``(B) the Secretary determines such repayment 
        appropriate pursuant to regulations prescribed by the 
        Secretary to carry out this section; and
            ``(C) the supervisor is afforded notice and an 
        opportunity for a hearing before making such repayment.

``Sec. 735. Training regarding whistleblower complaints

    ``(a) Training.--Not less frequently than once each year, 
the Secretary, in coordination with the Whistleblower 
Protection Ombudsman designated under section 3(d)(1)(C) of the 
Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), shall provide to 
each employee of the Department training regarding 
whistleblower complaints, including--
            ``(1) an explanation of each method established by 
        law in which an employee may file a whistleblower 
        complaint;
            ``(2) an explanation of prohibited personnel 
        actions described by section 733(c) of this title;
            ``(3) with respect to supervisors, how to treat 
        whistleblower complaints in accordance with section 732 
        of this title;
            ``(4) the right of the employee to petition 
        Congress regarding a whistleblower complaint in 
        accordance with section 7211 of title 5;
            ``(5) an explanation that the employee may not be 
        prosecuted or reprised against for disclosing 
        information to Congress, the Inspector General, or 
        another investigatory agency in instances where such 
        disclosure is permitted by law, including under 
        sections 5701, 5705, and 7732 of this title, under 
        section 552a of title 5 (commonly referred to as the 
        Privacy Act), under chapter 93 of title 18, and 
        pursuant to regulations promulgated under section 
        264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and 
        Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191);
            ``(6) an explanation of the language that is 
        required to be included in all nondisclosure policies, 
        forms, and agreements pursuant to section 115(a)(1) of 
        the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (5 
        U.S.C. 2302 note); and
            ``(7) the right of contractors to be protected from 
        reprisal for the disclosure of certain information 
        under section 4705 or 4712 of title 41.
    ``(b) Manner Training Is Provided.--The Secretary shall 
ensure that training provided under subsection (a) is provided 
in person.
    ``(c) Certification.--Not less frequently than once each 
year, the Secretary shall provide training on merit system 
protection in a manner that the Special Counsel certifies as 
being satisfactory.
    ``(d) Publication.--(1) The Secretary shall publish on the 
Internet website of the Department, and display prominently at 
each facility of the Department, the rights of an employee to 
file a whistleblower complaint, including the information 
described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (a).
    ``(2) The Secretary shall publish on the Internet website 
of the Department, the whistleblower complaint form described 
in section 732(g)(2).

``Sec. 736. Reports to Congress

    ``(a) Annual Reports.--Not less frequently than once each 
year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report that includes--
            ``(1) with respect to whistleblower complaints 
        filed under section 732 of this title during the year 
        covered by the report--
                    ``(A) the number of such complaints filed;
                    ``(B) the disposition of such complaints; 
                and
                    ``(C) the ways in which the Secretary 
                addressed such complaints in which a positive 
                determination was made by a supervisor under 
                subsection (b)(1) of such section;
            ``(2) the number of whistleblower complaints filed 
        during the year covered by the report that are not 
        included under paragraph (1), including--
                    ``(A) the method in which such complaints 
                were filed;
                    ``(B) the disposition of such complaints; 
                and
                    ``(C) the ways in which the Secretary 
                addressed such complaints; and
            ``(3) with respect to disclosures made by a 
        contractor under section 4705 or 4712 of title 41--
                    ``(A) the number of complaints relating to 
                such disclosures that were investigated by the 
                Inspector General of the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs during the year covered by the report;
                    ``(B) the disposition of such complaints; 
                and
                    ``(C) the ways in which the Secretary 
                addressed such complaints.
    ``(b) Notice of Office of Special Counsel Determinations.--
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary 
receives from the Special Counsel information relating to a 
whistleblower complaint pursuant to section 1213 of title 5, 
the Secretary shall notify the appropriate committees of 
Congress of such information, including the determination made 
by the Special Counsel.
    ``(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In this section, 
the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
            ``(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
        of the Senate; and
            ``(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
        Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the 
        House of Representatives.''.
    (2) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--
            (A) Conforming amendment.--Such chapter is further 
        amended by inserting before section 701 the following:

              ``SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL EMPLOYEE MATTERS''.

            (B) Clerical amendments.--The table of sections at 
        the beginning of such chapter is amended--
                    (i) by inserting before the item relating 
                to section 701 the following new item:

               ``subchapter i--general employee matters'';

                and
                    (ii) by adding at the end the following new 
                items:

                ``subchapter ii--whistleblower complaints

``731. Whistleblower complaint defined.
``732. Treatment of whistleblower complaints.
``733. Adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit 
          prohibited personnel actions relating to whistleblower 
          complaints.
``734. Evaluation criteria of supervisors and treatment of bonuses.
``735. Training regarding whistleblower complaints.
``736. Reports to Congress.''.

    (b) Treatment of Congressional Testimony by Department of 
Veterans Affairs Employees as Official Duty.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 7 of title 
        38, United States Code, as designated by section 
        2(a)(2)(A), is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:

``Sec. 715. Congressional testimony by employees: treatment as official 
                    duty

    ``(a) Congressional Testimony.--An employee of the 
Department is performing official duty during the period with 
respect to which the employee is testifying in an official 
capacity in front of either chamber of Congress, a committee of 
either chamber of Congress, or a joint or select committee of 
Congress.
    ``(b) Travel Expenses.--The Secretary shall provide travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, to any employee of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs performing official duty described under 
subsection (a).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at 
        the beginning of such chapter, as amended by section 
        2(a)(2)(B), is further amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 713 the following new item:

``715. Congressional testimony by employees: treatment as official 
          duty.''.

    Sec. 248. (a) In General.--For the purposes of verifying 
that an individual performed service under honorable conditions 
that satisfies the requirements of a coastwise merchant seaman 
who is recognized pursuant to section 401 of the GI Bill 
Improvement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-202; 38 U.S.C. 106 note) 
as having performed active duty service for the purposes 
described in subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall 
accept the following:
            (1) In the case of an individual who served on a 
        coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition for 
        whom no applicable Coast Guard shipping or discharge 
        form, ship logbook, merchant mariner's document or Z-
        card, or other official employment record is available, 
        the Secretary of Defense shall provide such recognition 
        on the basis of applicable Social Security 
        Administration records submitted for or by the 
        individual, together with validated testimony given by 
        the individual or the primary next of kin of the 
        individual that the individual performed such service 
        during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and 
        ending on December 31, 1946.
            (2) In the case of an individual who served on a 
        coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition for 
        whom the applicable Coast Guard shipping or discharge 
        form, ship logbook, merchant mariner's document or Z-
        card, or other official employment record has been 
        destroyed or otherwise become unavailable by reason of 
        any action committed by a person responsible for the 
        control and maintenance of such form, logbook, or 
        record, the Secretary of Defense shall accept other 
        official documentation demonstrating that the 
        individual performed such service during period 
        beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 
        31, 1946.
            (3) For the purpose of determining whether to 
        recognize service allegedly performed during the period 
        beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 
        31, 1946, the Secretary shall recognize masters of 
        seagoing vessels or other officers in command of 
        similarly organized groups as agents of the United 
        States who were authorized to document any individual 
        for purposes of hiring the individual to perform 
        service in the merchant marine or discharging an 
        individual from such service.
    (b) Treatment of Other Documentation.--Other documentation 
accepted by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection 
(a)(2) shall satisfy all requirements for eligibility of 
service during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and 
ending on December 31, 1946.
    (c) Benefits Allowed.--
            (1) Medals, ribbons, and decorations.--An 
        individual whose service is recognized as active duty 
        pursuant to subsection (a) may be awarded an 
        appropriate medal, ribbon, or other military decoration 
        based on such service.
            (2) Status of veteran.--An individual whose service 
        is recognized as active duty pursuant to subsection (a) 
        shall be honored as a veteran but shall not be entitled 
        by reason of such recognized service to any benefit 
        that is not described in this subsection.
    Sec. 249.  Section 322(d)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``allowance to a veteran'' and 
        inserting the following: ``allowance to--
            ``(A) a veteran'';
            (2) in subparagraph (A), as designated by paragraph 
        (1), by striking the period at the end and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new 
        subparagraph:
            ``(B) a veteran with a VA service-connected 
        disability rated as 30 percent or greater by the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs who is selected by the 
        United States Olympic Committee for the United States 
        Olympic Team for any month in which the veteran is 
        competing in any event sanctioned by the National 
        Governing Bodies of the United States Olympic 
        Sports.''.
    Sec. 250. (a) In General.--Section 111(b)(1) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
            ``(G) A veteran with vision impairment, a veteran 
        with a spinal cord injury or disorder, or a veteran 
        with double or multiple amputations whose travel is in 
        connection with care provided through a special 
        disabilities rehabilitation program of the Department 
        (including programs provided by spinal cord injury 
        centers, blind rehabilitation centers, and prosthetics 
        rehabilitation centers) if such care is provided--
                    ``(i) on an in-patient basis; or
                    ``(ii) during a period in which the 
                Secretary provides the veteran with temporary 
                lodging at a facility of the Department to make 
                such care more accessible to the veteran.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report on the beneficiary travel program 
under section 111 of title 38, United States Code, as amended 
by subsection (a), that includes the following:
            (1) The cost of the program.
            (2) The number of veterans served by the program.
            (3) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year 
that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    Sec. 251. (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a program to conduct inspections of 
kitchens and food service areas at each medical facility of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. Such inspections shall occur 
not less frequently than annually. The program's goal is to 
ensure that the same standards for kitchens and food service 
areas at hospitals in the private sector are being met at 
kitchens and food service areas at medical facilities of the 
Department.
    (b) Agreement.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall seek to enter 
        into an agreement with the Joint Commission on 
        Accreditation of Hospital Organizations under which the 
        Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital 
        Organizations conducts the inspections required under 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Alternate organization.--If the Secretary is 
        unable to enter into an agreement described in 
        paragraph (1) with the Joint Commission on 
        Accreditation of Hospital Organizations on terms 
        acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek 
        to enter into such an agreement with another 
        appropriate organization that--
                    (A) is not part of the Federal Government;
                    (B) operates as a not-for-profit entity; 
                and
                    (C) has expertise and objectivity 
                comparable to that of the Joint Commission on 
                Accreditation of Hospital Organizations.
    (c) Remediation Plan.--
            (1) Initial failure.--If a kitchen or food service 
        area of a medical facility of the Department is 
        determined pursuant to an inspection conducted under 
        subsection (a) not to meet the standards for kitchens 
        and food service areas in hospitals in the private 
        sector, that medical facility fails the inspection and 
        the Secretary shall--
                    (A) implement a remediation plan for that 
                medical facility within 72 hours; and
                    (B) Conduct a second inspection under 
                subsection (a) at that medical facility within 
                14 days of the failed inspection.
            (2) Second failure.--If a medical facility of the 
        Department fails the second inspection conducted under 
        paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall close the kitchen 
        or food service area at that medical facility that did 
        not meet the standards for kitchens and food service 
        areas in hospitals in the private sector until full 
        remediation is completed and all kitchens and food 
        service areas at that medical facility meet such 
        standards.
            (3) Provision of food.--If a kitchen or food 
        service area is closed at a medical facility of the 
        Department pursuant to paragraph (2), the Director of 
        the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the 
        medical facility is located shall enter into a contract 
        with a vendor approved by the General Services 
        Administration to provide food at the medical facility.
    (d) Quarterly Reports.--Not less frequently than quarterly, 
the Under Secretary of Health shall submit to Congress a report 
on inspections conducted under this section, and their detailed 
findings and actions taken, during the preceding quarter at 
medical facilities of the Department.
    Sec. 252. (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a program to conduct risk-based 
inspections for mold and mold issues at each medical facility 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such facilities will be 
rated high, medium, or low risk for mold. Such inspections at 
facilities rated high risk shall occur not less frequently than 
annually, and such inspections at facilities rated medium or 
low risk shall occur not less frequently than biennially.
    (b) Agreement.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall seek to enter 
        into an agreement with the Joint Commission on 
        Accreditation of Hospital Organizations under which the 
        Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital 
        Organizations conducts the inspections required under 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Alternate organization.--If the Secretary is 
        unable to enter into an agreement described in 
        paragraph (1) with the Joint Commission on 
        Accreditation of Hospital Organizations on terms 
        acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek 
        to enter into such an agreement with another 
        appropriate organization that--
                    (A) is not part of the Federal Government;
                    (B) operates as a not-for-profit entity; 
                and
                    (C) has expertise and objectivity 
                comparable to that of the Joint Commission on 
                Accreditation of Hospital Organizations.
    (c) Remediation Plan.--If a medical facility of the 
Department is determined pursuant to an inspection conducted 
under subsection (a) to have a mold issue, the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) implement a remediation plan for that medical 
        facility within 7 days; and
            (2) Conduct a second inspection under subsection 
        (a) at that medical facility within 90 days of the 
        initial inspection.
    (d) Quarterly Reports.--Not less frequently than quarterly, 
the Under Secretary for Health shall submit to Congress a 
report on inspections conducted under this section, and their 
detailed findings and actions taken, during the preceding 
quarter at medical facilities of the Department.
    Sec. 253.  Section 1706(b)(5)(A) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by striking ``through 
2008''.
    Sec. 254. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use 
amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in this title 
to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time employment 
equivalents within any program of rehabilitation conducted 
under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, does not 
exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment equivalent.
    (b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the programs of rehabilitation conducted under chapter 31 of 
title 38, United States Code, including--
            (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for 
        each such program; and
            (2) recommendations for such action as the 
        Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran-to-
        staff ratio for each such program.
    Sec. 255. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
may be used to deny an Inspector General funded under this Act 
timely access to any records, documents, or other materials 
available to the department or agency over which that Inspector 
General has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), or to prevent or impede that Inspector 
General's access to such records, documents, or other 
materials, under any provision of law, except a provision of 
law that expressly refers to the Inspector General and 
expressly limits the Inspector General's right of access.
    (b) A department or agency covered by this section shall 
provide its Inspector General with access to all such records, 
documents, and other materials in a timely manner.
    (c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance with 
statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the information 
provided by the establishment over which that Inspector General 
has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
U.S.C. App.).
    (d) Each Inspector General covered by this section shall 
report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate within 5 calendar days any 
failures to comply with this requirement.
    Sec. 256.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available in this title may be used by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement related to 
resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would 
restrict in any way the individual from speaking to members of 
Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited 
from disclosure by Federal law or required by Executive Order 
to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the 
conduct of foreign affairs.
    Sec. 257.  Appropriations made available in this Act under 
the heading ``Medical Services'' shall be available to carry 
out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United States Code, 
to include the payment of the administrative expenses necessary 
to carry out such sections. Of the amount appropriated for 
fiscal year 2017, up to $2,000,000 shall be available for the 
payment of monthly assistance allowances to veterans pursuant 
to 38 U.S.C. 322(d) and up to $8,000,000 shall be available for 
the payment of grants pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 521A. Of the 
amounts appropriated in advance for fiscal year 2018, up to 
$2,000,000 shall be available for the payment of monthly 
assistance allowances to veterans pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 322(d) 
and up to $8,000,000 shall be available for the payment of 
grants pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 521A.
    Sec. 258. (a) In fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year 
hereafter, beginning with the fiscal year 2018 budget request 
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, 
United States Code, the budget justification documents 
submitted for the ``Construction, Major Projects'' account of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs shall include, at a minimum, 
the information required under subsection (b).
    (b) The budget justification documents submitted pursuant 
to subsection (a) shall include, for each project--
            (1) the estimated total cost of the project;
            (2) the funding provided for each fiscal year prior 
        to the budget year;
            (3) the amount requested for the budget year;
            (4) the estimated funding required for the project 
        for each of the 4 fiscal years succeeding the budget 
        year; and
            (5) such additional information as is enumerated 
        under the heading relating to the ``Construction, Major 
        Projects'' account of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs in the joint explanatory statement accompanying 
        this Act.
    (c) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 
proposed budget justification template that complies with the 
requirements of this section.
    Sec. 259. (a) 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) Seismic corrections to buildings, including 
        retrofitting and replacement of high-risk buildings, in 
        San Francisco, California, in an amount not to exceed 
        $180,480,000.
            (2) Seismic corrections to facilities, including 
        facilities to support homeless veterans, at the medical 
        center in West Los Angeles, California, in an amount 
        not to exceed $105,500,000.
            (3) Seismic corrections to the mental health and 
        community living center in Long Beach, California, in 
        an amount not to exceed $287,100,000.
            (4) Construction of an outpatient clinic, 
        administrative space, cemetery, and columbarium in 
        Alameda, California, in an amount not to exceed 
        $87,332,000.
            (5) Realignment of medical facilities in Livermore, 
        California, in an amount not to exceed $194,430,000.
            (6) Construction of a medical center in Louisville, 
        Kentucky, in an amount not to exceed $150,000,000.
            (7) Construction of a replacement community living 
        center in Perry Point, Maryland, in an amount not to 
        exceed $92,700,000.
            (8) Seismic corrections and other renovations to 
        several buildings and construction of a specialty care 
        building in American Lake, Washington, in an amount not 
        to exceed $16,260,000.
    (b) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 or the year in which 
funds are appropriated for the Construction, Major Projects, 
account, $1,113,802,000 for the projects authorized in 
subsection (a).
    (c) The projects authorized in subsection (a) may only be 
carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2016 
        pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 
        subsection (b);
            (2) funds available for Construction, Major 
        Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 
        that remain available for obligation;
            (3) funds available for Construction, Major 
        Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 that 
        remain available for obligation;
            (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
        Projects, for fiscal year 2016 for a category of 
        activity not specific to a project;
            (5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
        Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 for 
        a category of activity not specific to a project; and
            (6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
        Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 for 
        a category of activity not specific to a project.
    Sec. 260. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Services'' 
account may be used to provide--
            (1) fertility counseling and treatment using 
        assisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran 
        or the spouse of a covered veteran; or
            (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran.
    (b) In this section:
            (1) The term ``service-connected'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 101 of title 38, United 
        States Code.
            (2) The term ``covered veteran'' means a veteran, 
        as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
        United States Code, who has a service-connected 
        disability that results in the inability of the veteran 
        to procreate without the use of fertility treatment.
            (3) The term ``assisted reproductive technology'' 
        means benefits relating to reproductive assistance 
        provided to a member of the Armed Forces who incurs a 
        serious injury or illness on active duty pursuant to 
        section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 10, United States Code, 
        as described in the memorandum on the subject of 
        ``Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services for the 
        Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured (Category 
        II or III) Active Duty Service Members'' issued by the 
        Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on 
        April 3, 2012, and the guidance issued to implement 
        such policy, including any limitations on the amount of 
        such benefits available to such a member.
            (4) The term ``adoption reimbursement'' means 
        reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for an 
        adoption that is finalized after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act under the same terms as apply 
        under the adoption reimbursement program of the 
        Department of Defense, as authorized in Department of 
        Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the 
        reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in such 
        instruction.
    (c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified in 
subsection (a) of this section are subject to the requirements 
for funds contained in section 508 of division H of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113).

                               TITLE III

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                  American Battle Monuments Commission

                         salaries and expenses

    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the 
American Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition 
of land or interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and 
repair of uniforms for caretakers of national cemeteries and 
monuments outside of the United States and its territories and 
possessions; rent of office and garage space in foreign 
countries; purchase (one-for-one replacement basis only) and 
hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $7,500 for 
official reception and representation expenses; and insurance 
of official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when required 
by law of such countries, $75,100,000, to remain available 
until expended.

                 foreign currency fluctuations account

    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the 
American Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be 
necessary, to remain available until expended, for purposes 
authorized by section 2109 of title 36, United States Code.

           United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

                         salaries and expenses

    For necessary expenses for the operation of the United 
States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by 
sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, United States Code, 
$30,945,000:  Provided, That $2,500,000 shall be available for 
the purpose of providing financial assistance as described, and 
in accordance with the process and reporting procedures set 
forth, under this heading in Public Law 102-229.

                      Department of Defense--Civil

                       Cemeterial Expenses, Army

                         salaries and expenses

    For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and 
improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and 
Airmen's Home National Cemetery, including the purchase or 
lease of passenger motor vehicles for replacement on a one-for-
one basis only, and not to exceed $1,000 for official reception 
and representation expenses, $70,800,000, of which not to 
exceed $15,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2019. In addition, such sums as may be necessary for parking 
maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from the 
``Lease of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense 
Agencies'' account.

                      Armed Forces Retirement Home

                               trust fund

    For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home 
to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home--
Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces 
Retirement Home--Gulfport, Mississippi, to be paid from funds 
available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, 
$64,300,000, of which $1,000,000 shall remain available until 
expended for construction and renovation of the physical plants 
at the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington, District of 
Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport, 
Mississippi:  Provided, That of the amounts made available 
under this heading from funds available in the Armed Forces 
Retirement Home Trust Fund, $22,000,000 shall be paid from the 
general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund.

                       Administrative Provisions

    Sec. 301.  Funds appropriated in this Act under the heading 
``Department of Defense--Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army'', 
may be provided to Arlington County, Virginia, for the 
relocation of the federally owned water main at Arlington 
National Cemetery, making additional land available for ground 
burials.
    Sec. 302.  Amounts deposited into the special account 
established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are appropriated and shall be 
available until expended to support activities at the Army 
National Military Cemeteries.

                                TITLE IV

                    OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                      Military Construction, Army

    For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Army'', $18,900,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2021, for projects outside of the United States:  Provided, 
That such amount is designated by the Congress for Overseas 
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to 
section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

              Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

    For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Navy 
and Marine Corps'', $59,809,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States:  
Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress for 
Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism 
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                    Military Construction, Air Force

    For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Air 
Force'' $88,291,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2021, for projects outside of the United States:  Provided, 
That such amount is designated by the Congress for Overseas 
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to 
section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                  Military Construction, Defense-Wide

    For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Defense-Wide'', $5,000,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States:  Provided, 
That such amount is designated by the Congress for Overseas 
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to 
section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                        Administrative Provision

    Sec. 401.  Each amount designated in this Act by the 
Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on 
Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be 
available only if the President subsequently so designates all 
such amounts and transmits such designations to the Congress.

                                TITLE V

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Sec. 501.  No part of any appropriation contained in this 
Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
    Sec. 502.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be used for any program, project, or activity, when it is made 
known to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are 
made available that the program, project, or activity is not in 
compliance with any Federal law relating to risk assessment, 
the protection of private property rights, or unfunded 
mandates.
    Sec. 503.  All departments and agencies funded under this 
Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory 
authorities and funding, to expand their use of ``E-Commerce'' 
technologies and procedures in the conduct of their business 
practices and public service activities.
    Sec. 504.  Unless stated otherwise, all reports and 
notifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the 
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
    Sec. 505.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of 
the United States Government except pursuant to a transfer made 
by, or transfer authority provided in, this or any other 
appropriations Act.
    Sec. 506.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be used for a project or program named for an individual 
serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the 
United States House of Representatives.
    Sec. 507. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in 
this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on 
the public Web site of that agency any report required to be 
submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the 
determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve the 
national interest.
    (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
            (1) the public posting of the report compromises 
        national security; or
            (2) the report contains confidential or proprietary 
        information.
    (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so 
only after such report has been made available to the 
requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than 
45 days.
    Sec. 508. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless 
such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of 
pornography.
    (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds 
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law 
enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal 
investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
    Sec. 509.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be used by an agency of the executive branch to pay for first-
class travel by an employee of the agency in contravention of 
sections 301-10.122 through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code of 
Federal Regulations.
    Sec. 510.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be used to execute a contract for goods or services, including 
construction services, where the contractor has not complied 
with Executive Order No. 12989.
    Sec. 511.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
be used by the Department of Defense or the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles 
for any executive fleet, or for an agency's fleet inventory, 
except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum--Federal 
Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011.
    Sec. 512. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated 
or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in 
this Act may be used to construct, renovate, or expand any 
facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions 
to house any individual detained at United States Naval 
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or 
imprisonment in the custody or under the control of the 
Department of Defense.
    (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to 
any modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    (c) An individual described in this subsection is any 
individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United 
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who--
            (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a 
        member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and
            (2) is--
                    (A) in the custody or under the effective 
                control of the Department of Defense; or
                    (B) otherwise under detention at United 
                States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    This division may be cited as the ``Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
2017''.

               DIVISION B--ZIKA RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS

                                TITLE I

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

               Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

                cdc-wide activities and program support

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for ``CDC-
Wide Activities and Program Support'', $476,000,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2017, to prevent, prepare for, 
and respond to Zika virus, health conditions related to such 
virus, and other vector-borne diseases, domestically and 
internationally:  Provided, That products purchased with these 
funds may, at the discretion of the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, be deposited in the Strategic National 
Stockpile under section 319F-2 of the Public Health Service 
(``PHS'') Act:  Provided further, That funds may be used for 
purchase and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign 
countries:  Provided further, That the provisions in section 
317S of the PHS Act shall apply to the use of funds 
appropriated in this paragraph as determined by the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be 
appropriate:  Provided further, That funds appropriated in this 
paragraph may be used for grants for the construction, 
alteration, or renovation of non-federally owned facilities to 
improve preparedness and response capability at State and local 
laboratories:  Provided further, That of the amount 
appropriated in this paragraph, $88,000,000 may be used to 
reimburse accounts administered by the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention for obligations incurred for Zika virus 
response prior to the enactment of this Act:  Provided further, 
That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     National Institutes of Health

         national institute of allergy and infectious diseases

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for 
``National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases'', 
$230,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017, for 
research on the virology, natural history, and pathogenesis of 
the Zika virus infection and preclinical and clinical 
development of vaccines and other medical countermeasures for 
the Zika virus and other vector-borne diseases, domestically 
and internationally:  Provided, That such funds may be 
transferred by the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health (``NIH'') to other accounts of the NIH for the purposes 
provided in this paragraph:  Provided further, That such amount 
is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement 
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                        Office of the Secretary

            public health and social services emergency fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for ``Public 
Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'', $227,000,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2017, to prevent, prepare 
for, and respond to Zika virus, health conditions related to 
such virus, and other vector-borne diseases, domestically and 
internationally; to develop necessary countermeasures and 
vaccines, including the development and purchase of vaccines, 
therapeutics, diagnostics, necessary medical supplies, and 
administrative activities; for additional payments for 
distribution as provided for under the ``Social Services Block 
Grant Program''; and for carrying out sections 330 through 336 
and 338 of the PHS Act:  Provided, That funds appropriated in 
this paragraph may be used to procure security countermeasures 
(as defined in section 319F-2(c)(1)(B) of the PHS Act):  
Provided further, That paragraphs (1) and (7)(C) of subsection 
(c) of section 319F-2 of the PHS Act, but no other provisions 
of such section, shall apply to such security countermeasures 
procured with funds appropriated in this paragraph:  Provided 
further, That products purchased with funds appropriated in 
this paragraph may, at the discretion of the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, be deposited in the Strategic 
National Stockpile under section 319F-2 of the PHS Act:  
Provided further, That funds appropriated in this paragraph may 
be transferred to the fund authorized by section 319F-4 of the 
PHS Act:  Provided further, That of the funds appropriated 
under this heading, $95,000,000 shall be transferred to the 
``Social Services Block Grant'' for health services provided by 
public health departments, hospitals, or reimbursed through 
public health plans, notwithstanding section 2005(a)(4) of the 
Social Security Act, in States, territories, or tribal lands 
with active or local transmission cases of the Zika virus, as 
confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of 
which not less than $80,000,000 shall be for territories with 
the highest rates of Zika transmission:  Provided further, That 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall distribute 
funds transferred to the ``Social Services Block Grant'' in 
this paragraph in accordance with objective criteria that are 
made available to the public:  Provided further, That of the 
funds appropriated under this heading, $40,000,000 shall be 
used to expand the delivery of primary health services 
authorized by section 330 of the PHS Act in Puerto Rico and 
other territories:  Provided further, That of the funds 
appropriated under this heading, $6,000,000 shall, for purposes 
of providing primary health services in areas affected by Zika 
virus or other vector-borne diseases, be used to assign 
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) members to Puerto Rico and 
other territories, notwithstanding the assignment priorities 
and limitations in or under sections 333(a)(1)(D), 333(b), or 
333A(a) of the PHS Act, and to make NHSC Loan Repayment Program 
awards under section 338B of such Act:  Provided further, That 
for purposes of the previous proviso, section 331(a)(3)(D) of 
the PHS Act shall be applied as if the term ``primary health 
services'' included health services regarding pediatric 
subspecialists:  Provided further, That such amount is 
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant 
to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE

                     (including transfer of funds)

                              direct hires

    Sec. 101.  Funds appropriated by this title may be used by 
the heads of the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Department of State, and the United States Agency for 
International Development to appoint, without regard to the 
provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5 of the 
United States Code, candidates needed for positions to perform 
critical work relating to Zika response for which--
            (1) public notice has been given; and
            (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services has 
        determined that such a public health threat exists.

                          transfer authorities

    Sec. 102.  Funds appropriated by this title may be 
transferred to, and merged with, other appropriation accounts 
under the headings ``Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention'', ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency 
Fund'', and ``National Institutes of Health'' for the purposes 
specified in this title following consultation with the Office 
of Management and Budget:  Provided, That the Committees on 
Appropriations shall be notified 10 days in advance of any such 
transfer:  Provided further, That, upon a determination that 
all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation are 
not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back to that 
appropriation:  Provided further, That none of the funds made 
available by this title may be transferred pursuant to the 
authority in section 205 of division H of Public Law 114-113 or 
section 241(a) of the PHS Act.

                         reporting requirements

    Sec. 103.  Not later than 30 days after enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide a 
detailed spend plan of anticipated uses of funds made available 
in this title, including estimated personnel and administrative 
costs, to the Committees on Appropriations:  Provided, That 
such plans shall be updated and submitted to the Committees on 
Appropriations every 60 days until September 30, 2017.

                               oversight

    Sec. 104.  Of the funds appropriated by this title under 
the heading ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency 
Fund'', up to--
            (1) $500,000 shall be transferred to, and merged 
        with, funds made available under the heading ``Office 
        of the Secretary, Office of Inspector General'', and 
        shall remain available until expended, for oversight of 
        activities supported with funds appropriated by this 
        title:  Provided, That the Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services shall consult with the Committees on 
        Appropriations prior to obligating such funds:  
        Provided further, That the transfer authority provided 
        by this paragraph is in addition to any other transfer 
        authority provided by law; and
            (2) $500,000 shall be made available to the 
        Comptroller General of the United States, and shall 
        remain available until expended, for oversight of 
        activities supported with funds appropriated by this 
        title:  Provided, That the Comptroller General shall 
        consult with the Committees on Appropriations prior to 
        obligating such funds.

                                TITLE II

                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE

                   Administration of Foreign Affairs

                    diplomatic and consular programs

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for 
``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'', $14,594,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2017, for necessary expenses to 
support response efforts related to the Zika virus, health 
conditions related to such virus, and other vector-borne 
diseases:  Provided, That such funds may be made available for 
medical evacuation costs of any other department or agency of 
the United States under Chief of Mission authority, and may be 
transferred to any other appropriation of such department or 
agency for such costs:  Provided further, That such amount is 
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant 
to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

           emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for 
``Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service'', 
$4,000,000, for necessary expenses to support response efforts 
related to the Zika virus, health conditions related to such 
virus, and other vector-borne diseases, to remain available 
until September 30, 2017:  Provided, That such amount is 
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant 
to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                   repatriation loans program account

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for 
``Repatriation Loans Program Account'' for the cost of direct 
loans, $1,000,000, to support response efforts related to the 
Zika virus, health conditions related to such virus, and other 
vector-borne diseases, to remain available until September 30, 
2017:  Provided, That such costs, including costs of modifying 
such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:  Provided further, That such 
funds are available to subsidize an additional amount of gross 
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to 
exceed $1,880,406:  Provided further, That such amount is 
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant 
to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.

           UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

                  Funds Appropriated to the President

                           operating expenses

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for 
``Operating Expenses'', $10,000,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2017, for necessary expenses to support response 
efforts related to the Zika virus, health conditions related to 
such virus, and other vector-borne diseases:  Provided, That 
such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

                  Funds Appropriated to the President

                         global health programs

    For an additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for ``Global 
Health Programs'', $145,500,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2017, for necessary expenses to prevent, prepare 
for, and respond to the Zika virus, health conditions related 
to such virus, and other vector-borne diseases:  Provided, That 
funds appropriated under this heading shall be made available 
for vector control activities, vaccines, diagnostics, and 
vector control technologies:  Provided further, That funds 
appropriated under this heading may be made available as 
contributions to the World Health Organization, the United 
Nations Children's Fund, the Pan American Health Organization, 
the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Food and 
Agriculture Organization:  Provided further, That funds made 
available under this heading shall be subject to prior 
consultation with the Committees on Appropriations:  Provided 
further, That none of the funds appropriated under this heading 
may be made available for the Grand Challenges for Development 
program:  Provided further, That such amount is designated by 
the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE

                          transfer authorities

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 201. (a) Funds appropriated by this title under the 
headings ``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'', ``Emergencies in 
the Diplomatic and Consular Service'', ``Repatriation Loans 
Program Account'', and ``Operating Expenses'' may be 
transferred to, and merged with, funds appropriated by this 
title under such headings to carry out the purposes of this 
title.
    (b) The transfer authorities provided by this section are 
in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law.
    (c) Upon a determination that all or part of the funds 
transferred pursuant to the authorities provided by this 
section are not necessary for such purposes, such amounts may 
be transferred back to such appropriations.
    (d) No funds shall be transferred pursuant to this section 
unless at least 5 days prior to making such transfer the 
Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development, as appropriate, notifies 
the Committees on Appropriations in writing of the details of 
any such transfer.

                        notification requirement

    Sec. 202.  Funds appropriated by this title shall only be 
available for obligation if the Secretary of State or the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, as appropriate, notifies the Committees on 
Appropriations in writing at least 15 days in advance of such 
obligation.

                   consolidated reporting requirement

    Sec. 203.  Not later than 30 days after enactment of this 
Act and prior to the initial obligation of funds made available 
by this title, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development shall 
submit a consolidated report to the Committees on 
Appropriations on the anticipated uses of such funds on a 
country and project basis, including estimated personnel and 
administrative costs:  Provided, That such report shall be 
updated and submitted to the Committees on Appropriations every 
60 days until September 30, 2017.

                               oversight

    Sec. 204.  Of the funds appropriated by this title, up to--
            (1) $500,000 shall be transferred to, and merged 
        with, funds available under the heading ``United States 
        Agency for International Development, Funds 
        Appropriated to the President, Office of Inspector 
        General'', and shall remain available until expended, 
        for oversight of activities supported with funds 
        appropriated by this title:  Provided, That the 
        transfer authority provided by this paragraph is in 
        addition to any other transfer authority provided by 
        law; and
            (2) $500,000 shall be made available to the 
        Comptroller General of the United States, and shall 
        remain available until expended, for oversight of 
        activities supported with funds appropriated by this 
        title:  Provided, That the Secretary of State and the 
        Comptroller General, as appropriate, shall consult with 
        the Committees on Appropriations prior to obligating 
        such funds.

                               rescission

    Sec. 205.  Of the unobligated balances available under the 
heading ``Operating Expenses'' in title IX of the Department of 
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations 
Act, 2015 (division J of Public Law 113-235), $10,000,000 are 
rescinded:  Provided, That such amounts are designated by the 
Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985.

                               TITLE III

                   GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS DIVISION

                extension of authorities and provisions

    Sec. 301.  Unless otherwise provided for by this division, 
the additional amounts appropriated pursuant to this division 
are subject to the requirements for funds contained in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113).

                      personal service contractors

    Sec. 302.  Funds made available by this division may be 
used to enter into contracts with individuals for the provision 
of personal services (as described in section 104 of part 37 of 
title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (48 CFR 37.104)) to 
support the purposes of titles I and II of this division, 
within the United States and abroad, subject to prior 
consultation with, and the notification procedures of, the 
Committees on Appropriations:  Provided, That such individuals 
may not be deemed employees of the United States for the 
purpose of any law administered by the Office of Personnel 
Management:  Provided further, That the authority made 
available pursuant to this section shall expire on September 
30, 2017.

                         designation retention

    Sec. 303.  Any amount appropriated by this division, 
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant 
to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985 and subsequently so designated by 
the President, and transferred pursuant to transfer authorities 
provided by this division shall retain such designation.

                             effective date

    Sec. 304.  This division shall become effective immediately 
upon enactment of this Act.
     This division may be cited as the ``Zika Response and 
Preparedness Appropriations Act, 2016''.

                    DIVISION C--ZIKA VECTOR CONTROL

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This division may be cited as the ``Zika Vector Control 
Act''.

SEC. 2. MOSQUITO CONTROL WAIVER.

    Notwithstanding section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342), during the 180 day period 
following the date of enactment of this Act the Administrator 
of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (or a 
State, in the case of a permit program approved under 
subsection (b)) shall not require a permit for a discharge from 
the application by an entity authorized under State or local 
law, such as a vector control district, of a pesticide in 
compliance with all relevant requirements of the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et 
seq.) to control mosquitos or mosquito larvae for the 
prevention or control of the Zika virus.

                    DIVISION D--RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS

    Sec. 101. (a) Of the unobligated amounts made available 
under section 1323(c)(1) of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18043(c)(1)), $543,000,000 is 
rescinded immediately upon enactment of this Act.
    (b) Of the unobligated balances available in the 
Nonrecurring expenses fund established in section 223 of 
division G of Public Law 110-161 (42 U.S.C. 3514a) from any 
fiscal year, $100,000,000 is rescinded immediately upon 
enactment of this Act.
    (c) Of the unobligated balances of appropriations made 
available under the heading ``Bilateral Economic Assistance, 
Funds Appropriated to the President, Economic Support Fund'' in 
title IX of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015 (division J of Public 
Law 113-235), $107,000,000 is rescinded immediately upon 
enactment of this Act:  Provided, That such amounts are 
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant 
to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985.
    And the House agree to the same.
                                   Harold Rogers,
                                   Tom Cole,
                                   Kay Granger,
                                   Charles W. Dent,
                                   Jeff Fortenberry,
                                   Thomas J. Rooney,
                                   Martha Roby,
                                   David G. Valadao,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Mark Kirk,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Lisa Murkowski,
                                   John Hoeven,
                                   Susan Collins,
                                   John Boozman,
                                   Shelley Moore Capito,
                                   Roy Blunt,
                                   Lindsey Graham,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the 
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
amendment of the Senate, and the amendment of the House to the 
amendment of the Senate, to the bill (H.R. 2577) making 
appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and 
Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, 
submit the following joint statement to the House and Senate in 
explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the 
managers and recommended in the accompanying conference report.
      This conference agreement includes the Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2017, the Zika Response and Preparedness 
Appropriations Act, 2016, the Zika Vector Control Act, and a 
division on rescissions of funds. H.R. 2577 was used as the 
vehicle for the Senate amendment, which included the Senate-
passed versions of the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (S. 
2844) and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (S. 2806). The Senate 
amendment also included appropriations relating to Zika 
Response and Preparedness. The House amendment included the 
House-passed text of the Military Construction and Veterans 
Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 
4974), the Zika Response Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 5243), 
and the Zika Vector Control Act (H.R. 897).
      Section 1 of the conference agreement is the short title 
of the bill.
      Section 2 of the conference agreement displays a table of 
contents.
      Section 3 of the conference agreement states that, unless 
expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ``this Act'' 
contained in any division shall be treated as referring only to 
the provisions of that division.
      Section 4 provides a statement of appropriations.
      Section 5 states that each amount designated by Congress 
as an emergency requirement is contingent on the President so 
designating all such emergency amounts and transmitting such 
designations to Congress.
      The conference agreement does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined by clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives.

   DIVISION A--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017

      The following is an explanation of the effects of 
Division A, which makes appropriations for Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for fiscal 
year 2017. Unless otherwise noted, reference to the House and 
Senate reports are to House Report 114-497 and Senate Report 
114-237. The language set forth in House Report 114-497 and 
Senate Report 114-237 should be complied with and carry the 
same emphasis as the language included in the joint explanatory 
statement, unless specifically addressed to the contrary in 
this joint explanatory statement. While repeating some report 
language for emphasis, this joint explanatory statement does 
not intend to negate the language referred to above unless 
expressly provided herein. In cases in which the House or the 
Senate has directed the submission of a report, such report is 
to be submitted to both Houses of Congress. House or Senate 
reporting requirements with deadlines prior to, or within 15 
days after enactment of this Act shall be submitted not later 
than 60 days after enactment of this Act. All other reporting 
deadlines not specifically directed by this joint explanatory 
statement are to be met.

                     TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

      Bid Savings.--The conferees note that, given information 
for cost variation notices required by 10 U.S.C. 2853, the 
Department of Defense continues to have bid savings on 
previously appropriated military construction projects. 
Therefore, the agreement includes rescissions to the Army, Air 
Force, and Defense-Wide construction accounts. The Secretary of 
Defense is directed to continue to submit 1002 reports on 
military construction bid savings at the end of each fiscal 
quarter to the Committees.
      Missile Defense.--The conferees remain committed to 
rapidly implementing the European Phased Adaptive Approach 
(EPAA). Construction of the first Aegis Ashore missile defense 
site in Deveselu, Romania, is complete and the site is 
operational. The Committees fully funded construction of the 
second site at Redzikowo, Poland, in fiscal year 2016, and 
expect the Missile Defense Agency to pursue an aggressive 
construction schedule to bring this critical asset online. 
Additionally, the conference agreement fully funds the request 
for the first phase of the Long Range Discrimination Radar at 
Clear, Alaska. This radar will dramatically improve our ability 
to effectively target ballistic missile threats to the homeland 
coming from the Pacific. As the missile threat continues to 
evolve, the conferees remain strongly supportive of the 
expeditionary deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area 
Defense battery on Guam. The conferees encourage the Department 
of Defense to consider making this deployment permanent and 
request the appropriate military construction projects in 
support of this critical mission be requested in future budget 
submissions.
      Overseas Contingency Operations.--The conference 
agreement includes House Title IV, Overseas Contingency 
Operations. The Senate bill included funding for similar 
projects in Title I.
      Emerging Security Threats in Europe.--The conferees are 
aware that heightened tensions between Russia and Europe 
following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014 have increased 
security threats to European nations, particularly in Eastern 
Europe. In response to Russian aggression, the Administration 
in 2014 announced the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI) to 
enhance allied security by increasing the presence and joint 
training activities of U.S. military forces in Europe. The ERI 
includes a number of military construction projects funded in 
both fiscal year 2015 and in this Act. The conferees note that 
although ERI military construction funding was originally 
intended to be a one-time only investment, the evolving nature 
of the threat has prompted the Department of Defense (DOD) to 
expand its plans for investing in military construction to 
support the continual presence of U.S. rotational military 
forces in Europe, increased training activities with European 
allies, and the prepositioning of Army combat-ready equipment 
in Poland to support an armored brigade combat team.
      The conferees recognize the importance of providing 
reassurance and security to the Nation's European allies, but 
are concerned that DOD has not outlined a comprehensive plan 
for military construction requirements to support the ERI. 
Instead, the Committees have received ad hoc notifications of 
proposed planning and design expenditures for projects in 
support of the ERI, including a $200,000,000 facility for 
prepositioning Army combat brigade equipment in Poland, and 
nine ERI-related Air Force projects, primarily at U.S. Air 
Force bases in Germany, estimated to cost a total of 
$260,000,000.
      Given the magnitude of the planned ERI military 
construction investment thus far, the conferees direct the 
Secretary of Defense to provide to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress (the Committees), 
with submission of the fiscal year 2018 budget request, a 
comprehensive plan for military construction requirements 
associated with the European Reassurance Initiative through the 
fiscal year 2018 Future Years Defense Program.
      The conferees further direct the Comptroller General of 
the United States to provide to the Committees, not later than 
one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a report 
evaluating the extent to which the Department of Defense has 
developed a comprehensive force structure plan, including 
military construction requirements, to meet emerging security 
threats in Europe. The report shall include an assessment of 
the extent to which the Department has:
      (1) identified the near-term and long-term United States 
military force requirements in Europe in support of the 
European Reassurance Initiative;
      (2) evaluated the posture, force structure, and military 
construction options for meeting projected force requirements;
      (3) evaluated the long-term costs associated with the 
posture, force structure, and military construction 
requirements; and
      (4) developed a Future Years Defense Program for force 
structure costs associated with the European Reassurance 
Initiative.
      The report shall also include any other matters related 
to security threats in Europe that the Comptroller General 
determines are appropriate, and recommendations as warranted 
for improvements to the Department's planning and analysis 
methodology. The reports shall be provided in the appropriate 
classified and unclassified formats.
      Al Udeid Air Base Mold Contamination.--The conferees are 
concerned about reports that airmen serving at Al Udeid Air 
Base in Qatar were living in dangerously contaminated barracks. 
On social media and later in the press, reports detailed 
collapsing ceilings, contaminated water, and toxic black mold 
found throughout the facility. The Committees have raised 
concerns in the past about low levels of funding for facility 
sustainment, restoration and modernization, and if the black 
mold issues at Al Udeid were a result of a lack of funding for 
maintenance, that is unacceptable. Also, the conferees are 
aware that the Department of Defense Inspector General released 
a report in September 2014 (DODIG-2014-121) that identified 
1,057 deficiencies and code violations ``that could affect the 
health, safety, and well-being of warfighters and their 
families'' stationed in Japan. Included among the deficiencies 
were elevated levels of radon and excessive mold growth. In 
light of the Inspector General report and the reports from Al 
Udeid, the conferees direct the Department to submit a report 
to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days 
after enactment of this Act detailing global military housing 
and expeditionary facilities locations with mold contamination, 
mitigation strategies implemented or expected to be in place, 
and any new construction standards designed to prevent mold 
contamination.

                      MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

      The conference agreement provides $513,459,000 for 
Military Construction, Army. Within this amount, the conference 
agreement provides $98,159,000 for study, planning, design, 
architect and engineer services, and host nation support.
      Aging Army hangars for Combat Aviation Units.--The 
conferees recognize that the Army's aging hangars housing 
combat aviation units are structurally deficient and do not 
meet the operational requirements of the Army's Combat Aviation 
Brigades. A critical need exists for the Army to modernize 
infrastructure associated with operational needs, inclement 
weather, personnel changes, and unforeseen circumstances. The 
conferees direct the Secretary of the Army to submit a report 
to the congressional defense committees not later than 90 days 
after the enactment of this Act detailing the age and condition 
of the Army's Combat Aviation Brigade aircraft maintenance 
hangars, a prioritization of the most deficient infrastructure 
assets, and a plan to modernize or replace those hangars, 
including the required resources.
      Air traffic control facilities.--The conferees are 
concerned that many of the Army's air traffic control 
facilities are unsafe, antiquated, and do not provide adequate 
control, communications or observation abilities for the 
current air traffic levels at certain locations. For example, 
the current facility located at Fort Benning, Georgia, will 
become wholly inadequate at the current pace of operations and 
a replacement facility is necessary to ensure air traffic 
services are available to support mission readiness and 
deployment platforms and the military flying community. The 
conferees are concerned that this could be a problem throughout 
the Army enterprise with the recent reductions to the 
Department of Defense's construction accounts. Therefore, the 
Secretary of the Army is directed to conduct a risk assessment 
on Army air traffic control facilities throughout the Army 
enterprise and develop a plan to update these facilities. This 
assessment shall be submitted to the congressional defense 
committees not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act.
      Defense Laboratory Enterprise Facilities and 
Infrastructure.--The conferees note that DOD investment in 
Defense laboratories has been lacking, resulting in negative 
impacts on the ability of the military to develop new 
acquisition programs or perform cutting-edge research. At the 
same time, the Nation's near-peer competitors are making 
significant new investments in their research and development 
capabilities as part of the effort to close the technology gap 
with the U.S. military. Of additional concern, aging lab 
infrastructure also creates a disincentive to attracting new 
employees as DOD tries to rebuild its technical workforce.
      One of the tools that Congress has provided to 
incentivize DOD lab investment is the establishment of a higher 
threshold for unspecified minor military construction (UMMC) 
for laboratories to enable the services to keep up with a 
threat that evolves faster than the normal planning process. 
However, the conferees are concerned that the services are not 
programming sufficient UMMC to take full advantage of the 
laboratory revitalization initiative. For example, in fiscal 
year 2016, the Army, which operates an extensive network of DOD 
labs, did not allocate any unspecified minor military 
construction funding for necessary laboratory revitalization 
projects, and the request for UMMC in the Army has remained 
flat at $25,000,000. Therefore, the conference agreement 
provides an additional $10,000,000 to supplement unspecified 
minor military construction, and the Army is encouraged to 
pursue opportunities to use the additional funding for lab 
revitalization.

              MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

      The conference agreement provides $1,021,580,000 for 
Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps. Within this 
amount, the conference agreement provides $88,230,000 for 
study, planning, design, architect and engineer services.
      Military Construction funding for the Navy and Marine 
Corps.--Conferees are concerned about the need for the 
construction of an F-35C aircraft maintenance hangar, a 
communications complex and infrastructure upgrades, and an F-
35C aircraft parking apron for the Marine Corps' four F-35C 
squadrons on the West Coast. This construction supports Carrier 
Air Wing operations with the USS Carl Vinson as the first F-35C 
compatible ship on the West Coast in support of the Pacific 
Command Area of Responsibility. The Marine Corps has identified 
these projects as its top priorities, critical to the F-35C 
squadrons and the conferees support these priorities.
      Townsend Bombing Range.--Concerns still remain regarding 
the Townsend Bombing Range and its effect on the local timber 
industry. While the Navy and local stakeholders have started a 
dialogue, an agreement has not yet been reached. The conferees 
look forward to an agreement that meets the Navy's training 
needs and protects local timber stakeholders.
      Navy Unfunded Reprogramming Requirements.--The Committees 
were recently informed that the Navy has been underestimating 
the cost of major construction projects over the past several 
years due to unrealistic cost assumptions and a flawed 
construction cost formula. The Navy acknowledges that it has 
been aware of this problem for some time but had taken no 
action to remedy the deficiencies in its construction cost 
estimating process or to notify the Committees in a timely 
manner of the situation or its potential impact on the 
execution of projects. As a result, the Navy is faced with a 
large inventory of underfunded projects, and insufficient 
unobligated balances from bid savings or cancelled projects to 
cover the shortfall. Thus, a number of authorized projects for 
which funds have been appropriated over the past several years 
are at risk due to insufficient funds to award a contract.
      The conferees provide an additional $89,400,000 in this 
Act, to address the Navy's highest priority urgent unfunded 
reprogramming requirements as well as unanticipated emergency 
construction requirements. However, the conferees are concerned 
that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and that additional 
underfunded projects for which no ready source of reprogramming 
funds is available will emerge. Therefore, the conferees direct 
the Secretary of the Navy to reassess the sufficiency of the 
appropriation request for all previously appropriated projects 
for which contracts have not been awarded, and to provide to 
the congressional defense committees, within 60 days of 
enactment of this Act, (1) a detailed analysis of the process 
and decisions that led to the underestimating of construction 
costs, (2) the revised cost estimate, if applicable, for any 
project that is estimated to be underfunded due to unrealistic 
cost assumptions and/or a flawed construction cost formula, (3) 
a plan of how the Navy intends to address the shortfall within 
its own resources, including the identification of any 
previously appropriated projects that might have to be 
cancelled, and (4) a description of the steps it is taking to 
remedy the cost estimating process for future construction 
projects.
      The conferees further direct the Secretary of Defense to 
review the construction cost formulas used to develop military 
construction appropriation requests by the Naval Facilities 
Engineering Command and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to 
assess the reliability of the formulas, and to report to the 
congressional defense committees within 90 days of enactment of 
this Act on its findings and any recommendations to improve the 
fidelity of the construction cost formulas.
      All the services, including the Navy, have informed the 
Committees for the past several years that construction costs 
have been rising with the improving economy and the rebound of 
the construction market, and that bid savings have been 
subsequently decreasing. The conferees believe there is no 
excuse for the Navy's inability to or failure to address this 
problem, and fully expect a sound and justifiable cost estimate 
for any military construction projects submitted in the fiscal 
year 2018 and future budget requests.

                    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

      The conference agreement provides $1,491,058,000 for 
Military Construction, Air Force. Within this amount, the 
conference agreement provides $143,582,000 for study, planning, 
design, architect and engineer services. Additionally, the 
conference agreement rescinds $23,900,000 for three fiscal year 
2014 projects in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands (CNMI), to support Air Force training exercises and 
provide an emergency divert location. The conferees are 
concerned that the Air Force has been unable to reach a land 
use agreement with the Government of the CNMI despite extensive 
negotiations, and no resolution to the issue is imminent. 
Therefore, the funding is rescinded without prejudice, and the 
Air Force is urged to resubmit the projects once agreement on 
the location is finalized and the projects can be executed.
      Air Force Facility Security Requirements.--The conferees 
are concerned with the Department's funding recommendation for 
the Air Force's unspecified minor military construction 
account. An additional $10,000,000 is provided to assist 
installations in the continental U.S. with significant facility 
entry and exit point concerns. Priority should be given to 
installations with access control points that present safety, 
security and traffic hazards.
      Air Force Ballistic Missile Facilities.--The conferees 
are aware that ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile 
(ICBM) facilities at the Nation's three ICBM bases in Montana, 
North Dakota, and Wyoming are aging and in urgent need of 
replacement. At a time of increased global tensions among 
nuclear-capable nations, it is imperative to replace crumbling 
and outdated ICBM infrastructure at U.S. installations with 
state-of-the-art nuclear deterrence facilities. Key to this 
effort is the replacement of the Cuban missile crisis-era 
Weapons Storage Facilities and Missile Alert Facilities at each 
of the ICBM bases. The conferees understand that the Air Force 
has developed a funding roadmap to replace the Weapons Storage 
Facilities (WSFs) at each ICBM base but are concerned that the 
current timeline for implementation of the roadmap is not 
sufficiently aggressive in light of the urgency of upgrading 
these facilities to meet current threat conditions. Given the 
failing condition of the current WSFs and the importance of the 
ground-based ICBM capability to the Nation's nuclear 
deterrence, the conferees urge the Air Force to prioritize and 
accelerate the replacement of the WSFs as well as the Nuclear 
Alert Facilities at ICBM bases. The conferees reiterate the 
directive in Senate Report 114-237 for the Secretary of the Air 
Force to undertake an analysis of the cost of maintaining the 
existing Missile Alert Facilities at the Nation's ICBM bases 
and to provide a report to the Committees within 90 days of 
enactment of this Act on the findings of the analysis and a 
projected cost and timeline for replacing the Weapons Alert 
Facilities at each of these bases. The conferees also direct 
the Secretary of Defense to assess the feasibility of using 
Defense Access Road funding and other sources of funding to 
build alternate routes for military equipment traveling on 
public roads to missile launch facilities, taking into 
consideration the proximity of local populations, security 
risks, safety, and weather, and to provide a report to the 
Committees within one year of enactment of this Act.

                  MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

      The conference agreement provides $2,025,444,000 for 
Military Construction, Defense-Wide. Within this amount, the 
conference agreement provides $180,775,000 for study, planning, 
design, architect and engineer services. Within this amount, an 
additional $15,000,000 is provided for Missile Defense Agency 
planning and design. The additional funding is to expedite the 
construction and deployment of urgently needed missile defense 
assets in various locations within the continental United 
States, including Alaska and Hawaii.
      Pentagon Metro entrance facility.--The conference 
agreement includes funding for the Pentagon Metro entrance 
facility project as requested in the budget submission. The 
conferees remain concerned that this facility needs to be 
constructed in a manner that will further enhance the physical 
access and perimeter defense of the building in accordance with 
the Integrated Pentagon Security Master Plan and the Pentagon 
Century Review. Given that the design is only at 10 percent at 
this point, the conferees direct the Secretary of Defense to 
report to the congressional defense committees quarterly on the 
progress of the planning and design and any major construction 
changes to the current project's 1391.

               MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

      The conference agreement provides $232,930,000 for 
Military Construction, Army National Guard. Within this amount, 
the conference agreement provides $8,729,000 for study, 
planning, design, architect and engineer services.

               MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

      The conference agreement provides $143,957,000 for 
Military Construction, Air National Guard. Within this amount, 
the conference agreement provides $10,462,000 for study, 
planning, design, architect and engineer services.

                  MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

      The conference agreement provides $68,230,000 for 
Military Construction, Army Reserve. Within this amount, the 
conference agreement provides $7,500,000 for study, planning, 
design, architect and engineer services.

                  MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE

      The conference agreement provides $38,597,000 for 
Military Construction, Navy Reserve. Within this amount, the 
conference agreement provides $3,783,000 for study, planning, 
design, architect and engineer services.

                MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

      The conference agreement provides $188,950,000 for 
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve. Within this amount, 
the conference agreement provides $4,500,000 for study, 
planning, design, architect and engineer services.

     NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $177,932,000 for the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program.

               DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides $240,237,000 for the 
Department of Defense Base Closure Account, which is 
$35,000,000 above the request. The additional funding is for 
the Army and the Navy to accelerate environmental remediation 
at installations closed under previous Base Realignment and 
Closure (BRAC) rounds.
      Accelerated cleanup.--The conferees recognize that many 
factors hinder the cleanup of BRAC sites. However, the 
conferees believe that strategic investments can lead to 
quicker clean-ups and faster turnover of DOD property to the 
local community. Therefore, the conferees direct the Secretary 
of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees a 
spend plan for the additional BRAC funds not later than 15 days 
after enactment of this Act.

                        FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW

      Homeowners Assistance Program--Delayed Expression or 
Delayed Identification of Injured Beneficiaries.--As the 
Executive Agent for the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) 
across the Department of Defense, the Army mistakenly 
administered approximately 76 applicants whose injuries were 
incurred during a military deployment, while they owned a home, 
and experienced delayed expression or delayed identification of 
the injury. The applicants were paid in good faith and in 
accordance with guidance from Congress and the Department of 
Defense to err in favor of wounded, ill, and injured HAP 
applicants. If these beneficiaries had suffered from an obvious 
physical injury--which the HAP statute envisioned--their injury 
would have been clearly documented at the time they owned their 
home, and they would have qualified for HAP benefits. 
Therefore, no funds from this Act shall be used to collect 
overpayments for any wounded, ill, or injured HAP beneficiary 
with delayed expression or delayed identification, or send 
notice letters, while the Department further develops permanent 
legislative solutions with Congress.

                   FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

      The conference agreement provides $157,172,000 for Family 
Housing Construction, Army.

             FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY

      The conference agreement provides $325,995,000 for Family 
Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army.

           FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

      The conference agreement provides $94,011,000 for Family 
Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps.

    FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

      The conference agreement provides $300,915,000 for Family 
Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps.

                 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

      The conference agreement provides $61,352,000 for Family 
Housing Construction, Air Force.

          FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE

      The conference agreement provides $274,429,000 for Family 
Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force.

         FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

      The conference agreement provides $59,157,000 for Family 
Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide.

         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

      The conference agreement provides $3,258,000 for the 
Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

             (INCLUDING TRANSFERS AND RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

      The conference agreement includes section 101 limiting 
the use of funds under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract.
      The conference agreement includes section 102 allowing 
the use of construction funds in this title for hire of 
passenger motor vehicles.
      The conference agreement includes section 103 allowing 
the use of construction funds in this title for advances to the 
Federal Highway Administration for the construction of access 
roads.
      The conference agreement includes section 104 prohibiting 
construction of new bases in the United States without a 
specific appropriation.
      The conference agreement includes section 105 limiting 
the use of funds for the purchase of land or land easements 
that exceed 100 percent of the value.
      The conference agreement includes section 106 prohibiting 
the use of funds, except funds appropriated in this title for 
that purpose, for family housing.
      The conference agreement includes section 107 limiting 
the use of minor construction funds to transfer or relocate 
activities.
      The conference agreement includes section 108 prohibiting 
the procurement of steel unless American producers, 
fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete.
      The conference agreement includes section 109 prohibiting 
the use of construction or family housing funds to pay real 
property taxes in any foreign nation.
      The conference agreement includes section 110 prohibiting 
the use of funds to initiate a new installation overseas 
without prior notification.
      The conference agreement includes section 111 
establishing a preference for American architectural and 
engineering services for overseas projects.
      The conference agreement includes section 112 
establishing a preference for American contractors in United 
States territories and possessions in the Pacific and on 
Kwajalein Atoll and in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf.
      The conference agreement includes section 113 requiring 
congressional notification of military exercises when 
construction costs exceed $100,000.
      The conference agreement includes section 114 allowing 
funds appropriated in prior years for new projects authorized 
during the current session of Congress.
      The conference agreement includes section 115 allowing 
the use of expired or lapsed funds to pay the cost of 
supervision for any project being completed with lapsed funds.
      The conference agreement includes section 116 allowing 
military construction funds to be available for five years.
      The conference agreement includes section 117 allowing 
the transfer of funds from Family Housing Construction accounts 
to the Family Housing Improvement Program.
      The conference agreement includes section 118 allowing 
transfers to the Homeowners Assistance Fund.
      The conference agreement includes section 119 limiting 
the source of operation and maintenance funds for flag and 
general officer quarters and allowing for notification by 
electronic medium.
      The conference agreement includes section 120 extending 
the availability of funds in the Ford Island Improvement 
Account.
      The conference agreement includes section 121 allowing 
the transfer of expired funds to the Foreign Currency 
Fluctuations, Construction, Defense account.
      The conference agreement includes section 122 restricting 
the obligation of funds for relocating an Army unit that 
performs a testing mission.
      The conference agreement includes section 123 allowing 
for the reprogramming of construction funds among projects and 
activities subject to certain criteria.
      The conference agreement includes section 124 prohibiting 
the obligation or expenditure of funds provided to the 
Department of Defense for military construction for projects at 
Arlington National Cemetery.
      The conference agreement includes section 125 providing 
additional funds for various Military Construction accounts.
      The conference agreement includes section 126 providing 
additional funds for Military Construction, Navy and Marine 
Corps.
      The conference agreement includes section 127 rescinding 
funds from prior Appropriations Acts from various accounts.
      The conference agreement includes section 128 rescinding 
unobligated balances from the fund established by Sec. 1013(d) 
of 42 U.S.C. 3374.
      The conference agreement includes section 129 defining 
the congressional defense committees.
      The conference agreement includes section 130 prohibiting 
the use of funds in this Act to close or realign Naval Station 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The provision is intended to prevent the 
closure or realignment of the installation out of the 
possession of the United States, and maintain the Naval 
Station's long-standing regional security and migrant 
operations missions.
      The conference agreement includes section 131 restricting 
funds in this Act to be used to consolidate or relocate any 
element of Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy 
Operational Repair Squadron Engineer until certain conditions 
are met.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

      Veterans Benefits Administration--Compensation and Pensions

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

      The conference agreement provides $90,119,449,000 for 
Compensation and Pensions in advance for fiscal year 2018. Of 
the amount provided, not more than $17,224,000 is to be 
transferred to General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
Administration (VBA) and Information Technology Systems for 
reimbursement of necessary expenses in implementing provisions 
of title 38.

                         READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

      The conference agreement provides $13,708,648,000 for 
Readjustment Benefits in advance for fiscal year 2018.

                   VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

      The conference agreement provides $107,899,000 for 
Veterans Insurance and Indemnities in advance for fiscal year 
2018, as well as an additional $16,605,000 for fiscal year 
2017.

                 VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND

      The conference agreement provides such sums as may be 
necessary for costs associated with direct and guaranteed loans 
for the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund. The agreement 
limits obligations for direct loans to not more than $500,000 
and provides that $198,856,000 shall be available for 
administrative expenses.

            VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides $36,000 for the cost of 
direct loans from the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program 
Account, plus $389,000 to be paid to the appropriation for 
General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration. 
The agreement provides for a direct loan limitation of 
$2,517,000.

          NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides $1,163,000 for 
administrative expenses of the Native American Veteran Housing 
Loan Program Account.

      GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

      The conference agreement provides $2,856,160,000 for 
General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration 
and makes available not to exceed 5 percent of this funding 
until the end of fiscal year 2018. The full request for the 
Veterans Benefits Management System is provided in the 
agreement, which includes $37,356,000 from this account and 
$143,000,000 from the Information Technology Systems account. 
The agreement also includes the full budget request of 
$26,695,000 for the centralized mail initiative and 
$152,924,000 for the Veterans Claim Intake Program (VCIP), 
which is $10,000,000 above the request.
      The placement of the General Operating Expenses, Veterans 
Benefits Administration account in the bill has been moved from 
Departmental Administration to Veterans Benefits Administration 
to align the administrative expenses of VBA with its program 
activities.
      Disability claims backlog.--The conferees commend the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on its efforts to reduce 
the disability claims backlog and increase the accuracy of 
claims decisions, and is committed to ensuring that VA 
maintains its goal of processing all claims within 125 days 
with 98 percent accuracy. The Committees are also committed to 
ensuring there is not a recurrence of any sizeable backlog or a 
reduction in accuracy and will continue to assert their 
oversight by monitoring on a monthly and quarterly basis each 
regional office's timeliness and accuracy performance measures.
      The conference agreement includes section 228 which 
requires VBA to submit a quarterly report with the following 
data from each VBA regional office: (1) the average time to 
complete a disability compensation claim; (2) the number of 
claims pending more than 125 days, disaggregated by initial and 
supplemental claims; (3) error rates; (4) the number of claims 
personnel; (5) any corrective action taken within the quarter 
to address poor performance; (6) training programs undertaken; 
(7) the number and results of Quality Review Team audits; (8) 
the number of claims completed by each regional office based on 
the regional office being the station of jurisdiction; and (9) 
the number of claims completed by each regional office based on 
the regional office being the station of origin.
      Regional office performance.--The conferees have been 
disturbed by repeated reports of manipulation of records and 
benefit data at several VBA regional offices, as well as 
irregular personnel practices that have jeopardized sound 
management of the regional offices. The conferees urge VA to 
monitor regional office performance to make certain that 
personnel and claims management activities remain fully 
transparent and comply with overall VA regulations and 
handbooks.
      Equitable relief.--The conferees urge the Secretary to 
continue to grant or extend equitable relief to eligible 
veterans initially deemed eligible in instances of 
administrative error.
      Service satisfaction rates among women veterans.--The 
conferees direct VA to provide to the Committees not later than 
the beginning of fiscal year 2017 an analysis of trends and 
satisfaction rates among women veterans participating in the 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program to ensure 
these services are adapting to the changing demographics of 
veterans and the needs of women veterans with disabilities.
      Disability benefits questionnaires.--The conferees expect 
VA to meet with Members of Congress to explain their plans to 
develop additional disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs) 
for chronic multi-system illnesses experienced by veterans for 
which DBQs do not exist. Moreover, the conferees urge the 
Department to make permanent the period for filing Gulf War 
presumptive claims under 38 CFR 3.317.

            Veterans Health Administration--Medical Services

      The conference agreement provides $44,886,554,000 in 
advance for fiscal year 2018 for Medical Services and makes 
$1,400,000,000 of the advance available through fiscal year 
2019. The agreement also provides $1,078,993,000 for fiscal 
year 2017 in addition to the advance appropriation provided 
last year. The fiscal year 2018 advance funding for medical 
services is $6,786,446,000 lower than the fiscal year 2017 
advance because of Department projections that increased 
amounts of medical care will be provided through the Medical 
Community Care account.
      Given that there may be significant unfunded liabilities 
created by the winding down of the Choice Act, the conference 
agreement includes bill language in section 232 permitting the 
transfer of funding from multiple VA appropriations accounts to 
Medical Services to address unfunded needs.
      The conference agreement includes bill language requiring 
the Secretary to ensure that sufficient amounts are available 
for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically for 
female veterans and to provide access to therapeutic listening 
devices to veterans with mental health or substance abuse 
problems or traumatic brain injury.
      Curing Hepatitis C within the veteran population.--The 
Department is to be commended for robustly treating veterans 
with Hepatitis C (HCV), which is a particular concern because 
the veteran population is twice as likely to have the virus as 
the general population. Available HCV drugs have a cure rate of 
96 percent, and early, preventative treatments avoid tens of 
thousands of dollars in future healthcare spending. To that 
end, the agreement includes funding for the treatment of 
Hepatitis C of $1,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2017, which is 
$840,000,000 above the President's request. The conferees 
understand that because of an uneven start to the Hepatitis C 
campaign due to funding interruptions, VA projects there will 
be a carryover of fiscal year 2016 funding that will increase 
the resources available in fiscal year 2017. The conferees are 
pleased that recent price reductions in the new Hepatitis C 
drugs will allow VA to treat patients faster and reach their 
target goal of treating all veterans with Hepatitis C years 
earlier than projected.
      The conferees encourage VA to work to remove any barriers 
to timely screening and treatment for veterans with Hepatitis 
C, including maximizing the use of rapid testing techniques. 
Rapid testing can be especially helpful in reaching veterans 
who are medically underserved or who live long distances from 
VA facilities.
      To assist in congressional oversight, VA is directed to 
continue to report to the Committees in quarterly briefings the 
number of veterans treated to date, the number of veterans 
treated each week, the number of veterans pronounced cured to 
date, the projected number of new cases, and the estimate of 
veterans likely to be cured during the next quarter. VA is also 
directed to report quarterly to the Committees obligations for 
funding Hepatitis C treatments as part of the larger 
crosscutting VA quarterly financial report required in section 
218.
      Program priorities.--The conference agreement provides 
the following fiscal year 2017 funding for these high priority 
areas: $243,483,000 for readjustment counseling at Vet Centers; 
$535,400,000 for gender-specific healthcare, which is 
$20,000,000 higher than the administration request; 
$734,628,000 for the caregivers program, which is $10,000,000 
above the request; $257,477,000 for the homeless grant and per 
diem program, which is $10,000,000 above the request; and 
$320,000,000 for the homeless supportive services for low 
income veterans and families, which is $20,000,000 above the 
request.
      Rural healthcare.--The conference agreement includes the 
full budget request of $250,000,000 for the Office of Rural 
Health (ORH) and the Rural Health Initiative. In addition to 
any directives contained in the House and Senate reports, the 
conferees direct that ORH coordinate directly with the 
Readjustment Counseling Service to develop and implement a 
strategy to expand the capacity of Vet Centers in order to 
ensure that the readjustment and psychological counseling needs 
of veterans in rural and highly rural communities are met. The 
conferees also direct VA to identify ways to obtain more 
accurate data on homeless and at-risk veterans in rural areas, 
as instructed in the Senate report. The conference agreement 
includes a one-year extension through fiscal year 2017 of the 
Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program, which provides 
care to veterans in areas without extensive access to VA health 
facilities. This extension is necessary to maintain veterans' 
access to healthcare during the transition as VA moves to 
consolidate its non-VA healthcare programs. The conferees 
encourage VA to expand its use of telehealth for rural areas 
since the technique has proven particularly helpful in mental 
health and primary care health delivery.
      Mental health.--The conference agreement provides the 
full budget request for all VA mental health services and 
programs, with additional resources within Medical Services 
provided for the Veterans Crisis Line and the National Centers 
for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The conference agreement 
includes $40,000,000 for the National Centers and $78,572,000 
for the Veterans Crisis Line. Overall, the agreement includes 
$173,005,000 for suicide prevention outreach. The conference 
agreement includes bill language in section 238 similar to that 
contained in the House bill that requires certain professional 
standards for the suicide hotline.
      Opioid safety.--To respond to the urgency of the opioid 
overdose epidemic, the Department is directed to continue to 
comply with the guidance included in the fiscal year 2016 
conference report under the paragraph ``Opioid Safety.'' VA is 
also directed to make public the findings of the Office of 
Accountability Review investigation into accusations of 
widespread retaliation against whistleblowers at the Tomah VA 
Medical Center as well as the outside clinical review. The 
Department is encouraged to utilize the full spectrum of 
treatment options for dealing with opioid addiction and expand 
the use of medication-assisted treatment and other clinically 
appropriate services to achieve and maintain abstinence from 
all opioids. The conferees believe it is important for the 
Department to report necessary information to State-run 
prescription drug monitoring programs as this will ensure VA 
providers have the tools they need to better identify at-risk 
veterans.
      The conferees are aware that only 14 States require their 
physicians to take pain management education credits. The 
conferees urge VA to ensure that healthcare providers learn the 
latest pain management techniques, understand safe prescribing 
practices, and be able to spot the signs of potential substance 
use disorders. The conferees believe that comprehensive 
training in the proper use of pain management medications is a 
vital step in combating the opioid problem.
      Choice Program delays.--VA data indicate that the number 
of veterans waiting more than 30 days for an appointment is 
actually higher now than when the Veterans Choice Program was 
initiated. The conferees are concerned that this well-
intentioned program was cobbled together quickly given the time 
constraints, which has contributed to delays. Further, an 
often-cited problem with the Choice Program is the lack of 
clear communications regarding the eligibility requirements of 
the program to both veterans and non-VA providers. The 
conferees believe that understanding the obstacles to efficient 
scheduling of appointments of veterans and swift reimbursement 
for providers would serve as crucial first steps in resolving 
some of these issues. The conferees urge VA and its third party 
providers to address the delays and the communication errors 
plaguing implementation of the Choice Program.
      Nursing authority.--The conferees recognize that VA has 
recently published a proposed rule indicating that it is 
considering the issue of granting full practice authority to 
some or all of the four advanced practice nursing disciplines. 
The proposed rule indicates that decision will be reflected in 
the final rule, after consideration of all the public comments 
received. In addition, the Under Secretary for Health has 
testified that he plans to consider as an important variable 
whether there are significant shortages of the affiliated 
physician specialties throughout the VA system, which would 
validate the need for full practice authority for those 
advanced practice nurse specialties. The conferees urge VA to 
carefully and thoughtfully seek additional input from internal 
and external stakeholders prior to publishing the final rule. 
The conferees encourage VA to make all possible outreach 
efforts to communicate the changes contained in the proposed 
rule, gather public comments, and collaborate with Congress, 
affected stakeholders, VA physician and nursing staffs, and 
external organizations.
      National Veteran Sports Programs.--The conference 
agreement includes $9,005,000, which is the budget request for 
the Office of the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special 
Events. The conferees concur with the movement of this office 
to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the agreement 
includes necessary bill language in section 257 to permit VHA 
to carry out the Office's activities.
      Patient consults.--The conferees direct VA to report not 
later than 30 days after the beginning of fiscal year 2017 on 
specific quality controls that have been implemented to ensure 
that patient consults are handled in a timely manner.
      Collaboration with historically black health professions 
schools.--As described in the House and Senate reports, the 
conferees urge VA to increase its collaboration with the 
larger, urban hospitals with historically black health 
professions schools. The Secretary is directed, as in previous 
conference reports, to convene a symposium where minority 
collaboration concerns are discussed and addressed.
      Leveraging private sector programs.--The conferees 
encourage VA to integrate into VA settings private sector 
programs that adapt information technologies and data 
interoperability capabilities to better coordinate healthcare 
services for veterans, as described in the House report.
      Medical residency positions.--The conferees note that, to 
date, the Department has not submitted to the Committees a 
report that was directed in the explanatory statement 
accompanying Public Law 114-113 detailing current coordination 
with the Direct Graduate Medical Education Program, limitations 
that may restrict VA's program and ability to expand to 
underserved areas, and a plan to more effectively carry out 
VA's graduate medical education program within constraints that 
exist in the Direct Graduate Medical Education program. The 
conferees understand that the Department is reviewing comments 
provided by the Department of Health and Human Services' Center 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services and direct VA to move as 
expeditiously as possible in its review and submit the report 
to the Committees. Further, the conferees direct that VA 
provide an update to the Committees not later than 15 days 
after enactment of this Act on the status of this report and a 
timeline for submission.
      Rehabilitation equipment.--The conferees are aware that 
the Department currently purchases or reimburses veterans for 
recumbent bicycles or hand cycles used for rehabilitative 
purposes only and does not cover the cost of upright bicycles. 
Given the many veterans in physical or mental rehabilitation 
programs who are able to use upright bicycles, the conferees 
urge the Department to make upright bicycles eligible for 
reimbursement to qualifying veterans. In addition, the 
conferees direct the Department to submit to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress (hereafter ``the 
Committees'') a report not later than the beginning of fiscal 
year 2017 outlining the steps needed to be taken to make 
upright bicycles eligible for reimbursement.

                         MEDICAL COMMUNITY CARE

      The conference agreement provides $7,246,181,000 for 
Medical Community Care, the account created in the Surface 
Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act 
to consolidate all the VA programs that provide care for 
veterans in the community from non-VA providers. Section 217 of 
the conference agreement rescinds an identical amount from the 
Medical Services account. The agreement also provides 
$9,409,118,000 in advance fiscal year 2018 funding for this 
account. Of the fiscal year 2017 funding, $2,000,000,000 is 
made available until the end of fiscal year 2020; of the fiscal 
year 2018 funding, $1,500,000,000 is available until the end of 
fiscal year 2021.
      Extended availability of funding.--The conferees are 
aware the Department books obligations for non-VA care upon a 
veteran receiving authorization to obtain medical care outside 
of the Veterans Health Administration and not upon that 
authorization actually being filled and the Department billed 
by the outside provider. Due to the timing of reconciliation 
between obligations, authorizations, and the number of those 
authorizations filled through private providers, this 
accounting procedure has led to the de-obligation of funds past 
the life of the budget authority, leading to the expiration of 
millions of dollars that could have been applied to veterans 
healthcare programs. Therefore, the conferees have provided 
flexibility to aid the Department in ensuring all 
appropriations within this account are able to be obligated 
before expiration. This extended availability within the new 
Medical Community Care account should allow VA time to correct 
this problem; however, the conferees also note this longer 
period of availability is a temporary solution and will not 
continue unaltered into the future. The Department is expected 
to work towards identifying changes in execution that will 
result in a permanent fix, including discussing with the Office 
of Management and Budget how best to define the point of 
obligation for these funds. The conferees expect the Department 
to keep the Committees apprised of its progress towards a 
permanent solution and request this issue be addressed within 
the fiscal year 2019 advance appropriations request for this 
account.

                     MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE

      The conference agreement provides $6,654,480,000 in 
advance for fiscal year 2018 for Medical Support and Compliance 
and makes $100,000,000 of the advance funding available through 
fiscal year 2019.
      Filling senior position vacancies.--In order for VHA to 
improve access and increase efficiency within the system, it 
must fill the critical senior management and clinical 
vacancies. Therefore, the conferees direct that not less than 
$21,000,000, as provided in the budget request, be used to hire 
medical center directors and employees for other management and 
clinical positions within the Veterans Health Administration.
      Requirements for the hiring of VA healthcare providers.--
The conferees are deeply troubled by recent reports concerning 
practicing VA providers whose credentials have not been 
verified or have been misrepresented, and who have previously 
entered into settlements or completed disciplinary actions in 
other States where they may hold a medical license. To protect 
our Nation's veterans, the Department must do more to guarantee 
that VA providers are of the highest quality and are, at the 
very least, in good standing with each State medical board with 
which they hold licenses. The conferees believe VA should be in 
strict compliance with Veterans Health Administration Handbook 
1100.19 and Directive 2012-030 which require the Department to 
obtain any and all information on medical license violations 
from each State medical board where a provider holds or has 
ever held a license and whether the provider has entered into 
any settlement agreements with a board for disciplinary charges 
relating to medical practice. The Department is directed to 
submit a report to the Committees not later than 90 days after 
the beginning of fiscal year 2017 providing an analysis and an 
assessment of VA field compliance with Veterans Health 
Administration Handbook 1100.19 and Directive 2012-030.
      Transmission of VA healthcare providers' information to 
State medical boards.--Under current VA policy outlined in 
Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1100.18, in each 
instance in which a licensed healthcare professional whose 
behavior or clinical practice so substantially fails to meet 
generally-accepted standards of clinical practice as to raise 
reasonable concern for the safety of patients, the Department 
is required to provide a report to each State licensure board 
(SLB) where the professional holds a license.
      The conferees are aware, however, that such reports sent 
to SLBs are typically limited to a generic description of the 
clinical shortcomings involved, and if the SLB wants more 
details of the situation it must respond to the report with a 
formal request for more information. The conferees note SLBs 
and the Federation of State Medical Boards find it extremely 
difficult to gain useful information even if they follow VA's 
exact procedures.
      It is critical for VA to improve communication with SLBs 
and improve transparency surrounding medical practice 
violations. VA is urged to send promptly to each SLB where a 
provider holds a license and the SLB in the State where the 
provider practices, the full information concerning any 
violations during the provider's practice at VA.
      While VA providers do not need to hold a license in the 
same State where the medical facility resides, the conferees 
believe such State's medical board should, nonetheless, have 
access to information about a clinical violation committed at a 
facility in their State to ensure the board can adequately 
fulfill its obligation to uphold safe medical practice. The 
Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees not 
later than 90 days after the beginning of fiscal year 2017 
providing an assessment of VA field compliance with Veterans 
Health Administration Handbook 1100.18 and its ability to 
provide full reporting to SLBs in instances where licensed 
healthcare professionals' behavior or clinical practice so 
substantially failed to meet generally-accepted standards of 
clinical practice that it needed to be reported in compliance 
with Handbook 1100.18.
      Non-VA care provider reviews.--As the Department 
continues to increase the scope and size of its non-VA care 
programs, it is imperative that VA develop policies that ensure 
that a healthcare provider removed from employment with the 
Veterans Health Administration due to substandard care, 
professional misconduct, or violation of the requirements of 
his or her medical license does not subsequently reemerge as a 
contracted healthcare provider in the community care programs, 
including the Choice Program. Therefore, the conferees direct 
the Department to submit to the Committees not later than the 
beginning of fiscal year 2017 the current VHA policy on 
entering into contractual agreements with private providers, 
either directly or through a third-party administrator, and the 
provisions of that policy which detail how VA ensures that no 
healthcare providers removed for misconduct subsequently become 
providers through the VA's community care programs. In 
addition, the Department is directed to include, with the 
policy, what enforcement mechanisms are currently in place as a 
safeguard and any legislative authorities needed to ensure that 
veterans receive the highest quality of care from healthcare 
providers on contract to VA.

                           MEDICAL FACILITIES

      The conference agreement provides $5,434,880,000 in 
advance for fiscal year 2018 for Medical Facilities, as well as 
$247,668,000 in fiscal year 2017 funding, which is in addition 
to the advance funding provided last year. Of the advance 
funding, $250,000,000 is made available through fiscal year 
2019.
      Medical facility inspections for food service and 
environmental quality.--The conferees are disturbed by reports 
of sanitation and insect infestation problems at food service 
areas and kitchens at VA healthcare facilities, despite 
existing internal requirements for periodic inspections. In 
addition, health-threatening mold has been found in some VA 
facilities, as documented by the VA Inspector General. The 
conference agreement includes bill language in sections 251 and 
252 requiring VA to contract with the Joint Commission on 
Accreditation of Hospital Organizations to conduct annual 
inspections of healthcare facility food service areas, with 
remediation and re-inspection required. Section 252 includes 
the requirement for the Joint Commission to conduct similar 
periodic reviews to inspect mold issues in VA medical 
facilities.
      Improved community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC) 
capabilities.--The conferees are concerned that VA needs to 
improve its planning and contracting practices to allow for 
future expansion needs of CBOCs. In the case of the recently 
approved Rochester, New York CBOC (Phase I), the conferees have 
been informed that options to expand for potential future 
growth could not be included in the original lease contract, 
warranting procurement of a second facility. The conferees urge 
the Department to consider economic benefits when considering 
locations. Furthermore, the Department is directed to provide a 
report to the Committees not later than the beginning of fiscal 
year 2017 addressing the rationale as to why such flexibility 
cannot be included in lease contracts and identify any 
barriers, including necessary statutory changes, to ensure such 
options for flexibility are included in future lease contracts.
      Green energy management program.--Given congressional 
concern with some prior wind energy projects, the conferees 
believe that the Committees need a clearer budget presentation 
of all green energy projects--wind, solar, geothermal, etc.--
proposed to be funded in the fiscal year 2018 budget. Because 
green energy management funding was used to backfill shortfalls 
in the Denver hospital construction project, the Committees 
have difficulty discerning the strategic funding plans that 
remain for VA green energy management.
      Budget presentation.--The conferees have found the 
current budget presentation for Medical Facilities 
distressingly difficult to interpret. The conferees direct VA 
in the fiscal year 2018 budget submission and in future years 
to include a list of the projects that are funded in the 
request, with the project's Strategic Capital Investment 
Priorities score identified. Recognizing that the list of 
funded projects may change during the course of the year, VA is 
directed to provide quarterly updates to the Committees that 
identify any changes to the list provided in the budget.

                    MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

      The conference agreement provides $675,366,000 for 
Medical and Prosthetic Research, available until September 30, 
2018. Bill language is included to ensure that the Secretary 
allocates adequate funding for research on gender-appropriate 
prosthetics and toxic exposures.
      Gulf War symptoms study.--The conferees are aware that on 
March 23, 2015, VA contracted with the Institute of Medicine to 
fulfill the mandated Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans report as 
required by Public Law 110-389 and that VA is now in receipt of 
the report. The conferees direct the Department to review the 
report in an expeditious manner and transmit it to the 
appropriate congressional committees of jurisdiction not later 
than 60 days after the beginning of fiscal year 2017.
      New research areas.--As indicated in the House report, 
the conferees encourage VA to create a Center of Innovation for 
research support and use as candidates for initial research 
hyperbaric oxygen therapy and magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance 
therapy.
      Study on toxic exposures.--The conferees are aware the 
Department is finalizing a contract with the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to assess the 
current research available on possible generational health 
effects that may be the result of toxic exposures experienced 
by veterans. The conferees are aware NASEM will also assess 
areas requiring further scientific study on the descendants of 
veterans with toxic exposures. In addition, NASEM will further 
assess the scope and methodology required to conduct research 
on such descendants to identify current or possible health 
effects in the veterans' descendants. The study will be similar 
to what is directed in the Senate report. The Committees have 
been provided a detailed list of the scope of the study and are 
aware the contract is to be awarded in fiscal year 2017. The 
conferees intend to monitor the award of this contract closely 
and expect the Department to finalize the award, as summarized 
above and presented to the Committees.

                    National Cemetery Administration

      The conference agreement provides $286,193,000 for the 
National Cemetery Administration (NCA). Of the amount provided, 
not to exceed 10 percent is available until September 30, 2018.
      Rural veterans burial initiative.--The Department is 
directed to submit to the Committees not later than the 
beginning of fiscal year 2017 a report detailing the progress 
to date of the Rural Veterans Burial Initiative and the 
expected timeline for completion of such initiative.

                      Departmental Administration

                         GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

      The conference agreement provides $345,391,000 for 
General Administration. Of the amount provided, not to exceed 5 
percent is available for obligation until September 30, 2018. 
The agreement continues to include bill language in section 233 
permitting the transfer of funds from this account to General 
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration.
      The conference agreement provides $10,545,000 for the 
Office of the Secretary. The recommendation fully supports and 
provides the requested amounts in fiscal year 2017 for the 
Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the 
Center for Minority Veterans, the Center for Women Veterans, 
and the Office of Survivors Assistance. The Office of 
Government Relations is funded at $9,146,000, to include not 
more than $5,900,000 for functions previously conducted by the 
Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.
      Within the amounts made available for General 
Administration, not less than an additional $1,500,000 shall be 
specifically reserved for the hiring of Veterans Integrated 
Service Network (VISN) directors; these amounts shall 
supplement and not supplant amounts included in the budget 
request for the hiring of VISN directors. Savings below the 
requested level for the Office of Congressional and Legislative 
Affairs function and the immediate Office of the Secretary have 
been repurposed for this initiative, consistent with direction 
in the Senate report.
      Improving the veterans' experience at VA.--The conferees 
note the Secretary is undertaking a major effort to better 
understand the myriad of ways veterans and eligible dependents 
interact with VA and then to measurably improve the veterans 
experience at the point of service delivery. The current 
customer experience when interacting with the Department is 
disjointed, inconsistent, and all too often frustrating for the 
veteran. For example, the VA has over 500 veteran-facing 
websites and almost a thousand 1-800 numbers for veterans to 
contact VA. To make matters worse, there is no consistent, VA-
wide performance standard for the many call centers VA 
operates. In addition, the current process for training and 
integrating staff at VA is sorely lacking and not on par with 
commercial equivalents, particularly when it comes to front-
line staff who directly interface with veterans. Also, many of 
VA's business processes (for example, compensation and pension 
exams) are built to be internal-facing instead of built to put 
the veteran at the center of the process. The sum of all these 
limitations has a direct impact on veterans. For example, only 
47 percent of veterans surveyed marked ``strongly agree or 
agree'' with this statement: ``I trust VA to fulfill our 
country's commitment to veterans.'' The conferees believe VA 
can and should redesign, measure, and improve the way VA 
provides services to veterans nationwide, and note with 
interest the recent efforts by the Secretary to do that. The 
conferees are interested in the metrics and data the Department 
has promised it can provide that will show an increase in 
veteran satisfaction resulting from the efforts the Secretary's 
office has put into place over the past year intending to 
improve the veteran experience. The Department is directed to 
report quarterly to the Committees metrics and data that show 
improvement in customer satisfaction, the veterans experience, 
and employee training. The conferees did not provide a direct 
appropriation for this effort in fiscal year 2017; however, the 
Department is able and expected to continue improving the 
veterans experience.
      Financial management system.--The conference agreement 
includes $8,000,000 in this account as well as $44,300,000 in 
the Information Technology Systems account for development of a 
new financial management system. The Department has dithered 
for years in replacing its antiquated legacy system and 
suffered the consequences of a near meltdown in the hospital 
system in 2015 when obligations could not be correctly 
reported. The conferees urge VA to make a decision in fiscal 
year 2016 to replace its inadequate system with a 21st century 
product so that the Committees can rely on financial 
information from VA and VA can manage its obligations.
      VA Patient Protection Act of 2016.--The conferees remain 
concerned about reports of retaliation against whistleblowers 
within the Department across the Nation. VA has promised to 
foster a culture of openness by encouraging employees to report 
cases of wrongdoing, yet there continue to be reports that 
after bringing to light cases of wrongdoing, the whistleblowers 
become subjects of retaliation. The conferees note VA must 
create an environment that allows employees to openly and 
safely advocate on behalf of veterans, consistent with 
direction in the Senate report. The conference agreement 
includes bill language in section 247 that comprehensively 
addresses the creation of a formal process for whistleblowers 
to file disclosures when operations within the Department fail 
to meet the high standards of care and service veterans 
deserve. Section 247 establishes a Central Whistleblower Office 
designed as an independent investigatory body to process VA 
employee complaints, which will ensure whistleblower 
disclosures receive the prompt, impartial attention deserved. 
Section 247 defines what actions constitute prohibited 
retaliation against whistleblowers, sets forth a process under 
which supervisors will be punished for handling disclosures 
inappropriately, and requires VA supervisors to be evaluated on 
their handling of whistleblower complaints. Further, section 
247 requires the Department to report annually to the 
Committees on the number of whistleblower complaints received 
and their outcomes and to provide the results of Office of 
Special Counsel investigations related to whistleblower 
complaints.
      Quarterly reporting.--In section 218 of the conference 
agreement, the conferees continue to direct VA to provide on a 
quarterly basis, not later than 30 days after the end of each 
quarter, a quarterly financial status report that includes, at 
a minimum, the information identified in this paragraph. Such 
information shall include:
      1. VHA obligations and collections for the four Medical 
Care accounts, Nonrecurring Maintenance (as a non-add), Medical 
Research, the VA-DOD Facility Demonstration Fund, and Medical 
Care Collections Fund (MCCF) collections--actual to date versus 
plan;
      2. Updated `VA Medical Care Obligations by Program' chart 
displayed in the fiscal year 2017 budget justification;
      3. Choice Act obligations for sections 801 and 802--
actual to date versus plan;
      4. Hepatitis C obligations, amounts funded through 
appropriations versus Choice Act, both sources actual to date 
versus plan;
      5. Cumulative tracking of all transfers made under any 
authority, including each transfer within the Medical Care 
appropriations accounts;
      6. General Administration obligations--personal services 
versus all other--actual to date versus plan;
      7. Board of Veterans Appeals obligations--personal 
services versus all other--actual to date versus plan;
      8. VBA, GOE obligations--personal services versus all 
other--actual to date versus plan;
      9. Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and 
Veterans Insurance and Indemnities--obligations year-to-date 
versus plan;
      10. NCA obligations--personal services versus all other--
actual to date versus plan;
      11. Information Technology Systems obligations--personal 
services versus all other--actual to date versus plan;
      12. Major and Minor Construction obligations--actual to 
date versus plan;
      13. Obligations to date for each Major Construction 
project, broken into design versus construction; and
      14. Status of VA full-time equivalent employment--by 
Administration/IT and revolving funds--by quarter, actual 
versus plan.

                       BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS

      The conference agreement provides $156,096,000 for the 
Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), of which not to exceed 10 
percent shall remain available until September 30, 2018. Bill 
language is included in section 233 permitting VA to transfer 
funding between this account and the General Operating 
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration account if needed to 
align funding with the appropriate account to hire staff to 
address the appeals backlog.
      The conference agreement provides the full budget request 
in recognition of the growing backlog in resolving appeals. 
However, the conferees are skeptical that, without the 
necessary legislative changes proposed by the Administration, 
VA will be able to make a significant dent in the backlog. As 
one step, the conferees urge the Board to hire additional BVA 
board members.
      Legal assistance.--The conferees request the Board to 
provide a report not later than 90 days after the beginning of 
fiscal year 2017 about the possible need for legal assistance 
by veterans who are appealing their ruling from the Veterans 
Benefits Administration. The report should include information 
about: (1) the percentage of appellants who receive free legal 
counsel from veterans service organizations or others versus 
those who represent themselves or have paid legal counsel; (2) 
the Board's estimate of unmet legal need among appellants; (3) 
possible mechanisms to provide free legal assistance to 
veterans who do not have and are unable to afford legal 
assistance; and (4) the legal assistance program provided 
through the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and 
whether such a program would be appropriate for the Board, 
including a description of program structure and cost.

                     INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

      The conference agreement provides $4,278,259,000 for 
Information Technology (IT) Systems. The agreement identifies 
separately in bill language the funding available for pay 
($1,272,548,000); operations and maintenance ($2,534,442,000); 
and systems development, modernization, and enhancement 
($471,269,000). The agreement makes $37,100,000 of pay funding 
available until the end of fiscal year 2018; $180,200,000 of 
operations and maintenance funding available until the end of 
fiscal year 2018; and all IT systems development, modernization 
and enhancement funding available until the end of fiscal year 
2018.
      The conference agreement includes $259,874,000 for VistA 
Evolution, the modernization of the interoperable electronic 
health record (EHR) or any successor program; $143,000,000 in 
information technology funding for the Veterans Benefits 
Management System which processes disability claims; 
$19,100,000 for the claims appeals modernization effort; 
$20,000,000 for Section 508 compliance efforts; $44,300,000 for 
development of a new VA financial management system; and 
$370,067,000 for the VA information security program, including 
$125,000,000 for the Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation 
program.
      As with the fiscal year 2013-2016 appropriations Acts, 
the fiscal year 2017 agreement includes a prohibition on 
obligation or expenditure of more than 25 percent of fiscal 
year 2017 funds provided for development, modernization, and 
enhancement of the VistA Evolution EHR or a successor program 
until the Department meets reporting and accountability 
requirements contained in the conference bill language.
      The conference agreement includes language prohibiting 
the obligation of IT development, modernization, and 
enhancement funding until VA submits a certification of the 
amounts to be obligated, in part or in full, for each 
development project.
      The conference agreement includes language permitting 
funding to be transferred among the three IT subaccounts, 
subject to approval from the Committees.
      The conference agreement includes language providing that 
funding may be transferred among development projects or to new 
projects subject to the Committees' approval.
      The conference agreement provides funding for IT 
development, modernization, and enhancement for the projects 
and in the amounts specified in the following table:

               INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
                        [in thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Project                             Conference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronic Health Record Interoperability/VLER Health             17,322
VistA Evolution or successor EHR program.............             63,339
Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS)...........             85,288
Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER)............             17,857
Veteran Customer Experience..........................             73,624
VHA Research IT Support Development..................             15,066
Other IT Systems Development.........................            198,773
                                                      ------------------
    Total, All Development...........................           $471,269
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      This table is intended to serve as the Department's 
approved list of development projects; any requested changes 
are subject to reprogramming requirements.
      Appointment scheduling.--For more than a decade, VA has 
spent millions in an attempt to replace its antiquated 
scheduling system. VA has begun to fix some of the worst 
problems in the system with its rollout of VistA Scheduling 
Enhancement (VSE). But further efforts to modernize scheduling 
have been put on hold until VA makes a decision about what 
direction to take with modernizing the electronic health 
record. The conferees understand the need to align the two 
systems, but are distressed about the further delays in the 
implementation of both. The conferees expect that VA will 
finalize its strategic approach for both the electronic health 
record and scheduling before the end of fiscal year 2016.
      Expenditure plan.--The conference agreement directs the 
Department to continue to provide an IT expenditure plan to the 
Committees not later than the start of fiscal year 2017, as 
indicated in both the House and Senate reports. This plan 
should be in the same format as the table above.
      Periodic briefings.--The conferees continue to require VA 
to provide quarterly briefings to the Committees regarding 
schedule, milestones, and obligations for VistA Evolution or 
any successor program. The conferees also require quarterly 
briefings from the DOD/VA Interagency Program Office on the EHR 
interoperability project.
      Data matching with the Department of Education.--The 
conferees urge VA to establish a matching program with the 
Department of Education to identify veterans who are 
unemployable due to a service-connected disability. Under 
current law, veterans who have been determined by VA to be 
unemployable due to a service-connected disability are also 
eligible for student loan forgiveness. However, given the 
complexity of the loan discharge process and the seeming lack 
of communication between the Departments of Veterans Affairs 
and Education, disabled veterans would stand to benefit from 
greater coordination between the two Departments.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

      The conference agreement provides $160,106,000 for the 
Office of Inspector General (OIG). Of the amount provided, not 
to exceed 10 percent is available for obligation until 
September 30, 2018. The conference agreement directs that the 
OIG should post publicly any report or audit not later than 3 
days after it is submitted to the Secretary in final form.

                      CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

      The conference agreement provides $528,110,000 for 
Construction, Major Projects, which is the same as the budget 
request. The agreement makes this funding available for five 
years, except that $50,000,000 is made available until 
expended.
      Outside project management.--To ensure the Department 
will never again mishandle public funds on a construction 
project in the manner and to the degree the Denver VA Medical 
Center in Aurora, CO, was mismanaged, the conference agreement 
directs that $222,620,000 for Veterans Health Administration 
major construction projects shall not be available until the 
Department enters into an agreement with a non-Department of 
Veterans Affairs Federal entity to serve as the design and/or 
construction agent for each major construction project with a 
total estimated cost of $100,000,000 or above. The conference 
agreement makes the funding available for obligation for each 
project only after VA certifies that the agreement with the 
non-Department Federal entity is in effect for that project. 
The two VHA projects affected by the fencing provision are in 
Reno, Nevada, and Long Beach, California. The requirement to 
contract with an outside agent for major construction projects 
was also mandated in Section 502 of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-58), 
enacted on September 30, 2015. The law contemplates that the 
non-Department Federal entity will provide management over all 
or part of the project design, acquisition, construction, and 
appropriate contract changes, and the Department will reimburse 
the entity for all appropriate costs associated with the 
provision of such services.
      The conference agreement funds the following items as 
requested in the budget submission:

                      CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS
                        [in thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Conference
               Location and description                    Agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veterans Health Admin. (VHA):
    Long Beach, CA, seismic corrections for mental               $30,200
     health and community living center..............
    Reno, NV, upgrade seismic, life safety,                      192,420
     utilities, and expand clinical services.........
    Advance Planning and Design Fund--various                     65,000
     locations.......................................
Major Construction staff--various locations..........             24,000
Claims Analysis--various locations...................              5,000
Hazardous Waste--various locations...................             10,000
Judgment Fund--various locations.....................              9,000
Non-Dept. Fed. Entity Project Management Support.....             49,490
                                                      ------------------
    Total VHA........................................            385,110
National Cemetery Admin. (NCA):
    Elmira, NY--new national cemetery--Western NY....             36,000
    Las Animas, CO--new national cemetery--Southern               36,000
     CO..............................................
    Jacksonville, FL--gravesite expansion............             24,000
    South Florida, FL --gravesite expansion..........             31,000
    Advance Planning and Design Fund--various                     10,000
     locations.......................................
                                                      ------------------
        Total NCA....................................            137,000
General Admin.:
    Staff Offices Advance Planning Fund..............              6,000
                                                      ------------------
        Major Construction total.....................           $528,110
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Major construction budget justification documents.--The 
conferees reiterate their concerns regarding the budget 
justifications submitted for projects funded in this account. 
The congressional budget justification materials that accompany 
the President's Budget require a greater level of detail to 
enhance oversight of the Department's major construction 
projects. Therefore, the conference agreement includes a new 
administrative provision section 258, requiring the Department 
to submit enhanced budget justification documents for projects 
for which funds are requested. Pursuant to section 258, such 
justifications shall include, at a minimum, the following 
elements for all major construction projects:
      1. Project description, to include phases (if applicable) 
delineated by fiscal year, funding for each phase by fiscal 
year, and a detailed description of what that funding procures;
      2. Project justification and analysis of benefits;
      3. A comparison of budget authority with the prior year's 
President's Budget for budget authority already received and 
needed in future years;
      4. A justification of any cost, schedule, or design 
change from prior years;
      5. Total estimated cost with a detailed breakout by 
design, construction (differentiated by primary and support 
facilities), and operating costs;
      6. A complete project schedule to include dates 
indicating design start, 35 percent design completion, award of 
construction documents, design completion, award of 
construction contract, and estimated construction completion;
      7. Design contract type;
      8. An analysis of alternatives with associated costs;
      9. Demographic data; and
      10. Workload data.
      The Department is directed to submit this information in 
a format resembling the Department of Defense form 1391 (DD 
1391). In addition, language is included requiring the 
Department to submit a proposed budget justification template 
that complies with this requirement to the Committees within 45 
days of enactment of this Act.
      Alternative sources of construction funding.--The 
conferees are aware of the budget challenges with new facility 
construction at VA. The conferees are pleased that VA has begun 
to work with the private sector in developing public-private 
partnerships (P3). P3 projects take advantage of readily 
available private sector investment capital, expertise, and 
entrepreneurial discipline. Where private sector financing has 
already been identified, and where practical, the conferees 
urge VA to use a P3 model on future VA construction projects.

                      CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

      The conference agreement provides $372,069,000 for 
Construction, Minor Projects. The agreement makes this funding 
available for five years. Included within the total is 
$285,000,000 for the Veterans Health Administration; 
$56,890,000 for the National Cemetery Administration; 
$20,000,000 for the Veterans Benefits Administration; and 
$10,179,000 for General Administration--Staff Offices.
      Expenditure Plan.--The conference agreement includes a 
directive for the Department to provide an expenditure plan not 
later than 30 days after the beginning of the fiscal year, as 
provided in the Senate report. This expenditure plan shall 
include a complete list of minor construction projects to be 
supported with the fiscal year 2017 appropriation. The plan 
shall be updated six months and twelve months after enactment.

       GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

      The conference agreement provides $90,000,000 for Grants 
for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, to remain 
available until expended.

             GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES

      The conference agreement provides $45,000,000 for Grants 
for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries, to remain available 
until expended.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

             (INCLUDING TRANSFERS AND RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

      The conference agreement includes section 201 allowing 
for transfer of funds among the three mandatory accounts.
      The conference agreement includes section 202 allowing 
for the transfer of funds among the four medical accounts.
      The conference agreement includes section 203 allowing 
salaries and expenses funds to be used for related authorized 
purposes.
      The conference agreement includes section 204 restricting 
the accounts that may be used for the acquisition of land or 
the construction of any new hospital or home.
      The conference agreement includes section 205 limiting 
the use of funds in the Medical Services account only for 
entitled beneficiaries unless reimbursement is made to the 
Department.
      The conference agreement includes section 206 allowing 
for the use of certain mandatory appropriations accounts for 
payment of prior year accrued obligations for those accounts.
      The conference agreement includes section 207 allowing 
the use of appropriations available in this title to pay prior 
year obligations.
      The conference agreement includes section 208 allowing 
the Department to use surplus earnings from the National 
Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans' Special Life 
Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance 
Fund to administer these programs.
      The conference agreement includes section 209 allowing 
the Department to cover the administrative expenses of 
enhanced-use leases and provides authority to obligate these 
reimbursements in the year in which the proceeds are received.
      The conference agreement includes section 210 limiting 
the amount of reimbursement the Office of Resolution Management 
and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint 
Adjudication can charge other offices of the Department for 
services provided.
      The conference agreement includes section 211 requiring 
the Department to collect third-party payer information for 
persons treated for a non-service-connected disability.
      The conference agreement includes section 212 allowing 
for the use of enhanced-use leasing revenues for Construction, 
Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects.
      The conference agreement includes section 213 outlining 
authorized uses for Medical Services funds.
      The conference agreement includes section 214 allowing 
for funds deposited into the Medical Care Collections Fund to 
be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community 
Care accounts.
      The conference agreement includes section 215 which 
allows Alaskan veterans to use medical facilities of the Indian 
Health Service or tribal organizations.
      The conference agreement includes section 216 permitting 
the transfer of funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Capital Asset Fund to the Construction, Major Projects and 
Construction, Minor Projects accounts and makes those funds 
available until expended.
      The conference agreement includes section 217 rescinding 
$7,246,181,000 of fiscal year 2017 Medical Services funds that 
were provided in advance. This funding is now provided through 
the Medical Community Care account.
      The conference agreement includes section 218 requiring 
the Secretary to submit financial status quarterly reports for 
each of the Administrations in the Department. The specific 
data requested is similar to that requested in the fiscal year 
2016 conference report.
      The conference agreement includes section 219 requiring 
the Department to notify and receive approval from the 
Committees of any proposed transfer of funding to or from the 
Information Technology Systems account and limits the aggregate 
annual increase in the account to no more than 10 percent of 
the funding appropriated to the account in this Act.
      The conference agreement includes section 220 prohibiting 
any funds from being used in a manner that is inconsistent with 
statutory limitations on outsourcing.
      The conference agreement includes section 221 providing 
up to $274,731,000 of fiscal year 2017 funds for transfer to 
the Joint DOD-VA Medical Facility Demonstration Fund.
      The conference agreement includes section 222 which 
permits up to $280,802,000 of fiscal year 2018 medical care 
funding provided in advance to be transferred to the Joint DOD-
VA Medical Facility Demonstration Fund.
      The conference agreement includes section 223 which 
authorizes transfers from the Medical Care Collections Fund to 
the Joint DOD-VA Medical Facility Demonstration Fund.
      The conference agreement includes section 224 which 
transfers at least $15,000,000 from VA medical accounts to the 
DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund.
      The conference agreement includes section 225 prohibiting 
funds available to the Department in this or any other Act from 
being used to replace the current system by which VISNs select 
and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment.
      The conference agreement includes section 226 requiring 
that the Department notify the Committees of bid savings in a 
major construction project of at least $5,000,000, or 5 
percent, whichever is less, 14 days prior to the obligation of 
the bid savings and their anticipated use.
      The conference agreement includes section 227 which 
prohibits VA from increasing the scope of work for a major 
construction project above the scope specified in the original 
budget request unless the Secretary receives approval from the 
Committees.
      The conference agreement includes section 228 requiring a 
quarterly report from each VBA regional office on pending 
disability claims, both initial and supplemental; error rates; 
the number of claims processing personnel; corrective actions 
taken; training programs; and review team audit results.
      The conference agreement includes section 229 limiting 
the funding from the Medical Services and Medical Support and 
Compliance accounts for the electronic health record and 
electronic health record interoperability projects.
      The conference agreement includes section 230 requiring 
VA to notify the Committees 15 days prior to any staff office 
relocations within VA of 25 or more FTE.
      The conference agreement includes section 231 requiring 
the Secretary to report to the Committees each quarter about 
any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign 
exceeding $2,000,000.
      The conference agreement includes section 232 permitting 
the transfer to the Medical Services account of fiscal year 
discretionary 2017 funds appropriated in this Act or available 
from advance fiscal year 2017 funds already appropriated, 
except for funds appropriated to General Operating Expenses, 
VBA, to address possible unmet, high priority needs in Medical 
Services. Such unanticipated demands may result from 
circumstances such as a greater than projected number of 
enrollees or higher intensity of use of benefits. Any such 
transfer requires the approval of the Committees.
      The conference agreement includes section 233 permitting 
the transfer of funding between the General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration account and the Board of 
Veterans Appeals account if necessary to permit the hiring of 
staffing at the appropriate stage of the appeals process to 
address mounting claims appeals workload. Any such transfer 
requires the approval of the Committees.
      The conference agreement includes section 234 prohibiting 
the Secretary from reprogramming funds in excess of $5,000,000 
among major construction projects or programs unless the 
reprogramming is approved by the Committees.
      The conference agreement includes section 235 rescinding 
$40,000,000 in unobligated balances in the DOD-VA Health Care 
Sharing Incentive Fund.
      The conference agreement includes sections 236 and 237 
making general rescissions of $169,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 
advance appropriations and reductions of $23,000,000 in fiscal 
year 2017 current funded appropriations.
      The conference agreement includes section 238 mandating 
certain professional standards for the veterans crisis hotline.
      The conference agreement includes section 239 pertaining 
to certification of marriage and family therapists.
      The conference agreement includes section 240 restricting 
funds from being used to close certain medical facilities in 
the absence of a national realignment strategy.
      The conference agreement includes section 241 which 
prohibits funds from being used to transfer funding from the 
Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other VA 
account.
      The conference agreement includes section 242 which 
provides an extension through fiscal year 2017 of the Access 
Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program.
      The conference agreement includes section 243 which ends 
a co-payment requirement for opioid antagonists and supports 
education on the use of opioid antagonists.
      The conference agreement includes section 244 requiring 
the VA Inspector General to make public all work products.
      The conference agreement includes section 245 permitting 
funding to be used in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 to carry out 
and expand the child care pilot program authorized by section 
205 of Public Law 111-163.
      The conference agreement includes section 246 making 
mandatory the reporting to State prescription drug monitoring 
programs.
      The conference agreement includes section 247 which 
includes the text of the VA Patient Protection Act of 2016 
addressing protections for VA whistleblowers.
      The conference agreement includes section 248 identifying 
information which may be used to verify the status of coastwise 
merchant seamen who served during World War II for the purposes 
of eligibility for medals, ribbons, or other military 
decorations.
      The conference agreement includes section 249 providing 
monthly assistance allowances for disabled veterans competing 
on United States Olympic teams.
      The conference agreement includes section 250 which 
provides coverage under the VA beneficiary travel program for 
certain types of special disabilities rehabilitation.
      The conference agreement includes section 251 which 
requires VA to conduct annual inspections of kitchens and food 
service areas of each medical facility, through the Joint 
Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations, with 
required remediation if necessary.
      The conference agreement includes section 252 which 
requires VA to conduct periodic inspections of mold issues at 
VA medical facilities through the Joint Commission on 
Accreditation of Hospital Organizations, along with required 
remediation if necessary.
      The conference agreement includes section 253 reinstating 
the requirement for a report on the capacity of VA to provide 
for specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled 
veterans.
      The conference agreement includes section 254 permitting 
the Secretary to use appropriated funds to ensure particular 
ratios of veterans to full-time employment equivalents within 
any VA program of rehabilitation.
      The conference agreement includes section 255 indicating 
that no funds available in the Act may be used to deny the 
Inspector General timely access to Department records and 
documents over which the Inspector General has responsibilities 
under the Inspector General Act of 1978.
      The conference agreement includes section 256 forbidding 
funds to be used to enter into a settlement that would restrict 
an individual's freedom to speak to Members of Congress or 
their staff.
      The conference agreement includes section 257 providing 
authority for the Veterans Health Administration to administer 
the National Veterans Sports Program.
      The conference agreement includes section 258 requiring 
certain data to be included in budget justifications for Major 
Construction projects.
      The conference agreement includes section 259 which 
authorizes 8 VA major construction projects that were funded in 
fiscal year 2016.
      The conference agreement includes section 260 allowing 
the use of Medical Services funding for fertility treatment and 
adoption reimbursement for veterans and their spouses if the 
veteran has a service-connected disability that results in 
being unable to procreate without such fertility treatment.
      The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and 
publish implementing guidance within 120 days of enactment of 
this Act. The implementing guidance developed by the Secretary 
shall not be materially different from, and in no way more 
expansive than, the implementing guidance promulgated by the 
Department of Defense in the April 3, 2012 memorandum from the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) entitled 
``Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services for the Benefit of 
Seriously or Severly Ill/Injured (Category II or III) Active 
Duty Service Members''.

                      TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES

                  AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement includes $75,100,000 for 
Salaries and Expenses of the American Battle Monuments 
Commission (ABMC), as requested.
      The conferees appreciate and support the meaningful work 
of the ABMC to preserve commemorative and historical sites and 
to educate the public about the United States Armed Forces. The 
conferees further recognize the critical role that African 
Americans and other minorities played during World War II. The 
conferees urge the ABMC to partner with Department of Defense 
historians to ensure that these servicemembers and support 
staff are properly recognized at ABMC sites. Further, the 
conferees direct the ABMC to appropriately incorporate the 
contributions of African Americans and other minorities into 
ABMC's interpretive exhibits and on the ABMC website.

                 FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement includes such sums as necessary 
for the Foreign Currency Fluctuations Account. However, due to 
favorable exchange rates, no funds are expected to be required 
in fiscal year 2017.

           UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement includes $30,945,000 for 
Salaries and Expenses for the United States Court of Appeals 
for Veterans Claims, as requested.

                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL

                       CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement includes $70,800,000 for 
Cemeterial Expenses, Army--Salaries and Expenses, as requested. 
Within that amount, up to $15,000,000 in funding is available 
until September 30, 2019.

                ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME TRUST FUND

      The conference agreement includes a total of $64,300,000 
for the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), as requested, but 
does not provide the funds in the manner requested. The 
agreement does not include the indefinite transfer of an 
estimated $22,000,000 in funds from the Department of Defense 
(DOD), Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide Account, as 
requested. Instead, the conference agreement directs that 
$42,300,000 be derived from the Trust Fund and $22,000,000 be 
provided from the General Fund to support AFRH operations.
      Trust Fund Solvency.--The conferees are disappointed the 
Department of Defense did not include with the fiscal year 2017 
budget request legislative proposals and administrative actions 
that can be taken under current law in order to achieve Trust 
Fund solvency in spite of clear direction to do so in the 
Explanatory Statement accompanying Public Law 114-113, the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. Both legislative and 
administrative actions are necessary to improve Trust Fund 
solvency, eliminate AFRH's reliance on the General Fund, and 
maintain the high-quality services provided to AFRH residents. 
The conferees again direct DOD, working with AFRH, to take 
appropriate administrative action and to develop and submit 
proposed authorizing language with the fiscal year 2018 budget 
request that addresses the issue of Trust Fund solvency. In 
addition, AFRH is directed to regularly report to the 
Committees on efforts to stabilize the Trust Fund and to lease 
its property at the Washington, D.C. facility.
      Study Findings and Proposals.--AFRH's budget request 
notes that DOD has undertaken an in-depth study to develop mid-
term and long-term plans to improve Trust Fund solvency. The 
study also includes an analysis of AFRH operations to include 
benchmarking and to identify potential legislative changes to 
revise AFRH's funding model. The Committees request further 
information from DOD regarding the study, including a report on 
its cost, scope of work, deliverables, and timeline, and 
requests a briefing on the findings and resulting proposals. 
The conferees are troubled that the study's statement of work 
seems to be focused on cuts to core AFRH operations as a means 
of achieving Trust Fund solvency. The conference agreement 
directs that AFRH and the Department of Defense submit by 
October 1, 2016, a proposal that ensures the long-term 
sustainability of the Trust Fund by replenishing the Trust 
Fund's revenues, not by cutting core AFRH operations.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

      The conference agreement includes section 301 permitting 
funds to be provided to Arlington County, Virginia, for the 
relocation of a water main located on the Arlington National 
Cemetery property.
      The conference agreement includes section 302 allowing 
Arlington National Cemetery to deposit and use funds derived 
from concessions.

               TITLE IV--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

      The conference agreement includes title IV, Overseas 
Contingency Operations, for military construction projects 
related to the Global War on Terrorism, the European 
Reassurance Initiative and Counterterrorism Support that were 
requested by the Administration in the Fiscal Year 2017 
Overseas Contingency Operations budget request.

                      MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

      The conference agreement includes $18,900,000 for 
``Military Construction, Army'', as requested in the Fiscal 
Year 2017 Overseas Contingency Operations budget request, for 
planning and design in support of the European Reassurance 
Initiative.

              MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

      The conference agreement includes $59,809,000 for 
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', as requested 
in the Fiscal Year 2017 Overseas Contingency Operations budget 
request, of which $21,400,000 is in support of the European 
Reassurance Initiative and $38,409,000 is in support of 
Overseas Contingency Operations.

                    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

      The conference agreement includes $88,291,000 for 
``Military Construction, Air Force'', as requested in the 
Fiscal Year 2017 Overseas Contingency Operations budget 
request, of which $68,280,000 is in support of the European 
Reassurance Initiative, $11,440,000 is in support of Overseas 
Contingency Operations, and $8,571,000 is in support of 
counterterrorism efforts.

                  MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

      The conference agreement includes $5,000,000 for 
``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', as requested in the 
Fiscal Year 2017 Overseas Contingency Operations budget 
request, for unspecified minor military construction for the 
Joint Staff in support of the European Reassurance Initiative.

                        ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

      The conference agreement includes section 401 regarding 
emergency designation for the Overseas Contingency Operations 
accounts.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                      TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS

      The conference agreement includes section 501 prohibiting 
the obligation of funds in this Act beyond the current fiscal 
year unless expressly so provided.
      The conference agreement includes section 502 prohibiting 
the use of the funds in this Act for programs, projects, or 
activities not in compliance with Federal law relating to risk 
assessment, the protection of private property rights, or 
unfunded mandates.
      The conference agreement includes section 503 encouraging 
all Departments to expand their use of ``E-Commerce.''
      The conference agreement includes section 504 specifying 
the congressional committees that are to receive all reports 
and notifications.
      The conference agreement includes section 505 prohibiting 
the transfer of funds to any instrumentality of the United 
States Government without authority from an appropriations Act.
      The conference agreement includes section 506 prohibiting 
the use of funds for a project or program named for a serving 
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the United States 
House of Representatives.
      The conference agreement includes section 507 requiring 
all reports submitted to Congress to be posted on official web 
sites of the submitting agency.
      The conference agreement includes section 508 prohibiting 
the use of funds to establish or maintain a computer network 
unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and 
exchanging of pornography, except for law enforcement 
investigation, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
      The conference agreement includes section 509 prohibiting 
the use of funds for the payment of first-class air travel by 
an employee of the executive branch.
      The conference agreement includes section 510 prohibiting 
the use of funds in this Act for any contract where the 
contractor has not complied with E-Verify requirements.
      The conference agreement includes section 511 prohibiting 
the use of funds in this Act by the Department of Defense or 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purchase or lease of 
a new vehicle except in accordance with Presidential 
Memorandum--Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011.
      The conference agreement includes section 512 prohibiting 
the use of funds in this Act for the renovation, expansion, or 
construction of any facility in the continental United States 
for the purpose of housing any individual who has been detained 
at the United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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       DIVISION B--ZIKA RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS APPROPRIATIONS

      The conference agreement includes $1,108,094,000 in 
fiscal year 2016 appropriations for Zika response and 
preparedness. These funds will provide the Department of Health 
and Human Services and Department of State, and the U.S. Agency 
for International Development, with additional resources to 
combat the Zika virus. In addition, the conference agreement 
includes a rescission of $10,000,000 from unobligated balances 
of Ebola response and preparedness funds under Operating 
Expenses of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
      Within the funds provided for Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), the conferees intend a robust level of 
funding to support mosquito control efforts conducted by State, 
county, or municipal programs, including mosquito control 
districts. CDC should consider the risk of active or local 
transmission of the Zika virus when allocating such funds. The 
conferees also encourage the Secretary to update the Healthcare 
Common Procedure Coding System to account for specific coding 
requirements and adequate reimbursement rates for Zika 
diagnostic tests recognized by the Food and Drug 
Administration.
      A table displaying additional detail for the funding in 
division B follows.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                  DIVISION C--ZIKA VECTOR CONTROL ACT

      The conference agreement includes the ``Zika Vector 
Control Act'' as division C.

                    DIVISION D--RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS

      The conference agreement includes $750,000,000 in 
budgetary savings for fiscal year 2016, as follows:
             $543,000,000 are rescinded from amounts 
        available under section 1323(c)(1) of the Patient 
        Protection and Affordable Care Act;
             $100,000,000 are rescinded from the Non-
        recurring expenses fund of the Department of Health and 
        Human Services; and
             $107,000,000 are rescinded from the 
        unobligated balances of Ebola response and preparedness 
        funds under the Economic Support Fund heading.

                                   Harold Rogers,
                                   Tom Cole,
                                   Kay Granger,
                                   Charles W. Dent,
                                   Jeff Fortenberry,
                                   Thomas J. Rooney,
                                   Martha Roby,
                                   David G. Valadao,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Mark Kirk,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Lisa Murkowski,
                                   John Hoeven,
                                   Susan Collins,
                                   John Boozman,
                                   Shelley Moore Capito,
                                   Roy Blunt,
                                   Lindsey Graham,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                  [all]