The bill introduced mid-day by VA committee chair Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Florida) would increase the current $800 million cap on the project to $900 million

.....................................................................

(Original Signature of Member)

114TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. ll

To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. MILLER of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on lllllllllllllll

A BILL To extend the authorization for the replacement of the exist-

ing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1

tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3

This Act may be cited as the Construction Author-4

ization and Choice Improvement Act. 5

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2 SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR MAJOR MED-1

ICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 2

PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED. 3

(a) IN GENERAL.The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 4

may carry out the replacement of the existing Department 5

of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, 6

in fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to exceed 7

$900,000,000. 8

(b) LIMITATION ON OBLIGATION OF FUNDS.Not-9

withstanding section 8104(c) of title 38, United States 10

Code, or any other provision of law, funds may not be obli-11

gated or expended for the project described in subsection 12

(a) in an amount that would cause the total amount obli-13

gated for that project to exceed the amount specified in 14

the law for that project (or would add to total obligations 15

exceeding such specified amount). 16

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR 17

EXPANDED AVAILABILITY OF HOSPITAL 18

CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR VET-19

ERANS THROUGH THE USE OF AGREEMENTS 20

WITH NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-21

FAIRS ENTITIES. 22

(a) IN GENERAL.Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans 23

Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public 24

Law 113146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended 25



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3

(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting (as cal-1

culated based on distance traveled) after 40 2

miles; and 3

(2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking sub-4

clause (II), and inserting the following new sub-5

clause (II): 6

(II) faces an unusual or exces-7

sive burden in traveling to such a 8

medical facility of the Department 9

based on 10

(aa) geographical chal-11

lenges; 12

(bb) environmental factors, 13

such as roads that are not acces-14

sible to the general public, traf-15

fic, or hazardous weather; 16

(cc) a medical condition 17

that impacts the ability to travel; 18

or 19

(dd) other factors, as de-20

termined by the Secretary.. 21

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.The amendments made by 22

subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-23

ment of this Act and apply with respect to care or services 24

provided on or after such date. 25



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F:\VA\VA14\R\HEALTH\DENVER2.XML 5/21/2015 11:52 05/21/2015 09:44 1141-0521-023717 603398|4 [Discussion Draft] (Original Signature of Member) [DISCUSSION DRAFT] I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. __ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Miller of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on _______________ A BILL To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Construction Authorization and Choice Improvement Act. 2. Extension of authorization for major medical facility construction project previously authorized (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, in fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to exceed $900,000,000. (b) Limitation on obligation of funds Notwithstanding section 8104(c) of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, funds may not be obligated or expended for the project described in subsection (a) in an amount that would cause the total amount obligated for that project to exceed the amount specified in the law for that project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such specified amount). 3. Clarification of distance requirement for expanded availability of hospital care and medical services for veterans through the use of agreements with non-Department of Veterans Affairs entities (a) In general Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting (as calculated based on distance traveled) after 40 miles; and (2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking subclause (II), and inserting the following new subclause (II): (II) faces an unusual or excessive burden in traveling to such a medical facility of the Department based on (aa) geographical challenges; (bb) environmental factors, such as roads that are not accessible to the general public, traffic, or hazardous weather; (cc) a medical condition that impacts the ability to travel; or (dd) other factors, as determined by the Secretary. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to care or services provided on or after such date.

Documents

The bill introduced mid-day by VA committee chair Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Florida) would increase the current $800 million cap on the project to $900 million