,,ii  #aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,h4 ,r4 #bdif  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of 
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #ba1      
#bjae,received  ,,an ,,act  ,to extend  
the authorization for the replacement of
 the existing ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs ,medical ,center in ,denver1   
,colorado1 to make certain improvements 
in the ,veterans ,access1 ,choice1 and  
,accountability ,act of #bjad1 and for  
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this 
,act may be cited as the ,construction  
,authorization and ,choice ,improvement 
,act4  #b4 ,extension of authorization  
for major medical facility construction 
project previously authorized  7a7 ,in  
general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans    
,affairs may carry out the replacement  
of the existing ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs ,medical ,center in ,denver1  
,colorado1 in fiscal year #bjae1 in an  
amount not to exceed #ijj1jjj1jjj4  7b7 
,limitation on obligation of funds      
,notwithstanding section #hajd7;c7 of   
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 or any

 other provision of law1 funds may not  
be obligated or expended for the project
 described in subsection 7a7 in an      
amount that would cause the total amount
 obligated for that project to exceed   
the amount specified in the law for that
 project 7or would add to total         
obligations exceeding such specified    
amount74  #c4 ,clarification of distance
 requirement for expanded availability  
of hospital care and medical services   
for veterans through the use of         
agreements with non-,department of      
,veterans ,affairs entities  7a7 ,in    
general ,section #aja7;b77#b7 of the    
,veterans ,access1 ,choice1 and         
,accountability ,act of #bjad 7,public  
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note7
 is amended--  7#a7 in subparagraph     
7,b71 by inserting 7as calculated based 
on distance traveled7 after #dj miles2  
and  7#b7 in subparagraph 7,d77ii71 by  
striking subclause 7,,ii71 and inserting
 the following new subclause 7,,ii73    
7,,ii7 faces an unusual or excessive    

burden in traveling to such a medical   
facility of the ,department based on--  
7aa7 geographical challenges2  7bb7     
environmental factors1 such as roads    
that are not accessible to the general  
public1 traffic1 or hazardous weather2  
7cc7 a medical condition that impacts   
the ability to travel2 or  7dd7 other   
factors1 as determined by the           
,secretary4  4  7b7 ,effective date ,the
 amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall
 take effect on the date of the         
enactment of this ,act and apply with   
respect to care or services provided on 
or after such date4  ,passed the ,house 
of ,representatives ,may #ba1           
#bjae4,karen ,l4 ,haas1,clerk