,,ib  ,union ,calendar ,no4 #hfg  #aaeth
 ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4     
#dbdc  ,report ,no4 #aae-ajcf1 ,part ,i 
,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of                 
,,representatives  ,november #c1 #bjag  
,mr4 ,roe of ,tennessee 7for himself1   
,mr4 ,coffman1 ,mr4 ,wenstrup1 ,mrs4    
,radewagen1 ,mr4 ,bost1 ,mr4 ,poliquin1 
,mr4 ,arrington1 ,mr4 ,rutherford1 ,mr4 
,higgins of ,louisiana1 ,mr4 ,bergman1  
,mr4 ,banks of ,indiana1 ,miss          
,gonzlez-,coln of ,puerto ,rico1 and    
,mr4 ,dunn7 introduced the following    
bill2 which was referred to the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs1 and  
in addition to the ,committees on ,rules
 and ,appropriations1 for a period to be
 subsequently determined by the         
,speaker1 in each case for consideration
 of such provisions as fall within the  
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
,november #af1 #bjah ,reported from the 
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs with  
an amendment ,strike out all after the  
enacting clause and insert the part     

printed in italic  ,november #af1 #bjah 
,referral to the ,committees on ,rules  
and ,appropriations extended for a      
period ending not later than ,december  
#bh1 #bjah ,for text of introduced bill1
 see copy of bill as introduced on      
,november #c1 #bjag  ,december #bh1     
#bjah;,additional sponsors3 ,mr4        
,bilirakis1 ,mr4 ,sessions1 and ,mr4    
,francis ,rooney of ,florida  ,december 
#bh1 #bjah;,committees on ,rules and    
,appropriations discharged2 committed to
 the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on 
the ,state of the ,union and ordered to 
be printed  ,a ,,bill  ,to establish a  
commission for the purpose of making    
recommendations regarding the           
modernization or realignment of         
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration1 to improve construction
 and management leases of the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 to   
amend and appropriate funds for the     
,veterans ,choice ,program1 and for     
other purposes4  #a4 ,table of contents 

,the table of contents for this ,act is 
as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,table of         
contents4 ,title ,i--,asset and         
,infrastructure ,review ,sec4 #aja4     
,short title4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,the          
,commission4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,procedure for 
making recommendations4 ,sec4 #ajd4     
,actions regarding infrastructure and   
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration4 ,sec4 #aje4            
,implementation4 ,sec4 #ajf4 ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs ,asset and       
,infrastructure ,review ,account4 ,sec4 
#ajg4 ,congressional consideration of   
,commission report4 ,sec4 #ajh4 ,other  
matters4 ,sec4 #aji4 ,definitions4      
,title ,,ii--,improvements to           
construction management and leases ,sec4
 #bja4 ,modification of thresholds for  
major medical facility projects and     
major medical facility leases4 ,sec4    
#bjb4 ,submission of prospectuses of    
proposed minor medical facility         
projects4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,improvement to   
training of construction personnel4     

,sec4 #bjd4 ,authority to plan1 design1 
construct1 or lease shared medical      
facilities4 ,sec4 #bje4 ,enhanced use   
lease authority4 ,title ,,iii--,other   
,matters ,sec4 #cja4 ,exception on      
limitation on awards and bonuses for    
recruitment1 relocation1 and retention4 
,sec4 #cjb4 ,appropriation of amounts4  
,sec4 #cjc4 ,assessment of health care  
furnished by the ,department to veterans
 who live in the territories4  ,i ,asset
 and ,infrastructure ,review  #aja4     
,short title ,this title may be cited as
 the ,,va ,asset and ,infrastructure    
,review ,act of #bjag4  #ajb4 ,the      
,commission  7a7 ,establishment ,there  
is established an independent commission
 to be known as the ,asset and          
,infrastructure ,review ,commission 7in 
this title referred to as the           
,commission74  7b7 ,duties ,the         
,commission shall carry out the duties  
specified for it in this title4  7c7    
,appointment  7#a7 ,in general  7,a7    
,appointment ,the ,commission shall be  

composed of #i members appointed by the 
,president1 by and with the advice and  
consent of the ,senate4  7,b7           
,transmission of nominations ,the       
,president shall transmit to the ,senate
 the nominations for appointment to the 
,commission not later than ,may #ca1    
#bjba4  7#b7 ,consultation in selection 
process ,in selecting individuals for   
nominations for appointments to the     
,commission1 the ,president shall       
consult with--  7,a7 the ,speaker of the
 ,house of ,representatives2  7,b7 the  
majority leader of the ,senate2  7,c7   
the minority leader of the ,house of    
,representatives2  7,d7 the minority    
leader of the ,senate2 and  7,e7        
congressionally chartered1 membership   
based veterans service organizations    
concerning the appointment of three     
members4  7#c7 ,designation of ,chair   
,at the time the ,president nominates   
individuals for appointment to the      
,commission under paragraph 7#a77;,b71  
the ,president shall designate one such 

individual who shall serve as ,chair of 
the ,commission and one such individual 
who shall serve as ,vice ,chair of the  
,commission4  7#d7 ,member              
representation ,in nominating           
individuals under this subsection1 the  
,president shall ensure that-- 7,a7     
veterans1 reflecting current            
demographics of veterans enrolled in the
 system of annual patient enrollment    
under section #agje of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code1 are adequately   
represented in the membership of the    
,commission2  7,b7 at least one member  
of the ,commission has experience       
working for a private integrated health 
care system that has annual gross       
revenues of more than #ej1jjj1jjj2  7,c7
 at least one member has experience as a
 senior manager for an entity specified 
in clause 7ii71 7iii71 or 7iv7 of       
section #aja7;a77#a77;,b7 of the        
,veterans ,access1 ,choice1 and         
,accountability ,act of #bjad 7,public  
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja      

note72  7,d7 at least one member-- 7i7  
has experience with capital asset       
management for the ,federal ,government2
 and  7ii7 is familiar with trades      
related to building and real property1  
including construction1 engineering1    
architecture1 leasing1 and strategic    
partnerships2 and  7,e7 at least three  
members represent congressionally       
chartered1 membership-based1 veterans   
service organizations4  7d7 ,meetings   
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall 
meet only during calendar years #bjbb   
and #bjbc4  7#b7 ,public nature of      
meetings and proceedings  7,a7 ,public  
meetings ,each meeting of the           
,commission shall be open to the public4
  7,b7 ,open participation ,all the     
proceedings1 information1 and           
deliberations of the ,commission shall  
be available for review by the public4  
7e7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy in the        
,commission shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment1 but 
the individual appointed to fill the    

vacancy shall serve only for the        
unexpired portion of the term for which 
the individual's predecessor was        
appointed4  7f7 ,pay  7#a7 ,in general  
,members of the ,commission shall serve 
without pay4  7#b7 ,officers or         
employees of the ,united ,states ,each  
member of the ,commission who is an     
officer or employee of the ,united      
,states shall serve without compensation
 in addition to that received for       
service as an officer or employee of the
 ,united ,states4  7#c7 ,travel expenses
 ,members shall receive travel expenses1
 including per diem in lieu of          
subsistence1 in accordance with sections
 #egjb and #egjc of title #e1 ,united   
,states ,code4  7g7 ,director of staff  
7#a7 ,appointment ,the ,commission shall
 appoint a ,director who-- 7,a7 has not 
served as an employee of the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs during the       
one-year period preceding the date of   
such appointment2 and  7,b7 is not      
otherwise barred or prohibited from     

serving as ,director under ,federal     
ethics laws and regulations1 by reason  
of post-employment conflict of interest4
  7#b7 ,rate of pay ,the ,director shall
 be paid at the rate of basic pay       
payable for level ,,iv of the ,executive
 ,schedule under section #ecae of title 
#e1 ,united ,states ,code4  7h7 ,staff  
7#a7 ,pay of personnel ,subject to      
paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 the ,director1
 with the approval of the ,commission1  
may appoint and fix the pay of          
additional personnel4  7#b7 ,exemption  
from certain requirements ,the ,director
 may make such appointments without     
regard to the provisions of title #e1   
,united ,states ,code1 governing        
appointments in the competitive service1
 and any personnel so appointed may be  
paid without regard to the provisions of
 chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of    
chapter #ec of that title relating to   
classification and ,general ,schedule   
pay rates1 except that an individual so 
appointed may not receive pay in excess 

of the annual rate of basic pay payable 
for ,,gs-#ae of the ,general ,schedule4 
7#c7 ,detailees  7,a7 ,limitation on    
number ,not more than two-thirds of the 
personnel employed by or detailed to the
 ,commission may be on detail from the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7,b7
 ,professional analysts ,not more than  
half of the professional analysts of the
 ,commission staff may be persons       
detailed from the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs to the ,commission4  
7,c7 ,prohibition on detail of certain  
personnel ,a person may not be detailed 
from the ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs to the ,commission if1 within  
#f months before the detail is to begin1
 that person participated personally and
 substantially in any matter within the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
concerning the preparation of           
recommendations regarding facilities of 
the ,veterans ,health ,administration4  
7#d7 ,authority to request detailed     
personnel ,subject to paragraph 7#c71   

the head of any ,federal department or  
agency1 upon the request of the         
,director1 may detail any of the        
personnel of that department or agency  
to the ,commission to assist the        
,commission in carrying out its duties  
under this title4  7#e7 ,information    
from ,federal agencies ,the ,commission 
may secure directly from any ,federal   
agency such information the ,commission 
considers necessary to carry out this   
title4 ,upon request of the ,chair1 the 
head of such agency shall furnish such  
information to the ,commission4  7i7    
,other authority  7#a7 ,temporary and   
intermittent services ,the ,commission  
may procure by contract1 to the extent  
funds are available1 the temporary or   
intermittent services of experts or     
consultants pursuant to section #caji of
 title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 
,leasing and acquisition of property ,to
 the extent funds are available1 the    
,commission may lease real property and 
acquire personal property either of its 

own accord or in consultation with the  
,general ,services ,administration4  7j7
 ,termination ,the ,commission shall    
terminate on ,december #ca1 #bjbc4  7k7 
,prohibition against restricting        
communications  7#a7 ,in general ,except
 as provided in paragraph 7#b71 no      
person may restrict an employee of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs in    
communicating with the ,commission4     
7#b7 ,unlawful communications ,paragraph
 7#a7 does not apply to a communication 
that is unlawful4  #ajc4 ,procedure for 
making recommendations  7a7 ,selection  
criteria  7#a7 ,publication ,the        
,secretary shall1 not later than        
,february #a1 #bjba1 and after          
consulting with veterans service        
organizations1 publish in the ,federal  
,register and transmit to the           
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,house of           
,representatives the criteria proposed  
to be used by the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs in assessing and     

making recommendations regarding the    
modernization or realignment of         
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration under this title4 ,such 
criteria shall include the preferences  
of veterans regarding health care       
furnished by the ,department4  7#b7     
,public comment ,the ,secretary shall   
provide an opportunity for public       
comment on the proposed criteria under  
paragraph 7#a7 for a period of at least 
#ij days and shall include notice of    
that opportunity in the publication     
required under such paragraph4  7#c7    
,publication of final criteria ,the     
,secretary shall1 not later than ,may   
#ca1 #bjba1 publish in the ,federal     
,register and transmit to the           
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,house of           
,representatives the final criteria to  
be used in making recommendations       
regarding the closure1 modernization1 or
 realignment of facilities of the       
,veterans ,health ,administration under 

this title4  7b7 ,recommendations of the
 ,secretary  7#a7 ,publication in       
,federal ,register ,the ,secretary      
shall1 not later than ,january #ca1     
#bjbb1 and after consulting with        
veterans service organizations1 publish 
in the ,federal ,register and transmit  
to the ,committees on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,senate and the ,house  
of ,representatives and to the          
,commission a report detailing the      
recommendations regarding the           
modernization or realignment of         
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration on the basis of the     
final criteria referred to in subsection
 7a77#b7 that are applicable4  7#b7     
,factors for consideration ,in making   
recommendations under this subsection1  
the ,secretary shall consider each of   
the following factors3  7,a7 ,the degree
 to which any health care delivery or   
other site for providing services to    
veterans reflect the metrics of the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       

regarding market area health system     
planning4  7,b7 ,the provision of       
effective and efficient access to       
high-quality health care and services   
for veterans4  7,c7 ,the extent to which
 the real property that no longer meets 
the needs of the ,federal ,government   
could be reconfigured1 repurposed1      
consolidated1 realigned1 exchanged1     
outleased1 repurposed1 replaced1 sold1  
or disposed4  7,d7 ,the need of the     
,veterans ,health ,administration to    
acquire infrastructure or facilities    
that will be used for the provision of  
health care and services to veterans4   
7,e7 ,the extent to which the operating 
and maintenance costs are reduced       
through consolidating1 colocating1 and  
reconfiguring space1 and through        
realizing other operational             
efficiencies4  7,f7 ,the extent and     
timing of potential costs and savings1  
including the number of years such costs
 or savings will be incurred1 beginning 
with the date of completion of the      

proposed recommendation4  7,g7 ,the     
extent to which the real property aligns
 with the mission of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs4  7,h7 ,the extent to
 which any action would impact other    
missions of the ,department 7including  
education1 research1 or emergency       
preparedness74  7,i7 ,local stakeholder 
inputs and any factors identified       
through public field hearings4  7,j7    
,the assessments under paragraph 7#c74  
7,k7 ,any other such factors the        
,secretary determines appropriate4  7#c7
 ,capacity and commercial market        
assessments  7,a7 ,assessments ,the     
,secretary shall assess the capacity of 
each ,veterans ,integrated ,service     
,network and medical facility of the    
,department to furnish hospital care or 
medical services to veterans under      
chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4 ,each such assessment    
shall--  7i7 identify gaps in furnishing
 such care or services at such ,veterans
 ,integrated ,service ,network or       

medical facility2  7ii7 identify how    
such gaps can be filled by-- 7,i7       
entering into contracts or agreements   
with network providers under this       
section or with entities under other    
provisions of law2  7,,ii7 making       
changes in the way such care and        
services are furnished at such ,veterans
 ,integrated ,service ,network or       
medical facility1 including--  7aa7     
extending hours of operation2  7bb7     
adding personnel2 or  7cc7 expanding    
space through the construction1 leasing1
 or sharing of health care facilities2  
7,,iii7 the building or realignment of  
,department resources or personnel2     
7iii7 forecast1 based on future         
projections and historical trends1 both 
the short- and long-term demand in      
furnishing care or services at such     
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
or medical facility and assess how such 
demand affects the needs to use such    
network providers2  7iv7 include a      
commercial health care market assessment

 of designated catchment areas in the   
,united ,states conducted by a          
non-governmental entity2 and  7v7       
consider the unique ability of the      
,federal ,government to retain a        
presence in an area otherwise devoid of 
commercial health care providers or from
 which such providers are at risk of    
leaving4  7,b7 ,consultation ,in        
carrying out the assessments under      
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall 
consult with veterans service           
organizations and veterans served by    
each such ,veterans ,integrated ,service
 ,network and medical facility4  7,c7   
,submittal ,the ,secretary shall submit 
such assessments to the ,committees on  
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives and the ,senate with   
the recommendations of the ,secretary   
under this subsection and make the      
assessments publicly available4  7#d7   
,summary of selection process ,the      
,secretary shall include1 with the list 
of recommendations published and        

transmitted pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 
a summary of the selection process that 
resulted in the recommendation for each 
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration1 including a            
justification for each recommendation4  
,the ,secretary shall transmit the      
matters referred to in the preceding    
sentence not later than #g days after   
the date of the transmittal to the      
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,house of           
,representatives and the ,commission of 
the report referred to in paragraph     
7#a74  7#e7 ,treatment of facilities ,in
 assessing facilities of the ,veterans  
,health ,administration1 the ,secretary 
shall consider all such facilities      
equally without regard to whether the   
facility has been previously considered 
or proposed for reuse1 closure1         
modernization1 or realignment by the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7#f7
 ,availability of information to        
,congress ,in addition to making all    

information used by the ,secretary to   
prepare the recommendations under this  
subsection available to ,congress       
7including any committee or ,member of  
,congress71 the ,secretary shall also   
make such information available to the  
,commission and the ,comptroller        
,general of the ,united ,states4  7#g7  
,certification of accuracy  7,a7 ,in    
general ,each person referred to in     
subparagraph 7,b71 when submitting      
information to the ,secretary or the    
,commission concerning the modernization
 or realignment of a facility of the    
,veterans ,health ,administration1 shall
 certify that such information is       
accurate and complete to the best of    
that person's knowledge and belief4     
7,b7 ,covered persons ,subparagraph 7,a7
 applies to the following persons3 7i7  
,each ,under ,secretary of the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7ii7
 ,each director of a ,veterans          
,integrated ,service ,network4  7iii7   
,each director of a medical center of   

the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  
7iv7 ,each director of a program office 
of the ,department of ,veterans         
,affairs4  7v7 ,each person who is in a 
position the duties of which include    
personal and substantial involvement in 
the preparation and submission of       
information and recommendations         
concerning the modernization or         
realignment of facilities of the        
,veterans ,health ,administration4  7c7 
,review and recommendations by the      
,commission  7#a7 ,public hearings  7,a7
 ,in general ,after receiving the       
recommendations from the ,secretary     
pursuant to subsection 7b71 the         
,commission shall conduct public        
hearings on the recommendations4  7,b7  
,locations ,the ,commission shall       
conduct public hearings in regions      
affected by a recommendation of the     
,secretary to close a facility of the   
,veterans ,health ,administration4 ,to  
the greatest extent practicable1 the    
,commission shall conduct public        

hearings in regions affected by a       
recommendation of the ,secretary to     
modernize or realign such a facility4   
7,c7 ,required witnesses ,witnesses at  
each public hearing shall include at a  
minimum-- 7i7 a veteran--  7,i7 enrolled
 under section #agje of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code2 and  7,,ii7      
identified by a local veterans service  
organization2 and  7ii7 a local elected 
official4  7#b7 ,transmittal to         
,president  7,a7 ,in general ,the       
,commission shall1 not later than       
,january #ca1 #bjbc1 transmit to the    
,president a report containing the      
,commission's findings and conclusions  
based on a review and analysis of the   
recommendations made by the ,secretary1 
together with the ,commission's         
recommendations1 for modernizations and 
realignments of facilities of the       
,veterans ,health ,administration4  7,b7
 ,authority to make changes to          
recommendations ,subject to subparagraph
 7,c71 in making its recommendations1   

the ,commission may change any          
recommendation made by the ,secretary if
 the ,commission--  7i7 determines that 
the ,secretary deviated substantially   
from the final criteria referred to in  
subsection 7a77#b7 in making such       
recommendation2  7ii7 determines that   
the change is consistent with the final 
criteria referred to in subsection      
7a77#b72  7iii7 publishes a notice of   
the proposed change in the ,federal     
,register not less than #de days before 
transmitting its recommendations to the 
,president pursuant to subparagraph     
7,a72 and  7iv7 conducts public hearings
 on the proposed change4  7#c7          
,justification for changes ,the         
,commission shall explain and justify in
 its report submitted to the ,president 
pursuant to paragraph 7#b7 any          
recommendation made by the ,commission  
that is different from the              
recommendations made by the ,secretary  
pursuant to subsection 7b74 ,the        
,commission shall transmit a copy of    

such report to the ,committees on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,house of ,representatives on the   
same date on which it transmits its     
recommendations to the ,president under 
paragraph 7#b74  7#d7 ,provision of     
information to ,congress ,after ,january
 #ca1 #bjbc1 the ,commission shall      
promptly provide1 upon request1 to any  
,member of ,congress information used by
 the ,commission in making its          
recommendations4  7d7 ,review by the    
,president  7#a7 ,report ,the ,president
 shall1 not later than ,february #ae1   
#bjbc1 transmit to the ,commission and  
to the ,congress a report containing the
 ,president's approval or disapproval of
 the ,commission's recommendations4     
7#b7 ,presidential approval ,if the     
,president approves all the             
recommendations of the ,commission1 the 
,president shall transmit a copy of such
 recommendations to the ,congress1      
together with a certification of such   
approval4  7#c7 ,presidential           

disapproval ,if the ,president          
disapproves the recommendations of the  
,commission1 in whole or in part1 the   
,president shall transmit to the        
,commission and the ,congress1 not later
 than ,march #a1 #bjbc1 the reasons for 
that disapproval4 ,the ,commission shall
 then transmit to the ,president1 not   
later than ,march #ae1 #bjbc1 a revised 
list of recommendations for closures1   
modernizations1 and realignments of     
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration4  7#d7 ,transmittal of  
recommendations to ,congress ,if the    
,president approves all of the revised  
recommendations of the ,commission      
transmitted to the ,president under     
paragraph 7#c71 the ,president shall    
transmit a copy of such revised         
recommendations to the ,congress1       
together with a certification of such   
approval4  7#e7 ,failure to transmit ,if
 the ,president does not transmit to the
 ,congress an approval and certification
 described in paragraph 7#b7 or 7#d7 by 

,march #cj1 #bjbc1 the process by which 
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration may be selected for     
modernization or realignment under this 
title shall be terminated4  #ajd4       
,actions regarding infrastructure and   
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration  7a7 ,in general        
,subject to subsection 7b71 the         
,secretary shall begin to implement the 
recommended modernizations and          
realignments in the report under section
 #ajc7;d7 not later than three years    
after the date on which the ,president  
transmits such report to ,congress4     
,such implementation includes the       
planning of modernizations and          
realignments of facilities of the       
,veterans ,health ,administration as    
recommended in such report4  7b7        
,congressional disapproval  7#a7 ,in    
general ,the ,secretary may not carry   
out any modernization or realignment    
recommended by the ,commission in a     
report transmitted from the ,president  

pursuant to section #ajc7;d7 if a joint 
resolution is enacted1 in accordance    
with the provisions of section #ajg1    
disapproving such recommendations of the
 ,commission before the earlier of--    
7,a7 the end of the #de-;day period     
beginning on the date on which the      
,president transmits such report2 or    
7,b7 the adjournment of ,congress sine  
die for the session during which such   
report is transmitted4  7#b7            
,computation of period ,for purposes of 
paragraph 7#a7 and subsections 7a7 and  
7c7 of section #ajg1 the days on which  
either ,house of ,congress is not in    
session because of an adjournment of    
more than three days to a day certain   
shall be excluded in the computation of 
a period4  7c7 ,specific authorization  
,any obligation or expenditure of funds 
for any major medical facility project  
or any major medical facility lease     
under subsection 7a7 shall be treated as
 if specifically authorized by law for  
purposes of section #hajd of title #ch1 

,united ,states ,code1 as amended by    
sections #bja and #bjb of this ,act4    
#aje4 ,implementation  7a7 ,in general  
7#a7 ,modernizing and realigning        
facilities ,in modernizing or realigning
 any facility of the ,veterans ,health  
,administration under this title1 the   
,secretary may--  7,a7 take such actions
 as may be necessary to modernize or    
realign any such facility1 including the
 alteration of such facilities1 the     
acquisition of such land1 the leasing or
 construction of such replacement       
facilities1 the disposition of such land
 or facilities1 the performance of such 
activities1 and the conduct of such     
advance planning and design as may be   
required to transfer functions from a   
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration to another such         
facility1 and may use for such purpose  
funds in the ,account or funds          
appropriated to the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs for such purposes2   
7,b7 carry out activities for the       

purposes of environmental mitigation1   
abatement1 or restoration at any such   
facility1 and shall use for such        
purposes funds in the ,account2  7,c7   
provide outplacement assistance to      
employees employed by the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs at facilities of the
 ,veterans ,health ,administration being
 closed or realigned1 and may use for   
such purpose funds in the ,account or   
funds appropriated to the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs for outplacement    
assistance to employees2  7,d7 reimburse
 other ,federal agencies for actions    
performed at the request of the         
,secretary with respect to any such     
closure or realignment1 and may use for 
such purpose funds in the ,account or   
funds appropriated to the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs and available for   
such purpose2 and  7,e7 exercise the    
authority of the ,secretary under       
subchapter ,v of chapter #ha of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7       
,environmental restoration2 historic    

preservation ,in carrying out any       
closure or realignment under this title1
 the ,secretary1 with regards to any    
property made excess to the needs of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs as a 
result of such closure or realignment1  
shall carry out1 as soon as possible    
with funds available for such purpose1  
any of the following for which the      
,secretary is responsible3  7,a7        
,environmental mitigation4  7,b7        
,environmental abatement4  7,c7         
,environmental restoration4  7,d7       
,compliance with historic preservation  
requirements4  7b7 ,management and      
disposal of property  7#a7 ,existing    
,disposal ,authorities ,to transfer or  
dispose of surplus real property or     
infrastructure located at any facility  
of the ,veterans ,health ,administration
 that is modernized or realigned under  
this ,act1 the ,secretary may exercise  
the authorities of the ,secretary under 
subchapters ,i and ,,ii of chapter #ha  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 or 

the authorities delegated to the        
,secretary by the ,administrator of     
,general ,services under subchapter     
,,iii of chapter #e of title #dj1       
,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 ,effects on
 local communities  7,a7 ,consultation  
with ,state and local government ,before
 any action may be taken with respect to
 the disposal of any surplus real       
property or infrastructure located at   
any facility of the ,veterans ,health   
,administration to be closed or         
realigned under this title1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
consult with the ,governor of the ,state
 and the heads of the local governments 
concerned for the purpose of considering
 any plan for the use of such property  
by the local community concerned4  7,b7 
,treatment of roads ,if infrastructure  
or a facility of the ,veterans ,health  
,administration to be closed or         
realigned under this title includes a   
road used for public access through1    
into1 or around the facility1 the       

,secretary--  7i7 shall consult with the
 ,government of the ,state and the heads
 of the local governments concerned for 
the purpose of considering the continued
 availability of the road for public use
 after the recommended action is        
complete2 and  7ii7 may exercise the    
authority of the ,secretary under       
section #hajh of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  7#c7 ,leases2 ,,cercla  
7,a7 ,lease authority  7i7 ,transfer to 
redevelopment authority for lease ,the  
,secretary may transfer title to a      
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration approved for closure or 
realignment under this title 7including 
property at a facility of the ,veterans 
,health ,administration approved for    
realignment which will be retained by   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs or
 another ,federal agency after          
realignment7 to the redevelopment       
authority for the facility if the       
redevelopment authority agrees to lease1
 directly upon transfer1 one or more    

portions of the property transferred    
under this subparagraph to the          
,secretary or to the head of another    
department or agency of the ,federal    
,government4  7ii7 ,term of lease ,a    
lease under clause 7i7 shall be for a   
term of not to exceed #ej years1 but may
 provide for options for renewal or     
extension of the term by the department 
or agency concerned4  7iii7 ,limitation 
,a lease under clause 7i7 may not       
require rental payments by the ,united  
,states4  7iv7 ,treatment of remaindered
 lease terms ,a lease under clause 7i7  
shall include a provision specifying    
that if the department or agency        
concerned ceases requiring the use of   
the leased property before the          
expiration of the term of the lease1 the
 remainder of the lease term may be     
satisfied by the same or another        
department or agency of the ,federal    
,government using the property for a use
 similar to the use under the lease4    
,exercise of the authority provided by  

this clause shall be made in            
consultation with the redevelopment     
authority concerned4  7v7 ,facility     
services ,notwithstanding clause 7iii71 
if a lease under clause 7i7 involves a  
substantial portion of the facility1 the
 department or agency concerned may     
obtain facility services for the leased 
property and common area maintenance    
from the redevelopment authority or the 
redevelopment authority's assignee as a 
provision of the lease4 ,the facility   
services and common area maintenance    
shall be provided at a rate no higher   
than the rate charged to non-,federal   
tenants of the transferred property4    
,facility services and common area      
maintenance covered by the lease shall  
not include--  7,i7 municipal services  
that a ,state or local government is    
required by law to provide to all       
landowners in its jurisdiction without  
direct charge2 or  7,,ii7 firefighting  
or security-guard functions4  7,b7      
,application of ,,cercla ,the provisions

 of section #abj7;h7 of the             
,comprehensive ,environmental ,response1
 ,compensation1 and ,liability ,act of  
#aihj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ifbj7;h77 shall   
apply to any transfer of real property  
under this paragraph4  7,c7 ,additional 
terms and conditions ,the ,secretary may
 require any additional terms and       
conditions in connection with a transfer
 under this paragraph as such ,secretary
 considers appropriate to protect the   
interests of the ,united ,states4  7#d7 
,application of ,mc,kinney-,vento       
,homeless ,assistance ,act ,nothing in  
this title shall limit or otherwise     
affect the application of the provisions
 of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless     
,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacja  
et seq47 to facilities of the ,veterans 
,health ,administration closed under    
this title4  7c7 ,applicability of      
,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of
 #aifi  7#a7 ,in general ,the provisions
 of the ,national ,environmental ,policy
 ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et  

seq47 shall not apply to the actions of 
the ,president1 the ,commission1 and1   
except as provided in paragraph 7#b71   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs in
 carrying out this title4  7#b7         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7,a7 
,covered activities ,the provisions of  
the ,national ,environmental ,policy    
,act of #aifi shall apply to actions of 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
under this title--  7i7 during the      
process of property disposal2 and  7ii7 
during the process of relocating        
functions from a facility of the        
,veterans ,health ,administration being 
closed or realigned to another facility 
after the receiving facility has been   
selected but before the functions are   
relocated4  7,b7 ,other activities ,in  
applying the provisions of the ,national
 ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi to
 the processes referred to in           
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall 
not have to consider--  7i7 the need for
 closing or realigning the facility of  

the ,veterans ,health ,administration as
 recommended by the ,commission2  7ii7  
the need for transferring functions to  
any facility of the ,veterans ,health   
,administration which has been selected 
as the receiving facility2 or  7iii7    
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration alternative to those    
recommended or selected4  7d7 ,waiver   
7#a7 ,restrictions on use of funds ,the 
,secretary may close or realign         
facilities of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration under this title without
 regard to any provision of law         
restricting the use of funds for closing
 or realigning facilities of the        
,veterans ,health ,administration       
included in any appropriation or        
authorization ,act4  7#b7 ,restrictions 
on authorities ,the ,secretary may close
 or realign facilities of the ,veterans 
,health ,administration under this title
 without regard to the restrictions of  
section #haaj of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  7e7 ,transfer authority 

in connection with payment of           
environmental remediation costs  7#a7   
,in general  7,a7 ,transfer by deed     
,subject to paragraph 7#b7 of this      
subsection and section #abj7;h7 of the  
,comprehensive ,environmental ,response1
 ,compensation1 and ,liability ,act of  
#aihj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ifbj7;h771 the    
,secretary may enter into an agreement  
to transfer by deed a facility of the   
,veterans ,health ,administration with  
any person who agrees to perform all    
environmental restoration1 waste        
management1 and environmental compliance
 activities that are required for the   
property or facilities under ,federal   
and ,state laws1 administrative         
decisions1 agreements 7including        
schedules and milestones71 and          
concurrences4  7,b7 ,additional terms or
 conditions ,the ,secretary may require 
any additional terms and conditions in  
connection with an agreement authorized 
by subparagraph 7,a7 as the ,secretary  
considers appropriate to protect the    

interests of the ,united ,states4  7#b7 
,limitation ,a transfer of a facility of
 the ,veterans ,health ,administration  
may be made under paragraph 7#a7 only if
 the ,secretary certifies to ,congress  
that--  7,a7 the costs of all           
environmental restoration1 waste        
management1 and environmental compliance
 activities otherwise to be paid by the 
,secretary with respect to the facility 
of the ,veterans ,health ,administration
 are equal to or greater than the fair  
market value of the property or         
facilities to be transferred1 as        
determined by the ,secretary2 or  7,b7  
if such costs are lower than the fair   
market value of the facility of the     
,veterans ,health ,administration1 the  
recipient of such transfer agrees to pay
 the difference between the fair market 
value and such costs4  7#c7 ,payment by 
the ,secretary for certain transfers ,in
 the case of a facility of the ,veterans
 ,health ,administration covered by a   
certification under paragraph 7#b77;,a71

 the ,secretary may pay the recipient of
 such facility an amount equal to the   
lesser of--  7,a7 the amount by which   
the costs incurred by the recipient of  
the facility of the ,veterans ,health   
,administration for all environmental   
restoration1 waste1 management1 and     
environmental compliance activities with
 respect to such facility exceed the    
fair market value of such property as   
specified in such certification2 or     
7,b7 the amount by which the costs 7as  
determined by the ,secretary7 that would
 otherwise have been incurred by the    
,secretary for such restoration1        
management1 and activities with respect 
to such facility of the ,veterans       
,health ,administration exceed the fair 
market value of property as so          
specified4  7#d7 ,disclosure ,as part of
 an agreement under paragraph 7#a71 the 
,secretary shall disclose to the person 
to whom the facility of the ,veterans   
,health ,administration will be         
transferred any information of the      

,secretary regarding the environmental  
restoration1 waste management1 and      
environmental compliance activities     
described in paragraph 7#a7 that relate 
to the facility of the ,veterans ,health
 ,administration4 ,the ,secretary shall 
provide such information before entering
 into the agreement4  7#e7              
,applicability of certain environmental 
laws ,nothing in this subsection shall  
be construed to modify1 alter1 or amend 
the ,comprehensive ,environmental       
,response1 ,compensation1 and ,liability
 ,act of #aihj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ifja et  
seq47 or the ,solid ,waste ,disposal    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fija et seq474     
#ajf4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 
,asset and ,infrastructure ,review      
,account  7a7 ,establishment ,there is  
hereby established in the ledgers of the
 ,treasury an account to be known as the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs      
,asset and ,infrastructure ,review      
,account which shall be administered by 
the ,secretary as a single account4  7b7

 ,credits to account ,there shall be    
credited to the ,account the following3 
7#a7 ,funds authorized for and          
appropriated to the ,account4  7#b7     
,proceeds received from the lease1      
transfer1 or disposal of any property at
 a facility of the ,veterans ,health    
,administration closed or realigned     
under this title4  7c7 ,use of account  
,the ,secretary may use the funds in the
 ,account only for the following        
purposes3 7#a7 ,to carry out this title4
  7#b7 ,to cover property management and
 disposal costs incurred at facilities  
of the ,veterans ,health ,administration
 closed1 modernized1 or realigned under 
this title4  7#c7 ,to cover costs       
associated with supervision1 inspection1
 overhead1 engineering1 and design of   
construction projects undertaken under  
this title1 and subsequent claims1 if   
any1 related to such activities4  7#d7  
,other purposes that the ,secretary     
determines support the mission and      
operations of the ,department of        

,veterans ,affairs4  7d7 ,consolidated  
budget justification display for account
  7#a7 ,consolidated budget information 
required ,the ,secretary shall establish
 a consolidated budget justification    
display in support of the ,account that 
for each fiscal year--  7,a7 details the
 amount and nature of credits to1 and   
expenditures from1 the ,account during  
the preceding fiscal year2  7,b7        
separately details the environmental    
remediation costs associated with       
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration for which a budget      
request is made2  7,c7 specifies the    
transfers into the ,account and the     
purposes for which these transferred    
funds will be further obligated1 to     
include caretaker and environment       
remediation costs associated with each  
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration2 and  7,d7 details any  
intra-budget activity transfers within  
the ,account that exceeded #a1jjj1jjj   
during the preceding fiscal year or that

 are proposed for the next fiscal year  
and will exceed #a1jjj1jjj4  7#b7       
,submission ,the ,secretary shall       
include the information required by     
paragraph 7#a7 in the materials that the
 ,secretary submits to ,congress in     
support of the budget for a fiscal year 
submitted by the ,president pursuant to 
section #aaje of title #ca1 ,united     
,states ,code4  7e7 ,closure of account2
 treatment of remaining funds  7#a7     
,closure ,the ,account shall be closed  
at the time and in the manner provided  
for appropriation accounts under section
 #aeee of title #ca1 ,united ,states    
,code1 except that unobligated funds    
which remain in the ,account upon       
closure shall be held by the ,secretary 
of the ,treasury until transferred to   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs by 
law after the ,committees on ,veterans' 
,affairs of the ,senate and the ,house  
of ,representatives receive the final   
report transmitted under paragraph 7#b74
  7#b7 ,final report ,no later than #fj 

days after the closure of the ,account  
under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary    
shall transmit to the ,committees on    
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,committees on ,appropriations of the   
,house of ,representatives and the      
,senate a report containing an          
accounting of--  7,a7 all the funds     
credited to and expended from the       
,account or otherwise expended under    
this title2 and  7,b7 any funds         
remaining in the ,account4  #ajg4       
,congressional consideration of         
,commission report  7a7 ,disapproval    
resolution ,for purposes of section     
#ajd7;b71 the term joint resolution     
means only a joint resolution which is  
introduced within the #e-;day period    
beginning on the date on which the      
,president transmits the report to the  
,congress under section #ajc7;d71 and-- 
7#a7 which does not have a preamble2    
7#b7 the matter after the resolving     
clause of which is as follows3 that     

,congress disapproves the               
recommendations of the ,,vha ,asset and 
,infrastructure ,review ,commission as  
submitted by the ,president on 1 the    
blank space being filled with the       
appropriate date2 and  7#c7 the title of
 which is as follows3 ,joint resolution 
disapproving the recommendations of the 
,,vha ,asset and ,infrastructure ,review
 ,commission44  7b7 ,consideration in   
the ,house of ,representatives  7#a7    
,reporting and discharge ,any committee 
of the ,house of ,representatives to    
which a joint resolution is referred    
shall report it to the ,house without   
amendment not later than #ae legislative
 days after the date of introduction    
thereof4 ,if a committee fails to report
 the joint resolution within that       
period1 the committee shall be          
discharged from further consideration of
 the joint resolution4  7#b7 ,proceeding
 to consideration ,it shall be in order 
at any time after the third legislative 
day after each committee authorized to  

consider a joint resolution has reported
 or has been discharged from            
consideration of a joint resolution1 to 
move to proceed to consider the joint   
resolution in the ,house4 ,all points of
 order against the motion are waived4   
,such a motion shall not be in order    
after the ,house has disposed of a      
motion to proceed on a joint resolution 
addressing a particular submission4 ,the
 previous question shall be considered  
as ordered on the motion to its adoption
 without intervening motion4 ,the motion
 shall not be debatable4 ,a motion to   
reconsider the vote by which the motion 
is disposed of shall not be in order4   
7#c7 ,consideration ,the joint          
resolution shall be considered as read4 
,all points of order against the joint  
resolution and against its consideration
 are waived4 ,the previous question     
shall be considered as ordered on the   
joint resolution to its passage without 
intervening motion except two hours of  
debate equally divided and controlled by

 the proponent and an opponent4 ,a      
motion to reconsider the vote on passage
 of the joint resolution shall not be in
 order4  7c7 ,consideration in the      
,senate  7#a7 ,referral ,a joint        
resolution introduced in the ,senate    
shall be referred to the ,committee on  
,veterans' ,affairs4  7#b7 ,reporting   
and discharge ,any committee of the     
,senate to which a joint resolution is  
referred shall report it to the ,senate 
without amendment not later than #ae    
session days after the date of          
introduction of a joint resolution      
described in subsection 7a74 ,if a      
committee fails to report the joint     
resolution within that period1 the      
committee shall be discharged from      
further consideration of the joint      
resolution and the joint resolution     
shall be placed on the calendar4  7#c7  
,floor consideration  7,a7 ,in general  
,notwithstanding ,rule ,,xxii of the    
,standing ,rules of the ,senate1 it is  
in order at any time after the third    

session day on which the ,committee on  
,veterans' ,affairs has reported or has 
been discharged from consideration of a 
joint resolution described in subsection
 7a7 7even though a previous motion to  
the same effect has been disagreed to7  
to move to proceed to the consideration 
of the joint resolution1 and all points 
of order against the joint resolution   
7and against consideration of the joint 
resolution7 are waived4 ,the motion to  
proceed is not debatable4 ,the motion is
 not subject to a motion to postpone4 ,a
 motion to reconsider the vote by which 
the motion is agreed to or disagreed to 
shall not be in order4 ,if a motion to  
proceed to the consideration of the     
resolution is agreed to1 the joint      
resolution shall remain the unfinished  
business until disposed of4  7,b7       
,consideration ,consideration of the    
joint resolution1 and on all debatable  
motions and appeals in connection       
therewith1 shall be limited to not more 
than #b hours1 which shall be divided   

equally between the majority and        
minority leaders or their designees4 ,a 
motion further to limit debate is in    
order and not debatable4 ,an amendment  
to1 or a motion to postpone1 or a motion
 to proceed to the consideration of     
other business1 or a motion to recommit 
the joint resolution is not in order4   
7,c7 ,vote on passage ,if the ,senate   
has voted to proceed to a joint         
resolution1 the vote on passage of the  
joint resolution shall occur immediately
 following the conclusion of            
consideration of the joint resolution1  
and a single quorum call at the         
conclusion of the debate if requested in
 accordance with the rules of the       
,senate4  7,d7 ,rulings of the ,chair on
 procedure ,appeals from the decisions  
of the ,chair relating to the           
application of the rules of the ,senate1
 as the case may be1 to the procedure   
relating to a joint resolution shall be 
decided without debate4  7d7 ,amendment 
not in order ,a joint resolution of     

disapproval considered pursuant to this 
section shall not be subject to         
amendment in either the ,house of       
,representatives or the ,senate4  7e7   
,coordination with action by other      
,house  7#a7 ,in general ,if1 before    
passing the joint resolution1 one ,house
 receives from the other a joint        
resolution-- 7,a7 the joint resolution  
of the other ,house shall not be        
referred to a committee2 and  7,b7 the  
procedure in the receiving ,house shall 
be the same as if no joint resolution   
had been received from the other ,house 
until the vote on passage1 when the     
joint resolution received from the other
 ,house shall supplant the joint        
resolution of the receiving ,house4     
7#b7 ,treatment of joint resolution of  
other ,house ,if the ,senate fails to   
introduce or consider a joint resolution
 under this section1 the joint          
resolution of the ,house shall be       
entitled to expedited floor procedures  
under this section4  7#c7 ,treatment of 

companion measures ,if1 following       
passage of the joint resolution in the  
,senate1 the ,senate then receives the  
companion measure from the ,house of    
,representatives1 the companion measure 
shall not be debatable4  7f7 ,rules of  
the ,house of ,representatives and      
,senate ,this section is enacted by     
,congress-- 7#a7 as an exercise of the  
rulemaking power of the ,senate and     
,house of ,representatives1             
respectively1 and as such it is deemed a
 part of the rules of each ,house1      
respectively1 but applicable only with  
respect to the procedure to be followed 
in that ,house in the case of a joint   
resolution1 and it supersedes other     
rules only to the extent that it is     
inconsistent with such rules2 and  7#b7 
with full recognition of the            
constitutional right of either ,house to
 change the rules 7so far as relating to
 the procedure of that ,house7 at any   
time1 in the same manner1 and to the    
same extent as in the case of any other 

rule of that ,house4  #ajh4 ,other      
matters  7a7 ,online publication of     
communications  7#a7 ,in general ,not   
later than #bd hours after the          
transmission or receipt of any          
communication under this title that is  
transmitted or received by a party      
specified in paragraph 7#b71 the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
publish such communication online4  7#b7
 ,parties specified ,the parties        
specified under this paragraph are the  
following3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary of      
,veterans ,affairs4  7,b7 ,the          
,commission4  7,c7 ,the ,president4  7b7
 ,continuation of existing construction 
projects and planning ,during activities
 that the ,commission1 ,president1 or   
,congress carry out under this title1   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may
 not stop1 solely because of such       
activities--  7#a7 a construction or    
leasing project of the ,veterans ,health
 ,administration2  7#b7 long term       
planning regarding infrastructure and   

assets of the ,veterans ,health         
,administration2 or  7#c7 budgetary     
processes for the ,veterans ,health     
,administration4  7c7 ,recommendations  
for future asset reviews ,the ,secretary
 of ,veterans ,affairs may1 after       
consulting with veterans service        
organizations1 include in budget        
submissions the ,secretary submits after
 the termination of the ,commission     
recommendations for future such         
commissions or other capital asset      
realignment and management processes4   
#aji4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 
,the term ,account means the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs ,asset and       
,infrastructure ,review ,account        
established by section #ajf7;a74  7#b7  
,the term ,commission means the         
,commission established by section #ajb4
  7#c7 ,the term date of approval1 with 
respect to a modernization or           
realignment of a facility of the        
,veterans ,health ,administration1 means
 the date on which the authority of     

,congress to disapprove a recommendation
 of modernization or realignment1 as the
 case may be1 of such facility under    
this title expires4  7#d7 ,the term     
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration-- 7,a7 means any land1  
building1 structure1 or infrastructure  
7including any medical center1 nursing  
home1 domiciliary facility1 outpatient  
clinic1 center that provides            
readjustment counseling1 or leased      
facility7 that is--  7i7 under the      
jurisdiction of the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs2  7ii7 under the     
control of the ,veterans ,health        
,administration2 and  7iii7 not under   
the control of the ,general ,services   
,administration2 or  7,b7 with respect  
to a colocated facility of the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1      
includes any land1 building1 or         
structure--  7i7 under the jurisdiction 
of the ,department of ,veterans         
,affairs2  7ii7 under the control of    
another administration of the           

,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 and  
7iii7 not under the control of the      
,general ,services ,administration4     
7#e7 ,the term infrastructure means     
improvements to land other than         
buildings or structures4  7#f7 ,the term
 modernization includes-- 7,a7 any      
action1 including closure1 required to  
align the form and function of a        
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration to the provision of     
modern day health care1 including       
utilities and environmental control     
systems2  7,b7 the construction1        
purchase1 lease1 or sharing of a        
facility of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration2 and  7,c7 realignments1
 disposals1 exchanges1 collaborations   
between the ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs and other ,federal entities1   
and strategic collaborations between the
 ,department and non-,federal entities1 
including tribal organizations4  7#g7   
,the term realignment1 with respect to a
 facility of the ,veterans ,health      

,administration1 includes-- 7,a7 any    
action that changes the numbers of or   
relocates services1 functions1 and      
personnel positions2  7,b7 disposals or 
exchanges between the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs and other ,federal   
entities1 including the ,department of  
,defense2 and  7,c7 strategic           
collaborations between the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs and non-,federal  
entities1 including tribal              
organizations4  7#h7 ,the term          
redevelopment authority1 in the case of 
a facility of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration closed or modernized    
under this title1 means any entity      
7including an entity established by a   
,state or local government7 recognized  
by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs 
as the entity responsible for developing
 the redevelopment plan with respect to 
the facility or for directing the       
implementation of such plan4  7#i7 ,the 
term redevelopment plan in the case of a
 facility of the ,veterans ,health      

,administration to be closed or         
realigned under this title1 means a plan
 that--  7,a7 is agreed to by the local 
redevelopment authority with respect to 
the facility2 and  7,b7 provides for the
 reuse or redevelopment of the real     
property and personal property of the   
facility that is available for such     
reuse and redevelopment as a result of  
the closure or realignment of the       
facility4  7#aj7 ,the term ,secretary   
means the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs4  7#aa7 ,the term tribal       
organization has the meaning given such 
term in section #cgfe of title #ch1     
,united ,states ,code4  ,,ii            
,improvements to construction management
 and leases  #bja4 ,modification of     
thresholds for major medical facility   
projects and major medical facility     
leases  7a7 ,definitions ,paragraph 7#c7
 of section #hajd7;a7 of title #ch1     
,united ,states ,code1 is amended to    
read as follows3  7#c7 ,in this         
subsection3  7,a7  7i7 ,the term major  

medical facility project means-- 7,i7 a 
project for the construction1           
alteration1 or acquisition of a medical 
facility involving a total expenditure  
of more than #bj1jjj1jjj2 or  7,,ii7 the
 construction1 alteration1 or           
acquisition of a shared medical facility
 7as defined in section #haaa;,b7d7 of  
this title7 for which the estimated     
share of the ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs for the costs of such          
construction1 alteration1 or acquisition
 exceeds #bj1jjj1jjj4  7ii7 ,such term  
does not include-- 7,i7 an acquisition  
by exchange2  7,,ii7 nonrecurring       
maintenance projects of the ,department2
 or  7,,iii7 the construction1          
alteration1 or acquisition of a shared  
medical facility for which the estimated
 share of the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs for the costs of such          
construction1 alteration1 or acquisition
 does not exceed #bj1jjj1jjj4  7,b7 ,the
 term major medical facility lease      
means-- 7i7 a lease for space for use as

 a new medical facility at an average   
annual rent that is equal to or exceeds 
the amount specified in subsection      
7a77#b7 of section #ccjg of title #dj2  
or  7ii7 a lease for space for use as a 
shared medical facility 7as defined in  
section #haaa;,b7d7 of this title7 for  
which the estimated share of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
the costs of such lease is equal to or  
exceeds the amount specified in         
subsection 7a77#b7 of section #ccjg of  
title #dj4  4  7b7 ,application ,the    
amendment made by subsection 7a7 shall  
apply with respect to major medical     
facility projects and major medical     
facility leases authorized by law on or 
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #bjb4 ,submission of prospectuses
 of proposed minor medical facility     
projects ,section #hajd7;b7 of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended1 
in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 
by striking a major medical facility    
project 7as defined in subsection       

7a77#c77;,a77 and inserting the         
following3 a major medical facility     
project 7as defined in subsection       
7a77#c77;,a771 a medical facility       
project that would be a major medical   
facility project but for the total      
expenditure 7or1 with respect to a      
shared medical facility1 the estimated  
share of the ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs7 being an amount that is more  
than #aj1jjj1jjj and less than          
#bj1jjj1jjj14  #bjc4 ,improvement to    
training of construction personnel      
,subsection 7g7 of section #hajc of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended to read as follows3  7g7 7#a7   
7,a7 ,not later than ,september #cj of  
the fiscal year following the fiscal    
year during which this subsection is    
enacted1 the ,secretary shall implement 
the covered training curriculum and the 
covered certification program4  7,b7 ,in
 designing and implementing the covered 
training curriculum and the covered     
certification program under paragraph   

7#a71 the ,secretary shall use as models
 existing training curricula and        
certification programs that have been   
established under chapter #hg of title  
#aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as          
determined relevant by the ,secretary4  
7#b7 ,the ,secretary may develop the    
training curriculum under paragraph     
7#a77;,a7 in a manner that provides such
 training in any combination of--  7,a7 
training provided in person2  7,b7      
training provided over an internet      
website2 or  7,c7 training provided by  
another department or agency of the     
,federal ,government4  7#c7 ,the        
,secretary may develop the certification
 program under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 in a 
manner that uses--  7,a7 one level of   
certification2 or  7,b7 more than one   
level of certification1 as determined   
appropriate by the ,secretary with      
respect to the level of certification   
for different grades of the ,general    
,schedule4  7#d7 ,the ,secretary may    
enter into a contract with an           

appropriate entity to provide the       
covered training curriculum and the     
covered certification program under     
paragraph 7#a77;,a74  7#e7  7,a7 ,not   
later than ,september #cj of the second 
fiscal year following the fiscal year   
during which this ,act is enacted1 the  
,secretary shall ensure that the        
majority of employees subject to the    
covered certification program achieve   
the certification or the appropriate    
level of certification pursuant to      
paragraph 7#c71 as the case may be4     
7,b7 ,after carrying out subparagraph   
7,a71 the ,secretary shall ensure that  
each employee subject to the covered    
certification program achieves the      
certification or the appropriate level  
of certification pursuant to paragraph  
7#c71 as the case may be1 as quickly as 
practicable4  7#f7 ,in this subsection3 
7,a7 ,the term covered certification    
program means1 with respect to employees
 of the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs who are members of occupational

 series relating to construction or     
facilities management1 or employees of  
the ,department who award or administer 
contracts for major construction1 minor 
construction1 or nonrecurring           
maintenance1 including as contract      
specialists or contracting officers'    
representatives1 a program to certify   
knowledge and skills relating to        
construction or facilities management   
and to ensure that such employees       
maintain adequate expertise relating to 
industry standards and best practices   
for the acquisition of design and       
construction services4  7,b7 ,the term  
covered training curriculum means1 with 
respect to employees specified in       
subparagraph 7,a71 a training curriculum
 relating to construction or facilities 
management4  4  #bjd4 ,authority to     
plan1 design1 construct1 or lease shared
 medical facilities  7a7 ,authority     
7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ha of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by inserting after section #haaa;,a the 

following new section3  #haaa;,b4       
,authority to plan1 design1 construct or
 lease a medical facility shared with   
other departments or agencies  7a7      
,authority ,subject to sections #hajc   
and #hajd of this title1 the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs may enter into    
agreements with the heads of other      
departments or agencies of the ,federal 
,government for the planning1 designing1
 constructing1 or leasing of medical    
facilities to be shared by the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
that department or agency to improve the
 access to1 and quality and cost        
effectiveness of1 the health care       
provided by the ,veterans ,health       
,administration and that department or  
agency4  7b7 ,transfers of amounts from 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7#a7 
,with respect to a shared medical       
facility construction project for which 
the estimated costs to the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs do not exceed the 
amount specified in section             

#hajd7;a77#c77;,a7 of this title1 the   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may    
transfer to the partner agency amounts  
appropriated in the ,construction1      
,minor ,projects account of the         
,department for use for the planning1   
design1 or construction of the shared   
medical facility4  7#b7 ,with respect to
 a shared medical facility construction 
project for which the estimated costs to
 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  
exceed the amount specified in section  
#hajd7;a77#c77;,a7 of this title1 the   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may    
transfer to the partner agency amounts  
appropriated in the ,construction1      
,major ,projects account of the         
,department for use for the planning1   
design1 or construction of the shared   
medical facility4  7#c7 ,with respect to
 a shared medical facility lease project
 for which the estimated costs of the   
lease to the ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs do not exceed the amount       
specified in section #hajd7;a77#c77;,b7 

of this title1 the ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs may transfer to the  
partner agency amounts appropriated in  
the applicable medical appropriation    
account of the ,department for such     
lease4  7c7 ,transfers of amounts to    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7#a7 
,with respect to a shared medical       
facility construction project for which 
the estimated costs to the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs do not exceed the 
amount specified in section             
#hajd7;a77#c77;,a7 of this title1 any   
amounts transferred by the partner      
agency to the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs may be deposited in the        
,construction1 ,minor ,projects account 
of the ,department for use for the      
planning1 design1 or construction of the
 shared medical facility4 ,amounts so   
deposited shall be merged with and      
available for the same purposes1 and for
 the same period1 as such account4  7#b7
 ,with respect to a shared medical      
facility construction project for which 

the estimated costs to the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs exceed the amount 
specified in section #hajd7;a77#c77;,a7 
of this title1 any amounts transferred  
by the partner agency to the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs may be deposited  
in the ,construction1 ,major ,projects  
account of the ,department for use for  
the planning1 design1 or construction of
 the shared medical facility4 ,amounts  
so deposited shall be merged with and   
available for the same purposes1 and for
 the same period1 as such account4  7#c7
 ,with respect to a shared medical      
facility lease project1 any amounts     
transferred by the partner agency to the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may be
 deposited in the applicable medical    
appropriation account of the ,department
 for such lease4 ,amounts so deposited  
shall be available without fiscal year  
limitation4  7d7 ,definitions ,in this  
section3 7#a7 ,the term partner agency  
means a department or agency of the     
,federal ,government that has entered   

into an agreement with the ,secretary of
 ,veterans ,affairs under subsection    
7a74  7#b7 ,the term shared medical     
facility means a medical facility shared
 by the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs and a partner agency pursuant  
to an agreement entered into under      
subsection 7a74  7#c7 ,the term shared  
medical facility construction project   
means the planning1 designing1 or       
constructing of a shared medical        
facility pursuant to an agreement       
entered into under subsection 7a74  7#d7
 ,the term shared medical facility lease
 project means the leasing of a shared  
medical facility pursuant to an         
agreement entered into under subsection 
7a74  4  7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the  
table of sections at the beginning of   
such chapter is amended by inserting    
after the item relating to section      
#haaa;,a the following new item3        
#haaa;,b4 ,authority to plan1 design1   
construct1 or lease a medical facility  
shared with other departments or        

agencies4  4  7b7 ,definition of medical
 facility ,paragraph 7#c7 of section    
#haja of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 is amended to read as follows3   
7#c7 ,the term medical facility means   
any facility or part thereof which is1  
or will be1 under the jurisdiction of   
the ,secretary1 including with respect  
to a shared medical facility 7as defined
 in section #haaa;,b7d7 of this title71 
for the provision of health-care        
services 7including hospital1 outpatient
 clinic1 extended care services1 nursing
 home1 or domiciliary care or medical   
services71 including any necessary      
building and auxiliary structure1       
garage1 parking facility1 mechanical    
equipment1 trackage facilities leading  
thereto1 abutting sidewalks1            
accommodations for attending personnel1 
and recreation facilities associated    
therewith4  4  #bje4 ,enhanced use lease
 authority  7a7 ,in general ,section    
#hafb7;a77#b7 of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by     

striking only2 and  7#b7 by inserting 1 
or if the lease will enhance the use of 
the property1 after housing4  7b7       
,application ,the amendments made by    
subsection 7a7 shall apply with respect 
to enhanced-use leases entered into on  
or after the date of the enactment of   
this ,act4  ,,iii ,other ,matters  #cja4
 ,exception on limitation on awards and 
bonuses for recruitment1 relocation1 and
 retention ,section #gje7;a7 of the     
,veterans ,access1 ,choice1 and         
,accountability ,act of #bjad 7,public  
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc note7 
is amended1 in the matter preceding     
paragraph 7#a71 by inserting other than 
recruitment1 relocation1 or retention   
incentives1 after title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code14  #cjb4 ,appropriation of
 amounts  7a7 ,veterans ,choice ,program
 ,there is authorized to be             
appropriated1 and is appropriated1 to   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1   
out of any funds in the ,treasury not   
otherwise appropriated1 #b1ajj1jjj1jjj  

to be deposited in the ,veterans ,choice
 ,fund under section #hjb of the        
,veterans ,access1 ,choice1 and         
,accountability ,act of #bjad 7,public  
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja      
note74  7b7 ,minor construction and     
nonrecurring maintenance  7#a7 ,in      
general ,there is authorized to be      
appropriated1 and is appropriated1 to   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1   
out of any funds in the ,treasury not   
otherwise appropriated1 #ejj1jjj1jjj for
 ,medical ,facilities for minor         
construction and nonrecurring           
maintenance projects1 to be prioritized 
according to their rankings in the      
strategic capital investment planning   
process4  7#b7 ,notification ,not later 
than #cj days before obligating amounts 
appropriated under paragraph 7#a71 the  
,secretary shall notify the ,committees 
on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of 
,representatives and the ,senate and the
 ,committees on ,appropriations of the  
,house of ,representatives and the      

,senate of the medical facilities and   
specifics of the projects for which such
 amounts shall be obligated4  7c7       
,availability of amounts ,the amounts   
appropriated under subsections 7a7 and  
7b77#a7 shall be available for          
obligation or expenditure without fiscal
 year limitation4  #cjc4 ,assessment of 
health care furnished by the ,department
 to veterans who live in the territories
  7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj  
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall submit to the ,committees
 on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate  
and the ,house of ,representatives a    
report regarding health care furnished  
by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 to veterans who live in the            
territories4  7b7 ,elements ,the report 
under subsection 7a7 shall include      
assessments of the following3 7#a7 ,the 
ability of the ,department to furnish to
 veterans who live in the territories   
the following3  7,a7 ,hospital care4    

7,b7 ,medical services4  7,c7 ,mental   
health services4  7,d7 ,geriatric       
services4  7#b7 ,the feasibility of     
establishing a medical facility of the  
,department in any territory that does  
not contain such a facility4  7c7       
,definition ,in this section1 the term  
territories means ,puerto ,rico1 the    
,virgin ,islands1 ,american ,samoa1     
,guam1 and the ,northern ,mariana       
,islands4  ,december #bh1 #bjah         
,committees on ,rules and               
,appropriations discharged2 committed to
 the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on 
the ,state of the ,union and ordered to 
be printed