,,ii #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccfd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bj1 #bjaf,mrs4 ,fischer 7for herself and ,mrs4 ,feinstein7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to carry out a pilot program to accept the donation of facilities and related improvements for use by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,communities ,helping ,invest through ,property and ,improvements ,needed for ,veterans ,act of #bjaf or the ,,chip ,,in for ,vets ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,pilot program on acceptance by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs of donated facilities and related improvements 7a7 ,pilot program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding sections #hajc and #hajd of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may carry out a pilot program under which the ,secretary may accept donations of the following property from entities described in paragraph 7#b73 7,a7 ,real property 7including structures and equipment associated therewith7-- 7i7 that includes a constructed facility2 or 7ii7 to be used as the site of a facility constructed by the entity4 7,b7 ,a facility to be constructed by the entity on real property of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7#b7 ,entities described ,entities described in this paragraph are the following3 7,a7 ,a ,state or local authority4 7,b7 ,an organization that is described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and is exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 7,c7 ,a limited liability corporation4 7,d7 ,a private entity4 7,e7 ,a donor or donor group4 7,f7 ,any other non-,federal ,government entity4 7#c7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary may accept not more than five donations of real property and facility improvements under the pilot program and as described in this section4 7b7 ,conditions for acceptance of property ,the ,secretary may accept the donation of a property described in subsection 7a77#a7 under the pilot program only if-- 7#a7 the property is-- 7,a7 a property with respect to which funds have been appropriated for a ,department facility project2 or 7,b7 a property identified as-- 7i7 meeting a need of the ,department as part of the long-range capital planning process of the ,department2 and 7ii7 the location for a ,department facility project that is included on the ,strategic ,capital ,investment ,planning process priority list in the most recent budget submitted to ,congress by the ,president pursuant to section #aaje7;a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7#b7 an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 has entered into or is willing to enter into a formal agreement with the ,secretary in accordance with subsection 7c7 under which the entity agrees to independently donate the real property1 improvements1 goods1 or services1 for the ,department facility project in an amount acceptable to the ,secretary and at no additional cost to the ,federal ,government4 7c7 ,requirement ,to enter into an agreement 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may accept real property and improvements donated under the pilot program by an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 only if the entity enters into a formal agreement with the ,secretary that provides for-- 7,a7 the donation of real property and improvements 7including structures and equipment associated therewith7 that includes a constructed facility2 or 7,b7 the construction by the entity of a facility on-- 7i7 real property and improvements of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 or 7ii7 real property and improvements donated to the ,department by the entity4 7#b7 ,content of certain agreements ,with respect to an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 that seeks to enter into a formal agreement under paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection that includes the construction by the entity of a facility1 the formal agreement shall provide for the following3 7,a7 ,the entity shall conduct all necessary environmental and historic preservation due diligence1 shall comply with all local zoning requirements 7except for studies and consultations required of the ,department under ,federal law71 and shall obtain all permits required in connection with the construction of the facility4 7,b7 ,the entity shall use construction standards required of the ,department when designing and building the facility1 except to the extent the ,secretary determines otherwise4 7,c7 ,the entity shall provide the real property1 improvements1 goods1 or services in a manner described in subsection 7b77#b7 sufficient to complete the construction of the facility1 at no additional cost to the ,federal ,government4 7d7 ,no payment of rent or usage fees ,the ,secretary may not pay rent1 usage fees1 or any other amounts to an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 or any other entity for the use or occupancy of real property or improvements donated under this section4 7e7 ,funding 7#a7 ,from ,department 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may not provide funds to help the entity finance1 design1 or construct a facility in connection with real property and improvements donated under the pilot program by an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 that are in addition to the funds appropriated for the facility as of the date on which the ,secretary and the entity enter into a formal agreement under subsection 7c7 for the donation of the real property and improvements4 7,b7 ,terms and conditions ,the ,secretary shall provide funds pursuant to subparagraph 7,a7 under such terms1 conditions1 and schedule as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7#b7 ,from entity ,an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 that is donating a facility constructed by the entity under the pilot program shall be required1 pursuant to a formal agreement entered under subsection 7c71 to provide other funds in addition to the amounts provided by the ,department under paragraph 7#a7 that are needed to complete construction of the facility4 7f7 ,application ,an entity described in subsection 7a77#b7 that seeks to donate real property and improvements under the pilot program shall submit to the ,secretary an application to address needs relating to facilities of the ,department1 including health care needs1 identified in the ,construction and ,long-,range ,capital ,plan of the ,department1 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7g7 ,information on donations and related projects 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall include in the budget submitted to ,congress by the ,president pursuant to section #aaje7;a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 information regarding real property and improvements donated under the pilot program during the year preceding the submittal of the budget and the status of facility projects relating to that property4 7#b7 ,elements ,information submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include a detailed status of donations of real property and improvements conducted under the pilot program and facility projects relating to that property1 including the percentage completion of the donations and projects4 7h7 ,biennial report of ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states ,not less frequently than once every two years until the termination date set forth in subsection 7i71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the donation arrangements entered into under the pilot program4 7i7 ,termination ,the authority for the ,secretary to accept donations under the pilot program shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7j7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on the authority of the ,secretary to enter into other arrangements or agreements that are authorized by law and not inconsistent with this section4