94–674 PDF 

Calendar No. 98 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 114–57 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND 

RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION BILL, 2016 

MAY 21, 2015.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. KIRK, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2029] 

The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the bill 

(H.R. 2029) making appropriations for military construction, the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 

year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, reports 

the same to the Senate with an amendment, and recommends that 

the bill as amended do pass. 

Amounts in new budget authority 

Total of bill as reported to the Senate ....................$280,711,140,000 

Amount of 2015 appropriations ............................... 169,188,368,000 

Amount of 2016 budget estimate ............................ 281,923,122,000 

Amount of House allowance .................................... 279,725,640,000 

Bill as recommended to Senate compared to— 

2015 appropriations ..........................................∂111,522,772,000 

2016 budget estimate ........................................ ¥1,211,982,000 

House allowance ................................................ ∂985,500,000 
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C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Background: 

Purpose of the Bill ............................................................................................ 4 

Committee Recommendation ........................................................................... 4 

Overview and Summary of Bill ....................................................................... 4 

Title I: 

Military Construction: 

Items of Special Interest: 

Hearings .............................................................................................. 6 

Summary of Committee Recommendations ..................................... 6 

Reprogramming Guidelines ............................................................... 6 

Real Property Maintenance ............................................................... 7 

Incremental Funding ......................................................................... 7 

Missile Defense ................................................................................... 7 

Military Construction Overview ............................................................... 14 

Military Construction, Army .................................................................... 14 

Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps ..................................... 14 

Military Construction, Air Force .............................................................. 15 

Military Construction, Defense-Wide ...................................................... 15 

Military Construction, Army National Guard ......................................... 16 

Military Construction, Air National Guard ............................................. 17 

Military Construction, Army Reserve ...................................................... 17 

Military Construction, Navy Reserve ...................................................... 17 

Military Construction, Air Force Reserve ............................................... 18 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Security Investment Program .... 18 

Family Housing Overview ........................................................................ 18 

Family Housing Construction, Army ....................................................... 19 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army ............................. 19 

Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps ........................ 19 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine 

Corps ....................................................................................................... 19 

Family Housing Construction, Air Force ................................................. 20 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force ....................... 20 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide ................ 20 

Family Housing Improvement Fund ........................................................ 20 

Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide ........................ 21 

Department of Defense Base Closure Account ....................................... 21 

Administrative Provisions ........................................................................ 21 

Title II: 

Department of Veterans Affairs: 

Items of Special Interest: 

Hearings .............................................................................................. 24 

Summary of Committee Recommendations ..................................... 24 

Department Overview ........................................................................ 24 

Veterans Benefits Administration ........................................................... 29 

Compensation and Pensions .............................................................. 30 

Readjustment Benefits ....................................................................... 31 

Veterans Insurance and Indemnities ............................................... 32 

Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund ........................................ 32 

Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account ......................... 33 

Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account ........... 33 

Veterans Health Administration .............................................................. 34 

Medical Services ................................................................................. 38 

Medical Support and Compliance ..................................................... 49 

Medical Facilities ............................................................................... 50 
Page

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Title II—Continued 

Department of Veterans Affairs—Continued 

Veterans Health Administration—Continued 

Medical and Prosthetic Research ...................................................... 50 

Medical Care Cost Recovery Collections .......................................... 52 

National Cemetery Administration .......................................................... 54 

Departmental Administration .................................................................. 55 

General Administration ..................................................................... 55 

Board of Veterans Appeals ................................................................ 56 

General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration .. 56 

Information Technology Systems ...................................................... 58 

Office of Inspector General ................................................................ 62 

Construction, Major Projects ............................................................. 63 

Construction, Minor Projects ............................................................. 66 

Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities ............ 67 

Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries ............................ 68 

Administrative Provisions ........................................................................ 69 

Title III: 

Related Agencies: 

American Battle Monuments Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................... 72 

Foreign Currency Fluctuations ......................................................... 72 

United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: Salaries and 

Expenses ................................................................................................. 73 

Department of Defense—Civil: Cemeterial Expenses, Army: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................... 73 

Armed Forces Retirement Home: Trust Fund ........................................ 74 

Administrative Provisions ........................................................................ 74 

Title IV: General Provisions ................................................................................... 75 

Program, Project, and Activity ............................................................................... 76 

Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI, of the Standing Rules of the 

Senate ................................................................................................................... 76 

Compliance With Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 

Senate ................................................................................................................... 77 

Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 

Senate ................................................................................................................... 78 

Budgetary Impact of Bill ......................................................................................... 80 

Military Construction Project Listing by Location ................................................ 81 

Comparative Statement of Budget Authority ........................................................ 109 
(4) 

BACKGROUND 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related 

Agencies appropriations bill provides necessary funding for the 

planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of military facilities worldwide. It also finances the cost of military family 

housing and the U.S. share of the NATO Security Investment Program. In addition, the bill provides funding, including environmental remediation, for base closures and realignments authorized 

by law. The bill provides resources to the Department of Veterans 

Affairs for veterans benefits and healthcare and funding for U.S. 

cemeteries and battlefield monuments both in the United States 

and abroad, including the American Battle Monuments Commission and Arlington National Cemetery. Additionally, the bill funds 

the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the Armed 

Forces Retirement Homes. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends new budget authority totaling $280,711,140,000 for fiscal year 2016 military construction, family 

housing, base closure, veterans healthcare and benefits, including 

fiscal year 2017 advance appropriations for veterans medical care 

and appropriated mandatories, and related agencies. This includes 

$198,529,342,000 in mandatory funding and $82,181,798,000 in 

discretionary funding. The table at the end of the report displays 

the Committee recommendation in comparison with the current fiscal year and the President’s fiscal year 2016 request. 

APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 

Budget request Senate recommendation 

New budget authority ..................................................................................... $281,923,122,000 $280,711,140,000 

Previous advances provided for fiscal year 2016 for medical care .............. 58,662,202,000 58,662,202,000 

Less advances provided for fiscal year 2017 for medical care .................... ¥173,331,739,000 ¥172,119,757,000 

Less advances provided for fiscal year 2017 for appropriated mandatories ¥103,982,585,000 ¥103,982,585,000 

Total appropriations for fiscal year 2016 ......................................... 277,314,324,000 276,102,342,000 

OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF BILL

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill funds an array of programs that are vital 

to America’s military personnel and their families, and to the Nations’ veterans. For U.S. military forces and their families worldwide, the bill funds critical infrastructure, ranging from mission essential operational and training facilities to key quality-of-life fa-
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cilities, including barracks, family housing, child care centers, 

schools and hospitals. 

For America’s 22.3 million veterans, the bill provides the necessary funding for veterans benefits and healthcare, from prescription drugs and clinical services to the construction of hospitals and 

other medical facilities throughout the Nation. 

The bill also funds veterans cemeteries in the United States and 

provides funding for four independent agencies—the American Battle Monuments Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims, Arlington National Cemetery, the Armed Forces Retirement Homes. 

Construction Contracting Outreach.—The Committee remains 

concerned about the high unemployment rate of the Nation’s construction industry. Despite the efforts of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to increase communication between procurement 

officers and industry, the Committee believes that local contractors 

very often do not know about nor have the opportunity to compete 

for local construction projects funded in this act. Therefore, the 

Committee directs the Secretaries of the Defense and the Veterans 

Affairs Departments to ensure that regional/district offices responsible for construction projects inform and engage local construction 

industry contractors, especially small businesses, minority-owned 

businesses, and women-owned businesses, about Federal procurement opportunities and the bidding process. The Committee requests a clear outreach plan from each Secretary no later than 90 

days after enactment of this act. This plan should modernize traditional outreach methods to reach a broader group of local contractors. 
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TITLE I 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

HEARINGS

The Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held two hearings related to the fiscal 

year 2016 military construction budget request. Witnesses included 

representatives of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, Pacific Command, Special Operations Command, and Defense Health Agency. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The fiscal year 2016 budget request for military construction and 

family housing totals $8,437,620,000. The Committee recommends 

$8,083,000,000, which is $354,620,000 below the President’s budget 

request. 

REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES

The following reprogramming guidelines apply for all military 

construction and family housing projects. A project or account (including the sub-elements of an account) which has been specifically 

reduced by the Congress in acting on the budget request is considered to be a congressional interest item and as such, prior approval 

is required. Accordingly, no reprogrammings to an item specifically 

reduced below the threshold by the Congress are permitted. 

The reprogramming criteria that apply to military construction 

projects (25 percent of the funded amount or $2,000,000, whichever 

is less) continue to apply to new housing construction projects and 

to improvements over $2,000,000. To provide the services the flexibility to proceed with construction contracts without disruption or 

delay, the costs associated with environmental hazard remediation 

such as asbestos removal, radon abatement, lead-based paint removal or abatement, and any other legislated environmental hazard remediation may be excluded, provided that such remediation 

requirements could not be reasonably anticipated at the time of the 

budget submission. This exclusion applies to projects authorized in 

this budget year, as well as projects authorized in prior years for 

which construction has not been completed. 

Furthermore, in instances where prior approval of a reprogramming request for a project or account has been received from the 

Committee, the adjusted amount approved becomes the new base 

for any future increase or decrease via below-threshold 

reprogrammings (provided that the project or account is not a congressional interest item as defined above). 
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In addition to these guidelines, the services are directed to adhere to the guidance for military construction reprogrammings and 

notifications, including the pertinent statutory authorities contained in Department of Defense [DOD] Financial Management 

Regulation 7000.14–R and relevant updates and policy memoranda. 

REAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

The Committee recommends a continuation of the following general rules for repairing a facility under ‘‘Operation and Maintenance’’ account funding: 

—Components of the facility may be repaired by replacement, 

and such replacement may be up to current standards or code. 

—Interior arrangements and restorations may be included as repair, but additions, new facilities, and functional conversions 

must be performed as military construction projects. 

—Such projects may be done concurrent with repair projects, as 

long as the final conjunctively funded project is a complete and 

usable facility. 

—The appropriate Service Secretary shall submit a 21-day notification prior to carrying out any repair project with an estimated cost in excess of $7,500,000. 

The Department is directed to continue to report on the real 

property maintenance backlog at all installations for which there 

is a requested construction project in future budget requests. This 

information is to be provided on the form 1390. In addition, for all 

troop housing requests, the form 1391 is to continue to show all 

real property maintenance conducted in the past 2 years and all future requirements for unaccompanied housing at that installation. 

INCREMENTAL FUNDING

In general, the Committee supports full funding for military construction projects. However, it continues to be the practice of the 

Committee to provide incremental funding for certain large 

projects, despite administration policy to the contrary, to enable the 

services to more efficiently allocate military construction dollars 

among projects that can be executed in the year of appropriation. 

MISSILE DEFENSE

The Committee remains committed to rapidly implementing the 

European Phased Adaptive Approach [EPAA]. The first Aegis 

Ashore missile defense site in Deveselu, Romania, is expected to be 

fully operational by the end of 2015. Construction in Romania has 

not been without difficulty, and the Committee notes the delays 

and additional costs associated with the high-altitude electromagnetic pulse [HEMP] shields. The Committee fully funds the request to build the second Aegis Ashore site, this one in Redzikowo, 

Poland, and expects the Missile Defense Agency [MDA] to apply 

the lessons learned from construction in Romania to expedite the 

project in Poland. As Iranian ballistic missiles become increasingly 

advanced, the activation of the Aegis Ashore sites is essential to 

the protection of U.S. and allied interests in Eastern and Central 

Europe. The Committee is aware that the European Reassurance 

Initiative has increased the number of U.S. and NATO rotational 
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forces in Europe and directs MDA to accelerate activation of the 

Aegis Ashore systems wherever possible. 

Long Range Discrimination Radar.—Section 128 of the Military 

Construction Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2014 prohibited the 

use of funds for ‘‘the decommissioning the Combined Heat and 

Power Plant at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska, until the Comptroller General of the United States conducts a review of the data 

used by the Department of Defense, including data in the Environmental Impact Statement and fiscal year 2010 Feasibility Study, to 

determine whether decommissioning the Combined Heat and 

Power Plant is the most cost-effective and beneficial option for the 

day-to-day operations and missions at the installation in support of 

United States national security.’’ On April 7, 2014, the Government 

Accountability Office [GAO] released to the subcommittee a report 

in response to this mandate. After the completion of that report the 

Missile Defense Agency announced that Clear Air Force Station is 

under consideration as a possible site for the new Long Range Discrimination Radar [LRDR] facility. If the LRDR is sited at Clear 

Air Force Station, the heat and power requirements and national 

security considerations are expected to significantly exceed those 

considered in the April 2014 GAO report. Moreover, the operators 

of the LRDR may find it advantageous for the Air Force to maintain the Combined Heat and Power Plant for security and operational reasons. In light of these changed circumstances, the Committee urges the Air Force to delay the decommissioning of the 

Combined Heat and Power Plant at Clear Air Force Station until 

such time as the future utility requirements can more accurately 

be determined. 

Pacific Realignment.—U.S. economic and security interests are 

inextricably linked to developments in the arc extending from the 

Western Pacific and East Asia into the Indian Ocean and South 

Asia, creating a mix of evolving challenges and opportunities. The 

Department of Defense has stated that it would tailor its global 

presence and posture by rebalancing toward the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing existing alliances and expanding networks of cooperation with emerging partners throughout the region to ensure 

collective capability and capacity for securing common interests. As 

part of this rebalance, the U.S. Pacific Command [PACOM] currently has programmed $775,000,000 over the next 5 years for military construction in the region. 

Approximately 39,000 U.S. military personnel, 43,000 dependents, and 5,000 DOD civilian employees are currently stationed on 

Japan, and the majority of this presence resides in Okinawa. Okinawa hosts over 25 percent of the U.S. bases in Japan, and Okinawa’s bases house approximately 8,000 Air Force personnel and up 

to 19,000 Marine Corps personnel on any given day. Attempts to 

realign, consolidate, and increase the sustainability of this presence 

have been ongoing for nearly two decades. Early plans were to 

move approximately 8,000 Marines and 9,000 dependents from 

Okinawa to Guam; however, in 2012 representatives from the U.S. 

and Japanese governments announced a revised plan that would 

relocate over 9,000 Marines from Okinawa and realign Marine 

forces throughout the Pacific: 4,800 to Guam, 2,700 to Hawaii, and 

2,500 rotational troops to Australia. 
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The U.S. Government Accountability Office [GAO] has been reporting to this Committee on Asia Posture plans and costs since 

2011. Based on GAO’s reports, it is not clear if sufficient existing 

military infrastructure is available in any of the receiving locations 

to support the relocation or if DOD has developed adequate cost estimates of infrastructure development that will be needed to ensure 

mission capability. In addition, the U.S. Government is still negotiating certain host nation and land use agreements that are key to 

executing the construction plan. 

As a result, the Committee is interested in learning the status 

of progress being made on the various realignment initiatives, the 

costs associated with these plans, and whether any alternatives to 

this plan are being considered. The Committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and report 

the results of the study to the Congressional defense committees by 

April 18, 2016. At a minimum, the Comptroller General’s study 

should answer the following questions: 

—What is the status of the realignment initiatives, have alternatives been considered, and to what extent has DOD identified a plan that lays out the appropriate sequencing of projects 

supporting the realignment of Marines and the interdependent 

projects on Okinawa, including associated timeframes and 

costs for the projects? 

—Can the Okinawa realignment timeframe be accelerated? 

—What is the status of development of DOD’s master plan to 

support the relocation of Marines to Guam? 

—To what extent does sufficient, usable excess capacity exist on 

bases in Hawaii to support the Marines’ relocation there? 

—To what extent do sufficient facilities in Australia exist to support the planned force rotations there? 

—What estimated costs has DOD identified it will need to develop new, or redevelop existing, infrastructure in Guam, Hawaii, Australia, Alaska, or other locations it may be considering for the realignment? 

—What is the status of relevant host nation and land use agreements required to execute the plan? 

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency—West.—The Committee 

recognizes the current National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency— 

West [NGA West] facility is functionally obsolete and faces increased force protection risks. The Committee understands that a 

replacement facility is needed to provide a safe and secure work environment to increase efficiency with minimal transitional burden 

to its 3,000 employees. The current lack of anti-terrorism and force 

protection measures are of great concern to the Committee. Further, the outdated facilities continue to require high maintenance 

costs that are increasingly unpredictable. The recommendation 

fully funds the President’s request for the preliminary design of a 

new NGA West facility. The Committee recognizes the significant 

contributions of NGA toward national security and expects the fiscal year 2017 budget request to include full funding for the first 

phase of the new facility and further expects NGA to pursue construction expeditiously. 

Overseas Military Construction.—The United States’ foremost national security priority is to protect the Nation and keep its citizens 
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and its communities safe. However, in responding to emerging regional or global threats, the U.S. often bears a disproportionately 

large part of the cost-sharing burden, including the cost of infrastructure investment. Forward deployed military forces are a crucial element in protecting the security of the United States, but as 

military construction budgets decrease, our Nation’s allies must 

similarly prioritize infrastructure investments as a cornerstone of 

cooperative defense policy. Therefore, the Department of Defense is 

urged to explore joint funding streams and seek greater host-nation 

contributions to U.S. military construction investments overseas. 

Basic Allowance for Housing.—Annual housing market surveys 

are conducted on an installation-by-installation basis, and are used 

by the Department to set proper Basic Allowance for Housing 

[BAH] rates to cover housing costs, including rent, utilities, and 

rental insurance, when servicemembers and their families live in 

off-base housing. While on-base or privatized housing is available 

on most major installations, the inventory is generally limited, and 

it is the Department’s policy to rely on the private sector as the primary source of housing for eligible military personnel and their 

families. To determine the annual BAH rates, the Department analyzes rental rates in communities surrounding installations to determine the average cost of renting suitable housing. While this is 

generally effective in establishing equitable BAH rates, for installations in rural States or regions where housing availability is constrained or where adjacent housing areas may not reflect the average cost of housing in nearby, more populous, communities, 

servicemembers may have difficulties finding affordable housing 

within the BAH rate. The Committee, therefore, directs the Department to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress within 90 days of enactment of this act 

on the analytics used to determine BAH rates for installations in 

rural States or regions, including the extent to which the rates are 

adjusted to reflect the availability-versus-demand of suitable housing in surrounding areas, and the extent to which the cost of rent, 

utilities and rental insurance in nearby more populous communities is factored into the rate. 

Department of Defense Studies.—The Committee notes that the 

Department of Defense frequently fails to complete and deliver to 

Congress significant studies in a timely manner. As a result, the 

Committee is handicapped in its ability to adequately evaluate the 

Department’s requests for additional projects due to the realignment of forces, consolidation of facilities, or major force structure 

changes. 

Defense Access Roads and Entry Control Points.—The Committee 

remains concerned about the impact of military construction funding constraints on the prioritization of essential Defense Access 

Roads and Entry Control Points at a number of U.S. military installations. Of particular concern are growth installations that 

serve primarily as host commands for a wide array of military services and agencies, and bases that have experienced significant population growth as a result of base realignment activities. 

Adding to the urgency of this problem, the U.S. Northern Command on May 8, 2015, raised the force protection level for all military installations in the continental United States to the second 
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highest alert level, Bravo, which applies when an increased or 

more predictable threat of terrorist activity exists. According to the 

Defense Department, the security order affects 3,200 sites, including bases, National Guard facilities, recruiting stations and health 

clinics. As a result of this action, there will be more comprehensive 

checking of those entering military installations, which could have 

traffic implications on surrounding roads. Moreover, the increased 

threat level is an urgent call to U.S. military installations to review 

the adequacy of their Defense Entry Control points, and to 

prioritize projects that will both increase security and ease surrounding traffic congestion. 

The Committee commends the Department of the Army for 

prioritizing entry control points and traffic mitigation projects in 

its fiscal year 2016 Unfunded Priority List, and recommends funding of the highest priority projects. However, the Committee 

strongly encourages the services to prioritize funding of projects addressing Entry Control Points and corresponding Defense Access 

Roads in their annual military construction budget requests. 

In addition to the security implications of adequate Entry Control Points and adjacent Defense Access Roads, the Committee also 

recognizes the immediate and significant transportation needs in 

many States and communities that are experiencing substantial 

population growth as a result of defense activities. The Department 

of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment estimates that there is 

a considerable amount of mission-critical transportation projects in 

need of funding. For those projects that are part of a State transportation improvement program or that are required as a result of 

Base Realignment and Closure development, making new Federal 

funds available would allow work on these projects to begin 

promptly. By including mission-growth transportation projects as 

eligible infrastructure projects for new Federal funds, important 

improvements can be made while creating jobs and strengthening 

national security. 

The Committee supports adjustment in Defense Access Road eligibility thresholds and requirements for installations of strategic 

importance, and a separate and distinct Defense Access Road funding source to offset the impacts of base expansion on the surrounding transportation network. Federal funds are needed to complement other State and local resources to address the congestion 

issues that will persist for decades. 

Energy Policy.—The Department of Defense [DOD] is the largest 

consumer of energy in the Federal Government, accounting for 80 

percent of the total amount of energy consumption. The Committee 

commends the Department for its efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its facilities and installations, reduce its energy consumption, and invest in renewable energy projects and energy security. 

These efforts, as well as programs and projects to enhance water 

conservation and improve the security of military installation energy sources, are key components of the Department’s strategy to 

meet the Congressional and DOD mandated goals for renewable 

energy generation and energy and water efficiency. The goals are 

critical to reducing long-term energy costs to the Federal Government and to ensuring that military mission capabilities and readi-
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ness are not hampered by constraints on energy and water resources. 

The Committee continues to support the Department’s efforts to 

incorporate green building technologies into new facility construction and into the renovation of existing buildings. In doing so, DOD 

and the services should seize upon leading-edge technologies and 

new and underutilized, low cost energy-efficient technologies that 

provide value through minimal life-cycle costs. In order to capture 

the most innovative of these new technologies, the Department and 

the services are encouraged to monitor new technologies emerging 

from government, industry, and academia. 

Military installations in Hawaii are among those at the forefront 

of the military’s efforts to address these issues, including the development of net-zero energy military housing and installation facilities, and upgrades and retrofits for improved energy and water efficiency. Two of Hawaii’s installations are serving as demonstration 

sites for the Smart Power Infrastructure Demonstration for Energy 

Reliability and Security [SPIDERS] program. The efforts underway 

in Hawaii, and at military installations elsewhere, are helping to 

inform Department-wide and Government-wide energy policies and 

investment strategies. These investments are already paying dividends in terms of both reduced energy consumption and cost savings. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, 

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus noted that energy efficiency 

projects underway in Hawaii are projected to save the Federal Government $4,500,000 per year. This is an example of the progress 

being made to reduce spending while addressing energy and water 

efficiency, conservation, and security at installations throughout 

the country. 

Water Conservation on Military Installations.—The Committee 

notes with concern the prospect of increasingly severe drought-related water shortages in the Nation, especially in the western and 

southwestern regions of the United States. California’s current 

drought-precipitated water crisis and prolonged droughts in other 

States should serve as a wake-up call to the Department of Defense 

[DOD] to redouble its efforts to manage and conserve water on 

military installations throughout the country. United States Code 

title 10 section 2866 grants the DOD authority to participate in 

programs conducted by a utility for the management of water demand or for water conservation. Section 2866 also permits the Secretary to carry out a military construction project for water conservation using funds appropriated or otherwise made available to 

the Department for water conservation, subject to congressional notification. The Committee encourages the Department to maximize 

its use of this and other authorities to preserve scarce water resources. 

The Committee also notes that water conservation projects are 

eligible for funding through the Energy Conservation Investment 

Program [ECIP]. However, only 1 of the 33 projects requested in 

the fiscal year 2016 ECIP program addresses water conservation. 

The Department is urged to give water conservation projects equal 

consideration when selecting projects to be funded through ECIP. 

The Committee recognizes that the DOD and the military services have in place a number of policies and initiatives to conserve 
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water on military installations, including the Army’s Net-Zero 

Water Initiative. In order to assess the current status of programs 

and policies to conserve water on military installations, the Secretary of Defense is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 days of enactment 

of this act on the following: (1) the current use of authorities provided in section 2866 or other relevant sections of title 10 to manage and conserve water on installations, including the use of water 

conservation funding for military construction projects; (2) existing 

programs and policies being used to conserve water on military installations; (3) the annual impact of these programs and policies on 

installation water consumption; and (4) plans for additional initiatives to reduce water consumption on installations. 

Coastal Erosion.—The Committee is aware that coastal erosion is 

a growing concern of the Department of Defense. On June 30, 2014, 

the Government Accountability Office [GAO] released a report 

(GAO–14–446), which assessed 15 existing sites at defense installations in the U.S. that are vulnerable to the effects of coastal erosion 

and provided recommendations to improve readiness and reduce 

fiscal exposure for DOD. Among its findings, the GAO noted that 

DOD officials are concerned that increased erosion on the Alaskan 

coast threatens several Air Force radar early warning and communication installations. Furthermore, Navy officials are concerned 

that if a storm surge occurs while a submarine is undergoing maintenance while sitting in a dry dock, the damage would be substantial and costly. Given the potential impact of coastal erosion on key 

military installations, the Committee directs the Department to include an assessment of coastal erosion and potential flooding risks 

in the siting of proposed military construction projects. 

Military Construction Funding Initiatives.—The bill includes 

funding for military construction initiatives to address important 

unfunded priorities included in the Department of Defense’s Unfunded Priority List provided to Congress. The Committee notes 

that in recent years the military construction budget requests have 

been at historically low levels. Amounts budgeted for facility 

sustainment, restoration, and modernization are similarly low. The 

infrastructure initiatives in the services Unfunded Priority Lists 

would ordinarily appear as part of the annual budget request, but 

were not included as the military construction budget remains constrained. 

For this reason, the Committee includes an additional 

$34,500,000 for the Army, $34,320,000 for the Navy and Marine 

Corps, $51,300,000 for the Army National Guard, and $34,200,000 

for the Army Reserve. All additional funding is reserved for 

projects that were included in the Unfunded Priority List submitted to Congress. 

Rescissions.—The Committee recommends administrative provisions which rescind prior year unobligated funds due primarily to 

project bid savings and the slow execution of projects. 
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MILITARY CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,777,212,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 6,653,105,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 5,693,003,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 6,513,565,000 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTS—PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The military construction appropriation provides for acquisition, 

construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Department of Defense. This appropriation also provides for facilities required as well as funds for infrastructure 

projects and programs required to support bases and installations 

around the world. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $528,427,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 743,245,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 663,245,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 663,245,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $663,245,000 for the Army for fiscal year 2016. This amount is $134,818,000 above the fiscal year 2015 

enacted level, and $80,000,000 below the budget request. Further 

detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State 

table at the end of this report. 

Army Readiness.—The Committee recognizes the importance of 

the Army’s Combat Training Areas, including the Joint Readiness 

Training Center [JRTC] located at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in providing forces with joint and combined arms training across the full 

spectrum of conflict. Critical to executing this mission is the Joint 

Operations Center [JOC] that functions as the battle command center for all rotational training conducted at the installation. The 

Army’s Future Years Defense Program [FYDP] includes a project 

to replace the JOC in fiscal year 2021. The Committee is concerned 

that the lack of a modern JOC is hampering the ability to effectively train rotational units preparing to deploy overseas. The Committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide an assessment 

of the impact that the current JRTC JOC has in training effectiveness, systems integrity and functionality, and associated maintenance and utility costs. The Secretary shall submit the assessment 

to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this act. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,018,772,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,669,239,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,349,678,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,619,699,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,619,699,000 for Navy and Marine 

Corps military construction for fiscal year 2016. This amount is 

$600,927,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and 
15 

$49,540,000 below the budget request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end 

of this report. 

Camp Pendleton Water Pipeline.—The budget request proposed 

$44,540,000 for a raw water pipeline from Camp Pendleton to the 

City of Fallbrook to upgrade the Camp Pendleton water system and 

allow the city to access water from the Santa Margarita watershed. 

The Committee is aware that the Navy and the Fallbrook Public 

Utility District are under a Federal Court Order to reach a settlement over water rights from the Santa Margarita River and that 

negotiations to reach such a settlement are ongoing. The Committee believes that an agreement among all the parties should be 

finalized and approved by the Court before initiating construction 

on this project. Therefore, the Committee has not provided funding 

for the project and directs the Navy to identify and report the 

project cost allocation between the Department of Defense and civilian entities. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $811,774,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,389,185,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,237,055,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,389,185,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,389,185,000 for the Air Force in 

fiscal year 2016. This amount is $577,411,000 above the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level, and equal to the budget request. Further detail 

of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table 

at the end of this report. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,991,690,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,300,767,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,931,456,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,290,767,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $2,290,767,000 for projects considered within the Defense-Wide account in fiscal year 2016. This 

amount is $299,077,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and $10,000,000 below the budget request. Further detail of the 

Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the 

end of this report. 

Defense Health Agency.—The Defense Health Agency [DHA] employs a comprehensive approach to hospital construction, working 

closely with the military services and monitoring the process as 

military hospitals are planned, built, maintained, and replaced. 

Military hospital construction projects are managed by the Army 

Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 

[NAVFAC], both of which have extensive experience and expertise 

in managing large construction projects. DHA consults with the 
16 

Corps and NAVFAC throughout the planning, design, and construction phases of a project to help manage project execution and 

change orders. Notably, DHA also accepts input from clinicians 

early on in the design process, but maintains control of the project 

after that point, which serves as a limiting factor on costly and 

time-consuming change orders. The close coordination among DHA, 

the Corps of Engineers, and NAVFAC enables DHA to more efficiently manage the design and construction of large-scale medical 

facilities, while containing cost and schedule overruns. Given the 

massive cost overruns and lengthy delays in recent Department of 

Veterans Affairs’ hospital construction projects, the Committee directs DHA to consult with VA on best practices in hospital design 

and construction. Further, the Committee directs DHA to submit a 

report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 180 days of enactment of this act regarding steps 

DHA has taken to fulfill this directive. 

Medical Military Construction.—The Committee provides funding 

for seven projects to renovate or build new medical treatment facilities within the Department of Defense. The medical military construction budget submissions for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 are the 

lowest levels of investment in 7 years. As a result, planned projects 

continue to be deferred indefinitely in the Future Years Defense 

Program [FYDP]. For example, the Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, 

hospital replacement originally planned for fiscal year 2016 is once 

again deferred until fiscal year 2021 or later. The Committee notes 

the Surgeon General of the United States Army testified before the 

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on March 25, 

2015, that this hospital replacement project remains the Army’s top 

medical military construction priority. The existing hospital last 

underwent a major renovation nearly 40 years ago. Due to the 

quality of life importance of this and other medical facilities like it, 

the Committee strongly encourages the Department to prioritize 

and restore medical military construction projects within the FYDP 

submitted for fiscal year 2017. In addition, the Committee encourages the Department to continue collaborating with the Department of Veterans Affairs to pursue Joint DOD/VA medical facility 

projects. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $128,920,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 197,237,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 167,437,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 197,237,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $197,237,000 for Military Construction, Army National Guard for fiscal year 2016. This amount is 

$68,317,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and equal to 

the budget request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

National Guard Military Construction.—Declining military construction investments resulting from current budget constraints are 

negatively impacting all branches of the Department of Defense. 

However, for the National Guard, securing military construction 
17 

funding is further inhibited by the need for the respective States 

to acquire land for a project before the project can be programmed 

for funding. While this is rooted in past instances in which project 

execution was jeopardized because of issues in acquiring a site, the 

result is that a State has to acquire and hold land before the Guard 

can request military construction funding for a project. This requirement often results in a disconnect in the availability of State 

and Federal funding for a National Guard project, making it more 

difficult for the Guard to prioritize future project funding. Therefore, within 120 days following enactment of this act, the Director 

of the National Guard Bureau is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on ways in 

which the process for National Guard military construction funding 

can be streamlined and more efficiently coordinated with the availability of land for a project so that Guard projects remain competitive in the Future Years Defense Program. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $92,663,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 138,738,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 138,738,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 138,738,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $138,738,000 for Military Construction, Air National Guard for fiscal year 2016. This amount is 

$46,075,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and equal to 

the budget request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $103,946,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 113,595,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 104,295,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 113,595,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $113,595,000 for Military Construction, Army Reserve for fiscal year 2016. This amount is $9,649,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and equal to the budget 

request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $51,528,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 36,078,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 36,078,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 36,078,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $36,078,000 for Military Construction, Navy Reserve for fiscal year 2016. This amount is $15,450,000 

below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and equal to the budget 
18 

request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $49,492,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 65,021,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 65,021,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 65,021,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $65,021,000 for Military Construction, Air Force Reserve for fiscal year 2016. This amount is 

$15,529,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and equal to 

the budget request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $199,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 120,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 150,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 120,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] appropriation 

provides for the U.S. cost share of the NATO Security Investment 

Program for the acquisition and construction of military facilities 

and installations (including international military headquarters) 

and for related expenses for the collective defense of the NATO 

Treaty area. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $120,000,000 for the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization Security Investment Program [NSIP] for fiscal 

year 2016 as requested. This amount is $79,700,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,190,535,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,413,181,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,413,181,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,413,181,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Family Housing appropriation provides funds for military 

family housing construction activities, operation and maintenance, 

the Family Housing Improvement Fund, and the Homeowners Assistance Program. Construction accounts provide funding for new 

construction, improvements and the Federal Government share of 

housing privatization. Operation and maintenance accounts fund 

costs associated with the maintenance and leasing of military family housing, including utilities, services, management, and furnishings. 
19 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,413,181,000 for Family Housing 

Construction, Operations and Maintenance, and the Department’s 

family housing improvement fund for fiscal year 2016. This amount 

is $222,646,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal 

to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $78,609,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 99,695,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 99,695,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 99,695,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $99,695,000 for Army Family Housing Construction in fiscal year 2016, an amount equal to the budget 

request and $21,086,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level. 

Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in 

the State table at the end of this report. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $350,976,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 393,511,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 393,511,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 393,511,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $393,511,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Army for fiscal year 2016. This amount 

is $42,535,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal 

to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $16,412,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 16,541,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 16,541,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 16,541,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $16,541,000 for Family Housing 

Construction, Navy and Marine Corps. This amount is $129,000 

above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget 

request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY AND

MARINE CORPS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $354,029,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 353,036,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 353,036,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 353,036,000 
20 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $353,036,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps, in fiscal year 

2016. This amount is $993,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. ........................... 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... $160,498,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 160,498,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 160,498,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $160,498,000 for Family Housing 

Construction, Air Force, in fiscal year 2016. This amount is equal 

to the budget request. Further detail of the Committee’s recommendation is provided in the State table at the end of this report. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $327,747,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 331,232,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 331,232,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 331,232,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $331,232,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force, in fiscal year 2016. This 

amount is $3,485,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $61,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 58,668,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 58,668,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 58,668,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $58,668,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Defense-Wide, for fiscal year 2016. This 

amount is $2,432,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,662,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... ........................... 

House allowance .................................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Family Housing Improvement Fund appropriation provides 

for the Department of Defense to undertake housing initiatives and 

to provide an alternative means of acquiring and improving mili-
21 

tary family housing and supporting facilities. This account provides 

seed money for housing privatization initiatives. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends no funding for the Family Housing 

Improvement Fund in fiscal year 2016 in accordance with the 

budget request. 

CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $38,715,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... ........................... 

House allowance .................................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ........................... 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account provides funding for design and construction of fullscale chemical disposal facilities and associated projects to upgrade 

installation support facilities and infrastructure required to support the Chemical Demilitarization Program. This account was established starting in fiscal year 2005 to comply with section 141(b) 

of the fiscal year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends no funding for chemical demilitarization construction projects for fiscal year 2016 in accordance 

with the budget request. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $315,085,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 251,334,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 251,334,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 251,334,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Section 2711 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2014 (Public Law 112–239) consolidated the Base Closure Account 1990 and the Base Closure Account 2005 into a single Department of Defense Base Closure Account. The Base Closure Account provides for cleanup and disposal of property consistent with 

the four closure rounds required by the base closure acts of 1988 

and 1990, and with the 2005 closure round required by the Defense 

Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note). 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a total of $251,334,000 for the Department of Defense Base Closure Account for fiscal year 2016, 

equal to the budget request. Funds provided for fiscal year 2016 

are for environmental cleanup and ongoing operations and maintenance. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. The Committee includes a provision that restricts payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for work, except in 
22 

cases of contracts for environmental restoration at base closure 

sites. 

SEC. 102. The Committee includes a provision that permits the 

use of funds for the hire of passenger motor vehicles. 

SEC. 103. The Committee includes a provision that permits the 

use of funds for defense access roads. 

SEC. 104. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits construction of new bases inside the continental United States for 

which specific appropriations have not been made. 

SEC. 105. The Committee includes a provision that limits the use 

of funds for purchase of land or land easements. 

SEC. 106. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

use of funds to acquire land, prepare a site, or install utilities for 

any family housing except housing for which funds have been made 

available. 

SEC. 107. The Committee includes a provision that limits the use 

of minor construction funds to transfer or relocate activities among 

installations. 

SEC. 108. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

procurement of steel unless American producers, fabricators, and 

manufacturers have been allowed to compete. 

SEC. 109. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits payments of real property taxes in foreign nations. 

SEC. 110. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits construction of new bases overseas without prior notification. 

SEC. 111. The Committee includes a provision that establishes a threshold for American preference of $500,000 relating to architect 

and engineering services for overseas projects. 

SEC. 112. The Committee includes a provision that establishes 

preference for American contractors for military construction in the 

United States territories and possessions in the Pacific, and on 

Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf. 

SEC. 113. The Committee includes a provision that requires notification of military exercises involving construction in excess of 

$100,000. 

SEC. 114. The Committee includes a provision that limits obligations during the last 2 months of the fiscal year. 

SEC. 115. The Committee includes a provision that permits funds 

appropriated in prior years to be available for construction authorized during the current session of Congress. 

SEC. 116. The Committee includes a provision that permits the 

use of expired or lapsed funds to pay the cost of supervision for any 

project being completed with lapsed funds. 

SEC. 117. The Committee includes a provision that permits obligation of funds from more than 1 fiscal year to execute a construction project, provided that the total obligation for such project is 

consistent with the total amount appropriated for the project. 

SEC. 118. The Committee includes a provision that permits the 

transfer of funds from Family Housing Construction accounts to 

the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund and from Military 

Construction accounts to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 

SEC. 119. The Committee includes a provision that provides 

transfer authority to the Homeowners Assistance Fund. 
23 

SEC. 120. The Committee includes a provision that requires all 

acts making appropriations for military construction be the sole 

funding source of all operation and maintenance for family housing, 

including flag and general officer quarters, and limits the repair on 

flag and general officer quarters to $35,000 per unit per year without prior notification to the congressional defense committees. 

SEC. 121. The Committee includes a provision that provides authority to expend funds from the ‘‘Ford Island Improvement’’ account. 

SEC. 122. The Committee includes a provision that allows the 

transfer of expired funds to the Foreign Currency Fluctuation, Construction, Defense Account. 

SEC. 123. The Committee includes a provision that allows the reprogramming of military construction and family housing construction funds among projects and activities within the account in 

which they are funded. 

SEC. 124. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

use of funds in this title for planning and design and construction 

of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 

SEC. 125. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for unfunded military construction priorities for the 

Army. 

SEC. 126. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for unfunded military construction priorities for the 

Navy and Marine Corps. 

SEC. 127. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for unfunded military construction priorities for the 

Army National Guard. 

SEC. 128. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for unfunded military construction priorities for the 

Army Reserve. 

SEC. 129. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from various Military Construction accounts. 

SEC. 130. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from 42 U.S.C. 3374. 

SEC. 131. The Committee includes a provision regarding the consolidation or relocation of a U.S. Air Force RED HORSE Squadron 

outside of the United States. 
(24) 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

HEARINGS

The Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held three hearings related to the fiscal 

year 2016 and 2017 Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] budget 

request. The subcommittee heard testimony from the Honorable 

Carolyn M. Clancy, Interim Under Secretary for Health, the Honorable Allison A. Hickey, Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Honorable Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommendation includes $163,792,416,000 for 

the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016, including 

$94,546,757,000 in mandatory spending and $69,245,659,000 in 

discretionary spending. The Committee also recommends 

$63,271,000,000 in advance appropriations for veterans medical 

care for fiscal year 2017 and $103,982,585,000 in advance appropriations for appropriated mandatories for fiscal year 2017. 

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Veterans Administration was established on July 21, 1930, 

as an independent agency by Executive Order 5398, in accordance 

with the Act of July 3, 1930 (46 Stat. 1016). This act authorized 

the President to consolidate and coordinate Federal agencies specially created for or concerned with the administration of laws providing benefits to veterans, including the Veterans’ Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer 

Soldiers. On March 15, 1989, the Veterans Administration was elevated to Cabinet-level status as the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The VA’s mission is to serve America’s veterans and their families as their principal advocate in ensuring they receive the care, 

support, and recognition they have earned in service to the Nation. 

As of September 30, 2014, there were an estimated 22 million living veterans, with 21.9 million of them residing in the United 

States and Puerto Rico. There were an estimated 25.7 million dependents (spouses and dependent children) of living veterans in the 

United States and Puerto Rico, and there were 566,000 survivors 

of deceased veterans receiving VA survivor benefits in the United 

States and Puerto Rico. Thus, approximately 48.3 million people, or 

15 percent of the total estimated resident population of the United 
25 

States and Puerto Rico, were recipients or potential recipients of 

veterans benefits from the Federal Government. The VA’s operating units include the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans 

Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and 

staff support offices. 

The Veterans Benefits Administration [VBA] provides an integrated program of nonmedical veterans benefits. The VBA administers a broad range of benefits to veterans and other eligible beneficiaries through 56 regional offices and a records processing center 

in St. Louis, Missouri. The benefits provided include: compensation 

for service-connected disabilities; pensions for wartime, needy, and 

totally disabled veterans; vocational rehabilitation assistance; educational and training assistance; home buying assistance; estate 

protection services for veterans under legal disability; information 

and assistance through personalized contacts; and six life insurance programs. 

The Veterans Health Administration [VHA] develops, maintains, 

and operates a national healthcare delivery system for eligible veterans; carries out a program of education and training of 

healthcare personnel; conducts medical research and development; 

and furnishes health services to members of the Armed Forces during periods of war or national emergency. A system of 167 medical 

centers, 1,018 community-based outpatient clinics, 300 vet centers, 

and 135 community living centers is maintained to meet the VA’s 

medical mission. 

The National Cemetery Administration [NCA] provides for the 

interment of the remains of eligible deceased servicemembers and 

discharged veterans in any national cemetery with available grave 

space; permanently maintains these graves; provides headstones 

and markers for the graves of eligible persons in national and private cemeteries; administers the grant program for aid to States in 

establishing, expanding, or improving State veterans cemeteries; 

and provides certificates to families of deceased veterans recognizing their contributions and service to the Nation. In 2016, cemetery activities will encompass 134 national cemeteries, two rural 

National Burial Grounds, and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. 

Staff support offices include the Office of Inspector General, 

Boards of Contract Appeals and Veterans Appeals, and General Administration offices, which support the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary for Benefits, Under Secretary for Health, 

Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, and General Counsel. 

Whistleblower Protection.—The Committee is deeply concerned 

about unacceptable retaliation against whistleblowers within the 

Department across the Nation. The Department has made many 

promises recently to foster a culture of openness by encouraging 

VA employees to report cases of wrongdoing, yet the Committee 

continues to hear reports that when whistleblowers do bring problems to light, the whistleblowers themselves are attacked in official 

and unofficial ways. Some examples of retaliation against whistleblowers reported to the Committee include: investigating the whistleblower rather than the reported problem, lowering performance 

appraisal ratings, reducing access to computers, conducting formal 

meetings with co-workers to turn other employees against the 

whistleblower, refusing to investigate allegations of retaliation 
26 

against the whistleblower, and relocating the whistleblower’s office 

space to areas with fewer amenities or unsanitary conditions. The 

Committee finds such actions reprehensible, and the Department is 

directed to send a clear and unequivocal message throughout the 

VA system that retaliation against whistleblowers will not stand, 

and those in leadership who condone or ignore such retaliation will 

be held accountable. The Committee will continue to advocate on 

behalf of those employees who receive unfair retribution for reporting wrongdoing at VA facilities and will bring to the Department’s 

attention every instance of whistleblower retaliation brought to its 

attention. 

The Committee is concerned there is no proper mechanism at the 

Department to inform employees of their rights under the law with 

regards to reporting wrongdoing and whistleblower protection. The 

Committee is aware there is no whistleblower protection training 

for employees mandated within the Department, and there is not 

an official handbook or orientation outlining and explaining employee rights and responsibilities in this area, to include management and their role and responsibilities either when reporting 

wrongdoing themselves or supervising someone who has blown the 

whistle on misconduct, waste, fraud, or poor patient care. Therefore, the Department is directed to ensure all employees are educated on: their rights from retaliation, existing whistleblower protections, and resources available to them, to include the VA Office 

of the Inspector General [OIG], Office of Special Counsel, and the 

Merit System Protection Board and the location of such resources 

on the OIG Web site. The Department is directed to implement 

education for all employees on these issues through employee orientation, employee manuals, and periodic briefings. Additionally, 

employees must be educated on exemptions from privacy laws, specifically that healthcare providers are exempted from the Health 

Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA] privacy rules 

when disclosing to OIG allegations of problems with patient care. 

Further, any VA employee who discloses HIPAA and Privacy Act 

information to OIG for purposes of providing such information for 

an OIG investigation is not in violation of these laws. The law shall 

be clearly communicated by the investigator prior to any investigative interview with a VA employee. Currently, the law is not clearly stated on the OIG Web site nor regularly communicated to VA 

employees. It is critical all employees understand their protections 

under the law and are encouraged to report misconduct, waste, 

fraud, and poor patient care so those engaging in wrongdoing may 

be held accountable. 

Electronic Health Record.—Achieving interoperability between 

the health records of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 

Department of Defense remains one of the highest priorities of the 

Committee. The Committee believes from a servicemember’s initial 

military entrance physical to their final interaction with VA, a 

seamless health record should follow the individual. VA’s VistA 

Evolution and DOD’s new acquisition of an electronic health record 

are two separate and distinct programs, yet the Departments have 

a mandate from Congress to ensure the records are able to transmit computable data that can be used by clinicians on either side. 

The Committee also notes the increased utilization of medical care 
27 

in the community by enrolled veterans makes it incumbent upon 

the Department to ensure medical information from outside VA can 

be easily brought into the VA’s health record system. The Committee continues to expect the electronic health record will be developed with an open architecture to best leverage the innovation 

of the private sector. 

In fiscal year 2013, 2014, and 2015, Congress required the Department to provide information on the cost, timeline, performance 

benchmarks, and interoperability capacity of VistA Evolution before releasing 75 percent of the funds appropriated. The Committee 

maintains in this act its oversight authority by placing similar constraints on the obligation or expenditure of funding for the development of VistA Evolution until certain conditions are met. Further 

explanation of the constraints included in the act is included in the 

appropriate section of the report. 

Denver VA Medical Center.—The Committee was deeply disappointed to learn at the end of calendar year 2015 the scale of the 

gross mismanagement at the Denver VA Medical Center in Aurora, 

Colorado. With this project, the Department has breached the trust 

of the Committee, the Congress, and the taxpayer with its embarrassing mishandling of public funds. The new estimate to complete 

the hospital complex, as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers, is upwards of $1.73 billion, which the Committee finds to be 

a wholly unacceptable cost for any VA major construction project 

of this scope. As late as October 2014, the Department was reporting to the Committee the total firm target price of the facility was 

$640 million (revised upwards from the original total firm target 

price of $604 million). The authorized amount for this facility was 

$800 million, and the taxpayer may end up paying more than double that amount making this one of the most expensive medical 

centers in the world. The Committee finds it shocking the Department was aware the scale of the project and the choice in design 

as well as the type of contract VA negotiated made it possible the 

project might run over its authorized amount, yet it did not make 

rational decisions along the way to stay within budget. The Committee believes those managing this project were not good stewards 

of appropriated resources and were not advocates for the veterans 

they were duty-bound to protect and serve. The Department now 

finds itself in an untenable position of having to take money from 

other places within its budget in order to pay for the cost of the 

Aurora facility. The facility is also well behind schedule, as it will 

not be complete before the end of 2018. 

Not only is the Committee disturbed by the egregious cost overrun and delay, the Committee has no faith in the Department’s 

ability to manage major medical facility construction projects of 

this kind in the future. The Committee understands the Department has begun discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

[USACE] to seek their management of future major medical facility 

construction projects. The Committee believes USACE is the right 

partner for VA as it designs and constructs major medical facility 

construction projects, and the Committee directs the Department to 

enter into an agreement with USACE to manage the next seven 

major medical facility construction projects as outlined in the appropriate section of the report. The Department is directed to re-
28 

port to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 30 days of enactment of this act on its agreement with 

USACE to manage these seven projects. Further explanation of the 

major construction account constraints included in the act is included in the appropriate section of the report. 

Disability Claims Backlog.—The Committee commends the Department on its efforts to reduce the disability claims backlog and 

increase the accuracy of claims decisions, yet the backlog in disability claims remains a major concern of the Committee. The Committee is committed to ensuring the Department reaches its goal of 

processing all claims over 125 days with 98 percent accuracy and 

ending the backlog in 2015. The Committee has not only fully funded the request for claims processing in recent years, but has provided increases above the budget requests for hiring and training 

claims processors, bolstering the migration to electronic claims 

processing systems, and addressing the increasing backlog of appeals at the Board of Veterans Appeals. As a result of these funding levels and the specific measures intended to bring the backlog 

down included in the fiscal year 2014 and 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill 

and report, VBA has made significant and notable progress in reducing the number of backlogged claims from a high of 611,000 in 

March 2013 to fewer than 158,540 as of May 9, 2015. 

The Committee is also committed to ensuring there is not a recurrence of any backlog or a reduction in accuracy. To that end, the 

Committee will continue to host reoccurring meeting of the disability claims interagency working group that began in May 2013. 

This group includes the Under Secretary of Benefits and representatives from the Department of Defense, the Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service. The Committee will 

continue to assert its oversight ability by monitoring these agencies 

as they work to better expedite the flow of interagency information 

needed to process claims in a timely manner. The Committee will 

continue to require the Department provide monthly updates on 

performance measures for each Regional Office. 

Additionally, there is concern the gains VBA has made recently 

are the result of temporary measures such as overtime work and 

one-time funding increases from the Committee for hiring and 

training. The Committee directs the Department shift from crisismode to maintenance-mode in the area of claims processing. Once 

the backlog is reduced at the end of the 2015, it will be unacceptable to the Committee for VBA to carry a backlog of disability 

claims again. The Department must consider processing all claims 

within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy a mandate of VBA, and 

the Department should fund and staff this agency accordingly. 

The Committee is also focused on the next assumed issue for disability claims: the backlog at the appellate level. The fiscal year 

2016 justification accompanying the budget request states appeals 

received by the Board of Veterans Appeals are projected to increase 

65 percent, from 49,611 in 2012 to 81,640 by the end of 2016. The 

Committee notes the Department is aware the appeals process 

needs reform and resources, and to that end, the Committee requests a report no later than 180 days after enactment of this act 
29 

on the actions VBA is taking to reduce the backlog of appeals and 

streamline the appeals process. 

Curing Hepatitis C within the Veteran Population.—The Committee is excited about the availability of new Hepatitis C drugs 

that have a cure rate of 96 percent. The Department is to be commended for robustly treating veterans with Hepatitis C as the veteran population is twice as likely to have the virus as the general 

population. The Committee is aware the Department was unable to 

provide accurate estimates of drug treatment costs in the fiscal 

year 2016 request, and therefore, the Committee is directing more 

funding be allotted with in the Medical Services account to provide 

proper resources to address the need in fiscal year 2016. 

Homeless Veterans.—Between 2009 and 2014, the estimated 

number of homeless veterans has been reduced by 33 percent. As 

a result of the investments the Committee, the Department, and 

various other Federal, State, and local partners have made over the 

past several years, it is highly likely the Department’s Agency Priority Goal of ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 will 

be achieved. The Committee notes, however, the 2014 ‘‘Point in 

Time Count’’ prepared by the Department of Housing and Urban 

Development estimates there were 49,933 homeless veterans in the 

U.S. on a single night in January 2014. The Committee is aware 

even after ‘‘getting to zero’’ there remains much to be done to sustain the gains made in this area and prevent veterans from becoming homeless in the future. Therefore, the Committee provides the 

full fiscal year 2016 and 2017 budget requests for VA homelessness 

assistance programs and homeless veteran treatment costs. The 

Department is directed to provide a report to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress as soon as feasibly possible after the end of calendar year 2015 noting if the Department 

met the goal of ending veterans homelessness and detailing how 

the Department will shift focus and resources to prevention. 

Tribal Veterans Service Officer.—The Committee notes current 

regulations regarding recognition of officers of National, State, and 

Regional Organizations by the Secretary do not adequately cover 

Tribal or Native American organizations. The Committee believes 

this oversight should be addressed expeditiously and urges the Department to revise its current regulations to permit the certification of Tribal Veterans Service Officers in the same manner as 

State and Regional Veterans Officers. 

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $94,293,775,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 94,712,847,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... 94,712,847,000 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... 94,712,847,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 103,982,585,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 103,982,585,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 103,982,585,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

The Veterans Benefits Administration [VBA] is responsible for 

the payment of compensation and pension benefits to eligible service-connected disabled veterans, as well as education benefits and 

housing loan guarantees. 
30 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $94,712,847,000 for the Veterans 

Benefits Administration. This amount is composed of 

$79,124,675,000 for Compensation and Pensions; $15,344,922,000 

for Readjustment Benefits; $77,160,000 for Veterans Insurance and 

Indemnities; $164,558,000 for the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund administrative expenses; $31,000 for the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program account, with $367,000 for administrative expenses; and $1,134,000 for the Native American Veteran 

Housing Loan Program account. For the first time, the Committee 

recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of 

$103,982,585,000 for the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2017. 

COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $79,071,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 79,124,675,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... 79,124,675,000 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... 79,124,675,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 87,146,761,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 87,146,761,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 87,146,761,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Compensation is payable to living veterans who have suffered 

impairment of earning power from service-connected disabilities. 

The amount of compensation is based upon the impact of disabilities on a veteran’s earning capacity. Death compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation is payable to the surviving 

spouses and dependents of veterans whose deaths occur while on 

active duty or result from service-connected disabilities. A clothing 

allowance may also be provided for service-connected veterans who 

use a prosthetic or orthopedic device. In fiscal year 2016, the Department estimates it will obligate $76,832,302,000 for payments to 

4,299,512 veterans, 400,359 survivors, and 1,156 dependents receiving special benefits. 

Pensions are an income security benefit payable to needy wartime veterans who are precluded from gainful employment due to 

nonservice-connected disabilities which render them permanently 

and totally disabled. Public Law 107–103, the Veterans Education 

and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001, restored the automatic presumption of permanent and total nonservice connected disability 

for purposes of awarding a pension to veterans age 65 and older, 

subject to the income limitations that apply to all pensioners. 

Death pensions are payable to needy surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans. The rate payable for both disability and death pensions is determined on the basis of the annual 

income of the veteran or their survivors. In fiscal year 2016, the 

Department estimates that the Pensions program will provide benefits to 306,155 veterans and 216,131 survivors totaling 

$5,963,099,000. 

The Compensation and Pensions program funds certain burial 

benefits on behalf of eligible deceased veterans. These benefits pro-
31 

vide the purchase and transportation costs for headstones and 

markers, graveliners, and pre-placed crypts; and provides partial 

reimbursement for privately purchased outer burial receptacles. In 

fiscal year 2016, the Department estimates the Compensation and 

Pensions program will obligate $274,796,000 providing burial benefits. This funding will provide 68,290 burial allowances, 33,512 burial plot allowances, 31,057 service-connected death awards, 497,644 

burial flags, 354,840 headstones or markers, and 84,226 

graveliners or reimbursement for privately purchased outer burial 

receptacles. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $79,124,675,000 for compensation 

and pensions. This is an increase of $53,675,000 above the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. For the 

first time, the Committee recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of $87,146,761,000 for fiscal year 2017 for compensation and pensions for fiscal year 2017. This is $8,022,086,000 

above the fiscal 2016 request and equal to the fiscal year 2017 

budget request. 

READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $14,997,136,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 15,344,922,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... 15,344,922,000 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... 15,344,922,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 16,743,904,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 16,743,904,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 16,743,904,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Readjustment benefits appropriation finances the education 

and training of veterans and servicemembers under chapters 30, 

31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42 and 43 of title 38, United 

States Code. These benefits include the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program (Montgomery GI bill) and the Post 9/ 

11 Educational Assistance Program. Basic benefits are funded 

through appropriations made to the readjustment benefits appropriation and by transfers from the Department of Defense. This account also finances vocational rehabilitation, specially adapted 

housing grants, specially adapted automobile grants for certain disabled veterans, and educational assistance allowances for eligible 

dependents of those veterans who died from service-connected 

causes or who have a total permanent service-connected disability, 

as well as dependents of servicemembers who were captured or 

missing in action. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $15,344,922,000 for Readjustment 

benefits. This is an increase of $347,786,000 above the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. For the first 

time, the Committee recommendation includes an advance appropriation of $16,743,904,000 for Readjustment benefits for fiscal 
32 

year 2017. This is $1,398,982,000 above the fiscal year 2016 request and equal to the fiscal year 2017 budget request. 

VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $63,257,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 77,160,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... 77,160,000 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... 77,160,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 91,920,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 91,920,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 91,920,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Veterans insurance and indemnities appropriation consists 

of the former appropriations for military and naval insurance, applicable to World War I veterans; National Service Life Insurance, 

applicable to certain World War II veterans; servicemen’s indemnities, applicable to Korean conflict veterans; and veterans mortgage life insurance to individuals who have received a grant for 

specially adapted housing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $77,160,000 for Veterans insurance 

and indemnities. This is an increase of $13,903,000 above the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. For the 

first time, the Committee recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of $91,920,000 for Veterans insurance and indemnities for fiscal year 2017. This is $14,760,000 above the fiscal 

year 2016 request and equal to the fiscal year 2017 budget request. 

VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND

Program account Administrative 

expenses 

Appropriations, 2015 ....................................................................................................... ............................ 160,881,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ................................................................................................... ............................ 164,558,000 

House allowance ............................................................................................................. ............................ 164,558,000 

Committee recommendation ........................................................................................... ............................ 164,558,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Veterans housing benefit program fund provides for all costs 

associated with the VA’s direct and guaranteed housing loan programs, with the exception of the Native American veteran housing 

loan program. 

VA loan guaranties are made to servicemembers, veterans, reservists, and unremarried surviving spouses for the purchase of 

homes, condominiums, and manufactured homes, and for refinancing loans. VA guarantees part of the total loan, permitting the 

purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, 

even without a downpayment, if the lender agrees. VA requires 

that a downpayment be made for a manufactured home. With a VA 

guaranty, the lender is protected against loss up to the amount of 

the guaranty if the borrower fails to repay the loan. 
33 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends such sums as may be necessary for 

funding subsidy payments, and $164,558,000 for administrative expenses for fiscal year 2016. Bill language limits gross obligations 

for direct loans for specially adapted housing to $500,000. 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Program account Administrative 

expenses 

Appropriations, 2015 ....................................................................................................... 10,000 361,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ................................................................................................... 31,000 367,000 

House allowance ............................................................................................................. 31,000 367,000 

Committee recommendation ........................................................................................... 31,000 367,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program account covers the 

cost of direct loans for vocational rehabilitation of eligible veterans 

and, in addition, includes administrative expenses necessary to 

carry out the direct loan program. Loans of up to $1,108 (based on 

the indexed chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate) are currently 

available to service-connected disabled veterans enrolled in vocational rehabilitation programs, as provided under 38 U.S.C. chapter 

31, when the veteran is temporarily in need of additional assistance. Repayment is made in monthly installments, without interest, through deductions from future payments of compensation, 

pension, subsistence allowance, educational assistance allowance, 

or retirement pay. Virtually all loans are repaid in full and most 

in less than one year. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $31,000 for program costs and $367,000 for administrative expenses for the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program account. The administrative expenses may be 

paid to the General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration account. Bill language is included limiting program direct 

loans to $2,952,381. It is estimated that the VA will make 3,129 

loans in fiscal year 2016, with an average amount of $943. 

NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,130,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,134,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,134,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,134,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Native American veteran housing loan program is authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, section 3761 to provide direct loans 

to Native American veterans living on trust lands. The loans are 

available to purchase, construct, or improve homes to be occupied 

as veteran residences, or to refinance a loan previously made under 

this program in order to lower the interest rate. The principal 

amount of a loan under this authority generally may not exceed 

$417,000 however, in some locations this limit may be higher de-
34 

pending on median area home prices. Veterans pay a funding fee 

of 1.25 percent of the loan amount, although veterans with a service-connected disability are exempt from paying the fee. Before a 

direct loan can be made, the veteran’s tribal organization must sign 

a memorandum of understanding with the VA regarding the terms 

and conditions of the loan. The Native American Veteran Housing 

Loan Program began as a pilot program in 1993 and was made permanent by Public Law 109–233, the Veterans Housing Opportunity 

and Benefits Act of 2006. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,134,000 for administrative expenses associated with this program. This is $4,000 above the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $56,432,338,000 

Advance appropriations, 2016 .............................................................. 58,662,202,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,921,103,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... 1,593,367,000 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... 1,746,010,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 63,271,000,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 63,271,000,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 63,271,000,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

The Veterans Health Administration [VHA] is home to the 

United States’ largest integrated healthcare system consisting of 

167 medical centers, 1,018 community-based outpatient clinic, 300 

vet centers, and 135 community living centers. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections 

Fund [MCCF] was established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 

(Public Law 105–33). In fiscal year 2004, Public Law 108–199 allowed the Department to deposit first-party and pharmaceutical copayments, third-party insurance payments and enhanced-use collections, long-term care co-payments, Compensated Work Therapy 

Program collections, Compensation and Pension Living Expenses 

Program collections, and Parking Program fees into the MCCF. 

The Parking Program provides funds for the construction, alteration, and acquisition (by purchase or lease) of parking garages at 

VA medical facilities authorized by 38 U.S.C. 8109. The Secretary 

is required under certain circumstances to establish and collect fees 

for the use of such garages and parking facilities. Receipts from the 

parking fees are to be deposited into the MCCF and are used for 

medical services activities. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2015, the Committee provided $58,662,202,000 in 

advance appropriations for the VA’s medical care accounts for fiscal 

year 2016. This included $47,603,202,000 for Medical services, 

$6,144,000,000 for Medical support and compliance, and 

$4,915,000,000 for Medical facilities. The Committee also includes 

an Administrative Provision allowing the Department to carry forward into fiscal year 2016 certain amounts provided as an advance 
35 

for fiscal year 2015. For fiscal year 2016, the Committee recommends an additional $1,124,197,000 for Medical services. Additionally, the Committee recommendation includes $621,813,000 for 

Medical and prosthetic research. Medical care collections are expected to be $2,445,000,000. The Committee recommendation also 

includes an advance appropriation of $63,271,000,000 for veterans 

medical care for fiscal year 2017. 

Office of Inspector General Findings.—The Committee is concerned with past investigations and findings by the Office of Inspector General [OIG] at the Department’s healthcare facilities. 

The Committee commends the Department for its efforts to resolve 

past issues at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center in 

Jackson, Mississippi, but remains concerned about ongoing problems with VA facilities in the Southeast region, as evidenced by the 

findings of deficiencies by OIG at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health 

Care System [HCS] in Biloxi, Mississippi (Report No. 14–04214– 

70). Therefore, the Department is directed to provide a report to 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no 

later than 180 days after enactment of this act on the resolution 

of these issues at the Gulf Coast Veterans HCS. The Committee is 

hopeful these ongoing issues will not perpetuate distrust among the 

veterans it serves and urges the Department to continue to work 

diligently and expeditiously with VA centers across the country to 

resolve cases of delay, mismanagement, inappropriate activity, and 

inadequate care as discovered by OIG. 

Quarterly Reports on GAO Recommendations.—The Committee 

notes with concern that VHA has been placed by GAO on its annual High Risk List. GAO identified many of the concerns the 

Committee has raised in previous years. While VA has taken action 

to address some of the GAO recommendations, more than 100 recommendations have not been fully addressed. Accordingly, the Department is directed to provide to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly progress report containing the Department’s actions to address outstanding GAO findings and recommendations regarding VHA. Each quarterly report 

shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the end of the respective quarter. 

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 Cost and 

Data Analysis.—In response to VA wait time manipulation and 

failure to provide timely, quality healthcare to veterans, Congress 

passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, 

Public Law 113–146 [VACAA] in July 2014, to improve transparency and provide veterans the choice to access healthcare if 

they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility or their 

wait time for an appointment was more than 30 days through the 

Choice Program [the Program]. 

The Committee welcomed VA’s recent decision to expand eligibility criteria for the Program by changing the calculation used to 

determine the distance between a veteran’s residence and the nearest VA medical facility from straight line distance to driving distance. In determining the nearest medical facility, however, the Department does not take into consideration whether that facility is 

able to provide the medical services a veteran requires. On multiple occasions, VA has stated altering the interpretation of the 40 
36 

mile rule to consider whether a VA medical facility is capable of offering healthcare services sought by the veteran would not only require a new statutory authority but would be financially infeasible 

with a cost of tens of billions of dollars. The Committee understands a VA cost estimate to expand the Program to eligible veterans, approximately 4 million individuals, who live more than 40 

miles from a Level 1 and Level 2 VA medical facility was produced, 

however, the methodology applied was disparate from the VA Chief 

Business Office and Congressional Budget Office cost estimates 

provided for the Program in 2014. The result of using a different 

methodology on the VA cost estimate to expand the Program yielded a projection ranging from $4 billion to $34 billion annually to 

support a baseline of 4 million veterans. The Committee is concerned the VA cost estimate lacks a consistent methodology and 

certain critical factors that would reduce cost substantially. In 

order to determine the potential cost of serving additional veterans 

who are not currently eligible under the Program or who are not 

currently able to receive access to non-VA care through other authorities, it is essential VA conduct a comprehensive cost analysis 

rooted in substantiated reliable data utilizing the same methodology that was used to inform Congress prior to the passage of 

VACAA in July 2014. 

The Department is directed to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 90 

days after enactment of this act detailing a comprehensive cost 

analysis of the VACAA 40 mile rule criteria that factors potential 

cost-savings resulting from unobligated or unrealized travel vouchers and benefits. The cost analysis should exclude veterans who are 

accessing non-VA care utilizing other VA authorities, veterans who 

are eligible under VACAA but have not yet used the Program, and 

veterans who are eligible under VACAA and are currently using 

the Program. The report to Congress must also provide potential 

legislative and non-legislative solutions that offer veterans access 

to non-VA care when they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility incapable of providing medical services a veteran requires. This report shall include utilization data of non-VA care 

under the Program detailing the type of care (primary or specialty), 

healthcare services, procedures, and treatments administered to 

veterans by non-VA providers, and where geographically said 

healthcare is provided. The report shall include a survey of Community Based Outpatient Clinics and assess those capable and incapable of offering primary care services. The Committee recognizes VA may utilize title 38 section 1703 to permit veterans access 

to care outside VA due to geographic impediments, yet VA has not 

utilized this authority to augment and complement the VACAA 40 

mile rule. The Committee expects VA to address this concern in the 

report and provide legal and reasonable justification that prevents 

VA from utilizing title 38 authorities. 

Vet Centers.—The Committee recommendation includes the budget estimate of $243,000,000 for readjustment counseling at Vet 

Centers. Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that 

provide a wide range of social and psychological services. These 

services include: professional readjustment counseling to veterans 

and active duty servicemembers, counseling for the victims of mili-
37 

tary sexual trauma, bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death, substance abuse assessments and referrals, VBA benefit information and referrals to Regional Offices, 

and employment counseling. Certain services also extend to the 

family members as a means to assist in the readjustment for veterans and active duty servicemembers. The Readjustment Counseling Service is composed of over 2,200 employees in 300 Vet Centers, 80 Mobile Vet Centers, and the Vet Center Combat Call Center. The Committee remains strongly supportive of these programs 

and notes the number of Vet Centers or Mobile Vet Centers is not 

expected to increase despite an increasing workload. In fact, VA estimates it will continue to operate the exact number of Vet Centers 

in fiscal year 2017 as it did in fiscal year 2014. Moreover, when existing law was changed to include eligibility for active duty 

servicemembers, it was determined the vast majority of those in 

the Reserve Components and the Guard were not eligible. The 

Committee is aware legislation has been introduced which would 

allow for expansion of eligibility to include the Reserve and Guard. 

In order to properly plan for this potential expansion, the Department is directed to undertake an evaluation of current and future 

workload to determine whether more Vet Centers or Mobile Vet 

Centers are needed. In addition, at Vet Centers where active duty 

workload exceeds veteran workload, VA should enter into discussions with DOD to determine if a reimbursable memorandum of 

understanding is warranted. VA shall submit details of this evaluation as well as what discussions have occurred with DOD to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later 

than April 22, 2016. 

Women Veterans.—The Committee believes VA must make better 

progress in addressing the needs of women veterans. Toward this 

end, the advance appropriation for fiscal year 2016 provided last 

year and the fiscal year 2017 advance appropriation included in the 

act fully fund gender-specific healthcare. Access to and utilization 

of VA benefits and services by women veterans remain low, with 

women often encountering cultural roadblocks in a system that was 

largely designed to meet the needs of male veterans. The Committee anticipates the results of an ongoing system-wide review intended to determine what type and number of healthcare workers 

the system should have to address current and future demand of 

gender-specific care. This review will help VA properly staff hospitals and clinics with healthcare professionals providing genderspecific care and lead to improved access for women veterans. 

Last year, the Department was directed through the Women’s 

Health Service and the Center for Women Veterans to begin to collect and analyze gender-specific data and to develop programs and 

funding recommendations based on this data. VA was also encouraged, in consultation with the Department of Defense, to establish 

a women’s working group within the VA/DOD Joint Executive 

Committee aimed at creating or strengthening transition programs 

which address female concerns and cultural roadblocks so more 

women veterans access VA benefits and services. The Department 

is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this 

act on the status of these efforts. To better assist women veterans 
38 

and increase their knowledge of the services and benefits to which 

they are entitled, the Department is directed to continue the 

Women Veterans Call Center. Additionally, in an effort to leverage 

VA’s existing local community partnerships, such as those for 

homeless veterans, VA should establish support networks for 

women veterans to assist in accessing healthcare, employment 

services, financial counseling, and housing. Furthermore, recent 

studies have shown servicewomen who experience sexual assault 

while serving in the military are far more likely to develop PTSD 

as compared to other female veterans. VA must be prepared to provide these veterans with mental health services designed to treat 

the effects of military sexual trauma. The Department is directed 

to maximize the availability of mental health services available to 

veterans who were victims of MST and shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress semi-annually 

on these efforts. 

MEDICAL SERVICES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $45,224,716,000 

Advance appropriations, 2016 .............................................................. 47,603,202,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,124,197,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... 971,554,000 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... 1,124,197,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 51,673,000,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 51,673,000,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 51,673,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Services account provides for medical services of enrolled eligible veterans and certain dependent beneficiaries in VA 

medical centers, VA outpatient clinics, contract hospitals, State 

homes, and outpatient programs on a fee basis. Hospital and outpatient care is also provided by the private sector for certain dependents and survivors of veterans under the civilian health and 

medical programs for the VA. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2015, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of $47,603,202,000 for fiscal year 2016. The recommendation for fiscal year 2016 includes an additional $1,124,197,000 as 

included in the budget request. In addition, VA has the authority 

to retain co-payments and third-party collections, estimated to total 

$2,445,000,000 in fiscal year 2016. 

The Committee recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of $51,673,000,000 for medical services for fiscal year 2017. 

This is $4,069,798,000 above the level for fiscal year 2016 and 

equal to the fiscal year 2017 budget request. 

Office of Rural Health.—Currently, 3.2 million rural veterans are 

enrolled in the VA system. This represents 36 percent of the total 

enrolled veteran population based on the 2010 U.S. Census. Men 

and women veterans from geographically rural areas make up a 

disproportionate share of servicemembers and comprise approximately 31 percent of the enrolled Operation Enduring Freedom and 
39 

Operation Iraqi Freedom [OEF/OIF] veterans, many of whom return to their rural communities. The Committee maintains its 

strong support for the Office of Rural Health [ORH] and the Rural 

Health Initiative and recommends $270,000,000 for the program in 

fiscal year 2016. The Committee is aware ORH collaborates with 

other VA program offices, Federal and State partners, and rural 

communities to optimize the use of available and emerging technologies, establish new access points to care, and employ strategies 

to increase healthcare options for all rural veterans. The Committee believes these partnerships are key to ensuring access to 

care for veterans in rural and highly rural areas. In order to ensure long term care and services are available, the Committee directs ORH to work with rural and highly rural States to determine 

the gaps that exist in long-term care and services in rural areas. 

To help facilitate the establishment of more bed space in underserved rural areas, bill language is included to allow up to 

$20,000,000 to be transferred to the Grants for Construction of 

State Extended Care Facilities. 

Curing Hepatitis C Within the Veteran Population.—The Committee includes language in the act that funds the treatment of 

Hepatitis C within the VA system at no less than $900,000,000 in 

fiscal year 2016. As previously mentioned in the report, the Committee is aware the Department’s request for drug treatment costs 

in the fiscal year 2016 request was inaccurate, and therefore, the 

Committee is directing more funding be allotted with in the Medical Services account to provide proper resources to address the 

need in fiscal year 2016. The Department is directed to provide 

quarterly updates beginning at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 

year 2016 to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress detailing the expenditures and obligations of funding 

Hepatitis C treatment to date in fiscal year 2016, the number of 

veterans treated to date in fiscal year 2016, the number of veterans 

deemed cured to date in fiscal year 2016, and the projection of 

spending, new starts for drug treatment, and number of veterans 

who will be cured in the next quarter. The first quarterly report 

shall include this same data for all of fiscal year 2015. 

Intermediate Care Technician Program.—The Committee understands in many parts of the country VA facilities are experiencing 

a shortage of healthcare providers. In January 2013, VA launched 

the Intermediate Care Technician [ICT] program, which allows 

Army medics, Air Force medical technicians, and Navy/Marine and 

Coast Guard Hospital Corpsmen to go directly from active duty 

military service to work within VHA as ICTs without undergoing 

additional licensure. This highly successful program provided immediate employment opportunities to highly trained veterans to 

care for other veterans. The Committee directs the Department to 

expand this program by 250 additional ICT positions for an additional 3 years. 

Access to Care.—Hawaii and Alaska present unique challenges 

for VA in delivering timely healthcare. For instance, if VA does not 

provide a particular healthcare service within the VHA system, Hawaii and Alaska veterans have been directed to fly thousands of 

miles to a VA medical center within the continental United States, 

regardless of whether adequate healthcare may exist within the 
40 

State through a local provider. The Committee remains concerned 

extensive travel requirements, coupled with lengthy delays scheduling this travel, create unusual hardships on Hawaii and Alaska 

veterans. The Department has reported it is making progress in 

addressing these unique problems through the ‘‘Care Closer to 

Home Program.’’ The Committee encourages VA to continue these 

efforts and will continue to monitor its progress. 

Staffing of Alaska VA Healthcare System.—In its report to accompany the fiscal year 2015 bill, the Committee made note of the 

difficulties VA has encountered in finding a full time physician to 

staff the Wasilla Community Based Outpatient Clinic—a facility 

that should be assigned two full time providers given its patient 

load. The Committee also understands VA has faced challenges in 

maintaining consistent staffing at its Fairbanks Community Based 

Outpatient Clinic. To address gaps in primary care staffing in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the Alaska VA 

Healthcare System has entered into agreements with the Alaska 

Neighborhood Health Center and Southcentral Foundation, an 

Alaska Native health provider, to take over a significant portion of 

its primary care caseload. These are a few examples of the chronic 

difficulties the Alaska VA Healthcare System faces in maintaining 

consistent staffing. Recognizing these difficulties, the Alaska VA 

Healthcare System is investigating partnerships with medical 

schools to increase the number of physicians who pursue postgraduate training in Alaska. The reasoning behind this effort is 

physicians often decide to permanently practice in the communities 

in which they are trained. The Committee encourages VA to pursue 

this effort as well as other proactive steps to ensure Alaska veterans receive timely and appropriate healthcare. Toward this end, 

VA may also wish to investigate whether to contract the operation 

of particular Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Alaska to 

components of the Alaska Native Healthcare System and Community Health Centers which have the capacity to provide care to 

Alaska veterans without compromising the service provided to existing patients. 

Access Received Closer to Home.—The Access Received Closer to 

Home [ARCH] program has been successful in benefitting rural 

and highly rural veterans in the States in which it operates. Veteran Integrated Service Network [VISN] analysis demonstrates 

more than 90 percent of veterans who received primary care services through ARCH were ‘‘completely satisfied’’ with the care and 

cited significantly shortened travel times. ARCH was reauthorized 

in Section 104 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability 

Act of 2014 (Choice Act) for an additional 2 years, and VA was 

given the authority to expand the program within the VISN in 

which it operates. Given its proven track record, VA is urged to 

consider ARCH a model for establishing and maintaining a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with providers in local 

communities, which can remove barriers to accessing care for veterans in rural and highly rural areas. The Committee urges VA to 

consider the administrative and cost efficiencies that may be 

gained from working directly with local providers to administer the 

program. The Committee is concerned VA does not intend to expand the program within the VISNs in which it operates nor in-
41 

tend to advocate extending ARCH beyond fiscal year 2017. The Department is directed to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days 

after enactment of this Act detailing the feasibility of extending 

and expanding the ARCH program. The report must include the internal VA process that determines whether a veteran receives nonVA care through ARCH, the Choice Act, or another fee care option. 

The report must include veteran satisfaction survey data and utilization data. The report must describe the healthcare services, procedures, and treatments administered to veterans by non-VA providers and where geographically said healthcare is being provided. 

Affordable Housing for Low Income Veterans.—While homelessness among veterans has decreased steadily over the last several 

years, more must be done to ensure affordable housing is available 

to low-income veterans transitioning into permanent housing. The 

Committee is aware the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban 

Development and Public Housing Authorities, conducts outreach to 

landlords, property management companies, and housing developers to improve the availability of affordable housing to formerly 

homeless veterans. There is concern, however, the effectiveness of 

this outreach varies across the country. The Department is directed 

to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this 

act which outlines the type of outreach conducted and an action 

plan to close any gaps identified. 

Homelessness in Rural Areas.—The Committee recognizes homelessness in rural areas differs from homelessness in more urban 

areas, as do the means to combat it. The Department is directed 

to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of veterans in rural 

areas who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless in order 

to better identify the homeless population in these areas and its 

needs. This assessment shall also include any recommendations the 

Department may have to improve the housing stability of these veterans and to strengthen community partnerships in order to 

achieve these goals. The Department is directed to submit a report 

no later than 180 days after enactment of this act detailing the assessment and the findings of the assessment. 

Supportive Services for Veteran Families and the Grant and Per 

Diem Program.—Among the various programs essential to continuing the success of ending veteran homelessness, the Supportive 

Services for Veteran Families and the Grant and Per Diem Program, are important. These two unique programs support community-based organizations to provide critical services and transitional housing for veterans and their families. These programs provide important lifelines to veterans in need and their families. Accordingly, the Committee directs the Department to fund both of 

the programs at the fully authorized level. 

Natural Resource Conservation Management.—The Committee 

includes language giving the Department the authority to administer financial assistance grants and enter into cooperative agreements in fiscal year 2016. The Committee is aware there are a 

number of non-profit, local, and State-based organizations capable 

of providing veterans with job training and employment opportuni-
42 

ties in the area of natural resource conservation management. The 

Committee is further aware there has been broad support to end 

veterans homelessness and encourages VA to utilize the authority 

provided in this section in a way that combines job training and 

employment opportunities with the Department’s continued commitment to mitigate homelessness among at-risk veterans. Before 

entering into any agreement, the Department is directed to create 

metrics for the program to ensure success can be clearly demonstrated and provide a report to the Committees of jurisdiction of 

both Houses of Congress detailing this program. 

Veterans Justice Outreach [VJO] Program.—The Committee commends the Department for its efforts to support justice-involved 

veterans. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 9.3 percent 

of people incarcerated in the United States are veterans; 70 percent 

of these veterans are incarcerated for a nonviolent offense. The Department reports that 60 percent of incarcerated veterans suffer 

from substance abuse, 30 percent from a serious mental illness, 

and 60 percent from a major medical condition. Almost 50 percent 

of homeless veterans have interacted with the criminal justice system. 

The Department’s VJO specialists provide outreach and case 

management services to justice-involved veterans to help avoid unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and substance abuse. 

VJOs also work directly with local law enforcement and court officials to help identify veteran-specific issues, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] and Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI], 

and they connect eligible veterans with VA treatment programs. To 

better understand the development of the VJO program, the Committee requests the Department to report no later than 180 days 

after enactment of this act on the resources associated with this effort and the Department’s ability to meet current demand. 

Access to Care for New Hampshire Veterans.—New Hampshire is 

the only State in the continental United States that does not have 

a full service VHA hospital, which presents a unique challenge for 

VA in delivering timely healthcare. For instance, if VA does not 

provide a particular healthcare service within the limited VHA system in New Hampshire, veterans have been directed to drive hundreds of miles to a VA hospital in another State, regardless of 

whether adequate healthcare may exist within New Hampshire 

through a local provider. The Committee remains concerned that 

the extensive travel requirements, coupled with lengthy delays 

scheduling this travel, create unusual hardships on New Hampshire veterans. The Choice Card program, passed as part of the 

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, has significantly 

improved the availability of healthcare options for veterans in 

States like New Hampshire, Alaska, and Hawaii that do not have 

a full service VHA hospital. Given the unique challenges facing veterans in these States, the Committee requests the Department to 

report no later than 180 days after the enactment of this act on the 

feasibility and advisability of further extending Section 101(b)(2)(C) 

of Public Law 113–146. 

National Centers for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.—The Committee is concerned by ongoing issues with post-traumatic stress 

disorder [PTSD] faced by servicemembers transitioning into civilian 
43 

life after active duty service in Iraq and Afghanistan. While investments in the National Centers for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

[NCPTSD] have successfully improved the scientific understanding 

of PTSD, more must be done to ensure research and treatment for 

PTSD continues at a level commensurate with the needs of the 

population accessing services through VA. The Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment 

of this act detailing how PTSD research at the NCPTSD has been 

used to inform care within the Department. 

The Committee approves of the operational progress in the establishment of the Brain Bank, a valuable resource in PTSD research 

headquartered at the National Center’s Executive Division. Additionally, the Rural Veterans with PTSD Outreach Program ensures 

access to care for underserved veterans in rural communities by offering consultation services to non-VA providers. The Committee 

directs NCPTSD be funded at no less than $19,000,000, as outlined 

in the budget request. Additionally, in order to ensure NCPTSD is 

appropriately staffed, the Department is directed to report to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later 

than 180 days after enactment of this act on the current and projected staffing levels, including those for the Brain Bank and rural 

outreach program, to ensure VA continues to advance the research, 

education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of 

PTSD. 

Nursing Handbook.—The Committee understands the VHA 

Nursing Handbook is currently under review. The Committee encourages VHA to seek input from internal VA program offices and 

external professional stakeholders prior to possible regulatory action and submission to the Under Secretary for Health for final approval. The Committee believes all possible outreach efforts should 

be used to communicate the proposed changes, to gather public 

comment, and to collaborate with Congress, stakeholders, VA nursing staff, and external organizations. The Committee requests VHA 

ensure changes to its handbooks do not conflict with other handbooks already in place within VHA. 

Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense 

Formularies.—In order to ensure continuity of care and to better 

understand where gaps exist in terms of medications used to treat 

behavioral health conditions, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of VA and DOD’s formularies. The results 

of this review shall be used to develop a plan to rectify any gaps 

identified. The Department is directed to submit a report to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later 

than 180 days after enactment of this act detailing the results of 

the review. 

Orthotics and Prosthetics Workforce.—The Committee is concerned about the sustainability of the orthotics and prosthetics 

workforce treating veterans, particularly given an aging workforce 

with imminent retirements as well as a lack of availability of advanced degree programs necessary to train new professionals. Reports indicate up to 20 percent of the field’s 7,100 clinicians nationwide are either past retirement age or within 5 years of retiring. 
44 

The Committee recognizes the contributions made by VHA’s 

Orthotic and Prosthetic Residency Program to provide rotation opportunities through the VA system but acknowledges this program 

alone is inadequate to ensure a sustainable workforce for the future, especially in light of the skill set necessary to provide the increasingly complex, state-of-the-art orthotics and prosthetics care 

for OEF/OIF veterans. The Committee directs VHA to explore cost 

effective opportunities to grow the workforce pipeline in order to 

ensure a future orthotic and prosthetic workforce necessary for the 

Nation’s new generation of veterans. The Department is directed to 

submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this 

act detailing its findings. 

Hepatitis B.—The Committee is aware hepatitis B, if left untreated, may lead to advanced liver disease, liver cancer, and the 

need for liver transplants, placing a greater financial burden on the 

veterans healthcare system. Given the high rates of viral hepatitis 

infections among Vietnam Era veterans, the Committee urges an 

aggressive and targeted outreach program consistent with CDC’s 

viral hepatitis testing and treatment recommendations to identify 

veterans with Hepatitis B and to facilitate and encourage treatment for those identified with the disease. 

Home and Community Based Services.—The Committee supports 

the Department’s efforts to broaden veterans’ options regarding 

long-term care support and services. The Committee notes the positive results of pilot programs such as the Veterans Independence 

Program, a veterans-directed Home and Community Based Services [HCBS] grant program administered jointly by VA and the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]. The Committee 

encourages enhanced cooperation with HHS to expand and grow 

these programs. The Department is directed to submit a report to 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no 

later than 180 days after enactment of this act on the cost avoidance associated with these various non-institutional care programs. 

The report should include information on the demand for HCBS 

among the veteran population, the number of veterans currently 

being served by HCBS, and the Department’s plans to expand the 

size and scope of HCBS. Given the success of current HCBS pilot 

programs, the Department should include an economic analysis of 

the cost-effectiveness of growing the existing pilot programs prior 

to national expansion to leverage coordination with HHS. The report should also detail the Department’s efforts to coordinate with 

HHS on HCBS in future years. Given mandatory eligibility for certain types of care is associated with disability levels adjudicated by 

VBA, this report should offer some strategies for streamlining the 

claims process for veterans requiring long-term care. 

Veteran Suicide.—The Committee remains concerned about the 

alarming prevalence of suicide among veterans. The Department is 

directed to submit a report no later than 180 days from enactment 

of this act and each year thereafter to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the number of veterans enrolled in the VA system who commit suicide, the factors which contribute to the rate of suicide among veterans, the method used by 

veterans to commit suicide, efforts by mental health professionals 
45 

and others to prevent suicide, and any pertinent recommendations 

for legislative changes which would assist in addressing this problem. 

Mental and Behavioral Health Providers.—In 2006, Congress authorized the employment of licensed professional mental health 

counselors [LPMHC] and marriage and family therapists [MFT] by 

VA. However, the two professions comprise less than 1 percent of 

the VA behavioral health workforce despite representing 40 percent 

of the overall independent practice behavioral health workforce in 

the United States. As part of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 and the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act 

of 2015, VA has the ability to recruit and hire additional behavioral 

healthcare providers to serve veterans suffering from invisible 

wounds of war. The Committee notes VA has made progress with 

hiring providers in this field, however, LPMHC and MFT professionals remain under represented. The Department is directed to 

report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this act on the status of hiring additional LPMHC and MFT professionals and detailing how many are currently enrolled and planned to be enrolled in 

VA’s mental health professionals trainee program. The report 

should explain the eligibility criteria for LPMHC and MFT professionals as compared to other behavioral health professions, and the 

VA objectives, goals, and timing associated with increasing LPMHC 

and MFT representation in the behavioral health workforce. 

Recruitment and Retention of Mental Health Providers.—The 

Committee notes persistent issues for VA health facilities in recruiting and retaining mental health providers in the face of national provider shortages and a highly competitive environment. 

Among different mental health provider types, the highest national 

vacancy rate was in psychiatry with 14.2 percent of positions unfilled. The Committee encourages the Department to consider the 

expanded use of physician assistants [PAs] specializing in psychiatric care to address the mental health provider gap. PAs provide high quality, cost-effective medical care and are held to the 

same standard of healthcare deliver as their physician colleagues. 

Furthermore, the Department is directed to review and report to 

Congress a plan to improve recruitment and retention initiatives 

for PAs, including consideration of including PAs in the Locality 

Pay System, implementing recruitment and retention tools targeting the Education Debt Reduction Program [EDRP] and the Employee Incentive Scholarship Program [EISP] to consistently include PAs, mandating that VHA list all midlevel provider positions 

for both PAs and Nurse Practitioners, maximizing the authority 

and instructions in Titles III and VIII of the Veterans Access, 

Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, Public Law 113–146, to develop an optimal PA workforce. 

Locum Tenens Physicians.—The Committee recognizes VA facilities across the nation often rely upon assistance from temporarily 

assigned locum tenens physicians. The Committee understands the 

use of locum tenens professionals at VA facilities enables a flexible 

staffing structure and allows responsiveness to changing patient 

population demands. Further, the VA’s locum tenens system, in 

which a physician with a current license in at least one state may 
46 

work in any VA facility, has been a normal staffing practice of VA 

for decades. The Committee urges VA, in conjunction with the 

Drug Enforcement Administration, to resolve any alleged regulatory issues concerning prescription drug issues for locum tenens 

professionals to ensure veterans have access to needed high quality 

local VA healthcare. 

Infectious Disease Screening.—The Committee applauds VHA for 

developing electronic clinical reminders for recommended HIV/ 

AIDS and viral hepatitis screenings and urges VHA to implement 

these reminders in appropriate settings. To further improve screening rates, the Committee urges VHA to offer support to VISNs to 

implement recommended screening, including innovative strategies 

like point-of-care testing. 

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Gulf War Illness.— The Committee is pleased with the Department’s plan to address 

Gulf War Illness, including how it relates to functional gastrointestinal disorders. The Department is directed to submit a report 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

no later than 180 days after enactment of this act detailing the 

progress made in implementing this plan. 

Guide Dogs and Other Service Animals.—The Committee recognizes the importance of guide dogs and other service animals to 

veterans and encourages the Department to ensure veterans receiving VA medical care are not prohibited from bringing a covered 

service dog or other service animal into a medical facility of the Department, including with respect to staying overnight. The Department may prescribe regulations to ensure the safety and health of 

employees of the Department, patients, and the public, including 

by requiring a patient maintain responsibility for the covered service dog or other service animal. 

The Clay Hunt SAV Act.—The Committee urges the Department 

to implement the pilot program on community outreach established 

in the Clay Hunt SAV Act, Public Law 114–2. The pilot program 

requires no less than five Veterans Integrated Service Networks 

[VISN] that have a large population of veterans to include: (1) a 

community oriented veteran peer support network carried out in 

partnership with an entity that has experience in peer support programs, and (2) a community outreach team for each medical center 

in each VISN. The Department is directed to submit a report to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later 

than 180 days enactment of this act detailing these efforts. 

Opioid Safety Initiative.—To help address the prescription drug 

abuse and overdose epidemic, the Committee directs VA, in consultation with the Department of Defense [DOD], to update the 

Clinical Practice Guideline [CPG] for the Management of Opioid 

Therapy [OT] for Chronic Pain and adopt the safe opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic, non-cancer pain in outpatient settings developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

[CDC]. Upon release of CDC’s safe opioid prescribing guidelines in 

fiscal year 2016, the Department is instructed to include such 

guidelines and release an updated CPG for the management of OT 

no later than December 31, 2016. 

The Committee fully supports the Department’s efforts to reduce 

the use of opioids to treat pain, including the Opioid Safety Initia-
47 

tive [OSI] and the Opioid Therapy Risk Report tool. However, to 

help reduce rates of opioid addiction and fatal overdose, it is critical that real-time data is available at the individual prescriber and 

pharmacist level as well as the pharmacy management level to prevent inappropriate prescribing before it occurs. The Committee directs VHA in coordination with the Office of Information Technology to develop and deploy mechanisms for including real-time 

patient information on existing opioid prescriptions within VHA as 

well as patient controlled substances prescription information in 

the state prescription drug monitoring program. Such mechanisms 

should also alert a provider or pharmacist in real-time that an 

opioid or benzodiazepine prescription would be inappropriate and 

protect against ‘‘double-prescribing’’ when an in-patient continues 

to receive take-home opioid prescriptions despite being treated with 

opioids at a VA facility. The Committee further directs VHA to submit information on controlled substance prescriptions to state prescription drug monitoring programs. 

In addition, to ensure VA providers are not prescribing opioids 

for mental health treatment, compliant with joint VA–DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines and to improve the DOD–VA transition, 

the Committee directs VA, in consultation with DOD, to establish 

within the DOD–VA Joint Executive Council [JEC] a working 

group focused on patient pain management and opioid therapy. 

This working group should build on the work of existing relevant 

working groups, including those on Evidence Based Guidelines, 

Mental Health, Patient Safety, and Pharmacy, and cover, at minimum, opioid prescribing practices, acute and chronic pain management, complementary and integrative health, and the concurrent 

use of opioids and prescription drugs used to treat mental health 

issues, including benzodiazepines. 

Further, it is critical all VA medical facilities have the resources, 

necessary equipment, and supplies to help reduce the number of 

opioid-related overdose deaths and adverse events. As such, the 

Committee instructs VA to ensure all VA medical facilities are 

equipped with approved opioid receptor antagonists, such as 

naloxone, an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of opioids, 

including respiratory depression, within 90 days of enactment of 

this act. The Committee urges VA to further ensure providers and 

pharmacists at every medical facility receive updated education on 

the use of approved opioid receptor antagonists, such as naloxone 

and other overdose death prevention strategies. The Committee 

fully supports VA’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution 

[OEND] program which distributes naloxone take-home kit prescriptions to at-risk patients and provides training on the proper 

naloxone administration technique and how to prevent, recognize, 

and respond to an opioid overdose. In recognition of the program’s 

initial success, the Committee encourages VA to accelerate and expand the OEND program to ensure all patients at-risk for opioid 

overdose have access to a naloxone kit. 

Lastly, to strengthen oversight, the Committee directs the Government Accountability Office, in consultation with VA, to report to 

Congress on the effectiveness of the VA Opioid Safety Initiative 

and overall opioid prescribing practices throughout the VA system. 

This report shall include recommendations on improvements to the 
48 

Opioid Safety Initiative, deaths involving veterans prescribed 

opioids, overall opioid prescription rates, and indications at all VA 

facilities, including facilities and prescribers that are among the 

top 10 percent in the nation regarding the percent of their patient 

population receiving opioids, and the average dose per patient. In 

addition, the report shall note the use of benzodiazepines and 

opioid concomitantly and their prescription rates and indications 

along with facilities and prescribers that are among the top 10 percent in the nation regarding the percent of their patient population 

receiving opioids and the average dose per patient. 

Caregivers.—The Committee notes the robust usage of the post9/11 Caregiver program with its more than 20,000 approved applications, as well as the consistent positive reviews by caregiver families stating the program’s stipend, respite care, formal training, 

and support structure as critical components of its success. Given 

the demonstrated success of the program, the Committee encourages VA to ensure caregiver coordinators at each VA medical center are fully resourced and, to the maximum extent possible, assigned designated caregiver duties as their chief and only responsibility. In addition, the Committee encourages VA to examine expansion of the program beyond the post-9/11 population. Noting the 

conclusions of the recent RAND Military Caregivers Study indicating the significant hardship borne by those caring for military 

personnel prior to separation, the Committee encourages the Department to engage in a lessons-learned dialogue with DOD in 

order to share best practices. The Committee recognizes many caregivers for severely wounded veterans are working dramatically reduced hours outside the home or have left the workforce completely, leading to financial hardship. This reduction in outside 

earnings results in difficulties meeting financial obligations, including student loan debt held by the caregiver. The Committee directs 

VA to survey all caregivers currently in the program to identify the 

number possessing outstanding student loan debt and develop a 

plan to monitor this issue, including future data collection. The Department is directed to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days 

after enactment of this act and every 6 months thereafter detailing 

its plan and the survey findings. 

Pain Management Boards.—In an effort to reduce the use of 

opioids for chronic pain and increase the use of complementary and 

alternative medicine, the Committee encourages VHA to establish 

Pain Management Boards [the Boards] within each Veterans Integrated Service Network [VISN]. The Boards should be comprised of 

healthcare professionals and clinical patients and/or family members of a clinical patient. The Boards would serve as a resource for 

the region’s facilities, patients, and family members; provide best 

practices recommendations for pain management to VA facilities 

within its region, including patient, family member, and medical 

perspectives; and, provide an annual report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs about pain management practices within its region, 

which would then be sent to Congress. The Department is directed 

to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this act on the 

feasibility of establishing such Boards. 
49 

Fertility Treatment.—The nature of the current military conflict 

and increasing use of improvised explosive devices has left some 

servicemembers with blast injuries that include spinal cord injury 

and trauma to the reproductive and urinary tracts. The Committee 

is concerned about the care and level of services provided for these 

injured servicemembers after they return home, and notes currently there is not parity between DOD and VA treatment of 

servicemembers with these injuries. The Committee directs VA to 

provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this 

act detailing the scope and the extent of veterans facing infertility 

issues due to service connected injuries suffered during Operation 

Iraqi Freedom [OIF] and Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF]. 

Fee-Based Medical Care.—The Committee is aware VA has several mechanisms to provide medical care to veterans outside of the 

VA healthcare system. As noted in a May 11, 2015, Congressional 

Research Service [CRS] analysis, ‘‘Implementation of the Veterans 

Choice Program [VCP],’’ these programs fall into three broad categories—contracts to purchase care, non-contracted medical care 

purchased on a fee-for-service basis from area providers, and emergency care when required. CRS estimates VA spent approximately 

$7 billion in 2014, prior to enactment of the Veterans Choice Program, for fee-based medical care. As CRS noted, VA’s existing feebased care programs were developed at various times in response 

to specific requirements, resulting in overlapping and sometimes 

contradictory eligibility requirements. The Committee is concerned 

over the apparent lack of coordination among the use of these programs and the potential for funding imbalances which could lead 

to shortfalls in some programs and surpluses in others. The Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 60 days of enactment of this act providing: (1) a description of each of the existing 

statutory authorities and programs, including the Veterans Choice 

Act, through which VA can provide medical care to veterans outside of the VA health care system; (2) an explanation of the reimbursement rate to providers for each of the programs; (3) the 

amount of funding projected to be required for each of the programs funded under the Department’s discretionary budget authority for fiscal years 2015 through 2017; (4) the amount of funds expended in each of the programs, excluding the Veterans Choice Act, 

in fiscal years 2013 and 2014; and (5) a plan establishing a policy 

to coordinate the administration and use of all of the Department’s 

fee-based care authorities. 

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $5,879,700,000 

Advance appropriations, 2016 .............................................................. 6,144,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 69,961,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... ........................... 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 6,524,000,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 6,524,000,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 6,524,000,000 
50 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Support and Compliance account provides funds for 

management, security, and administrative expenses within the VA 

healthcare system, in addition to providing costs associated with 

the operation of VA medical centers and clinics, VISN offices, and 

the VHA Central Office in Washington, DC. This appropriation also 

covers Chief of Staff and Facility Director operations, quality of 

care oversight, legal services, billing and coding activities, procurement, financial management, security, and human resource management. 

The President’s 2016 and 2017 submission for Medical support 

and compliance is based on an actuarial analysis founded on the 

current and projected veteran population, enrollment projections of 

demand, and case mix changes associated with current veteran patients. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2015, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of $6,144,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 for the Medical Support and Compliance account. The Committee recommendation includes an advance appropriation of $6,524,000,000 for Medical support and compliance for fiscal year 2017. 

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $4,739,000,000 

Advance appropriations, 2016 .............................................................. 4,915,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 105,132,000 

House allowance, 2016 .......................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation, 2016 ....................................................... ........................... 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2017 ................................... 5,074,000,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2017 .................................. 5,074,000,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2017 ............... 5,074,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Facilities account provides funds for the operation 

and maintenance of the VA healthcare system’s vast capital infrastructure. This appropriation provides for costs associated with 

utilities, engineering, capital planning, leases, laundry, 

groundskeeping, housekeeping, facility repair, and property disposition and acquisition. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2015, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of $4,915,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 for the Medical Facilities account. The Committee recommendation includes an advance appropriation of $5,074,000,000 for Medical facilities for fiscal year 2017. 

MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $588,922,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 621,813,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 621,813,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 621,813,000 
51 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical and Prosthetic Research account provides funds for 

medical, rehabilitative, and health services research. Medical research supports basic and clinical studies that advance knowledge 

leading to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disabilities. Rehabilitation research focuses 

on rehabilitation engineering problems in the fields of prosthetics, 

orthotics, adaptive equipment for vehicles, sensory aids and related 

areas. Health services research focuses on improving the effectiveness and economy of the delivery of health services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $621,813,000 for the Medical and 

Prosthetic Research account. This is $32,891,000 above the fiscal 

year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee remains highly supportive of this program, and 

recognizes its importance both in improving healthcare services to 

veterans and recruiting and retaining high quality medical professionals in the Veterans Health Administration. 

Through the Department’s research and development program, 

VA has implemented a comprehensive research agenda to develop 

new treatments and tools for clinicians to ease the physical and 

psychological pain of men and women returning from war zones, to 

improve access to VA healthcare services, and to accelerate discoveries and applications, especially for neurotrauma, sensory loss, 

amputation, polytrauma, and related prosthetic needs. The Committee encourages VA to continue its research into developing novel 

approaches to restoring veterans with amputation, central nervous 

system injuries, loss of sight or hearing, or other physical and cognitive impairments to full and productive lives. 

Toxic Exposures.—The Committee wants to ensure VA is actively 

researching the residual impact to veterans of Agent Orange and 

other toxic exposures, such as oil well fires and burn pits. The Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days 

after enactment of this act detailing ongoing activities and future 

plans for research into residual exposure to Agent Orange and 

other toxins. 

C–123 Planes and Possible Exposure to Dioxin.—The Committee 

is aware of the Institute of Medicine [IOM] study of exposure to 

herbicide by servicemembers who served on Fairchild UC–123 ‘‘Provider’’ (C–123) aircraft post-Vietnam war. The report, commissioned by VA, states with confidence these servicemembers were 

exposed to potentially dangerous levels of dioxin. Given IOM’s recent finding, the Department is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 14 days 

of enactment of this act on plans to provide appropriate care and 

benefits to servicemembers who flew or worked on C–123 planes 

that carried and sprayed Agent Orange and to revisit past and existing related claims previously denied. 

Health Conditions of Descendants.—The Committee believes research and evidence is deficient regarding the potential connection 

of health conditions of descendants of veterans who were exposed 
52 

to toxic substances during their service in the Armed Services— 

such as Agent Orange in Vietnam, Gulf War neurotoxins, burn pits 

in Iraq, and other chemicals from conflicts or contingencies overseas. Many of the symptoms from toxic exposure are misdiagnosed 

in descendants of veterans because of a lack of understanding and 

scientific proof. Veterans have observed increased levels of cancers, 

birth defects, and other medical conditions in their subsequent generations. The evidence of health conditions in the progeny of service members who were exposed to toxic substances is mounting, 

and the Committee believes research is warranted to collect data 

and study this paradigm. 

Respiratory Illnesses.—The Department is directed to submit a 

report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this act on the current status and findings of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn 

Pit Registry, as well as information on other research and development activities the Department is conducting to explore the potential health risks of environmental exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly as they relate to respiratory illnesses such as 

chronic cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, constrictive 

bronchiolitis, and pulmonary fibrosis. The Department should include any research and surveillance efforts that evaluate the current incidence and prevalence of respiratory illnesses among service members and veterans. 

Assistive Technology.—Whether because of age or injury, the 

Committee is aware veterans have a need for accessible, dependable, and affordable tools to overcome barriers to engagement, employment, and independent living. The continued development of 

3D printing and other technological advances has the potential to 

make development and adaptation of devices faster and more affordable. The Department is urged to begin a pilot program to develop a more innovative and end-user friendly design-to-delivery 

process for assistive technology. In this effort, VA should work with 

research institutions with a multi-disciplinary approach that includes rehabilitation specialists, industrial designers, computer engineers, clinical specialists, and disability-specific support organizations. 

MEDICAL CARE COST RECOVERY COLLECTIONS

MEDICAL CARE COLLECTION FUND

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,456,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,445,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,445,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,445,000,000 

MEDICAL CARE COLLECTION FUND—REVENUES APPLIED

Appropriations, 2015 .............................................................................¥$2,456,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... ¥2,445,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... ¥2,445,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ¥2,445,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Care Collection Fund [MCCF] was established by 

the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33). In fiscal 
53 

year 2004, Public Law 108–199 allowed the Department of Veterans Affairs to deposit first-party and pharmacy co-payments; 

third-party insurance payments and enhanced-use collections; longterm care co-payments; Compensated Work Therapy Program collections; and Parking Program fees into the MCCF. The Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs has the authority to transfer funds from the 

MCCF to the Medical services account. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation includes the authority to retain 

co-payments and third-party collections, estimated to total 

$2,445,000,000 in fiscal year 2016. 

Third Party Billing.—The Committee again notes the large 

amount of third party health billings that go uncollected each year. 

The Committee believes procedures to provide for correct billing 

and prompt collection must improve at VA. Therefore, the Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after 

the enactment of this act identifying the amount of third party 

health billings owed to VA in fiscal year 2015 and the amount collected. Additionally, the report should include current efforts underway to increase VA’s efficiency, accuracy, and collection process, 

as well as what management practices are in place to provide proper oversight of the billing process so as to eliminate unnecessary 

and duplicative functions. 

Third Party Fee Collection.—The Committee is concerned about 

the resulting loss of collections from third party insurers for nonservice connected care as veterans receive more care at non-VA facilities. Purchased care has grown from $3 billion in fiscal year 

2008 to $7 billion in fiscal year 2014. The level of fee-based care 

is expected to continue to increase. In 2011, OIG identified shortcomings in the Department’s non-VA fee care processes and estimated $110 million annually in third party payments were not 

being recouped. Since that time, action plans implemented by VA 

have not produced a material improvement in non-VA fee care collections, and the identified shortcomings still exist. The Committee 

believes a comprehensive solution to the non-VA fee care issue is 

necessary to realize full collection potential and create structure 

that can best accommodate recent and future non-VA fee care 

growth. The Department is directed to initiate within 90 days after 

the enactment of this act a pilot program in one Veteran Integrated 

Service Network [VISN] that shall last 18 months. The Department 

shall choose through a fair and open competition a non-government 

entity with substantial private sector revenue cycle management 

experience to conduct the pilot. The objective of such a pilot is to 

review and report current state business processes, the impacts of 

the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public 

Law 113–146), and implement improvements necessary to identify 

and execute actions to correct current gaps in non-VA care fee collection. The pilot shall further demonstrate a business case analysis focused on process standardization, staff education and training, and consistent system applications throughout the VISN 

health system that may result in an increase in reimbursement to 

VA from non-VA fee care. The business case shall provide rec-
54 

ommendations in the following areas: improved tracking of patient 

information, increased collections to increase revenue, improving 

tracking of unbilled claims to the private sector, operations efficiencies within non-VA care, and the tracking and continuity of 

care. At the conclusion of the pilot, VA shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the financial 

and operational results of the pilot along with a plan for expanding 

the improvements beyond the pilot and shall include a point-ofview on consolidating non-VA care insurance identification, billing, 

and collection activities within VISNs or regions. 

NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $256,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 266,220,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 266,220,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 266,220,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

The National Cemetery Administration [NCA] was established in 

accordance with Public Law 93–94, the National Cemeteries Act of 

1973. It has a four-fold mission: to provide for the interment in any 

national cemetery of the remains of eligible deceased 

servicemembers and discharged veterans, together with their 

spouses and certain dependents, and permanently maintain their 

graves; to provide headstones for, and to mark graves of, eligible 

persons in national, State, and private cemeteries; to administer 

the grant program for aid to States in establishing, expanding, or 

improving State veterans cemeteries; and to administer the Presidential Memorial Certificate Program. 

Policies Regarding Headstones and Markers for Deceased Veterans.—The Committee is aware the Department furnishes 

headstones and markers for the graves of eligible veterans in any 

cemetery in the world. This benefit ensures veterans are remembered for their dedicated sacrifices to the country. The Department 

must ensure its policies adequately address deceased veterans who 

lack next-of-kin to request this benefit on their behalf. The NCA is 

directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment 

of this act detailing current policies and procedures regarding this 

issue and highlighting any problems in ensuring eligible veterans 

receive appropriate headstones and markers. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $266,220,000 for the National Cemetery Administration. This is an increase of $9,420,000 above the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee has included bill language to make available 

through September 30, 2017, up to $26,600,000 of the National 

Cemetery Administration appropriation. 
55 

DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $8,177,894,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 9,087,406,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 8,401,906,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 8,911,482,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

Departmental Administration provides for the administration of 

veterans benefits through the Veterans Benefits Administration 

[VBA], the executive direction of the Department, several top level 

supporting offices, the Board of Contract Appeals, and the Board 

of Veterans Appeals. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $8,911,482,000 for Departmental 

Administration. The amount is composed of $321,591,000 for General administration; $107,884,000 for the Board of Veterans Appeals; $2,697,734,000 for General operating expenses, veterans benefits administration; $4,106,363,000 for Information technology systems; $126,766,000 for the Office of the Inspector General; 

$1,027,064,000 for Construction, major projects; $378,080,000 for 

Construction, minor projects; $100,000,000 for Grants for construction of State extended care facilities; and $46,000,000 for Grants 

for the construction of State veterans cemeteries. 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $321,591,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 346,659,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 324,959,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 321,591,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The General Administration account provides funding for the Office of the Secretary, six assistant secretaries, and three independent staff offices. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $321,591,000 for General Administration. This amount is equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and $25,068,000 below the budget request. The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 

2017, up to $12,141,000 for General Administration. 

Franchise Fund.—The Franchise Fund was established in 1997 

as a pilot program and made permanent in fiscal year 2006 under 

Public Law 109–114. The Department is directed to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this act detailing 

the Franchise Fund business plan for fiscal year 2016. This plan 

should include a list of services, customers, overhead expenses, 

funds collected for services, and the unobligated balance from the 

previous fiscal year. 
56 

Security at Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities.—Intelligent policing solutions such as Smart Policing, real-time data analytics, and 

data-driven law enforcement are being widely embraced by State 

and local law enforcement entities nationwide. Security at VA hospitals must be handled in an intelligent way because they face several unique challenges. The population of patients served is composed of a large number of people dealing with a variety of mental 

health problems, including PTSD. Campuses are often located in 

urban areas in order to be accessible to veterans. The safety of physicians, nurses, and staff at VA hospitals is a top priority for the 

Department. There must be a balance between controlling and 

monitoring access to the facilities while not preventing veterans 

from accessing the care they need. The Committee looks forward to 

receiving a report from the Office of Security and Law Enforcement 

assessing the physical security at hospitals nationwide. The Committee expects to be kept apprised of how VA plans to implement 

the recommendations of that report and how intelligent policing solutions can enhance the security of hospital facilities. 

BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $99,294,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 107,884,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 109,884,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 107,884,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

As set forth in section 7101(a) of title 38 United States Code, the 

Board of Veterans Appeals is responsible for making final decisions 

on claims for veterans benefits presented to the Board for appellate 

review. The vast majority of the Board’s workload derives from 

benefit claims initiated by the Veterans Benefits Administration’s 

Regional Offices. The appellate process has multiple steps, most of 

which occur at the local Regional Office level. If a veteran is not 

satisfied with the Regional Office determination, he or she may appeal to the Board for a final agency decision. The Board adjudicates 

appeals covering all areas of veterans benefits, including: service 

connection, increased disability ratings, total disability ratings, 

pensions, insurance benefits, educational benefits, home loan guaranties, vocational rehabilitation, waivers of indebtedness, fee basis 

medical care, and dependency and indemnity compensation. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $107,884,000 for the Board of Veterans Appeals, which is $8,590,000 above fiscal year 2015 enacted 

level and equal to the budget request. 

GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS

ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $2,534,254,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,697,734,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,702,734,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,697,734,000 
57 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration account provides funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration to administer entitlement programs such as service-connected disability compensation, education benefits, and vocational 

rehabilitation services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $2,697,734,000 for General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration, which is 

$163,480,000 above fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the 

budget request. The Committee has included bill language to make 

available through September 30, 2017, up to $134,800,000 for General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration. 

Claims Processing.—The Committee recommendation fully funds 

the Department’s request for the General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration account. The Committee notes that 

within the $163,480,000 increase over fiscal year 2015 the Department plans to hire 770 new personnel aimed at bolstering efforts 

to improve all aspects of the claims process. Over the past several 

years, VBA has focused on reducing the overall claims backlog for 

new and supplemental claims. While the Department has made significant improvement, the Committee believes VBA must guard 

against recurring backlogs and begin addressing the timeliness of 

the appellate process. The Committee fully supports the Department’s request for 200 new appeals processors, 320 non-rating 

claims processors, 85 fiduciary field examiners, and 165 support 

personnel. To ensure each Regional Office is appropriately staffed, 

the Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees 

on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on current and future staffing levels for each Regional Office. Further, the Committee believes proper management oversight should be in place 

within each Regional Office. Therefore, the Department shall include in the report plans to ensure Regional Offices, particularly 

those with 100 or more employees, have on-site directors. In addition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall refresh the VA Strategic Plan to Transform the Appeal Process. This strategic plan 

should include the requirements outlined in Senate Report 113–48 

that was referenced by the Joint Explanatory Statement that accompanied Public Law 113-235, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, and shall include a description, 

to include objective measurements and performance results, of the 

appeals modernization initiative, which is designed to speed the 

processing of appeals and improve the accuracy of decisions. Further, in addition to initiatives that lead to improved employee performance, the strategic plan shall also outline possible administrative reforms of the policies and procedures governing the adjudication of appeals, which may lead to more timely and accurate decisions including an estimate of the anticipated gains in efficiency 

(improved timeliness and accuracy) as a result of such administrative reform. The Secretary shall submit this report to Congress no 

later than 90 days after enactment of this act. 
58 

The Committee continues to believe quality cannot be sacrificed 

in the pursuit of eliminating the claims backlog. As such, the Department must continue the efforts of the Quality Review Teams 

[QRT] in assessing the performance of claims processing operations 

and bridging the gap between local and national standards. It is 

critical QRTs perform follow-up spot audits in Regional Offices that 

have undergone challenge training to ensure quality standards are 

being met. Additionally, VA must ensure all training programs for 

claims processors are routinely followed up with testing and monitoring at regular intervals. 

In order to continue to provide better oversight of quality reviews 

and training, bill language is included requiring the Department 

submit quarterly reports which shall include the number and results of QRT review audits conducted, corrective actions taken to 

address quality deficiencies, and training programs provided. The 

Committee will utilize this material to assess whether VA’s quality 

control and training programs are adequate to ensure both timeliness and accuracy in the claims process. 

In addition to the quarterly reports, the Committee directs the 

Department to provide monthly reports to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on performance measures 

for each Regional Office, including the number of backlogged 

claims, the average number of days to complete a claim, the accuracy rate, and the origination date of the oldest claim in each Regional Office’s inventory. The report may be submitted electronically and in spreadsheet format. Each report is due no later than 

10 calendar days after the last calendar day of the previous month, 

and that report shall reflect the previous month’s data. The first 

report shall be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress no later than 10 days after the first full 

month of enactment of this act and continue for the remainder of 

fiscal year 2016. 

Fully Developed Claims.—The Committee is concerned when the 

Department’s authority to issue retroactive effective dates for disability compensation claims that are fully developed expires on August 6, 2015, the progress in reducing the claims backlog via the 

Fully Developed Claims program will be reversed. VA’s goal of 

processing all claims within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy in 

2015 has not yet been reached. The Committee strongly supports 

VA’s Fully Developed Claims program and urges VA to continue 

utilizing the program. Additionally, for original disability compensation claims filed via the Fully Developed Claim program, the 

Committee urges the VA to award provisional benefits to claimants 

if VA fails to issue a final decision within 180 days. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $3,903,344,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 4,133,363,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 4,039,563,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,106,363,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Information Technology [IT] appropriation, along with reimbursements, funds the costs of all IT staff salaries and expenses, 
59 

the operations and maintenance of all existing information technology systems, and the development of new projects and programs 

designed to improve the delivery of service to veterans. This appropriation also funds the costs associated with the Office of Information and Technology which oversees the functions highlighted 

above. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $4,106,363,000 for the Information 

Technology Systems account. This amount is $203,019,000 above 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $27,000,000 below the budget request. The Committee recommendation includes 

$1,115,757,000 for staff salaries and expenses, $2,512,863,000 for 

operation and maintenance of existing programs, and $477,743,000 

for program development. Additionally, the Committee directs a 

transfer of $27,000,000 from MCCF to project development for development of the Medical Care Collections Fund electronic data exchange provider and payer system. 

The Committee has appropriated the Information Technology 

Systems account as three subaccounts. This funding structure enhances the Committee’s ability to ensure funds are executed in a 

manner consistent with the Department’s budget submission. The 

Committee has provided sufficient flexibility within the subaccounts by way of authorized carryover amounts and reprogramming authority to give the Office of Information Technology as 

much flexibility as possible to accomplish its mission and goals, 

while ensuring proper accountability and oversight. The Committee 

will continue to work with the Department to ensure the IT 

projects currently underway, as well as the projects planned for the 

future, have the resources needed for success. 

The Committee has included bill language that restricts the obligation of development funds until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

or the Chief Information Officer submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a certification of the 

amounts, in parts or in full, that will be obligated and expended 

for each development project. Further, the Office of Information 

Technology is directed to provide an IT expenditure report, by 

project, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress on a monthly basis. 

The chart below reflects the Administration’s budget request for 

development projects and includes the Committee recommendation 

for each. This chart will serve as the Department’s approved list 

of development projects, and all requested changes are subject to 

the reprogramming guidelines as outlined in the accompanying act. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Project Fiscal year 2016 

budget request 

Committee 

recommendation 

Access to Healthcare ...................................................................................................... 28,970 28,970 

Healthcare Efficiency IT Development ............................................................................ 6,660 6,660 

Electronic Health Record [EHR] Interoperability and VLER Health ................................ 25,000 25,000 

VistA Evolution ................................................................................................................ 81,900 81,900 

New Models of Care ........................................................................................................ 25,430 25,430 
60 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Project Fiscal year 2016 

budget request 

Committee recommendation 

Veterans Benefits Management System [VBMS] ............................................................ 86,000 86,000 

Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record [VLER] ...................................................................... 10,000 10,000 

Veterans Relationship Management [VRM] .................................................................... 73,333 73,333 

VHA Research IT Support Development .......................................................................... 12,250 12,250 

Other IT Systems Development ....................................................................................... 155,200 * 128,200 

Total Development ............................................................................................. 504,743 477,743 

* The Committee directs a transfer to ‘‘Other IT System Development’’ of $27,000,000 to provide for the development of the MCCF electronic 

data exchange provider and payer system (sec. 215). 

Electronic Health Records.—As mentioned previously in the report, the Committee remains concerned about the development of 

VA’s electronic health record [EHR] and believes it necessary to 

monitor VA’s progress, including its obligations and expenditures, 

as it pursues its VistA Evolution program. The Committee again 

includes language in the act limiting obligation or expenditure of 

information technology development funding for VistA Evolution to 

25 percent of funds provided until the Department submits to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, and 

such Committees approve, a report that describes: (1) the status of 

and any changes to the VistA Evolution program plan [Plan], the 

revised VistA 4 product roadmap [Roadmap], and the VistA 4 Incremental Life Cycle Cost Estimate; (2) any changes to the scope 

or functionality of projects within VistA Evolution as established in 

the Plan; (3) actual program costs incurred to date; (4) progress in 

meeting the schedule milestones established in the Plan; (5) a 

Project Management Accountability System [PMAS] Dashboard 

progress report that identifies each VistA Evolution project being 

tracked through PMAS, what functionality it is intended to provide, and what evaluation scores it has received throughout development; (6) the definition being used for interoperability between 

the electronic health record systems of DOD and VA, the metrics 

to measure the extent of interoperability, the milestones and 

timeline associated with achieving interoperability, and the baseline measurement associated with interoperability; (7) progress toward developing and implementing all components and levels of 

interoperability; (8) the change management tools in place to facilitate the implementation of VistA Evolution and interoperability; 

and (9) any changes in the governance structure for VistA Evolution and its chain of decision-making authority. 

Additionally, the Department is directed to continue to provide 

quarterly briefings to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress regarding schedule, milestones, and obligations. The Committee understands VA is committed to developing 

VistA Evolution under PMAS, which is focused on incremental development with deliverable milestones every 6 months. Therefore, 

the quarterly briefing should clearly define the 6 month PMAS delivery schedule. 

The DOD/VA Interagency Program Office is directed to continue 

to provide briefings to the Committees on a quarterly basis regarding standards development and how those standards are being incorporated by both Departments. In an effort to ensure govern-
61 

ment-wide accountability, the Committee also directs VA, in coordination with DOD, to provide the Federal Chief Information Officer 

of the United States with monthly updates on progress made by 

the two Departments to reach interoperability and modernize their 

respective electronic health records. 

The Committee understands one of the goals of VistA Evolution 

is to create a more patient-centered enterprise-wide information 

system that will promote integration and efficiency. The Committee 

urges VA to prioritize efficiency and streamline the patient experience by expediting the VistA Evolution modernization effort. 

When the Secretaries of the DOD and VA announced in February 

2013 the two Departments would move forward in modernizing 

their respective EHRs instead of developing a single, integrated 

system, they provided assurances the systems would be interoperable. Therefore, the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Departments to use a data dictionary—a tool 

that promotes interoperability by allowing information entered 

with different terminologies on different EHR systems to be accurately interpreted and understood by healthcare providers—when 

no national standard for interoperability exists. Because interoperability of the two systems is a mandate from Congress, the Committee directs VA and DOD to make as rapid progress as possible 

on the congressionally-mandated requirement to use a data dictionary (unless or until a national standard exists) and commit 

funds from available recourses to support the implementation of 

such a system. 

Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record.—Virtual Lifetime Electronic 

Record [VLER] Health Exchange allows VA providers to request 

and share certain parts of veteran health records with DOD and 

selected private healthcare providers in a secure electronic environment. The Department is directed to continue expanding efforts to 

address electronic health record interoperability issues that exist 

between VA and private healthcare providers. The Committee is 

aware VA continues to pilot this effort in several areas throughout 

the country and encourages the Department to prioritize the expansion of this capability to VA sites in states with designated Regional Health Information Organizations. 

Information Security.—The Committee is concerned by persistent 

findings of significant material weaknesses in VA’s information 

technology systems. At a time when health data is one of the biggest targets for cyber theft, VA must ensure a vigilant and aggressive cybersecurity posture and culture enterprise-wide. The Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after 

enactment of this act outlining VA’s plan to close out all of its significant material weaknesses within the next 2 years. Further, the 

Committee directs VA to expand the use of third-party information 

security operation reviews in order to provide additional protection 

against threats. 

Pharmacy Information Technology Systems.—The fiscal year 

2003 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 107–314, 10 

USC 1074 note), section 724, required VA and DOD to establish an 

interoperable pharmacy data transaction system by October 1, 

2005. The Committee is concerned VA has failed to comply with 
62 

section 724 and does not possess an interoperable pharmacy data 

transaction system, and the absence of that system inhibits the 

timely and accurate transition of servicemembers and their records 

from DOD to VA. The Committee is also concerned the pharmacy 

division of the Veterans Health Administration [VHA] is not part 

of an integrated healthcare system consistent with the best practices of the healthcare industry. Additionally, the Committee is 

concerned VHA has failed to acquire needed information technology 

capabilities and modernize existing information technology within 

the pharmacy division of VHA. Within existing VHA pharmacy information technology systems, the Committee is concerned VHA 

pharmacies are not networked and data is not able to be viewed, 

shared, and transferred amongst the many VHA pharmacies located throughout the United States and its territories, which in 

turn may lead to waste, fraud, and abuse. The Comptroller General 

is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations 

of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after the enactment of this act assessing whether VA has complied with section 

724 of the fiscal year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act and 

currently possesses a functioning pharmacy data transaction system that is interoperable with DOD, and whether this system, or 

absence thereof, is impacting servicemembers who transition care 

from DOD to VA. The Comptroller General shall also assess the extent to which VHA pharmacy information technology systems are 

networked across the VHA enterprise so data can be viewed, 

shared, and transferred amongst the many VHA pharmacy locations. Finally, the report shall assess whether the pharmacy division of VHA has acquired and modernized information technology 

systems in accordance with the best practices of the healthcare industry to include an electronic prescription capability, prescription 

monitoring capability, and other technologies deemed relevant. 

Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation.— 

The Committee remains interested in the pending Transformation 

Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation [T4NG] procurement and notes the T4NG program is a significant and complex VA 

information technology expenditure. It is important for VA to carefully consider a broad range of vendors during the procurement 

process in order to maximize competition, minimize continuity 

risks, procure experienced talent, and ensure good stewardship of 

taxpayer dollars. Therefore, the Department is urged to extend the 

number of large business awards for those not reserved for particular categories of vendors in order to maximize its consideration 

of emerging technologies and minimize the risk to veterans from 

significant contractor support turnover. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $126,411,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 126,766,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 131,766,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 126,766,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Inspector General [OIG] was established by the Inspector General Act of 1978 and is responsible for the audit, inves-
63 

tigation, and inspection of all Department of Veterans Affairs programs and operations. 

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.—On January 22, 2014, 

VHA issued Directive 1031 establishing a policy for the implementation and maintenance of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs at 

all VHA facilities. Rates of antimicrobial resistance in hospitals 

continue to rise despite efforts to control the spread. As the directive states, ‘‘infection with resistant organisms is associated with 

increased mortality, excess hospital days, and increased healthcare 

costs.’’ While the Committee commends the Department for developing the policy guidance, there is concern that implementation of 

the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs may vary from facility to 

facility. Therefore, the Office of Inspector General is directed to 

conduct a review of the efforts to implement these programs at 

VHA facilities in order to determine to what extent VHA is taking 

sufficient and consistent steps to improve antibiotic use and reduce 

antibiotic-resistant infections, including those priority pathogens 

identified in the President’s National Strategy to Combat Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria. In addition, the review shall also include an evaluation of VHA’s efforts to collect and analyze data on 

antibiotic use and resistance. The results of this review shall be 

submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress no later than September 30, 2016. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $126,766,000 for the Office of Inspector General. This is $355,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 

2017, up to $12,676,000 for the Office of the Inspector General. 

CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $561,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 1,143,800,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 561,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,027,064,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Construction, major projects account provides for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities 

(including parking projects) under the jurisdiction or for the use of 

the VA, including planning, architectural and engineering services, 

needs assessment, and site acquisition where the estimated cost of 

a project is more than the amount set forth in 38 U.S.C. 

8104(a)(3)(A). Proceeds realized from Enhanced Use Lease activities may be deposited into the Construction, major projects and 

Construction, minor projects accounts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,027,064,000 

for the construction of major projects. This is $465,264,000 above 

the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $116,736,000 below the 

budget request. 
64 

The following table reflects the President’s budget request for 

major construction projects and the corresponding Committee recommendations. 
65 

CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 REQUEST—VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION [VHA] PROJECTS 

[Dollars in thousands] 

Priority Location Description Status Total already funded 

Fiscal year 2016 Project total 

estimated 

cost 

[TEC] 

Future cost 

Estimated 

completion date Budget 

request 

Committee 

recommendation (dollars) (percent) 

1 St Louis (JB), MO ......... Medical Facility Improvements & 

Cemetery Expansion.

In construction ........... 242,000 90,100 90,100 366,500 34,400 9.4 August 2018 

2 Louisville, KY ................ New Medical Facility ..................... Early design ................ 75,000 75,000 75,000 925,000 775,000 83.8 January 2019 3 American Lake, WA ...... Seismic Corrections—Bldg 81, 

Renov. Bldg 81AC and 18 and Construct new Specialty Care Building 201.

Construction documents. 5,260 11,000 11,000 161,700 145,440 89.9 June 2017 

4 San Francisco, CA ........ Seismic Retrofit/Replace Buildings 

1, 6, 8 and 12.

Construction documents. 22,480 158,000 158,000 346,700 166,220 47.9 January 2019 

5 West Los Angeles, CA .. Seismic Correction—12 Buildings. In construction ........... 70,500 35,000 35,000 370,800 265,300 71.5 June 2017 6 Long Beach, CA ............ Seismic Corrections—Mental 

Health and Community Living Center.

Construction documents. 126,100 161,000 161,000 317,300 30,200 9.5 September 2019 

7 Alameda, CA ................. Outpatient Clinic and National 

Cemetery (Columbarium).

Construction documents. 17,332 70,000 70,000 240,200 152,868 63.6 December 2019 

8 Livermore, CA ............... Realignment and Closure of Livermore Campus. Early design ................ 55,430 139,000 139,000 415,600 221,170 53.2 December 2018 9 Perry Point, MD ............ Replacement Community Living 

Center.

Construction documents. 9,000 83,700 83,700 92,700 .................... .................... April 2018 

Total ................ ....................................................... ..................................... 623,102 822,800 822,800 3,236,500 1,790,598 55.3 
66 

Major Construction Management.—As previously mentioned in 

the report, the Committee believes, in the wake of the cost overrun 

and mismanagement at the Denver VA Medical Center, the Department should partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

[USACE] for the management of major medical facility construction 

projects. The Committee believes USACE is the right partner for 

VA as it designs and builds major construction projects, and the 

Committee directs the Department to enter into an agreement with 

USACE to manage the next seven major medical facility construction projects, five of which are funded in the act. The following 

table reflects the next seven projects where USACE should serve 

as VA’s construction agent. 

PROJECTS FOR USACE MANAGEMENT 

[Dollars in thousands] 

Location Description Total Already 

Funded 

Fiscal year 2016 

Project Total 

Estimated 

Cost (TEC) Budget 

request 

Committee 

recommendation 

Louisville, KY .................. New Medical Facility ....................... 75,000 75,000 75,000 925,000 

San Francisco, CA .......... Seismic Retrofit/Replace Buildings 

1, 6, 8, and 12.

22,480 158,000 158,000 346,700 

West Los Angeles, CA ..... Seismic Correction—12 Buildings.70,500 35,000 35,000 370,800 

Livermore, CA ................. Realignment and Closure of Livermore Campus.55,430 139,000 139,000 415,600 

Perry Point, MD ............... Replacement Community Living 

Center.

9,000 83,700 83,700 92,700 

Portland, OR ................... Upgrade Portland Bldg 100/101 for 

Seismic Retrofit and Renovation.

.................... .................... .................... 650,000 

West Los Angeles, CA ..... Construct New Essential Care 

Tower/B500 Seismic Correction 

and Renovation.

50,790 .................... .................... 1,027,900 

Total .................. ......................................................... .................... 490,700 490,700 ....................

The Committee includes language in the act directing 

$490,700,000 shall not be available until the Department enters 

into an agreement with USACE to serve as the design and construction agent for the five projects in the above table with funding 

in fiscal year 2016. Going forward, all new medical facilities with 

a cost of $250 million or greater should have USACE designated 

as its design and construction agent. The Department is directed 

to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress within 30 days of enactment of this act on its agreement 

with USACE to manage these seven projects, and its plan to ensure all future new medical facilities with a cost of $250 million or 

greater are managed by USACE. 

CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $495,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 406,200,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 406,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 378,080,000 
67 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Construction, minor projects account provides for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities 

(including parking) under the jurisdiction or for the use of VA, including planning, assessment of needs, architectural and engineering services, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a 

project is equal to or less than $10,000,000. Public Law 106–117, 

the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 1999, 

gave VA authority to make capital contributions from minor construction in enhanced-use leases. Proceeds realized from enhanceduse lease activities may be deposited into the Construction, major 

projects and Construction, minor projects accounts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $378,080,000 for minor construction. This is $117,120,000 below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level 

and $28,120,000 below the budget request. 

The recommendation includes $247,505,000 for the Veterans 

Health Administration, $69,050,000 for the National Cemetery Administration, and $61,525,000 for the Veterans Benefits Administration. The Department is directed to provide an expenditure plan 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

no later than 30 days of enactment of this act for the amount appropriated for minor construction. 

Mobile Surgical Units.—The Department is directed to launch a 

pilot project in at least two VISNs that are contemplating renovation or construction projects with the intent of leasing or purchasing mobile surgical units for this purpose through full and 

open competition. In preparing for such pilot projects, VA should 

develop metrics for a cost efficiency analysis designed to determine 

for each individual project whether this approach will achieve savings for VA when compared to contracting with local medical providers for the same surgical services. VA should also establish national performance standards for mobile surgical units used in this 

way ensuring the units are state licensable and meet Joint Commission standards. The Department is directed to provide quarterly 

reports to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress on its progress towards meeting these directives. 

GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $90,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 80,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 80,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 100,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account is used to provide grants to assist States in acquiring or constructing State home facilities for furnishing domiciliary 

or nursing home care to veterans, and to expand, remodel, or alter 

existing buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care to veterans in State homes. The grant may not exceed 

65 percent of the total cost of the project. Public Law 102–585 

granted permanent authority for this program, and Public Law 
68 

106–117 provided greater specificity in directing VA to prescribe 

regulations for the number of beds for which grant assistance may 

be furnished. This program has been a successful partnership between States and VA in meeting the long-term care needs of elderly veterans for decades. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $100,000,000 for grants for the construction of State extended care facilities. This is $20,000,000 

above the budget request. 

The Committee recognizes Public Law 106–117 took an important step in directing VA to define regulations for the number of 

beds for which grants may be provided to States. Last year, the 

Committee noted VA had not updated the regulations defining 

‘‘great, significant, or limited’’ unmet needs despite the legislation 

having been signed into law 5 years before. The Committee is 

pleased to learn VA is currently undertaking a revision of the regulation setting the maximum bed number of State homes beds for 

each State. As part of this revision, VA will review the methodology 

used in past years to determine these numbers as well as the current definitions for ‘‘limited, significant, and great’’ need. The Department is directed to keep the Committee apprised of the 

timeline of this revision and expects updates from VA to ensure no 

gaps in care exist across the country. Further, the Committee believes current regulation may not accurately reflect the unique 

needs of States with large rural populations or small States that 

do not have access to alternate facilities which provide this care. 

Therefore, the Committee directs the Office of Rural Health [ORH] 

to partner with State agencies to study the need for long-term care 

for veterans in rural or highly rural areas. In addition, the recommendation includes bill language allowing ORH to transfer up 

to $20,000,000 to the grant program to assist in providing grants 

to rural and highly rural areas. Additionally, the Committee notes 

in fiscal year 2015, the Priority Group 1 list outlined a need of over 

$409,000,000 just to keep pace with what was on the Priority list, 

yet the budget request for the program was $80,000,000. The Committee has not received the fiscal year 2016 Priority Group 1 list; 

however, it is anticipated the need will likely be as high as it was 

in fiscal year 2015. Therefore, the Committee has added an additional $20,000,000 above the budget request for the program and 

instructs the Department to begin to provide more realistic budget 

estimates in the future. 

GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $46,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 45,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 45,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 46,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Public Law 105–368 amended title 38 U.S.C. 2408 and established authority to provide aid to States for establishment, expansion, and improvement of State veterans cemeteries, which are operated and permanently maintained by the States. This statutory 
69 

change increased the maximum Federal share from 50 percent to 

100 percent in order to fund construction costs and initial equipment expenses when the cemetery is established. States remain responsible for providing the land and for paying all costs related to 

operation and maintenance of the cemeteries, including the costs 

for subsequent equipment purchases. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $46,000,000 for grants for the con- struction of State veterans cemeteries. This is $1,000,000 above the 

budget request. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS AND RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

SEC. 201. The Committee includes a provision which outlines 

transfer authority and responsibilities for the Veterans Benefits 

Administration. 

SEC. 202. The Committee includes a provision which outlines 

transfer authority and responsibilities for the Veterans Health Administration. 

SEC. 203. The Committee includes a provision which outlines the 

use of funds appropriated for salaries and expenses. 

SEC. 204. The Committee includes a provision mandating that 

only construction funds may be used for land procurement. 

SEC. 205. The Committee includes a provision allowing for reimbursements to the Medical Services account. 

SEC. 206. The Committee includes a provision allowing for payments of prior year obligations. 

SEC. 207. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

the use of funds for prior year obligations. 

SEC. 208. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

payments from the National Service Life Insurance Fund. 

SEC. 209. The Committee includes a provision which outlines the 

use of funds from enhanced-use lease proceeds. 

SEC. 210. The Committee includes a provision which provides for 

funds for the Office of Resolution Management and the Office of 

Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication. 

SEC. 211. The Committee includes a provision which allows up 

to $20,000,000 to be transferred from the Rural Health Initiative 

to the Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities account. 

SEC. 212. The Committee includes a provision which requires disclosure of third-party reimbursement information. 

SEC. 213. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

the transfer of revenue derived from enhanced-use leases into the 

construction accounts. 

SEC. 214. The Committee includes a provision which outlines authorized uses for medical services funds. 

SEC. 215. The Committee includes a provision which allows funds 

in the Medical Care Collection Fund to be transferred into the 

Medical Services account. 

SEC. 216. The Committee includes a provision which allows eligible veterans in the State of Alaska to obtain medical care services. 
70 

SEC. 217. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

the transfer of funds into the construction accounts. 

SEC. 218. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

outreach and marketing to enroll new veterans. 

SEC. 219. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit quarterly financial reports on 

the Veterans Health Administration. 

SEC. 220. The Committee includes a provision outlining transfer 

authority for the Information Technology Systems account. 

SEC. 221. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting any 

funds to be used to contract out any functions performed by more 

than 10 employees without a fair competition process. 

SEC. 222. The Committee includes a provision limiting the 

amount of nonrecurring maintenance funds that can be obligated 

during the last 2 months of the fiscal year. 

SEC. 223. The Committee includes a provision allowing for the 

transfer of funds from certain accounts to the Joint Department of 

Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, as authorized by Public Law 111–84. 

SEC. 224. The Committee includes a provision allowing for the 

transfer of funds from certain advance appropriation accounts to 

the Joint Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs 

Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, as authorized by Public Law 

111–84. 

SEC. 225. The Committee includes a provision allowing for the 

transfer of certain funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections 

Fund to the Joint Department of Defense/Department of Veterans 

Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, as authorized by 

Public Law 111–84. 

SEC. 226. The Committee includes a provision directing a minimum of $15,000,000 be transferred from Medical Services, Medical 

Support and Compliance, and Medical Facilities to the Department 

of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United 

States Code. 

SEC. 227. The Committee includes a provision rescinding funds 

from certain accounts and appropriating additional amounts with 

2-year authority. 

SEC. 228. The Committee includes a provision requiring notification of all bid savings for major construction projects. 

SEC. 229. The Committee includes a provision restricting scope 

increases for major construction projects above that specified in the 

original project justification. 

SEC. 230. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Department to submit reports relating to the Veterans Benefits Administration on claims processing at Regional Offices. 

SEC. 231. The Committee includes a provision limiting the funding from the Medical Services and Medical Support and Compliance accounts for the VistA Evolution and electronic health record 

interoperability projects. 

SEC. 232. The Committee includes a provision requiring VA to 

notify the Committee 15 days prior to any organizational changes 

within VA of 25 or more FTE. 
71 

SEC. 233. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Secretary to report to the Committee each quarter about any single 

national outreach and awareness marketing campaign exceeding 

$2,000,000. 

SEC. 234. The Committee includes a provision limiting funds provided under the heading ‘‘General Administration’’. 

SEC. 235. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting the Department from replacing the current system by which diabetes 

monitoring equipment and supplies are contracted. 

SEC. 236. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from Medical Care accounts to incorporate assumed 

absorption of the proposed 1.3 percent pay raise. The Department 

continues to have the authority to use appropriated funds available 

to support the pay raise if it chooses to do so. 

SEC. 237. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from across the Department reflecting a reduction 

in performance bonuses. 

SEC. 238. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from the DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive 

Fund. 

SEC. 239. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances. 

SEC. 240. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from certain accounts across the Department. 

SEC. 241. The Committee includes a provision amending The 

Whistleblower Protection Act to ensure title 38 employees are fully 

covered under the act. 

SEC. 242. The Committee includes a provision allowing for grants 

to train and employ at-risk veterans. 

SEC. 243. The Committee includes a provision regarding access 

to Office of Inspector General reports. 

SEC. 244. The Committee includes a provision regarding construction accountability. 

SEC. 245. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funding to hire additional caregiver support coordinators. 

SEC. 246. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting the use 

of funds to interfere with the ability of veterans to participate in 

State-approved medicinal marijuana programs or deny services to 

such veterans. 
(72) 

TITLE III 

RELATED AGENCIES 

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

OVERVIEW

The American Battle Monuments Commission was established by 

Congress in 1923 and is responsible for the following: designing, 

constructing, operating, and maintaining permanent American 

cemeteries in foreign countries; establishing and maintaining U.S. 

military memorials, monuments, and markers where American 

Armed Forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917 (the date 

of the United States entry into World War I), and within the 

United States when directed by public law; and, controlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and 

markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and 

private, and encouraging their maintenance. ABMC administers, 

operates, and maintains 25 permanent American military cemeteries and 26 Federal memorial, monuments, and markers located 

in 16 foreign countries, the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, and the British Dependency of Gibraltar, and the 

United States of America. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $74,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 75,100,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 75,100,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 75,100,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $75,100,000 for the Salaries and expenses account. This amount is $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 

2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $1,900,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 2,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,000,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an estimated $2,000,000 for the Foreign Currency Fluctuations account. This amount is equal to the 

budget request. 

The Committee has again included language in the accompanying act, as proposed by the administration, that would allow 

funding for this account on a ‘‘such sums as necessary’’ basis. 
73 

Funding the account in this manner allows the Commission to 

maintain cemeteries regardless of the volatility of foreign currency 

fluctuations. 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

OVERVIEW

The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was established by the Veterans’ Judicial Review Act of 1988. The Court 

is an independent judicial tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction to review decisions of the Board of Veterans Appeals. It has the authority to decide all relevant questions of law; interpret constitutional, 

statutory, and regulatory provisions; and determine the meaning or 

applicability of the terms of an action by the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs. It is authorized to compel action by the Secretary. It is authorized to hold unconstitutional or otherwise unlawful and set 

aside decisions, findings, conclusions, rules, and regulations issued 

or adopted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Board of Veterans Appeals, or the Chairman of the Board that are found to be 

arbitrary or capricious. The Court’s principal office location is 

Washington, DC; however, it is a national court, empowered to sit 

anywhere in the United States. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $31,386,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 32,141,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 32,141,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 32,141,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $32,141,000 for the U.S. Court of 

Appeals for Veterans Claims. This amount is $755,000 above the 

fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL

CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The Secretary of the Army is responsible for the administration, 

operation and maintenance of Arlington National Cemetery and 

the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. In addition to 

its principal function as a national cemetery, Arlington is the site 

of approximately 3,000 nonfuneral ceremonies each year and has 

approximately four million visitors annually. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $65,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 70,800,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 70,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 70,800,000 
74 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $70,800,000 for Salaries and Expenses. This amount is $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

Land Exchange.—The Committee recognizes the future burial capacity of Arlington National Cemetery would be dramatically increased through a land exchange in the area of the former Navy 

Annex site with Arlington County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Committee strongly supports this effort and understands 

the Secretary of the Army is working with Arlington County and 

the Virginia Department of Transportation to finalize the land exchange agreement. The closure and relocation of current State and 

local roadways in this area would facilitate such an exchange. The 

Committee urges the Secretary of the Army to continue to work 

closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation and Arlington County to finalize details of the proposed land exchange so that 

the cemetery expansion plans, including the relocation of utilities, 

can move forward as expeditiously as possible. 

ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

TRUST FUND

OVERVIEW

Appropriations, 2015 ............................................................................. $63,400,000 

Budget estimate, 2016 ........................................................................... 64,300,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 64,300,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 64,300,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends authority to expend $64,300,000 

from the Armed Forces Retirement Home [AFRH] Trust Fund to 

operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, DC, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, 

Mississippi. 

Office of Inspector General Findings.—The Committee remains 

concerned with the findings of the Inspector General [IG] of the Department of Defense as included in report number DODIG–2014– 

093 regarding the Armed Forces Retirement Homes [AFRH]. The 

Chief Operating Officer of the AFRH is directed to submit a report 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

no later than 180 days after enactment of this act detailing its continued progress in complying with the IG recommendations. The 

report should include specific actions taken to implement the recommendations. The Committee intends to continue to monitor the 

AFRH as these issues are addressed. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. The Committee includes a provision allowing the relocation of a federally owned water main. 

Sec. 302. The Committee includes a provision making available 

funds as authorized by 10 U.S.C. 4727. 
(75) 

TITLE IV 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

SEC. 401. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

obligation of funds beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly 

so provided. 

SEC. 402. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

use of funds for programs, projects, or activities not in compliance 

with Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 

SEC. 403. The Committee includes a provision that requires pay 

raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated. 

SEC. 404. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

use of funds to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress. 

SEC. 405. The Committee includes a provision that encourages 

the expansion of E-commerce technologies and procedures. 

SEC. 406. The Committee includes a provision that specifies the 

congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications. 

SEC. 407. The Committee includes a provision that limits funds 

from being transferred from this appropriations measure to any instrumentality of the United States Government without authority 

from an appropriations act. 

SEC. 408. The Committee includes a provision regarding the posting of congressional reports on agency Web sites. 

SEC. 409. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting the use 

of funds to establish or maintain a computer network unless such 

network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography, except for law enforcement investigation, prosecution, or 

adjudication activities. 

SEC. 410. The Committee includes a provision limiting the construction of facilities for the purposes of housing individuals detained at Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 
(76) 

PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY 

In fiscal year 2016, for purposes of the Balanced Budget and 

Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–177) or the 

Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation Act 

of 1987 (Public Law 100–119), the following information provides 

the definition of the term ‘‘program, project, and activity’’ for departments, agencies and programs under the jurisdiction of the 

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 

subcommittee. The term ‘‘program, project, and activity’’ shall include the most specific level of budget items identified in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, the House and Senate Committee reports, 

and the conference report and accompanying joint explanatory 

statement of managers of the committee of conference. 

If a sequestration order is necessary, in implementing the Presidential order, departments, and agencies shall apply any percentage reduction required for fiscal year 2016 pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 99–177 or Public Law 100–119 to all items 

specified in the justifications submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives in support 

of the fiscal year 2016 budget estimates, as amended, for such departments and agencies, as modified by congressional action, and 

in addition, for the Department of Defense, Military Construction, 

the definition shall include specific construction locations as identified in the explanatory notes. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI, OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports accompanying general appropriations bills identify each recommended 

amendment which proposes an item of appropriation which is not 

made to carry out the provisions of an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session. 

The Committee recommends funding for the following programs 

which currently lack authorization: 

Title I: Department of Defense 

Military Construction, Army 

Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps 

Military Construction, Air Force 

Military Construction, Defense-Wide 

Military Construction, Army National Guard 

Military Construction, Air National Guard 

Military Construction, Army Reserve 

Military Construction, Navy Reserve 

Military Construction, Air Force Reserve 
77 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program 

Family Housing Construction, Army 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army 

Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine 

Corps 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide 

Department of Defense, Family Housing Improvement Fund 

Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide 

Department of Defense Base Closure Account 

Title II: Department of Veterans Affairs 

Veterans Benefits Administration 

Veterans Health Administration 

National Cemetery Administration 

Departmental Administration 

Title III: Related Agencies 

American Battle Monuments Commission 

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

Cemeterial Expenses, Army 

Armed Forces Retirement Home 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on May 21, 2015, the 

Committee ordered favorably reported a bill (H.R. 2029) making 

appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, provided, that the bill be 

subject to further amendment and that the bill be consistent with 

its budget allocation, by a recorded vote of 21–9, a quorum being 

present. The vote was as follows: 

Yeas Nays 

Chairman Cochran Ms. Mikulski 

Mr. McConnell Mrs. Murray 

Mr. Shelby Mr. Durbin 

Mr. Alexander Mr. Reed 

Ms. Collins Mr. Tester 

Ms. Murkowski Mrs. Shaheen 

Mr. Graham Mr. Merkley 

Mr. Kirk Mr. Coons 

Mr. Blunt Mr. Murphy 

Mr. Moran 

Mr. Hoeven 

Mr. Boozman 

Mrs. Capito 

Mr. Cassidy 

Mr. Lankford 

Mr. Daines 

Mr. Leahy 
78 

Mrs. Feinstein 

Mr. Udall 

Mr. Schatz 

Ms. Baldwin 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports on 

a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute or part 

of any statute include ‘‘(a) the text of the statute or part thereof 

which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a comparative print of 

that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and 

of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by 

stricken-through type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions which 

would be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form 

recommended by the committee.’’ 

In compliance with this rule, changes in existing law proposed to 

be made by the bill are shown as follows: existing law to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets; new matter is printed in italic; and 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman. 

TITLE 5—GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND 

EMPLOYEES 

PART III—EMPLOYEES

Subpart A—General Provisions 

CHAPTER 23—MERIT SYSTEM PRINCIPLES 

§ 2302. Prohibited personnel practices 

(a)(1) * * * 

(2) For the purpose of this section— 

(A) ‘‘personnel action’’ means— 

(i) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(viii) a performance evaluation under chapter 43 of 

this title or under title 38; 

TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS 

PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 3—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

§ 312. Inspector General 

(a) * * * 

(b)(1) * * * 

(2) The President shall include in the budget transmitted to 

the Congress for each fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 

31 an estimate of the amount for the Office of Inspector General 

that is sufficient to provide for a number of full-time positions in 
79 

that office that is not less than the number of full-time positions 

in that office on March 15, 1989, plus 40. 

(c)(1)Whenever the Inspector General, in carrying out the duties 

and responsibilities established under the Inspector General Act of 

1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), issues a work product that makes a recommendation or otherwise suggests corrective action, the Inspector 

General shall— 

(A) submit the work product to— 

(i) the Secretary; 

(ii) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the 

Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

(iii) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Committee 

on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Committee 

on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 

(iv) if the work product was initiated upon request by 

an individual or entity other than the Inspector General, 

that individual or entity; and 

(v) any Member of Congress upon request; and 

(B) the Inspector General shall submit all final work products to— 

(i) if the work product was initiated upon request by an 

individual or entity other than the Inspector General, that 

individual or entity; and 

(ii) any Member of Congress upon request; and 

(C) not later than 3 days after the work product is submitted in final form to the Secretary, post the work product on 

the Internet website of the Inspector General. 

(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize 

the public disclosure of information that is specifically prohibited 

from disclosure by any other provision of law. 

CONSOLIDATED AND FURTHER CONTINUING 

APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2015, PUBLIC LAW 113–235 

DIVISION I—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 

2015 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

* * * * * * * 

ø(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 223. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of 

Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2015, for 

‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, up to $245,398,000, plus reimbursements, may be 
80 

transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by 

section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used 

for operation of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 

110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That additional funds may be 

transferred from accounts designated in this section to the Joint 

Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 

Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress.¿ 

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL 

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 

308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93–344, AS AMENDED 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget authority Outlays 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee 

allocation for 2016: Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: 

Mandatory .................................................................... 96,825 96,825 96,523 1 96,523 

Discretionary ................................................................ 77,573 77,573 78,381 1 78,381 

Security ............................................................... 8,083 8,083 NA NA 

Nonsecurity ......................................................... 69,490 69,490 NA NA 

Projections of outlays associated with the recommendation: 

2016 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 2 102,932 

2017 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 5,562 

2018 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 3,656 

2019 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 2,123 

2020 and future years ................................................ ...................... ...................... ...................... 1,355 

Financial assistance to State and local governments for 

2016 ................................................................................. NA 185 NA 13 

1 Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

2 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

NA: Not applicable. 
81 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

ALABAMA 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT RUCKER: 

FORT RUCKER ES/PS CONSOLIDATION/REPLACEMENT ............................................................................. 46,787 46,787 46,787 ............................ ............................

MAXWELL AFB: 

MAXWELL ES/MS REPLACEMENT/RENOVATION ......................................................................................... 32,968 32,968 32,968 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

DANNELLY FIELD: 

TFI—REPLACE SQUADRON OPERATIONS FACILITY ................................................................................... 7,600 7,600 7,600 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ALABAMA .................................................................................................................................. 87,355 87,355 87,355 ............................ ............................

ALASKA 

ARMY: 

FORT GREELY: 

PHYSICAL READINESS TRAINING FACILITY ................................................................................................ 7,800 7,800 7,800 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

EIELSON AFB: 

F–35A FLIGHT SIM/ALTER SQUAD OPS/AMU FACILITY .............................................................................. 37,000 37,000 37,000 ............................ ............................RPR CENTRAL HEAT & POWER PLANT BOILER PH3 ................................................................................. 34,400 34,400 34,400 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ALASKA ..................................................................................................................................... 79,200 79,200 79,200 ............................ ............................

ARIZONA 

NAVY: 

YUMA: 

AIRCRAFT MAINT. FACILITIES & APRON (SO. CALA) ................................................................................. 50,635 50,635 50,635 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB: 

HC–130J AGE COVERED STORAGE ........................................................................................................... 4,700 4,700 4,700 ............................ ............................HC–130J WASH RACK ............................................................................................................................... 12,200 12,200 12,200 ............................ ............................
82 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

LUKE AFB: 

F–35A ADAL FUEL OFFLOAD FACILITY ...................................................................................................... 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................F–35A AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE HANGAR/SQ 3 ....................................................................................... 13,200 13,200 13,200 ............................ ............................F–35A BOMB BUILD-UP FACILITY ............................................................................................................. 5,500 5,500 5,500 ............................ ............................F–35A SQ OPS/AMU/HANGAR/SQ 4 .......................................................................................................... 33,000 33,000 33,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT HUACHUCA: 

JITC BUILDINGS 52101/52111 RENOVATIONS .......................................................................................... 3,884 3,884 3,884 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB: 

GUARDIAN ANGEL OPERATIONS ................................................................................................................ 18,200 18,200 18,200 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ARIZONA ................................................................................................................................... 146,319 146,319 146,319 ............................ ............................

ARKANSAS 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

FORT SMITH MAP: 

CONSOLIDATED SCIF ................................................................................................................................. 15,200 15,200 15,200 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ARKANSAS ................................................................................................................................ 15,200 15,200 15,200 ............................ ............................

CALIFORNIA 

ARMY: 

CONCORD: 

PIER .......................................................................................................................................................... 98,000 98,000 98,000 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

CAMP PENDLETON: 

RAW WATER PIPELINE PENDLETON TO FALLBROOK ................................................................................. 44,540 44,540 ............................ ¥44,540 ¥44,540 

CORONADO: 

COASTAL CAMPUS UTILITIES ..................................................................................................................... 4,856 4,856 4,856 ............................ ............................

LEMOORE: 

F–35C HANGAR MODERNIZATION AND ADDITION ..................................................................................... 56,497 56,497 56,497 ............................ ............................
83 

F–35C TRAINING FACILITIES ..................................................................................................................... 8,187 8,187 8,187 ............................ ............................RTO AND MISSION DEBRIEF FACILITY ...................................................................................................... 7,146 7,146 7,146 ............................ ............................

POINT MUGU: 

E–2C/D HANGAR ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS ..................................................................................... 19,453 19,453 19,453 ............................ ............................TRITON AVIONICS AND FUEL SYSTEMS TRAINER ...................................................................................... 2,974 2,974 2,974 ............................ ............................

SAN DIEGO: 

LCS SUPPORT FACILITY ............................................................................................................................ 37,366 37,366 37,366 ............................ ............................

TWENTYNINE PALMS: 

MICROGRID EXPANSION ............................................................................................................................ 9,160 9,160 9,160 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CAMP PENDLETON: 

SOF COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FACILITY ............................................................................................... 10,181 10,181 10,181 ............................ ............................SOF PERFORMANCE RESILIENCY CENTER-WEST ...................................................................................... 10,371 ............................ 10,371 ............................ ∂10,371 

CORONADO: 

SOF LOGISTICS SUPPORT UNIT ONE OPS FAC. #2 ................................................................................... 47,218 ............................ 47,218 ............................ ∂47,218 

FRESNO YOSEMITE IAP ANG: 

REPLACE FUEL STORAGE AND DISTRIB. FACILITIES ................................................................................. 10,700 10,700 10,700 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

MOFFETT FIELD: 

REPLACE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITY ............................................................................................. 6,500 6,500 6,500 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

MIRAMAR: 

ARMY RESERVE CENTER .......................................................................................................................... 24,000 24,000 24,000 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

MARCH AFB: 

SATELLITE FIRE STATION .......................................................................................................................... 4,600 4,600 4,600 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, CALIFORNIA .............................................................................................................................. 401,749 344,160 357,209 ¥44,540 ∂13,049 

COLORADO 

ARMY: 

FORT CARSON: 

ROTARY WING TAXIWAY ............................................................................................................................ 5,800 5,800 5,800 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY: 

FRONT GATES FORCE PROTECTION ENHANCEMENTS ............................................................................... 10,000 10,000 10,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT CARSON: 

SOF LANGUAGE TRAINING FACILITY .......................................................................................................... 8,243 8,243 8,243 ............................ ............................
84 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE: 

ASE MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE FACILITY ............................................................................................ 5,100 5,100 5,100 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, COLORADO ................................................................................................................................ 29,143 29,143 29,143 ............................ ............................

CONNECTICUT 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

CAMP HARTELL: 

READY BUILDING (CST–WMD) .................................................................................................................. 11,000 11,000 11,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, CONNECTICUT ........................................................................................................................... 11,000 11,000 11,000 ............................ ............................

DELAWARE 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

DOVER AFB: 

CONSTRUCT HYDRANT FUEL SYSTEM ....................................................................................................... 21,600 21,600 21,600 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

DAGSBORO: 

NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP ..................................................................................... 10,800 ............................ 10,800 ............................ ∂10,800 

TOTAL, DELAWARE ................................................................................................................................ 32,400 21,600 32,400 ............................ ∂10,800 

FLORIDA 

NAVY: 

JACKSONVILLE: 

FLEET SUPPORT FACILITY ADDITION ......................................................................................................... 8,455 8,455 8,455 ............................ ............................TRITON MISSION CONTROL FACILITY ........................................................................................................ 8,296 8,296 8,296 ............................ ............................

MAYPORT: 

LCS MISSION MODULE READINESS CENTER ............................................................................................. 16,159 16,159 16,159 ............................ ............................

PENSACOLA: 

A-SCHOOL UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING (CORRY STATION) ....................................................................... 18,347 18,347 18,347 ............................ ............................
85 

WHITING FIELD: 

T–6B JPATS TRAINING OPERATIONS FACILITY .......................................................................................... 10,421 10,421 10,421 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

CAPE CANAVERAL AFS: 

RANGE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY ......................................................................................................... 21,000 21,000 21,000 ............................ ............................

EGLIN AFB: 

F–35A CONSOLIDATED HQ FACILITY ......................................................................................................... 8,700 8,700 8,700 ............................ ............................

HURLBURT FIELD: 

ADAL 39 INFORMATION OPERATIONS SQUAD FACILITY ............................................................................ 14,200 14,200 14,200 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

HURLBURT FIELD: 

SOF FUEL CELL MAINTENANCE HANGAR .................................................................................................. 17,989 17,989 17,989 ............................ ............................

MACDILL AFB: 

SOF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FACILITY ..................................................................................................... 39,142 39,142 39,142 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

PALM COAST: 

NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER .................................................................................................... 18,000 18,000 18,000 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

MACDILL AFB: 

AR CENTER/ AS FACILITY ......................................................................................................................... 55,000 55,000 55,000 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

PATRICK AFB: 

AIRCREW LIFE SUPPORT FACILITY ............................................................................................................ 3,400 3,400 3,400 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, FLORIDA .................................................................................................................................... 239,109 239,109 239,109 ............................ ............................

GEORGIA 

ARMY: 

FORT GORDON: 

COMMAND AND CONTROL FACILITY .......................................................................................................... 90,000 90,000 90,000 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

ALBANY: 

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS ............................................................................................................... 7,851 7,851 7,851 ............................ ............................

KINGS BAY: 

INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................... 8,099 8,099 8,099 ............................ ............................

TOWNSEND: 

TOWNSEND BOMBING RANGE EXPANSION PHASE 2 ................................................................................. 48,279 48,279 43,279 ¥5,000 ¥5,000 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

MOODY AFB: 

REPLACE PUMPHOUSE AND TRUCK FILLSTANDS ...................................................................................... 10,900 10,900 10,900 ............................ ............................
86 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD IAP: 

C–130 SQUADRON OPERATIONS FACILITY ................................................................................................ 9,000 9,000 9,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, GEORGIA ................................................................................................................................... 174,129 174,129 169,129 ¥5,000 ¥5,000 

HAWAII 

NAVY: 

BARKING SANDS: 

PMRF POWER GRID CONSOLIDATION ........................................................................................................ 30,623 30,623 30,623 ............................ ............................

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM: 

UEM INTERCONNECT STA C TO HICKAM .................................................................................................. 6,335 6,335 6,335 ............................ ............................WELDING SCHOOL SHOP CONSOLIDATION ................................................................................................ 8,546 8,546 8,546 ............................ ............................

KANEOHE BAY: 

AIRFIELD LIGHTING MODERNIZATION ........................................................................................................ 26,097 26,097 26,097 ............................ ............................BACHELOR ENLISTED QUARTERS .............................................................................................................. 68,092 68,092 68,092 ............................ ............................P–8A DETACHMENT SUPPORT FACILITIES ................................................................................................ 12,429 12,429 12,429 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM: 

F–22 FIGHTER ALERT FACILITY ................................................................................................................ 46,000 46,000 46,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

KANEOHE BAY: 

MEDICAL/DENTAL CLINIC REPLACEMENT .................................................................................................. 122,071 122,071 122,071 ............................ ............................

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS: 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH/DENTAL CLINIC ADDITION ....................................................................................... 123,838 107,563 123,838 ............................ ∂16,275 

TOTAL, HAWAII ...................................................................................................................................... 444,031 427,756 444,031 ............................ ∂16,275 
87 

ILLINOIS 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

SPARTA: 

BASIC 10M–25M FIRING RANGE (ZERO) .................................................................................................. 1,900 1,900 1,900 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ILLINOIS .................................................................................................................................... 1,900 1,900 1,900 ............................ ............................

IOWA 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

DES MOINES MAP: 

AIR OPERATIONS GRP/CYBER BEDDOWN–RENO BLG 430 ....................................................................... 6,700 6,700 6,700 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, IOWA ......................................................................................................................................... 6,700 6,700 6,700 ............................ ............................

KANSAS 

AIR FORCE: 

MCCONNELL AFB: 

KC–46A ADAL DEICING PADS ................................................................................................................... 4,300 4,300 4,300 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

SALINA: 

AUTOMATED COMBAT PISTOL/MP FIREARMS QUAL COUR ........................................................................ 2,400 2,400 2,400 ............................ ............................MODIFIED RECORD FIRE RANGE ............................................................................................................... 4,300 4,300 4,300 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

SMOKEY HILL ANG RANGE: 

RANGE TRAINING SUPPORT FACILITIES .................................................................................................... 2,900 2,900 2,900 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, KANSAS ..................................................................................................................................... 13,900 13,900 13,900 ............................ ............................

KENTUCKY 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT CAMPBELL: 

SOF COMPANY HQ/CLASSROOMS .............................................................................................................. 12,553 12,553 12,553 ............................ ............................

FORT KNOX: 

FORT KNOX HS RENOVATION/MS ADDITION .............................................................................................. 23,279 23,279 23,279 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, KENTUCKY ................................................................................................................................ 35,832 35,832 35,832 ............................ ............................
88 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

LOUISIANA 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

NEW ORLEANS: 

REPLACE SQUADRON OPERATIONS FACILITY ............................................................................................ 10,000 10,000 10,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, LOUISIANA ................................................................................................................................ 10,000 10,000 10,000 ............................ ............................

MAINE 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

BANGOR IAP: 

ADD TO AND ALTER FIRE CRASH/RESCUE STATION ................................................................................. 7,200 7,200 7,200 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MAINE ....................................................................................................................................... 7,200 7,200 7,200 ............................ ............................

MARYLAND 

NAVY: 

PATUXENT RIVER: 

UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING ...................................................................................................................... 40,935 40,935 40,935 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

FORT MEADE: 

CYBERCOM JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER, INCREMENT 3 .......................................................................... 86,000 86,000 86,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT MEADE: 

NSAW CAMPUS FEEDERS PHASE 2 ........................................................................................................... 33,745 33,745 33,745 ............................ ............................NSAW RECAPITALIZE BUILDING #2 INCR 1 .............................................................................................. 34,897 34,897 34,897 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

EASTON: 

NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER .................................................................................................... 13,800 13,800 13,800 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MARYLAND ................................................................................................................................ 209,377 209,377 209,377 ............................ ............................
89 

MISSISSIPPI 

ARMY RESERVE: 

STARKVILLE: 

ARMY RESERVE CENTER .......................................................................................................................... 9,300 ............................ 9,300 ............................ ∂9,300 

TOTAL, MISSISSIPPI .............................................................................................................................. 9,300 ............................ 9,300 ............................ ∂9,300 

MISSOURI 

AIR FORCE: 

WHITEMAN AFB: 

CONSOLIDATED STEALTH OPS & NUCLEAR ALERT FAC ............................................................................ 29,500 29,500 29,500 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MISSOURI ................................................................................................................................. 29,500 29,500 29,500 ............................ ............................

MONTANA 

AIR FORCE: 

MALMSTROM AFB: 

TACTICAL RESPONSE FORCE ALERT FACILITY .......................................................................................... 19,700 19,700 19,700 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MONTANA .................................................................................................................................. 19,700 19,700 19,700 ............................ ............................

NEBRASKA 

AIR FORCE: 

OFFUTT AFB: 

DORMITORY (144 RM) .............................................................................................................................. 21,000 21,000 21,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEBRASKA ................................................................................................................................ 21,000 21,000 21,000 ............................ ............................

NEVADA 

AIR FORCE: 

NELLIS AFB: 

F–35A AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 31,000 31,000 31,000 ............................ ............................F–35A LIVE ORDNANCE LOADING AREA ................................................................................................... 34,500 34,500 34,500 ............................ ............................F–35A MUNITIONS MAINTENANCE FACILITIES .......................................................................................... 3,450 3,450 3,450 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

NELLIS AFB: 

REPLACE HYDRANT FUEL SYSTEM ............................................................................................................ 39,900 39,900 39,900 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

RENO: 

NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP ADD/A .......................................................................... 8,000 8,000 8,000 ............................ ............................
90 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

NAVY RESERVE: 

FALLON: 

NAVOPSPTCEN FALLON ............................................................................................................................. 11,480 11,480 11,480 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEVADA .................................................................................................................................... 128,330 128,330 128,330 ............................ ............................

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

PEASE INTERNATIONAL TRADE PORT: 

KC–46A ADAL FLIGHT SIMULATOR BLDG 156 .......................................................................................... 2,800 2,800 2,800 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW HAMPSHIRE ...................................................................................................................... 2,800 2,800 2,800 ............................ ............................

NEW JERSEY 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

ATLANTIC CITY IAP: 

FUEL CELL AND CORROSION CONTROL HANGAR ..................................................................................... 10,200 10,200 10,200 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW JERSEY ............................................................................................................................. 10,200 10,200 10,200 ............................ ............................

NEW MEXICO 

AIR FORCE: 

CANNON AFB: 

CONSTRUCT AT/FP GATE—PORTALES ...................................................................................................... 7,800 7,800 7,800 ............................ ............................

HOLLOMAN AFB: 

MARSHALLING AREA ARM/DE–ARM PAD D ............................................................................................... 3,000 3,000 3,000 ............................ ............................

KIRTLAND AFB: 

SPACE VEHICLES COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT LAB ................................................................................. 12,800 12,800 12,800 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CANNON AFB: 

CONSTRUCT PUMPHOUSE AND FUEL STORAGE ........................................................................................ 20,400 20,400 20,400 ............................ ............................SOF SQUADRON OPERATIONS FACILITY .................................................................................................... 11,565 11,565 11,565 ............................ ............................
91 

SOF ST OPERATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES ............................................................................................. 13,146 13,146 13,146 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW MEXICO ............................................................................................................................ 68,711 68,711 68,711 ............................ ............................

NEW YORK 

ARMY: 

FORT DRUM: 

NCO ACADEMY COMPLEX ......................................................................................................................... 19,000 19,000 19,000 ............................ ............................

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY: 

WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT ........................................................................................................... 70,000 70,000 70,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

WEST POINT: 

WEST POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT ................................................................................. 55,778 55,778 55,778 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

NIAGARA FALLS IAP: 

REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT BEDDOWN BLDG 912 .............................................................................. 7,700 7,700 7,700 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

ORANGEBURG: 

ORGANIZATIONAL MAINTENANCE SHOP .................................................................................................... 4,200 4,200 4,200 ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE: 

BROOKLYN: 

RESERVE CENTER STORAGE FACILITY ...................................................................................................... 2,479 2,479 2,479 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW YORK ................................................................................................................................ 159,157 159,157 159,157 ............................ ............................

NORTH CAROLINA 

NAVY: 

CAMP LEJEUNE: 

2ND RADIO BN COMPLEX OPERATIONS CONSOLIDATION ......................................................................... 50,557 ............................ 50,557 ............................ ∂50,557 SIMULATOR INTEGRATION/RANGE CONTROL FACILITY .............................................................................. 54,849 54,849 54,849 ............................ ............................

CHERRY POINT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION: 

KC 130J ENLISTED AIR CREW TRAINER FACILITY .................................................................................... 4,769 4,769 4,769 ............................ ............................UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM FACILITIES ............................................................................................... 29,657 29,657 29,657 ............................ ............................

NEW RIVER: 

OPERATIONAL TRAINER FACILITY .............................................................................................................. 3,312 3,312 3,312 ............................ ............................RADAR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITY ADDITION .................................................................................. 4,918 4,918 4,918 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB: 

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER/BASE OPS FACILITY ................................................................................. 17,100 17,100 17,100 ............................ ............................
92 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

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Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

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compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

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House 

allowance 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CAMP LEJEUNE: 

SOF COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FACILITY ............................................................................................... 14,036 14,036 14,036 ............................ ............................SOF MARINE BATTALION COMPANY/TEAM FACILITIES .............................................................................. 54,970 54,970 54,970 ............................ ............................

FORT BRAGG: 

BUTNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT ........................................................................................ 32,944 32,944 32,944 ............................ ............................SOF 21 STS OPERATIONS FACILITY .......................................................................................................... 16,863 14,334 16,863 ............................ ∂2,529 SOF BATTALION OPERATIONS FACILITY ..................................................................................................... 38,549 38,549 38,549 ............................ ............................SOF INDOOR RANGE ................................................................................................................................. 8,303 8,303 8,303 ............................ ............................SOF INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER ..................................................................................................... 28,265 28,265 28,265 ............................ ............................SOF SPECIAL TACTICS FACILITY (PH 2) .................................................................................................... 43,887 43,887 43,887 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS IAP: 

REPLACE C–130 SQUADRON OPERATIONS FACILITY ................................................................................ 9,000 9,000 9,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NORTH CAROLINA ..................................................................................................................... 411,979 358,893 411,979 ............................ ∂53,086 

NORTH DAKOTA 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

HECTOR IAP: 

INTEL TARGETING FACILITIES .................................................................................................................... 7,300 7,300 7,300 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NORTH DAKOTA ........................................................................................................................ 7,300 7,300 7,300 ............................ ............................

OHIO 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB: 

SATELLITE PHARMACY REPLACEMENT ...................................................................................................... 6,623 6,623 6,623 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

CAMP RAVENNA: 

MODIFIED RECORD FIRE RANGE ............................................................................................................... 3,300 3,300 3,300 ............................ ............................
93 

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

YOUNGSTOWN: 

INDOOR FIRING RANGE ............................................................................................................................. 9,400 9,400 9,400 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, OHIO ......................................................................................................................................... 19,323 19,323 19,323 ............................ ............................

OKLAHOMA 

ARMY: 

FORT SILL: 

RECEPTION BARRACKS COMPLEX PH2 ..................................................................................................... 56,000 56,000 56,000 ............................ ............................TRAINING SUPPORT FACILITY .................................................................................................................... 13,400 13,400 13,400 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

ALTUS AFB: 

DORMITORY (120 RM) .............................................................................................................................. 18,000 18,000 18,000 ............................ ............................KC–46A FTU ADAL FUEL CELL MAINT HANGAR ........................................................................................ 10,400 10,400 10,400 ............................ ............................

TINKER AFB: 

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER ................................................................................................................. 12,900 12,900 12,900 ............................ ............................KC–46A DEPOT MAINTENANCE DOCK ....................................................................................................... 37,000 37,000 37,000 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT: 

MEDIUM ALTITUDE MANNED ISR BEDDOWN ............................................................................................. 7,600 7,600 7,600 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, OKLAHOMA ................................................................................................................................ 155,300 155,300 155,300 ............................ ............................

OREGON 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

KLAMATH FALLS IAP: 

REPLACE FUEL FACILITIES ........................................................................................................................ 2,500 2,500 2,500 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

SALEM: 

NATIONAL GUARD/RESERVE CENTER BLDG ADD/ALT (JFHQ) .................................................................... 16,500 16,500 16,500 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

KLAMATH FALLS IAP: 

REPLACE FIRE CRASH/RESCUE STATION .................................................................................................. 7,200 7,200 7,200 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, OREGON .................................................................................................................................... 26,200 26,200 26,200 ............................ ............................
94 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

PENNSYLVANIA 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

PHILADELPHIA: 

REPLACE HEADQUARTERS ........................................................................................................................ 49,700 49,700 49,700 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP: 

TRAINING AIDS CENTER ............................................................................................................................ 16,000 16,000 16,000 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

CONNEAUT LAKE: 

DAR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT .................................................................................................................. 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, PENNSYLVANIA ......................................................................................................................... 70,700 70,700 70,700 ............................ ............................

SOUTH CAROLINA 

NAVY: 

PARRIS ISLAND: 

RANGE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS & MODERNIZATION ................................................................................ 27,075 27,075 27,075 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT JACKSON: 

PIERCE TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT ......................................................................... 26,157 26,157 26,157 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, SOUTH CAROLINA ..................................................................................................................... 53,232 53,232 53,232 ............................ ............................

SOUTH DAKOTA 

AIR FORCE: 

ELLSWORTH AFB: 

DORMITORY (168 RM) .............................................................................................................................. 23,000 23,000 23,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, SOUTH DAKOTA ......................................................................................................................... 23,000 23,000 23,000 ............................ ............................
95 

TEXAS 

ARMY: 

CORPUS CHRISTI: 

POWERTRAIN FACILITY (INFRASTRUCTURE/METAL) .................................................................................. 85,000 85,000 85,000 ............................ ............................

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO: 

HOMELAND DEFENSE OPERATIONS CENTER ............................................................................................. 43,000 ............................ ............................ ¥43,000 ............................

AIR FORCE: 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO: 

BMT CLASSROOMS/DINING FACILITY 3 ..................................................................................................... 35,000 35,000 35,000 ............................ ............................BMT RECRUIT DORMITORY 5 .................................................................................................................... 71,000 71,000 71,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT BLISS: 

HOSPITAL REPLACEMENT INCR 7 ............................................................................................................. 239,884 189,884 239,884 ............................ ∂50,000 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO: 

AMBULATORY CARE CENTER PHASE 4 ..................................................................................................... 61,776 61,776 61,776 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO: 

CONSOLIDATE 433 MEDICAL FACILITY ...................................................................................................... 9,900 9,900 9,900 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, TEXAS ....................................................................................................................................... 545,560 452,560 502,560 ¥43,000 ∂50,000 

UTAH 

AIR FORCE: 

HILL AFB: 

F–35A FLIGHT SIMULATOR ADDITION PHASE 2 ........................................................................................ 5,900 5,900 5,900 ............................ ............................F–35A HANGAR 40/42 ADDITIONS AND AMU ........................................................................................... 21,000 21,000 21,000 ............................ ............................HAYMAN IGLOOS ....................................................................................................................................... 11,500 11,500 11,500 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, UTAH ......................................................................................................................................... 38,400 38,400 38,400 ............................ ............................

VERMONT 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

NORTH HYDE PARK: 

NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP ADDIT .......................................................................... 7,900 7,900 7,900 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, VERMONT .................................................................................................................................. 7,900 7,900 7,900 ............................ ............................
96 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

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House 

allowance 

VIRGINIA 

ARMY: 

FORT LEE: 

TRAINING SUPPORT FACILITY .................................................................................................................... 33,000 33,000 33,000 ............................ ............................

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON: 

INSTRUCTION BUILDING ............................................................................................................................ 37,000 ............................ ............................ ¥37,000 ............................

NAVY: 

DAM NECK: 

MARITIME SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FACILITY ............................................................................................ 23,066 23,066 23,066 ............................ ............................

NORFOLK: 

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER ...................................................................................................................... 75,289 75,289 75,289 ............................ ............................ELECTRICAL REPAIRS TO PIERS 2,6,7, AND 11 ....................................................................................... 44,254 44,254 44,254 ............................ ............................MH–60 HELICOPTER TRAINING FACILITY .................................................................................................. 7,134 7,134 7,134 ............................ ............................

PORTSMOUTH: 

WATERFRONT UTILITIES ............................................................................................................................ 45,513 45,513 45,513 ............................ ............................

QUANTICO: 

ATFP GATE ................................................................................................................................................ 5,840 5,840 5,840 ............................ ............................ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION UPGRADE ...................................................................................................... 8,418 8,418 8,418 ............................ ............................EMBASSY SECURITY GUARD BEQ & OPS FACILITY .................................................................................. 43,941 43,941 43,941 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT BELVOIR: 

CONSTRUCT VISITOR CONTROL CENTER .................................................................................................. 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................REPLACE GROUND VEHICLE FUELING FACILITY ........................................................................................ 4,500 4,500 4,500 ............................ ............................

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS: 

REPLACE FUEL PIER AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITY ................................................................................... 28,000 28,000 28,000 ............................ ............................

JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK—STORY: 

SOF APPLIED INSTRUCTION FACILITY ....................................................................................................... 23,916 23,916 23,916 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

RICHMOND: 

NATIONAL GUARD/RESERVE CENTER BUILDING (JFHQ) ............................................................................ 29,000 29,000 29,000 ............................ ............................
97 

NAVY RESERVE: 

DAM NECK: 

RESERVE TRAINING CENTER COMPLEX .................................................................................................... 18,443 18,443 18,443 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, VIRGINIA ................................................................................................................................... 432,314 395,314 395,314 ¥37,000 ............................

WASHINGTON 

NAVY: 

BANGOR: 

REGIONAL SHIP MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FACILITY .................................................................................. 12,753 12,753 12,753 ............................ ............................WRA LAND/WATER INTERFACE .................................................................................................................. 34,177 34,177 34,177 ............................ ............................

BREMERTON: 

DRY DOCK 6 MODERNIZATION & UTILITY IMPROVE ................................................................................. 22,680 22,680 22,680 ............................ ............................

INDIAN ISLAND: 

SHORE POWER TO AMMUNITION PIER ...................................................................................................... 4,472 4,472 4,472 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

YAKIMA: 

ENLISTED BARRACKS, TRANSIENT TRAINING ............................................................................................ 19,000 ............................ 19,000 ............................ ∂19,000 

TOTAL, WASHINGTON ............................................................................................................................ 93,082 74,082 93,082 ............................ ∂19,000 

WEST VIRGINIA 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

YEAGER AIRPORT: 

FORCE PROTECTION—RELOCATE COONSKIN ROAD ................................................................................. 3,900 3,900 3,900 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, WEST VIRGINIA ......................................................................................................................... 3,900 3,900 3,900 ............................ ............................

WYOMING 

AIR FORCE: 

F. E. WARREN AFB: 

WEAPON STORAGE FACILITY ..................................................................................................................... 95,000 95,000 95,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, WYOMING .................................................................................................................................. 95,000 95,000 95,000 ............................ ............................

CONUS CLASSIFIED 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CLASSIFIED LOCATION: 

OPERATIONS SUPPORT FACILITY ............................................................................................................... 20,065 ............................ 20,065 ............................ ∂20,065 
98 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

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compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

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House 

allowance 

TOTAL, CONUS CLASSIFIED .................................................................................................................. 20,065 ............................ 20,065 ............................ ∂20,065 

BAHRAIN ISLAND 

NAVY: 

SW ASIA: 

MINA SALMAN PIER REPLACEMENT .......................................................................................................... 37,700 ............................ 37,700 ............................ ∂37,700 SHIP MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FACILITY ................................................................................................... 52,091 ............................ 52,091 ............................ ∂52,091 

TOTAL, BAHRAIN ISLAND ...................................................................................................................... 89,791 ............................ 89,791 ............................ ∂89,791 

DJIBOUTI 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CAMP LEMONNIER: 

CONSTRUCT FUEL STORAGE & DISTRIB. FACILITIES ................................................................................ 43,700 ............................ 43,700 ............................ ∂43,700 

TOTAL, DJIBOUTI ................................................................................................................................... 43,700 ............................ 43,700 ............................ ∂43,700 

GERMANY 

ARMY: 

GRAFENWOEHR: 

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP .................................................................................................................. 51,000 51,000 51,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

GARMISCH: 

GARMISCH E/MS–ADDITION/MODERNIZATION ........................................................................................... 14,676 14,676 14,676 ............................ ............................

GRAFENWOEHR: 

GRAFENWOEHR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT ............................................................................ 38,138 38,138 38,138 ............................ ............................

RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS: 

MEDICAL CENTER REPLACEMENT INCR 5 ................................................................................................ 85,034 85,034 85,034 ............................ ............................

SPANGDAHLEM AB: 

CONSTRUCT FUEL PIPELINE ...................................................................................................................... 5,500 5,500 5,500 ............................ ............................MEDICAL/DENTAL CLINIC ADDITION .......................................................................................................... 34,071 34,071 34,071 ............................ ............................
99 

STUTTGART-PATCH BARRACKS: 

PATCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT .......................................................................................... 49,413 49,413 49,413 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, GERMANY ................................................................................................................................. 277,832 277,832 277,832 ............................ ............................

GREENLAND 

AIR FORCE: 

THULE AB: 

THULE CONSOLIDATION PH 1 ................................................................................................................... 41,965 41,965 41,965 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, GREENLAND .............................................................................................................................. 41,965 41,965 41,965 ............................ ............................

GUAM 

NAVY: 

JOINT REGION MARIANAS: 

LIVE-FIRE TRAINING RANGE COMPLEX (NW FIELD) .................................................................................. 125,677 100,677 125,677 ............................ ∂25,000 MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL CLOSURE ......................................................................................... 10,777 10,777 10,777 ............................ ............................SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM RECAPITALIZATION ......................................................................................... 45,314 45,314 45,314 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

JOINT REGION MARIANAS: 

APR—DISPERSED MAINT SPARES & SE STORAGE FAC ........................................................................... 19,000 19,000 19,000 ............................ ............................APR—INSTALLATION CONTROL CENTER ................................................................................................... 22,200 22,200 22,200 ............................ ............................APR—SOUTH RAMP UTILITIES PHASE 2 .................................................................................................. 7,100 7,100 7,100 ............................ ............................PAR—LO/CORROSION CONTROL/COMPOSITE REPAIR .............................................................................. 34,400 34,400 34,400 ............................ ............................PRTC ROADS ............................................................................................................................................. 2,500 2,500 2,500 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, GUAM ........................................................................................................................................ 266,968 241,968 266,968 ............................ ∂25,000 

ITALY 

NAVY: 

SIGONELLA: 

P–8A HANGAR AND FLEET SUPPORT FACILITY ......................................................................................... 62,302 ............................ 62,302 ............................ ∂62,302 TRITON HANGAR AND OPERATION FACILITY ............................................................................................. 40,641 ............................ 40,641 ............................ ∂40,641 

TOTAL, ITALY ........................................................................................................................................ 102,943 ............................ 102,943 ............................ ∂102,943 

JAPAN 

NAVY: 

CAMP BUTLER: 

MILITARY WORKING DOG FACILITIES (CAMP HANSEN) ............................................................................. 11,697 11,697 11,697 ............................ ............................
100 

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compared with (∂ or ¥) 

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House 

allowance 

IWAKUNI: 

E–2D OPERATIONAL TRAINER COMPLEX .................................................................................................. 8,716 8,716 8,716 ............................ ............................SECURITY MODIFICATIONS—CVW5/MAG12 HQ ........................................................................................ 9,207 9,207 9,207 ............................ ............................

KADENA AB: 

AIRCRAFT MAINT. SHELTERS & APRON .................................................................................................... 23,310 23,310 23,310 ............................ ............................

YOKOSUKA: 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER ................................................................................................................. 13,846 13,846 13,846 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

YOKOTA AB: 

C–130J FLIGHT SIMULATOR FACILITY ....................................................................................................... 8,461 8,461 8,461 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

KADENA AB: 

AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 37,485 37,485 37,485 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, JAPAN ....................................................................................................................................... 112,722 112,722 112,722 ............................ ............................

NIGER 

AIR FORCE: 

AGADEZ: 

CONSTRUCT AIRFIELD AND BASE CAMP ................................................................................................... 50,000 ............................ 50,000 ............................ ∂50,000 

TOTAL, NIGER ....................................................................................................................................... 50,000 ............................ 50,000 ............................ ∂50,000 

OMAN 

AIR FORCE: 

AL MUSANNAH AB: 

AIRLIFT APRON .......................................................................................................................................... 25,000 ............................ 25,000 ............................ ∂25,000 

TOTAL, OMAN ........................................................................................................................................ 25,000 ............................ 25,000 ............................ ∂25,000 
101 

POLAND 

NAVY: 

REDZIKOWO BASE: 

AEGIS ASHORE MISSILE DEFENSE COMPLEX ............................................................................................ 51,270 ............................ 51,270 ............................ ∂51,270 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

REDZIKOWO BASE: 

AEGIS ASHORE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM COMPLEX .............................................................................. 169,153 ............................ 169,153 ............................ ∂169,153 

TOTAL, POLAND .................................................................................................................................... 220,423 ............................ 220,423 ............................ ∂220,423 

SPAIN 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

ROTA: 

ROTA ES AND HS ADDITIONS .................................................................................................................... 13,737 13,737 13,737 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, SPAIN ........................................................................................................................................ 13,737 13,737 13,737 ............................ ............................

UNITED KINGDOM 

AIR FORCE: 

CROUGHTON RAF: 

CONSOLIDATED SATCOM/TECH CONTROL FACILITY .................................................................................. 36,424 36,424 36,424 ............................ ............................JIAC CONSOLIDATION—PH 2 .................................................................................................................... 94,191 94,191 94,191 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, UNITED KINGDOM ..................................................................................................................... 130,615 130,615 130,615 ............................ ............................

WORLDWIDE CLASSIFIED 

AIR FORCE: 

CLASSIFIED LOCATION: 

LONG RANGE STRIKE BOMBER ................................................................................................................. 77,130 ............................ 77,130 ............................ ∂77,130 MUNITIONS STORAGE ................................................................................................................................ 3,000 3,000 3,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, WORLDWIDE CLASSIFIED .......................................................................................................... 80,130 3,000 80,130 ............................ ∂77,130 

NATO SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM .................................................................................................................... 120,000 150,000 120,000 ............................ ¥30,000 

WORLDWIDE UNSPECIFIED 

ARMY: 

HOST NATION SUPPORT ..................................................................................................................................... 36,000 36,000 36,000 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 25,000 25,000 25,000 ............................ ............................PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 73,245 73,245 73,245 ............................ ............................
102 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

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compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

NAVY: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 91,649 91,649 91,649 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 22,590 22,590 22,590 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 89,164 89,164 89,164 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 22,900 22,900 22,900 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CONTINGENCY CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 10,000 ............................ ............................ ¥10,000 ............................ENERGY CONSERVATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM ............................................................................................. 150,000 150,000 150,000 ............................ ............................PLANNING AND DESIGN: 

DEFENSE-WIDE .......................................................................................................................................... 23,500 23,500 23,500 ............................ ............................DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENT EDUCATION ............................................................................... 42,183 42,183 42,183 ............................ ............................DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY ................................................................................................................... 31,772 31,772 31,772 ............................ ............................NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY ........................................................................................ 27,202 27,202 27,202 ............................ ............................NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY ................................................................................................................... 1,078 1,078 1,078 ............................ ............................SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND ............................................................................................................. 31,628 31,628 31,628 ............................ ............................WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICE ................................................................................................... 3,041 3,041 3,041 ............................ ............................EAST COAST MISSILE SITE ........................................................................................................................ ............................ 30,000 ............................ ............................ ¥30,000 GENERAL REDUCTION ............................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥30,000 ............................ ............................ ∂30,000 

SUBTOTAL, PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................... 160,404 160,404 160,404 ............................ ............................

UNSPECIFIED MINOR CONSTRUCTION: 

DEFENSE-WIDE .......................................................................................................................................... 3,000 3,000 3,000 ............................ ............................DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY ....................................................................................................................... 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ............................................................................................................................ 8,687 8,687 8,687 ............................ ............................SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND ............................................................................................................. 15,676 15,676 15,676 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, UNSPECIFIED MINOR CONSTRUCTION ................................................................................ 32,363 32,363 32,363 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 20,337 20,337 20,337 ............................ ............................
103 

MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 15,000 15,000 15,000 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 5,104 5,104 5,104 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 7,734 7,734 7,734 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 9,318 9,318 9,318 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 6,777 6,777 6,777 ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 2,208 2,208 2,208 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1,468 1,468 1,468 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 13,400 13,400 13,400 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 6,121 6,121 6,121 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, ARMY 

GERMANY: 

WIESBADEN: 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS (12 UNITS) ............................................................................................ 3,500 3,500 3,500 ............................ ............................

FLORIDA: 

CAMP RUDDER: 

FAMILY HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION (15 UNITS) ................................................................................. 8,000 8,000 8,000 ............................ ............................

ILLINOIS: 

ROCK ISLAND: 

FAMILY HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION (38 UNITS) ................................................................................. 20,000 20,000 20,000 ............................ ............................

KOREA: 

CAMP WALKER (DAEGU): 

FAMILY HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION (90 UNITS) ................................................................................. 61,000 61,000 61,000 ............................ ............................

PLANNING AND DESIGN .............................................................................................................................................. 7,195 7,195 7,195 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................. 99,695 99,695 99,695 ............................ ............................

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

UTILITIES ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................................................... 65,600 65,600 65,600 ............................ ............................SERVICES ACCOUNT .......................................................................................................................................... 10,928 10,928 10,928 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 48,515 48,515 48,515 ............................ ............................MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT ................................................................................................................................ 840 840 840 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................... 25,552 25,552 25,552 ............................ ............................LEASING ............................................................................................................................................................. 144,879 144,879 144,879 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY ................................................................................................................... 75,197 75,197 75,197 ............................ ............................
104 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

PRIVATIZATION SUPPORT COSTS ....................................................................................................................... 22,000 22,000 22,000 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 393,511 393,511 393,511 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS 

VIRGINIA: 

WALLOPS ISLAND: 

HOUSING SERVICE CENTER ...................................................................................................................... 438 438 438 ............................ ............................SKEETER LANE RENOVATION AND CONVERSION ...................................................................................... 3,658 3,658 3,658 ............................ ............................

JAPAN: 

IWAKUNI: 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE 3 .............................................................................................. 7,857 7,857 7,857 ............................ ............................

PLANNING AND DESIGN .............................................................................................................................................. 4,588 4,588 4,588 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................. 16,541 16,541 16,541 ............................ ............................

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

UTILITIES ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................................................... 67,692 67,692 67,692 ............................ ............................SERVICES ACCOUNT .......................................................................................................................................... 19,149 19,149 19,149 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 56,189 56,189 56,189 ............................ ............................MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT ................................................................................................................................ 373 373 373 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................... 17,534 17,534 17,534 ............................ ............................LEASING ............................................................................................................................................................. 64,108 64,108 64,108 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY ................................................................................................................... 99,323 99,323 99,323 ............................ ............................PRIVATIZATION SUPPORT COSTS ....................................................................................................................... 28,668 28,668 28,668 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 353,036 353,036 353,036 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, AIR FORCE 

GERMANY: 

RAMSTEIN: 

FAMILY HOUSING MANAGEMENT FACILITY ................................................................................................ 5,700 5,700 5,700 ............................ ............................
105 

JAPAN: 

KADENA: 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE 4 .............................................................................................. 35,776 35,776 35,776 ............................ ............................

KADENA: 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE 5 .............................................................................................. 33,000 33,000 33,000 ............................ ............................

MISAWA: 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE 3 .............................................................................................. 44,373 44,373 44,373 ............................ ............................

YOKOTA: 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE 7 .............................................................................................. 31,800 31,800 31,800 ............................ ............................

PLANNING AND DESIGN .............................................................................................................................................. 9,849 9,849 9,849 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................. 160,498 160,498 160,498 ............................ ............................

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

UTILITIES ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................................................... 40,811 40,811 40,811 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 52,153 52,153 52,153 ............................ ............................SERVICES ACCOUNT .......................................................................................................................................... 12,940 12,940 12,940 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................... 38,746 38,746 38,746 ............................ ............................MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT ................................................................................................................................ 2,032 2,032 2,032 ............................ ............................LEASING ............................................................................................................................................................. 28,867 28,867 28,867 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................................................................... 114,129 114,129 114,129 ............................ ............................PRIVATIZATION SUPPORT COSTS ....................................................................................................................... 41,554 41,554 41,554 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 331,232 331,232 331,232 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, DEFENSE-WIDE 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY: 

UTILITIES ................................................................................................................................................... 474 474 474 ............................ ............................FURNISHING .............................................................................................................................................. 781 781 781 ............................ ............................LEASING .................................................................................................................................................... 10,679 10,679 10,679 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY .......................................................................................................... 1,104 1,104 1,104 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY: 

FURNISHINGS ............................................................................................................................................ 3,402 3,402 3,402 ............................ ............................LEASING .................................................................................................................................................... 41,273 41,273 41,273 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY: 

UTILITIES ................................................................................................................................................... 172 172 172 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ............................................................................................................................................ 20 20 20 ............................ ............................SERVICES .................................................................................................................................................. 31 31 31 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................................... 388 388 388 ............................ ............................
106 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY .......................................................................................................... 344 344 344 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................... 58,668 58,668 58,668 ............................ ............................

DOD FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND .............................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE 

BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................... 251,334 251,334 251,334 ............................ ............................DEFENSE ACCESS ROADS (SEC. 131) ........................................................................................................................ ............................ 30,000 ............................ ............................ ¥30,000 

RESCISSIONS FROM PRIOR YEAR UNOBLIGATED BALANCES 

ARMY (RESCISSION) (SEC. 125) ................................................................................................................................. ............................ ¥96,000 ............................ ............................ ∂96,000 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ......................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................AIR FORCE (RESCISSION) (SEC. 126) ........................................................................................................................ ............................ ¥52,600 ............................ ............................ ∂52,600 DEFENSE–WIDE (RESCISSION) (SEC. 127) ................................................................................................................. ............................ ¥134,000 ............................ ............................ ∂134,000 AIR NATIONAL GUARD ................................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ARMY (SEC. 125) ........................................................................................................................................................ ............................ ............................ 34,500 ∂34,500 ∂34,500 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS (SEC. 126) ...................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ 34,320 ∂34,320 ∂34,320 ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (SEC. 127) .......................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ 51,300 ∂51,300 ∂51,300 ARMY RESERVE (SEC. 128) ........................................................................................................................................ ............................ ............................ 34,200 ∂34,200 ∂34,200 ARMY (RESCISSION) (SEC.129) .................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ¥85,000 ¥85,000 ¥85,000 AIR FORCE (RESCISSION) (SEC. 129) ........................................................................................................................ ............................ ............................ ¥86,400 ¥86,400 ¥86,400 DEFENSE-WIDE (RESCISSION) (SEC. 129) .................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ¥133,000 ¥133,000 ¥133,000 42 USC 3374 (RECISSION) (SEC. 130) ...................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥103,918 ¥65,000 ¥65,000 ∂38,918 

RECAP 

ARMY .......................................................................................................................................................................... 743,245 693,245 697,745 ¥45,500 ∂4,500 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥96,000 ¥85,000 ¥85,000 ∂11,000 

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ......................................................................................................................................... 1,669,239 1,349,678 1,654,019 ¥15,220 ∂304,341 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE .................................................................................................................................................................. 1,389,185 1,237,055 1,389,185 ............................ ∂152,130 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥52,600 ¥86,400 ¥86,400 ¥33,800 
107 

DEFENSE-WIDE ............................................................................................................................................................ 2,300,767 1,931,456 2,290,767 ¥10,000 ∂359,311 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥134,000 ¥133,000 ¥133,000 ∂1,000 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ............................................................................................................................................. 197,237 167,437 248,537 ∂51,300 ∂81,100 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD ................................................................................................................................................. 138,738 138,738 138,738 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE .......................................................................................................................................................... 113,595 104,295 147,795 ∂34,200 ∂43,500 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE ........................................................................................................................................................... 36,078 36,078 36,078 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE .................................................................................................................................................. 65,021 65,021 65,021 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

NATO ........................................................................................................................................................................... 120,000 150,000 120,000 ............................ ¥30,000 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE–WIDE ................................................................................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

DOD FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND .............................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, ARMY ............................................................................................................................................. 493,206 493,206 493,206 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. (99,695 ) (99,695 ) (99,695 ) ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (393,511 ) (393,511 ) (393,511 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ............................................................................................................ 369,577 369,577 369,577 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. (16,541 ) (16,541 ) (16,541 ) ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (353,036 ) (353,036 ) (353,036 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, AIR FORCE ..................................................................................................................................... 491,730 491,730 491,730 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. (160,498 ) (160,498 ) (160,498 ) ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (331,232 ) (331,232 ) (331,232 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, DEFENSE–WIDE ............................................................................................................................. 58,668 58,668 58,668 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (58,668 ) (58,668 ) (58,668 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

BRAC ........................................................................................................................................................................... 251,334 251,334 251,334 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

42 USC 3374 (Sec. 135) ............................................................................................................................................ ............................ ¥103,918 ¥65,000 ¥65,000 ∂38,918 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS ..................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................
108 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

GRAND TOTAL ................................................................................................................................................ 8,437,620 7,151,000 8,083,000 ¥354,620 ∂932,000 
109 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Military construction, Army .................................................................................... 528,427 743,245 663,245 663,245 ∂134,818 ¥80,000 ..........................Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps ...................................................... 1,018,772 1,669,239 1,349,678 1,619,699 ∂600,927 ¥49,540 ∂270,021 Military construction, Air Force .............................................................................. 811,774 1,389,185 1,237,055 1,389,185 ∂577,411 .......................... ∂152,130 Military construction, Defense-Wide ...................................................................... 1,991,690 2,300,767 1,931,456 2,290,767 ∂299,077 ¥10,000 ∂359,311 

Total, Active components ......................................................................... 4,350,663 6,102,436 5,181,434 5,962,896 ∂1,612,233 ¥139,540 ∂781,462 

Military construction, Army National Guard .......................................................... 128,920 197,237 167,437 197,237 ∂68,317 .......................... ∂29,800 Military construction, Air National Guard .............................................................. 92,663 138,738 138,738 138,738 ∂46,075 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Army Reserve ...................................................................... 103,946 113,595 104,295 113,595 ∂9,649 .......................... ∂9,300 Military construction, Navy Reserve ....................................................................... 51,528 36,078 36,078 36,078 ¥15,450 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Air Force Reserve ................................................................ 49,492 65,021 65,021 65,021 ∂15,529 .......................... ..........................

Total, Reserve components ....................................................................... 426,549 550,669 511,569 550,669 ∂124,120 .......................... ∂39,100 Total, Military construction ....................................................................... 4,777,212 6,653,105 5,693,003 6,513,565 ∂1,736,353 ¥139,540 ∂820,562 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program ......................... 199,700 120,000 150,000 120,000 ¥79,700 .......................... ¥30,000 Family housing construction, Army ........................................................................ 78,609 99,695 99,695 99,695 ∂21,086 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Army ............................................... 350,976 393,511 393,511 393,511 ∂42,535 .......................... ..........................Family housing construction, Navy and Marine Corps .......................................... 16,412 16,541 16,541 16,541 ∂129 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps ................. 354,029 353,036 353,036 353,036 ¥993 .......................... ..........................Family housing construction, Air Force ................................................................. .......................... 160,498 160,498 160,498 ∂160,498 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force ......................................... 327,747 331,232 331,232 331,232 ∂3,485 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Defense-Wide ................................. 61,100 58,668 58,668 58,668 ¥2,432 .......................... ..........................Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund ................................. 1,662 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥1,662 .......................... ..........................

Total, Family housing ............................................................................... 1,190,535 1,413,181 1,413,181 1,413,181 ∂222,646 .......................... ..........................
110 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Chemical demilitarization construction, Defense-Wide ......................................... 38,715 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥38,715 .......................... ..........................Department of Defense Base Closure Account ...................................................... 315,085 251,334 251,334 251,334 ¥63,751 .......................... ..........................

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 

Military construction—fiscal year 2014 (Sec. 127) .............................................. 125,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥125,000 .......................... ..........................Military construction—fiscal year 2015 (Sec. 128) .............................................. 117,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥117,000 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Army (rescission) (Sec. 125) .............................................. ¥49,533 .......................... ¥96,000 .......................... ∂49,533 .......................... ∂96,000 Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps (rescission) (Sec. 130) ................ ¥25,522 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂25,522 .......................... ..........................Defense Access Roads (Sec. 131) ......................................................................... .......................... .......................... 30,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥30,000 Military construction, Air Force (rescission) (Sec. 126) ........................................ ¥41,392 .......................... ¥52,600 .......................... ∂41,392 .......................... ∂52,600 Military construction, Defense-Wide (rescission) (Sec. 127) ................................. .......................... .......................... ¥134,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂134,000 Military construction, Army (Sec. 125) .................................................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... 34,500 ∂34,500 ∂34,500 ∂34,500 Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps (Sec. 126) .................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... 34,320 ∂34,320 ∂34,320 ∂34,320 Military construction, Army National Guard (Sec. 127) ........................................ .......................... .......................... .......................... 51,300 ∂51,300 ∂51,300 ∂51,300 Military construction, Army Reserve (Sec. 128) .................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... 34,200 ∂34,200 ∂34,200 ∂34,200 NATO Security Investment Program (rescission) (Sec. 132) ................................. ¥25,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂25,000 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Army (rescission) (Sec. 129) .............................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥85,000 ¥85,000 ¥85,000 ¥85,000 Military construction, Air Force (rescission) (Sec. 129) ........................................ .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥86,400 ¥86,400 ¥86,400 ¥86,400 Military construction, Defense-Wide (rescission) (Sec. 129) ................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥133,000 ¥133,000 ¥133,000 ¥133,000 42 USC 3374 (rescission) (Sec. 134) .................................................................... ¥63,800 .......................... ¥103,918 ¥65,000 ¥1,200 ¥65,000 ∂38,918 

Total, Administrative Provisions ............................................................... 36,753 .......................... ¥356,518 ¥215,080 ¥251,833 ¥215,080 ∂141,438 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (242,000 ) .......................... (30,000 ) (154,320 ) (¥87,680 ) (∂154,320 ) (∂124,320 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥205,247 ) .......................... (¥386,518 ) (¥369,400 ) (¥164,153 ) (¥369,400 ) (∂17,118 ) 

Total, title I, Department of Defense ....................................................... 6,558,000 8,437,620 7,151,000 8,083,000 ∂1,525,000 ¥354,620 ∂932,000 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (6,763,247 ) (8,437,620 ) (7,537,518 ) (8,452,400 ) (∂1,689,153 ) (∂14,780 ) (∂914,882 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥205,247 ) .......................... (¥386,518 ) (¥369,400 ) (¥164,153 ) (¥369,400 ) (∂17,118 ) 
111 

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

Veterans Benefits Administration 

Compensation and pensions .................................................................................. 79,071,000 79,124,675 79,124,675 79,124,675 ∂53,675 .......................... ..........................

Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ..................................................... .......................... 87,146,761 87,146,761 87,146,761 ∂87,146,761 .......................... ..........................

Readjustment benefits ........................................................................................... 14,997,136 15,344,922 15,344,922 15,344,922 ∂347,786 .......................... ..........................

Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ..................................................... .......................... 16,743,904 16,743,904 16,743,904 ∂16,743,904 .......................... ..........................

Veterans insurance and indemnities ..................................................................... 63,257 77,160 77,160 77,160 ∂13,903 .......................... ..........................

Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ..................................................... .......................... 91,920 91,920 91,920 ∂91,920 .......................... ..........................

Veterans housing benefit program fund: 

(Indefinite) ..................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Limitation on direct loans) ................................................................. (500 ) (500 ) (500 ) (500 ) .......................... .......................... ..........................

Administrative expenses ............................................................................... 160,881 164,558 164,558 164,558 ∂3,677 .......................... ..........................

Vocational rehabilitation loans program account ................................................. 10 31 31 31 ∂21 .......................... ..........................

(Limitation on direct loans) .......................................................................... (2,877 ) (2,952 ) (2,952 ) (2,952 ) (∂75 ) .......................... ..........................Administrative expenses ............................................................................... 361 367 367 367 ∂6 .......................... ..........................

Native American veteran housing loan program account ..................................... 1,130 1,134 1,134 1,134 ∂4 .......................... ..........................

Total, Veterans Benefits Administration .................................................. 94,293,775 198,695,432 198,695,432 198,695,432 ∂104,401,657 .......................... ..........................

Appropriations .................................................................................. (94,293,775 ) (94,712,847 ) (94,712,847 ) (94,712,847 ) (∂419,072 ) .......................... ..........................Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2017 ...................................... .......................... (103,982,585 ) (103,982,585 ) (103,982,585 ) (∂103,982,585 ) .......................... ..........................

Veterans Health Administration 

Medical services: 

Advance from prior year ............................................................................... (45,015,527 ) (47,603,202 ) (47,603,202 ) (47,603,202 ) (∂2,587,675 ) .......................... ..........................Current year request ..................................................................................... 209,189 1,124,197 971,554 1,134,197 ∂925,008 ∂10,000 ∂162,643 Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ..................................................... 47,603,202 51,673,000 51,673,000 51,673,000 ∂4,069,798 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 47,812,391 52,797,197 52,644,554 52,807,197 ∂4,994,806 ∂10,000 ∂162,643 

Medical support and compliance: 

Advance from prior year ............................................................................... (5,879,700 ) (6,144,000 ) (6,144,000 ) (6,144,000 ) (∂264,300 ) .......................... ..........................Current year request ..................................................................................... .......................... 69,961 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥69,961 ..........................Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ..................................................... 6,144,000 6,524,000 6,524,000 6,524,000 ∂380,000 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 6,144,000 6,593,961 6,524,000 6,524,000 ∂380,000 ¥69,961 ..........................

Medical facilities: 

Advance from prior year ............................................................................... (4,739,000 ) (4,915,000 ) (4,915,000 ) (4,915,000 ) (∂176,000 ) .......................... ..........................Current year request ..................................................................................... .......................... 105,132 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥105,132 ..........................
112 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ..................................................... 4,915,000 5,074,000 5,074,000 5,074,000 ∂159,000 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 4,915,000 5,179,132 5,074,000 5,074,000 ∂159,000 ¥105,132 ..........................

Medical and prosthetic research ........................................................................... 588,922 621,813 621,813 621,813 ∂32,891 .......................... ..........................Medical care cost recovery collections: 

Offsetting collections .................................................................................... ¥2,456,000 ¥2,445,000 ¥2,445,000 ¥2,445,000 ∂11,000 .......................... ..........................Appropriations (indefinite) ............................................................................ 2,456,000 2,445,000 2,445,000 2,445,000 ¥11,000 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................

DOD–VA Joint Medical Funds (transfers out) ........................................................ (¥276,251 ) (¥286,000 ) (¥286,000 ) (¥286,000 ) (¥9,749 ) .......................... ..........................DOD–VA Joint Medical Funds (by transfer) ........................................................... (276,251 ) (286,000 ) (286,000 ) (286,000 ) (∂9,749 ) .......................... ..........................DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund (transfer out) ................................ (¥15,000 ) (¥15,000 ) (¥15,000 ) (¥15,000 ) .......................... .......................... ..........................DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund (by transfer) ................................. (15,000 ) (15,000 ) (15,000 ) (15,000 ) .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Veterans Health Administration ..................................................... 59,460,313 65,192,103 64,864,367 65,027,010 ∂5,566,697 ¥165,093 ∂162,643 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (798,111 ) (1,921,103 ) (1,593,367 ) (1,756,010 ) (∂957,899 ) (¥165,093 ) (∂162,643 ) Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2017 ...................................... (58,662,202 ) (63,271,000 ) (63,271,000 ) (63,271,000 ) (∂4,608,798 ) .......................... ..........................Advances from prior year appropriations ........................................ (55,634,227 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (∂3,027,975 ) .......................... ..........................

National Cemetery Administration 

National Cemetery Administration ......................................................................... 256,800 266,220 266,220 266,220 ∂9,420 .......................... ..........................

Departmental Administration 

General administration .......................................................................................... 321,591 346,659 324,959 311,591 ¥10,000 ¥35,068 ¥13,368 Board of Veterans Appeals .................................................................................... 99,294 107,884 109,884 107,884 ∂8,590 .......................... ¥2,000 General operating expenses, VBA .......................................................................... 2,534,254 2,697,734 2,702,734 2,697,734 ∂163,480 .......................... ¥5,000 Information technology systems ............................................................................ 3,903,344 4,133,363 4,039,563 4,106,363 ∂203,019 ¥27,000 ∂66,800 Office of Inspector General .................................................................................... 126,411 126,766 131,766 126,766 ∂355 .......................... ¥5,000 
113 

Construction, major projects .................................................................................. 561,800 1,143,800 561,800 1,027,064 ∂465,264 ¥116,736 ∂465,264 Construction, minor projects .................................................................................. 495,200 406,200 406,200 378,080 ¥117,120 ¥28,120 ¥28,120 Grants for construction of State extended care facilities ..................................... 90,000 80,000 80,000 100,000 ∂10,000 ∂20,000 ∂20,000 Grants for the construction of veterans cemeteries ............................................. 46,000 45,000 45,000 46,000 .......................... ∂1,000 ∂1,000 

Total, Departmental Administration ......................................................... 8,177,894 9,087,406 8,401,906 8,901,482 ∂723,588 ¥185,924 ∂499,576 

Administrative Provisions 

Medical services (Sec. 227) ................................................................................... 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Rescission) (Sec. 227) ................................................................................. ¥1,400,000 ¥1,400,000 ¥1,400,000 ¥1,400,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Medical support and compliance (Sec. 227) ........................................................ 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Rescission) (Sec. 227) ................................................................................. ¥100,000 ¥100,000 ¥100,000 ¥150,000 ¥50,000 ¥50,000 ¥50,000 

Medical facilities (Sec. 227) .................................................................................. 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Rescission) (Sec. 227) ................................................................................. ¥250,000 ¥250,000 ¥250,000 ¥250,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Contract disability exams ...................................................................................... 40,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥40,000 .......................... ..........................Payraise absorption (rescission) (Sec. 236) .......................................................... .......................... .......................... ¥313,626 ¥255,000 ¥255,000 ¥255,000 ∂58,626 Bonus limit (rescission) (Sec. 237) ....................................................................... ¥41,000 .......................... ¥101,000 ¥55,000 ¥14,000 ¥55,000 ∂46,000 JIF (rescission) (Sec. 238) ..................................................................................... ¥15,000 .......................... ¥15,000 ¥50,000 ¥35,000 ¥50,000 ¥35,000 Department administration (rescission) (Sec. 239) .............................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥6,052 ¥6,052 ¥6,052 ¥6,052 Unobligated balances (rescission) (Sec. 240) ....................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥90,293 ¥90,293 ¥90,293 ¥90,293 

Total, Administrative Provisions ............................................................... ¥16,000 .......................... ¥429,626 ¥506,345 ¥490,345 ¥506,345 ¥76,719 Total, title II .............................................................................................. 162,172,782 273,241,161 271,798,299 272,383,799 ∂110,211,017 ¥857,362 ∂585,500 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (105,316,580 ) (107,737,576 ) (106,724,340 ) (107,386,559 ) (∂2,069,979 ) (¥351,017 ) (∂662,219 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥1,806,000 ) (¥1,750,000 ) (¥2,179,626 ) (¥2,256,345 ) (¥450,345 ) (¥506,345 ) (¥76,719 ) Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2017 ...................................... (58,662,202 ) (167,253,585 ) (167,253,585 ) (167,253,585 ) (∂108,591,383 ) .......................... ..........................Advances from prior year appropriations ........................................ (55,634,227 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (∂3,027,975 ) .......................... ..........................(Limitation on direct loans) ............................................................ (3,377 ) (3,452 ) (3,452 ) (3,452 ) (∂75 ) .......................... ..........................

TITLE III—RELATED AGENCIES 

American Battle Monuments Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 74,100 75,100 75,100 75,100 ∂1,000 .......................... ..........................Foreign currency fluctuations account .................................................................. 1,900 2,000 2,000 2,000 ∂100 .......................... ..........................

Total, American Battle Monuments Commission ..................................... 76,000 77,100 77,100 77,100 ∂1,100 .......................... ..........................
114 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2015 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2015 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 31,386 32,141 32,141 32,141 ∂755 .......................... ..........................

Department of Defense—Civil 

Cemeterial Expenses, Army 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 65,800 70,800 70,800 70,800 ∂5,000 .......................... ..........................

Total, Cemeterial Expenses, Army ............................................................ 65,800 70,800 70,800 70,800 ∂5,000 .......................... ..........................

Armed Forces Retirement Home—Trust Fund 

Operation and maintenance .................................................................................. 62,400 63,300 63,300 63,300 ∂900 .......................... ..........................Capital program ..................................................................................................... 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Armed Forces Retirement Home ..................................................... 63,400 64,300 64,300 64,300 ∂900 .......................... ..........................Total, title III ............................................................................................. 236,586 244,341 244,341 244,341 ∂7,755 .......................... ..........................

TITLE IV—OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS 

Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps ...................................................... .......................... .......................... 244,004 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥244,004 Military construction, Air Force .............................................................................. .......................... .......................... 75,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥75,000 Military construction, Defense-Wide ...................................................................... 46,000 .......................... 212,996 .......................... ¥46,000 .......................... ¥212,996 European Reassurance Initiative Military Construction ........................................ 175,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥175,000 .......................... ..........................

Total, title IV ............................................................................................. 221,000 .......................... 532,000 .......................... ¥221,000 .......................... ¥532,000 Grand total ............................................................................................... 169,188,368 281,923,122 279,725,640 280,711,140 ∂111,522,772 ¥1,211,982 ∂985,500 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (112,316,413 ) (116,419,537 ) (114,506,199 ) (116,083,300 ) (∂3,766,887 ) (¥336,237 ) (∂1,577,101 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥2,011,247 ) (¥1,750,000 ) (¥2,566,144 ) (¥2,625,745 ) (¥614,498 ) (¥875,745 ) (¥59,601 ) 
115 

Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2017 ...................................... (58,662,202 ) (167,253,585 ) (167,253,585 ) (167,253,585 ) (∂108,591,383 ) .......................... ..........................Overseas contingency operations .................................................... (221,000 ) .......................... (532,000 ) .......................... (¥221,000 ) .......................... (¥532,000 ) Advances from prior year appropriations ........................................ (55,634,227 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (∂3,027,975 ) .......................... ..........................

(By transfer) ........................................................................... (291,251 ) (301,000 ) (301,000 ) (301,000 ) (∂9,749 ) .......................... ..........................

(Limitation on direct loans) ............................................................ (3,377 ) (3,452 ) (3,452 ) (3,452 ) (∂75 ) .......................... ..........................

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