Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	3,060	n/a	n/a
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Referred in Senate	3,029	5 Show Changes Hide Changes	4%

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HR 6832 EHRFSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

110th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 6832CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Veterans’ Programs Extension and Construction Authorization Act of 2008’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES

Sec. 101. Authorization for fiscal year 2009 major medical facility projects.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Modification of authorization amounts for certain major medical facility construction projects previously authorized.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 103. Authorization of fiscal year 2009 major medical facility leases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 104. Authorization of construction of major medical facility, Okaloosa County, Florida.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 106. Report on facilities administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 107. Annual report on outpatient clinics.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES

Sec. 201. Repeal of sunset on inclusion of noninstitutional extended care services in definition of medical services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Extension of recovery audit authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Permanent authority for provision of hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who participated in certain chemical and biological testing conducted by the Department of Defense.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Extension of expiring collections authorities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 205. Extension of nursing home care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 206. Extension of authority to carry out income verification.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 207. Permanent authority to establish research corporations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 208. Extension of certain veterans home loan guaranty programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 209. Extension of requirement to submit annual report on the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 210. Extension of requirement to submit annual report on the Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 211. Permanent requirement for biannual report on Women’s Advisory Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 212. Permanent authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 213. Extension of temporary increase in maximum loan guaranty amount for certain housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 301. Increase in cap of number of veterans participating in independent living program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 302. Enhancement of refinancing of home loans by veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 303. Technical amendments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility projects in fiscal year 2009 in the amount specified for each project:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Seismic corrections, Building 2, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto Division Palo Alto, California, in an amount not to exceed $54,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Construction of a polytrauma healthcare and rehabilitation center at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $66,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Seismic corrections, Building 1, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an amount not to exceed $225,900,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.

(a) Modification of Major Medical Facility Authorizations- Section 801(a) of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘$300,000,000’ and inserting ‘$625,000,000’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking the second sentence; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘$98,000,000’ and inserting ‘$769,200,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Modification of Authorization for Certain Major Medical Facility Construction Projects Previously Authorized in Connection With Capital Asset Realignment Initiative-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CORRECTION OF PATIENT PRIVACY DEFICIENCIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA- Paragraph (5) of section 802 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461) is amended by striking ‘$85,200,000’ and inserting ‘$136,700,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MEDICAL CENTER FACILITY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA- Paragraph (7) of such section is amended by striking ‘$406,000,000’ and inserting ‘$600,400,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW OUTPATIENT CLINIC, LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA- Paragraph (8) of such section is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘ambulatory’ and all that follows through ‘purchase,’ and inserting ‘outpatient clinic in’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘$65,100,000’ and inserting ‘$131,800,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MEDICAL CENTER FACILITY, ORLANDO, FLORIDA- Paragraph (11) of such section is amended by striking ‘$377,700,000’ and inserting ‘$656,800,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) CONSOLIDATION OF CAMPUSES AT THE UNIVERSITY DRIVE AND H. JOHN HEINZ III DIVISIONS, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA- Paragraph (12) of such section is amended by striking ‘$189,205,000’ and inserting ‘$295,600,000’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility leases in fiscal year 2009 at the locations specified, and in an amount for each lease not to exceed the amount shown for such location:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) For an outpatient clinic, Brandon, Florida, $4,326,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) For an outpatient clinic, Colorado Springs, Colorado, $3,995,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) For an outpatient clinic, Eugene, Oregon, $5,826,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) For the expansion of an outpatient clinic, Green Bay, Wisconsin, $5,891,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) For an outpatient clinic, Greenville, South Carolina, $3,731,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) For an outpatient clinic, Mansfield, Ohio, $2,212,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) For an outpatient clinic, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, $6,276,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) For an outpatient clinic, Mesa, Arizona, $5,106,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) For interim research space, Palo Alto, California, $8,636,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) For the expansion of an outpatient clinic, Savannah, Georgia, $3,168,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) For an outpatient clinic, Sun City, Arizona, $2,295,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) For a primary care annex, Tampa, Florida, $8,652,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY, OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

(a) Authorization- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a major medical facility project to construct a new medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Okaloosa County, Florida, in an amount not to exceed $54,475,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Facility Location- The facility authorized to be constructed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be built in accordance with option 2 of the report to Congress dated June 26, 2007, required to be submitted under section 823 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461; 120 Stat. 3449).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Plan for Sharing of Inpatient and Outpatient Services- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan that sets forth terms and conditions for the sharing of inpatient and outpatient services at the medical facility authorized to be constructed pursuant to subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009 Major Medical Facility Projects- There is authorized to be appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for the Construction, Major Projects, account--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) $345,900,000 for the projects authorized in section 101;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) $1,694,295,000 for the increased amounts authorized for projects whose authorizations are modified by section 102; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) $54,475,000 for the project authorized in section 104.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Authorization For Appropriations For Fiscal Year 2009 Major Medical Facility Leases- There is authorized to be appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for the Medical Facilities account, $60,114,000, for the leases authorized in section 103.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. REPORT ON FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION.

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report updating the progress of the Secretary in complying with section 312A of title 38, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 107. ANNUAL REPORT ON OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

(a) Annual Report Required- Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 8119. Annual report on outpatient clinics

‘(a) Annual Report Required- The Secretary shall submit to the committees an annual report on community-based outpatient clinics and other outpatient clinics of the Department. The report shall be submitted each year not later than the date on which the budget for the next fiscal year is submitted to the Congress under section 1105 of title 31.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Contents of Report- Each report required under subsection (a) shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) A list of each community-based outpatient clinic and other outpatient clinic of the Department, and for each such clinic, the type of clinic, location, size, number of health professionals employed by the clinic, workload, whether the clinic is leased or constructed and operated by the Secretary, and the annual cost of operating the clinic.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) A list of community-based outpatient clinics and other outpatient clinics that the Secretary opened during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which the report is submitted and a list of clinics the Secretary proposes opening during the fiscal year during which the report is submitted and the subsequent fiscal year, together with the cost of activating each such clinic and the information required to be provided under paragraph (1) for each such clinic and proposed clinic.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) A list of proposed community-based outpatient clinics and other outpatient clinics that are, as of the date of the submission of the report, under review by the National Review Panel and a list of possible locations for future clinics identified in the Department’s strategic planning process, including any identified locations in rural and underserved areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) A prioritized list of sites of care identified by the Secretary that the Secretary could establish without carrying out construction or entering into a lease, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) any such sites that could be expanded by hiring additional staff or allocating staff to Federal facilities or facilities operating in collaboration with the Federal Government; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) any sites established, or able to be established, under sections 8111 and 8153 of this title.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Deadline for First Annual Report- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit the first report required under section 8119(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subchapter I the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘8119. Annual report on outpatient clinics.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON INCLUSION OF NONINSTITUTIONAL EXTENDED CARE SERVICES IN DEFINITION OF MEDICAL SERVICES.

Section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking paragraph (10); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (6)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph (E):CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) Noninstitutional extended care services, including alternatives to institutional extended care that the Secretary may furnish directly, by contract, or through provision of case management by another provider or payer.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF RECOVERY AUDIT AUTHORITY.

Section 1703(d)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘September 30, 2008’ and inserting ‘September 30, 2013’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF HOSPITAL CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND NURSING HOME CARE TO VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN CERTAIN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TESTING CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

(a) Permanent Authority- Subsection (e)(3) of section 1710 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘; and’ and inserting a period; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking subparagraph (D).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendment- Subsection (e)(1)(E) of such section is amended by striking ‘paragraphs (2) and (3)’ and inserting ‘paragraph (2)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AUTHORITIES.

(a) Health Care Copayments- Section 1710(f)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘September 30, 2008’ and inserting ‘September 30, 2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Medical Care Cost Recovery- Section 1729(a)(2)(E) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘October 1, 2008’ and inserting ‘October 1, 2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF NURSING HOME CARE.

Section 1710A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘December 31, 2008’ and inserting ‘December 31, 2013’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT INCOME VERIFICATION.

Section 5317(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘September 30, 2008’ and inserting ‘September 30, 2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 207. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH RESEARCH CORPORATIONS.

(a) Repeal- Title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking section 7368.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 7368.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN VETERANS HOME LOAN GUARANTY PROGRAMS.

(a) Extension of Demonstration Project on Adjustable Rate Mortgages- Section 3707(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘2008’ and inserting ‘2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Extension of Demonstration Project on Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages- Section 3707A(a) of such title is amended by striking ‘2008’ and inserting ‘2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 209. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POST-TRAUMATIC-STRESS DISORDER.

Section 110(e)(2) of the Veterans’ Health Care Act of 1984 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note; Public Law 98-528) is amended by striking ‘through 2008’ and inserting ‘through 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 210. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON THE COMMITTEE ON CARE OF SEVERELY CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL VETERANS.

Section 7321(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘through 2008’ and inserting ‘through 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 211. PERMANENT REQUIREMENT FOR BIANNUAL REPORT ON WOMEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘through 2008’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 212. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS.

Section 544 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (e).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 213. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MAXIMUM LOAN GUARANTY AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN HOUSING LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Section 2201 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) is amended by striking ‘December 31, 2008’ and inserting ‘December 31, 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--OTHER MATTERSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 301. INCREASE IN CAP OF NUMBER OF VETERANS PARTICIPATING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM.

Section 3120(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘2,500 veterans’ and inserting ‘2,600 veterans’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 302. ENHANCEMENT OF REFINANCING OF HOME LOANS BY VETERANS.

(a) Inclusion of Refinancing Loans Among Loans Subject to Guaranty Maximum- Section 3703(a)(1)(A)(i)(IV) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘(5),’ after ‘(3),’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Increase in Maximum Percentage of Loan To-Value of Refinancing Loans Subject to Guaranty- Section 3710(b)(8) of such title is amended by striking ‘90 percent’ and inserting ‘100 percent’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 303. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

(a) Title 38- Title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in section 1712A--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking subsection (g);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by striking ‘(including a Resource Center designated under subsection (h)(3)(A) of this section)’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in section 2065(b)(3)(C), by striking ‘)’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36, by striking the item relating to section 3684A and inserting the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘3684A. Procedures relating to computer matching program.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in section 4110(c)(1), by striking ‘15’ and inserting ‘16’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 51, by striking the item relating to section 5121 and inserting the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘5121. Payment of certain accrued benefits upon death of a beneficiary.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) in section 7458(b)(2), by striking ‘pro rated’ and inserting ‘pro-rated’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) in section 8117(a)(1), by striking ‘such such’ and inserting ‘such’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) in each of sections 1708(d), 7314(f), 7320(j)(2), 7325(i)(2), and 7328(i)(2), by striking ‘medical care account’ and inserting ‘medical services account’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006- Section 807(e) of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461) is amended by striking ‘Medical Care’ each place it appears and inserting ‘Medical Facilities’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives September 11, 2008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.

110th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6832AN ACTTo authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes LORRAINE C. MILLER, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink