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[114th Congress Public Law 19]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 129 STAT. 215]]

Public Law 114-19
114th Congress

                                 An Act

 
    To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing 
 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to 
     make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
  Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: May 22, 
                         2015 -  [H.R. 2496]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Construction 
Authorization and Choice Improvement Act. 38 USC 101 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Construction Authorization and Choice 
Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
                    CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center in Denver, Colorado, in fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to 
exceed $900,000,000.
    (b) Limitation on Obligation of Funds.--Notwithstanding section 
8104(c) of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, 
funds may not be obligated or expended for the project described in 
subsection (a) in an amount that would cause the total amount obligated 
for that project to exceed the amount specified in the law for that 
project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such specified 
amount).
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR EXPANDED 
                    AVAILABILITY OF HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL 
                    SERVICES FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE USE OF 
                    AGREEMENTS WITH NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                    AFFAIRS ENTITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, 
and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) 
is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``(as calculated based 
        on distance traveled)'' after ``40 miles''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking subclause (II), and 
        inserting the following new subclause (II):
                                    ``(II) faces an unusual or excessive 
                                burden in traveling to such a medical 
                                facility of the Department based on--
                                            ``(aa) geographical 
                                        challenges;
                                            ``(bb) environmental 
                                        factors, such as roads that are 
                                        not accessible to the general 
                                        public, traffic, or hazardous 
                                        weather;

[[Page 129 STAT. 216]]

                                            ``(cc) a medical condition 
                                        that impacts the ability to 
                                        travel; or
                                            ``(dd) other factors, as 
                                        determined by the Secretary.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1701 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of 
this Act and apply with respect to care or services provided on or after 
such date.

    Approved May 22, 2015.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2496:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015):
            May 21, considered and passed House.
            May 22, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>
```