I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4129 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program under 

which the Secretary enters into partnership agreements with non-Federal 

entities for the construction of major construction projects authorized 

by law, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 30, 2015 

Mr. MCNERNEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 

a program under which the Secretary enters into partnership agreements with non-Federal entities for the construction of major construction projects authorized by 

law, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Jumpstart VA Con5 struction Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 


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1 (1) The buildings of the Department of Vet2 erans Affairs have an average age of 60 years. 

3 (2) Since 2004, use of Department facilities has 

4 grown from 80 percent to 120 percent, while the 

5 condition of these facilities has eroded from 81 per6 cent to 71 percent over that same period of time. 

7 (3) The Department currently manages and 

8 maintains more than 5,600 buildings and almost 

9 34,000 acres of land. 

10 (4) More than 3,900 infrastructure gaps remain 

11 that will cost between $54,000,000,000 and 

12 $66,000,000,000 to close, including 

13 $10,000,000,000 in activation costs. 

14 (5) The Veterans Health Administration has 21 

15 major construction projects dating to 2007 that have 

16 been only partially funded. 

17 (6) The total unobligated amount for all cur18 rently budgeted major construction projects exceeds 

19 $2,900,000,000. 

20 (7) To finish existing projects and to close cur21 rent and future gaps, the Department will need to 

22 invest at least $23,200,000,000 over the next 10 

23 years. 


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1 (8) At current requested funding levels, it will 

2 take more than 67 years to complete the 10-year 

3 capital investment plan of the Department. 

4 SEC. 3. PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DEPART5 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MAJOR MED6 ICAL FACILITY PROJECTS BY NON-FEDERAL 

7 ENTITIES UNDER PARTNERSHIP AGREE8 MENTS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

10 shall carry out a program under which the Secretary shall 

11 enter into partnership agreements on a competitive basis 

12 with appropriate non-Federal entities for the construction 

13 of major construction projects authorized by law. 

14 (b) SELECTION OF PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall 

15 select major construction projects for completion by non16 Federal entities under the program. Each project selected 

17 shall be a major medical facility project authorized by law 

18 for the construction of a new facility for which— 

19 (1) Congress has appropriated any funds; 

20 (2) the design and development phase is com21 plete; and 

22 (3) construction has not begun, as of the date 

23 of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 (c) AGREEMENTS.—Each partnership agreement for 

2 a construction project under the program shall provide 

3 that— 

4 (1) the non-Federal entity shall obtain any per5 mits required pursuant to Federal and State laws 

6 before beginning to carry out construction; and 

7 (2) if requested by the non-Federal entity, the 

8 Secretary shall provide technical assistance for ob9 taining any necessary permits for the construction 

10 project. 

11 (d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to participate in 

12 the program established under subsection (a), a non-Fed13 eral entity shall submit to the Secretary an application 

14 at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor15 mation as the Secretary may require, including the fol16 lowing: 

17 (1) A description of the project manager of 

18 each major construction project for which the Sec19 retary enters into a partnership agreement under 

20 the program. 

21 (2) A description of the non-Federal contribu22 tions to the project and how future funding will be 

23 secured. 

24 (3) A description of the project management 

25 plan that the non-Federal entity will use to ensure 


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1 concise and consistent communication of all parties 

2 involved in the project. 

3 (4) A description of metrics to monitor change 

4 order process times, with the intent of expediting 

5 any change order. 

6 (5) Expected costs associated with the project. 

7 (6) A description of construction timelines and 

8 milestones association with the project. 

9 (7) Such other information as the Secretary 

10 may require. 

11 (e) MATCHING FUNDS.—The Department of Vet12 erans Affairs shall provide matching funds under this pro13 gram— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—For any fiscal year, the Sec15 retary shall provide to a non-Federal entity that en16 ters into a partnership agreement with the Secretary 

17 under the program established under subsection (a) 

18 matching funds in an amount that does not exceed 

19 50 percent of the amount expended by the non-Fed20 eral entity. 

21 (2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Paragraph one 

22 shall not be construed as a limitation on the amount 

23 that may be expended by a non-Federal entity for a 

24 fiscal year for a construction project covered by a 

25 partnership agreement under the program. 


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1 (f) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—The Comp2 troller General of the United States shall submit to Con3 gress a biennial report on the partnership agreements en4 tered into under the program. 

5 (g) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Sec6 retary shall begin implementing the program under this 

7 section by not later than 180 days after the date of the 

8 enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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