24–526 

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 109–305 

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE FUNCTIONS 

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES FOR THE 

FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2006, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

NOVEMBER 18 (legislative day, NOVEMBER 17), 2005.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. WALSH, from the Committee of Conference, 

submitted the following 

CONFERENCE REPORT 

[To accompany H.R. 2528] 

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 

two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 

2528) ‘‘making appropriations for military quality of life functions 

of the Department of Defense, military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 

ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes’’, having met, 

after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do 

recommend to their respective Houses as follows: 

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate to the text, and agree to the same with an 

amendment, as follows: 

In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said amendment, 

insert: 

That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the 

Treasury not otherwise appropriated for military quality of life 

functions of the Department of Defense, military construction, the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies, for the fiscal 

year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes, namely: 

TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 

temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by law, 

including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other perVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Nov 22, 2005 Jkt 024526 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\HR305.XXX HR305
2 

sonal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and 

for construction and operation of facilities in support of the functions of the Commander in Chief, $1,775,260,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That of this amount, not 

to exceed $170,021,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, and host nation support, as 

authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that 

additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the 

determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of 

the funds provided, $50,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2007, shall be for overhead cover systems to support force 

protection activities in Iraq: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Army’’ under Public Law 

107–249, $3,046,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of 

the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Army’’ under 

Public Law 108–324, $16,700,000 are hereby rescinded. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 

temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, facilities, 

and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, $1,157,141,000, to remain available 

until September 30, 2010: Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $34,893,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 

architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the 

Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for 

‘‘Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps’’ under Public Law 

108–132, $5,767,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of 

the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps’’ under Public Law 108–324, $44,270,000 are hereby rescinded. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 

temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized by 

law, $1,288,530,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: 

Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $95,537,000 shall be 

available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer 

services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 

and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided 

further, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, 

Air Force’’ under Public Law 108–11, $13,000,000 are hereby reVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Nov 22, 2005 Jkt 024526 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\HR305.XXX HR305
3 

scinded: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’ under Public Law 108–132, 

$6,600,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of the 

funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’ under 

Public Law 108–324, $9,500,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Air 

Force’’ under Public Law 109–13, $46,500,000 are hereby rescinded. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER AND RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 

temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and 

real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments), as currently authorized 

by law, $1,008,855,000, to remain available until September 30, 

2010: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation as may be 

determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such 

appropriations of the Department of Defense available for military 

construction or family housing as the Secretary may designate, to 

be merged with and to be available for the same purposes, and for 

the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated, not to 

exceed $136,406,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, 

and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless 

the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are 

necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the 

reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated 

for ‘‘Military Construction, Defense-Wide’’ under Public Law 108–

324, $20,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 

conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 

Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by 

chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $523,151,000, to remain available until 

September 30, 2010. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 

conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 

Air National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by 

chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $316,117,000, to remain available until 

September 30, 2010: Provided, That of the funds appropriated for 

‘‘Military Construction, Air National Guard’’ under Public Law 

108–324, $13,700,000 are hereby rescinded. 

4 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 

conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 

Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 

States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 

$152,569,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVAL RESERVE

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 

conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by 

chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $46,864,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Naval Reserve’’ under Public Law 108–132, 

$5,368,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of the 

funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, Naval Reserve’’ under Public Law 108–324, $11,192,000 are hereby rescinded. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 

conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 

Air Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 

States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 

$105,883,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Military Construction, 

Air Force Reserve’’ under Public Law 108–324, $13,815,000 are 

hereby rescinded. 

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

For the United States share of the cost of the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization 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 North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $206,858,000, to remain 

available until expended: Provided, That of the funds appropriated 

for ‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program’’ under Public Law 108–324, $30,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

For expenses of family housing for the Army for construction, 

including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, 

5 

and alteration, as authorized by law, $549,636,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Family Housing Construction, Army’’ under Public Law 

108–324, $16,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY

For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation and 

maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, 

principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $803,993,000. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps 

for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 

$218,942,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY AND

MARINE CORPS

For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps 

for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, 

minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance 

premiums, as authorized by law, $588,660,000. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $1,101,887,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That of the 

funds appropriated for ‘‘Family Housing Construciton, Air Force’’

under Public Law 107–249, $7,700,000 are hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Family Housing 

Construction, Air Force’’ under Public Law 108–132, $4,500,000 are 

hereby rescinded: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated 

for ‘‘Family Housing Construction, Air Force’’ under Public Law 

108–324, $31,700,000 are hereby rescinded. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE

For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for operation 

and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as 

authorized by law, $766,939,000. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

For expenses of family housing for the activities and agencies 

of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments) 

for operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor construction, as 

authorized by law, $46,391,000. 

6 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement 

Fund, $2,500,000, to remain available until expended, for family 

housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, 

United States Code, providing alternative means of acquiring and 

improving military family housing and supporting facilities. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT 1990 

For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990, established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Defense Base 

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

$254,827,000, to remain available until expended. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT 2005 

For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005, established by section 2906A(a)(1) of the Defense Base 

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

$1,504,466,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 

these funds may not be obligated or expended until the Secretary of 

Defense submits to the congressional defense committees and receives approval of a report describing the specific programs, 

projects, and activities for which such funds are to be obligated. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. None of the funds made available in this title shall 

be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for 

construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed 

within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons therefor. 

SEC. 102. Funds made available in this title for construction 

shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehicles. 

SEC. 103. Funds made available in this title for construction 

may be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration, 

Department of Transportation, for the construction of access roads 

as authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States Code, when 

projects authorized therein are certified as important to the national 

defense by the Secretary of Defense. 

SEC. 104. None of the funds made available in this title may 

be used to begin construction of new bases in the United States for 

which specific appropriations have not been made. 

SEC. 105. None of the funds made available in this title shall 

be used for purchase of land or land easements in excess of 100 percent of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or 

the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except: (1) where there 

is a determination of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General; (3) where the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4) as 

otherwise determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public 

interest. 

SEC. 106. None of the funds made available in this title shall 

be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site preparation; or (3) 

install utilities for any family housing, except housing for which 

7 

funds have been made available in annual Acts making appropriations for military construction. 

SEC. 107. None of the funds made available in this title for 

minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity 

from one base or installation to another, without prior notification 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

SEC. 108. None of the funds made available in this title may 

be used for the procurement of steel for any construction project or 

activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such steel 

procurement. 

SEC. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of Defense for military construction or family housing during the current 

fiscal year may be used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 

SEC. 110. None of the funds made available in this title may 

be used to initiate a new installation overseas without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

SEC. 111. None of the funds made available in this title may 

be obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated by the 

Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in 

Japan, in any North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country, 

or in countries bordering the Arabian Sea, unless such contracts are 

awarded to United States firms or United States firms in joint venture with host nation firms. 

SEC. 112. None of the funds made available in this title for 

military construction in the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Sea, may be used to award any contract estimated by the Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided, That this section shall not be applicable to contract awards for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid of 

a United States contractor exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater than 20 percent: Provided 

further, That this section shall not apply to contract awards for 

military construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor. 

SEC. 113. The Secretary of Defense is to inform the appropriate 

committees of both Houses of Congress, including the Committees on 

Appropriations, of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving United States personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 

SEC. 114. Not more than 20 percent of the funds made available 

in this title which are limited for obligation during the current fiscal year shall be obligated during the last two months of the fiscal 

year. 

(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 115. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for 

construction in prior years shall be available for construction authorized for each such military department by the authorizations enacted into law during the current session of Congress. 

8 

SEC. 116. For military construction or family housing projects 

that are being completed with funds otherwise expired or lapsed for 

obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used to pay the cost of 

associated supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design 

on those projects and on subsequent claims, if any. 

SEC. 117. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 

funds made available to a military department or defense agency 

for the construction of military projects may be obligated for a military construction project or contract, or for any portion of such a 

project or contract, at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal 

year after the fiscal year for which funds for such project were made 

available, if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated 

from funds available for military construction projects; and (2) do 

not exceed the amount appropriated for such project, plus any 

amount by which the cost of such project is increased pursuant to 

law. 

SEC. 118. The Secretary of Defense is to provide the Committees 

on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress with an annual report by February 15, containing details of the specific actions proposed to be taken by the Department of Defense during the current 

fiscal year to encourage other member nations of the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization, Japan, Korea, and United States allies bordering the Arabian Sea to assume a greater share of the common 

defense burden of such nations and the United States. 

(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 119. In addition to any other transfer authority available 

to the Department of Defense, proceeds deposited to the Department 

of Defense Base Closure Account established by section 207(a)(1) of 

the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (10 U.S.C. 2687 note) pursuant to section 

207(a)(2)(C) of such Act, may be transferred to the account established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), to be merged with, and 

to be available for the same purposes and the same time period as 

that account. 

(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 120. Subject to 30 days prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, such additional 

amounts as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be 

transferred to: (1) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction in 

‘‘Family Housing’’ accounts, to be merged with and to be available 

for the same purposes and for the same period of time as amounts 

appropriated directly to the Fund; or (2) the Department of Defense 

Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from 

amounts appropriated for construction of military unaccompanied 

housing in ‘‘Military Construction’’ accounts, to be merged with and 

to be available for the same purposes and for the same period of 

time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided, That 

appropriations made available to the Funds shall be available to 

cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan guarantees issued by the 

Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV 

9 

of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, 

military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 

SEC. 121. None of the funds made available in this title may 

be obligated for Partnership for Peace Programs in the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. 

SEC. 122. (a) Not later than 60 days before issuing any solicitation for a contract with the private sector for military family housing the Secretary of the military department concerned shall submit 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the 

notice described in subsection (b). 

(b)(1) A notice referred to in subsection (a) is a notice of any 

guarantee (including the making of mortgage or rental payments) 

proposed to be made by the Secretary to the private party under the 

contract involved in the event of— (A) the closure or realignment of the installation for which 

housing is provided under the contract; 

(B) a reduction in force of units stationed at such installation; or 

(C) the extended deployment overseas of units stationed at 

such installation. 

(2) Each notice under this subsection shall specify the nature of 

the guarantee involved and assess the extent and likelihood, if any, 

of the liability of the Federal Government with respect to the guarantee. 

(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 123. In addition to any other transfer authority available 

to the Department of Defense, amounts may be transferred from the 

account established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), to the fund 

established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program. Any 

amounts transferred shall be merged with and be available for the 

same purposes and for the same time period as the fund to which 

transferred. 

SEC. 124. Notwithstanding this or any other provision of law, 

funds made available in this title for operation and maintenance of 

family housing shall be the exclusive source of funds for repair and 

maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag 

officer quarters: Provided, That not more than $35,000 per unit may 

be spent annually for the maintenance and repair of any general or 

flag officer quarters without 30 days prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, except that 

an after-the-fact notification shall be submitted if the limitation is 

exceeded solely due to costs associated with environmental remediation that could not be reasonably anticipated at the time of the 

budget submission: Provided further, That the Under Secretary of 

Defense (Comptroller) is to report annually to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance expenditures for each individual general or flag officer 

quarters for the prior fiscal year. 

SEC. 125. None of the funds made available in this title under 

the heading ‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security InvestVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Nov 22, 2005 Jkt 024526 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\HR305.XXX HR305
10 

ment Program’’, and no funds appropriated for any fiscal year before fiscal year 2006 for that program that remain available for obligation, may be obligated or expended for the conduct of studies of 

missile defense. 

SEC. 126. Whenever the Secretary of Defense or any other official of the Department of Defense is requested by the subcommittee 

on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives or the subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of 

the Senate to respond to a question or inquiry submitted by the 

chairman or another member of that subcommittee pursuant to a 

subcommittee hearing or other activity, the Secretary (or other official) shall respond to the request, in writing, within 21 days of the 

date on which the request is transmitted to the Secretary (or other 

official). 

SEC. 127. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement 

Account established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of title 10, 

United States Code, are appropriated and shall be available until 

expended for the purposes specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section. 

(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 128. None of the funds made available in this title, or in 

any Act making appropriations for military construction which remain available for obligation, may be obligated or expended to carry 

out a military construction, land acquisition, or family housing 

project at or for a military installation approved for closure, or at 

a military installation for the purposes of supporting a function that 

has been approved for realignment to another installation, in 2005 

under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part 

A of title XXIX of Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note), unless 

such a project at a military installation approved for realignment 

will support a new mission or function that is planned for that installation, or unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that the cost 

to the United States of carrying out such project would be less than 

the cost to the United States of cancelling such project, or if the 

project is at an active component base that shall be established as 

an enclave or in the case of projects having multi-agency use, that 

another Government agency has indicated it will assume ownership 

of the completed project. The Secretary of Defense may not transfer 

funds made available as a result of this limitation from any military construction project, land acquisition, or family housing project 

to another account or use such funds for another purpose or project 

without the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress. 

SEC. 129. (a) Of the amount in the Department of Defense Base 

Closure Account 1990 under section 2906(a)(1) of the Defense Base 

Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of Public 

Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note) that is derived from the disposal of Department of the Navy property under that Act, not less 

than $300,000,000 shall be available exclusively to the Department 

of the Navy for the costs of environmental restoration and property 

11 

management and disposal of property at installations of the Department of the Navy closed or realigned under that Act. 

(b) The amount available under subsection (a) shall remain 

available for the costs specified in that subsection until expended. 

(c) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report containing a 

plan for the use of the funds made available under subsection (a) 

for environmental restoration, and for property management and 

disposal, at covered Navy installations, including specific sites and 

work to be accomplished at those sites. None of the funds made 

available under subsection (a) shall be obligated until both of such 

committees approve such report or the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date such committees receive such report, 

whichever occurs earlier. 

SEC. 130. Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report containing a housing plan for Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as 

outlined in the Statement of Managers accompanying the Conference report for H.R. 2528 of the 109th Congress. None of the 

funds made available in this title shall be used for the construction 

of family housing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, until both 

of such committees approve such report or the expiration of the 30- 

day period beginning on the date such committees receive such report, whichever occurs earlier. 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as authorized 

by law (38 U.S.C. 107, chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61); pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by law (38 

U.S.C. chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 92 Stat. 2508); and burial 

benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors, emergency and other officers’ retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and 

certificates, payment of premiums due on commercial life insurance 

policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV of the 

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 540 et seq.) and for 

other benefits as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107, 1312, 1977, and 

2106, chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 43 Stat. 122, 123; 45 Stat. 

735; 76 Stat. 1198), $33,897,787,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $23,491,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be reimbursed to ‘‘General operating expenses’’ and ‘‘Medical administration’’ for necessary expenses in implementing the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of 

title 38 United States Code, the funding source for which is specifically provided as the ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’ appropriation: 

Provided further, That such sums as may be earned on an actual 

12 

qualifying patient basis, shall be reimbursed to ‘‘Medical care collections fund’’ to augment the funding of individual medical facilities 

for nursing home care provided to pensioners as authorized. 

READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits to 

or on behalf of veterans as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. chapters 

21, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 51, 53, 55, and 61), $3,309,234,000, to 

remain available until expended: Provided, That expenses for rehabilitation program services and assistance which the Secretary is 

authorized to provide under section 3104(a) of title 38 United States 

Code, other than under subsection (a)(1), (2), (5), and (11) of that 

section, shall be charged to this account. 

VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

For military and naval insurance, national service life insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled veterans insurance, 

and veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by title 38, 

United States Code, chapter 19; 70 Stat. 887; 72 Stat. 487, 

$45,907,000, to remain available until expended. 

VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as may 

be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by chapter 37 

of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including 

the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 

of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That 

during fiscal year 2006, within the resources available, not to exceed 

$500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans are authorized for specially adapted housing loans. 

In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct 

and guaranteed loan programs, $153,575,000, which may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General operating 

expenses’’. 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For the cost of direct loans, $53,000, as authorized by chapter 

31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, 

That funds made available under this heading are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not 

to exceed $4,242,000. 

In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out 

the direct loan program, $305,000, which may be transferred to and 

merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General operating expenses’’. 

13 

NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United 

States Code, $580,000, which may be transferred to and merged 

with the appropriation for ‘‘General operating expenses’’: Provided, 

That no new loans in excess of $30,000,000 may be made in fiscal 

year 2006. 

GUARANTEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS

VETERANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

For the administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed 

transitional housing loan program authorized by subchapter VI of 

chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, not to exceed $750,000 

of the amounts appropriated by this Act for ‘‘General operating expenses’’ and ‘‘Medical administration’’ may be expended. 

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

MEDICAL SERVICES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in section 

1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and 

including medical supplies and equipment and salaries and expenses of health-care employees hired under title 38, United States 

Code, and aid to State homes as authorized by section 1741 of title 

38, United States Code; $22,547,141,000, plus reimbursements, of 

which not less than $2,200,000,000 shall be expended for specialty 

mental health care: Provided, That $1,225,000,000 of the amount 

provided under this heading is designated by the Congress as an 

emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95 

(109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 

year 2006: Provided further, That such $1,225,000,000 shall be 

available only if an official budget request is transmitted by the 

President to the Congress that revises the President’s budget amendment of July 14, 2005, to designate the entire $1,225,000,000 as an 

emergency requirement: Provided further, That of the funds made 

available under this heading, not to exceed $1,100,000,000 shall be 

available until September 30, 2007: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs shall establish a priority for treatment for veterans who are 

service-connected disabled, lower income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provision of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment priority 

groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any 

other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs from Veterans Health 

Administration facilities to enrolled veterans with privately written 

prescriptions based on requirements established by the Secretary: 

14 

Provided further, That the implementation of the program described 

in the previous proviso shall incur no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That for the Department 

of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 721 of Public Law 107–314, 

a minimum of $15,000,000, to remain available until expended, for 

any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States 

Code. 

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION

For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical, 

hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in 

support of capital policy activities; uniforms or allowances therefor, 

as authorized by sections 5901–5902 of title 5, United States Code; 

and administrative and legal expenses of the Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as authorized 

under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the Federal 

Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.); $2,858,442,000, 

plus reimbursements, of which $250,000,000 shall be available until 

September 30, 2007. 

MEDICAL FACILITIES

For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of 

hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities and other necessary facilities for the Veterans Health Administration; for administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real property acquisition and disposition, construction and 

renovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the 

Department; for oversight, engineering and architectural activities 

not charged to project costs; for repairing, altering, improving or 

providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise provided for, either by 

contract or by the hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry and food services, 

$3,297,669,000, plus reimbursements, of which $250,000,000 shall 

be available until September 30, 2007. 

MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical and 

prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter 73 of 

title 38, United States Code, to remain available until September 

30, 2007, $412,000,000, plus reimbursements, of which not less than 

$15,000,000 shall be used for Gulf War Illness research. 

DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES

For necessary operating expenses of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including administrative expenses in support of Department-Wide capital planning, management and policy activities, uniforms or allowances therefor; not to 

exceed $25,000 for official reception and representation expenses; 

hire of passenger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General 

15 

Services Administration for security guard services, and the Department of Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, 

$1,410,520,000: Provided, That expenses for services and assistance 

authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 

3104(a) of title 38, United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are necessary to enable entitled veterans: 

(1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment; or (2) to achieve maximum 

independence in daily living, shall be charged to this account: Provided further, That the Veterans Benefits Administration shall be 

funded at not less than $1,053,938,000: Provided further, That of 

the funds made available under this heading, not to exceed 

$70,000,000 shall be available for obligation until September 30, 

2007: Provided further, That from the funds made available under 

this heading, the Veterans Benefits Administration may purchase 

up to two passenger motor vehicles for use in operations of that Administration in Manila, Philippines. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

For necessary expenses for information technology systems and 

telecommunications support, including developmental information 

systems and operational information systems; for the capital asset 

acquisition of information technology systems, including management and related contractual costs of said acquisitions, including 

contractual costs associated with operations authorized by chapter 

3109 of title 5, United States Code, $1,213,820,000, to remain available until September 30, 2007: Provided, That none of these funds 

may be obligated until the Department of Veterans Affairs submits 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, 

and such Committees approve, a plan for expenditure that: (1) meets 

the capital planning and investment control review requirements established by the Office of Management and Budget; (2) complies 

with the Department of Veterans Affairs enterprise architecture; (3) 

conforms with an established enterprise life cycle methodology; and 

(4) complies with the acquisition rules, requirements, guidelines, 

and systems acquisition management practices of the Federal Government: Provided further, That within 30 days of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a reprogramming 

base letter which provides, by project, the costs included in this appropriation. 

NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Administration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for use in 

cemeterial operations; and hire of passenger motor vehicles, 

$156,447,000: Provided, That of the funds made available under 

this heading, not to exceed $7,800,000 shall be available until September 30, 2007. 

16 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, 

$70,174,000, to remain available until September 30, 2007. 

CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

For constructing, altering, extending and improving any of the 

facilities including parking projects under the jurisdiction or for the 

use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the purposes 

set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406, 8102, 8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 

8110, and 8122 of title 38, United States Code, including planning, 

architectural and engineering services, construction management 

services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated 

with equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of 

claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project 

is more than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 

38, United States Code, or where funds for a project were made 

available in a previous major project appropriation, $607,100,000, 

to remain available until expended, of which $532,010,000 shall be 

for Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) activities; and of which $2,500,000 shall be to make reimbursements 

as provided in section 13 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (41 

U.S.C. 612) for claims paid for contract disputes: Provided, That except for advance planning activities, including needs assessments 

which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other capital 

asset management related activities, such as portfolio development 

and management activities, and investment strategy studies funded 

through the advance planning fund and the planning and design 

activities funded through the design fund and CARES funds, including needs assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments, none of the funds appropriated under this heading shall 

be used for any project which has not been approved by the Congress in the budgetary process: Provided further, That funds provided in this appropriation for fiscal year 2006, for each approved 

project (except those for CARES activities referenced above) shall be 

obligated: (1) by the awarding of a construction documents contract 

by September 30, 2006; and (2) by the awarding of a construction 

contract by September 30, 2007: Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly report in writing to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress any approved major construction project in which obligations are not incurred within the time limitations established above: Provided further, That none of the funds in this or any other Act may be used 

to reduce the mission, services or infrastructure, including land, of 

the 18 facilities on the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced 

Services (CARES) list requiring further study as specified by the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs without prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the 

facilities including parking projects under the jurisdiction or for the 

use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including planning and 

17 

assessments of needs which may lead to capital investments, architectural and engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period 

services costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under 

the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm 

drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, or for any 

of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406, 8102, 8103, 

8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, 8122, and 8162 of title 38, United States 

Code, where the estimated cost of a project is equal to or less than 

the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United 

States Code, $198,937,000, to remain available until expended, 

along with unobligated balances of previous ‘‘Construction, minor 

projects’’ appropriations which are hereby made available for any 

project where the estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount 

set forth in such section, of which $155,000,000 shall be for Capital 

Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) activities: Provided, That funds in this account shall be available for: (1) repairs 

to any of the nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the 

use of the Department which are necessary because of loss or damage caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to minimize further loss by 

such causes. 

GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State nursing 

home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel, modify or alter existing hospital, nursing home and domiciliary facilities in State 

homes, for furnishing care to veterans as authorized by sections 

8131–8137 of title 38, United States Code, $85,000,000, to remain 

available until expended. 

GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES

For grants to aid States in establishing, expanding, or improving State veterans cemeteries as authorized by section 2408 of title 

38, United States Code, $32,000,000, to remain available until expended. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2006 for ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’, and ‘‘Veterans insurance and indemnities’’ may be transferred as necessary to any 

other of the mentioned appropriations: Provided, That before a 

transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is 

issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. 

SEC. 202. Appropriations available in this title for salaries and 

expenses shall be available for services authorized by section 3109 

of title 5, United States Code, hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease 

of a facility or land or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, 

as authorized by sections 5901–5902 of title 5, United States Code. 

SEC. 203. No appropriations in this title (except the appropriations for ‘‘Construction, major projects’’, and ‘‘Construction, minor 

18 

projects’’) shall be available for the purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home. 

SEC. 204. No appropriations in this title shall be available for 

hospitalization or examination of any persons (except beneficiaries 

entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving such treatment under sections 7901–7904 of title 5, 

United States Code or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of cost is made to the ‘‘Medical services’’ account at such 

rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

SEC. 205. Appropriations available in this title for ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’, and ‘‘Veterans insurance and indemnities’’ shall be available for payment of prior year 

accrued obligations required to be recorded by law against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 

2005. 

SEC. 206. Appropriations available in this title shall be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 3334, and 

3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, except that if such obligations are from trust fund accounts they shall be payable from ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’. 

SEC. 207. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 

fiscal year 2006, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from the 

National Service Life Insurance Fund (38 U.S.C. 1920), the Veterans’ Special Life Insurance Fund (38 U.S.C. 1923), and the 

United States Government Life Insurance Fund (38 U.S.C. 1955), 

reimburse the ‘‘General operating expenses’’ account for the cost of 

administration of the insurance programs financed through those 

accounts: Provided, That reimbursement shall be made only from 

the surplus earnings accumulated in an insurance program in fiscal 

year 2006 that are available for dividends in that program after 

claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves have 

been set aside: Provided further, That if the cost of administration 

of an insurance program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement shall be made only to 

the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 2006 

which is properly allocable to the provision of each insurance program and to the provision of any total disability income insurance 

included in such insurance program. 

SEC. 208. The paragraph under the heading ‘‘Franchise Fund’’

in title I of Public Law 104–204 (31 U.S.C. 501 note) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘franchise fund pilot, as authorized by section 403 of Public Law 103–356, to be available as provided in 

such section’’ and inserting ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs 

franchise fund, to be available without fiscal year limitation’’; 

and 

(2) by striking the final proviso. 

SEC. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds 

to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services, 

may be obligated during the fiscal year in which the proceeds are 

received. 

19 

SEC. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for salaries and 

other administrative expenses shall also be available to reimburse 

the Office of Resolution Management and the Office of Employment 

Discrimination Complaint Adjudication for all services provided at 

rates which will recover actual costs but not exceed $29,758,000 for 

the Office of Resolution Management and $3,059,000 for the Office 

of Employment and Discrimination Complaint Adjudication: Provided, That payments may be made in advance for services to be 

furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further, That amounts 

received shall be credited to ‘‘General operating expenses’’ for use by 

the office that provided the service. 

SEC. 211. No appropriations in this title shall be available to 

enter into any new lease of real property if the estimated annual 

rental is more than $300,000 unless the Secretary submits a report 

which the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

approve within 30 days following the date on which the report is received. 

SEC. 212. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall 

be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United 

States Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of such title, unless that person has disclosed to the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement information for 

purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That the Secretary 

may recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the United 

States, the reasonable charges for such care or services from any 

person who does not make such disclosure as required: Provided 

further, That any amounts so recovered for care or services provided 

in a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the Secretary during the 

fiscal year in which amounts are received. 

SEC. 213. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, at the 

discretion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, proceeds or revenues 

derived from enhanced-use leasing activities (including disposal) 

may be deposited into the ‘‘Construction, major projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, minor projects’’ accounts and be used for construction (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations and improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for the use 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums as realized are in 

addition to the amount provided for in ‘‘Construction, major 

projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, minor projects’’. 

SEC. 214. Amounts made available under ‘‘Medical services’’ are 

available—

(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and 

equipment; and 

(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other expenses 

incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries receiving 

care in the Department. 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 215. That such sums as may be deposited to the Medical 

Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United 

States Code, may be transferred to ‘‘Medical services’’, to remain 

available until expended for the purposes of this account. 

20 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 216. Amounts made available for fiscal year 2006 under 

the ‘‘Medical services’’, ‘‘Medical administration’’, and ‘‘Medical facilities’’ accounts may be transferred among the accounts to the extent necessary to implement the restructuring of the Veterans Health 

Administration accounts: Provided, That before a transfer may take 

place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 

to make the transfer and an approval is issued. 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 217. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2006 for the Veterans Benefits Administration made available under the heading 

‘‘General operating expenses’’ may be transferred to the ‘‘Veterans 

Housing Benefit Program Fund Program Account’’ for the purpose 

of providing funds for the nationwide property management contract if the administrative costs of such contract exceed $8,800,000 

in the fiscal year. 

SEC. 218. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow veterans eligible under existing Department of Veterans Affairs medical care requirements and 

who reside in Alaska to obtain medical care services from medical 

facilities supported by the Indian Health Service or tribal organizations. The Secretary shall: (1) limit the application of this provision 

to rural Alaskan veterans in areas where an existing Department of 

Veterans Affairs facility or Veterans Affairs-contracted service is unavailable; (2) require participating veterans and facilities to comply 

with all appropriate rules and regulations, as established by the 

Secretary; (3) require this provision to be consistent with Capital 

Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services activities; and (4) result 

in no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs or the 

Indian Health Service. 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 219. That such sums as may be deposited to the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 

8118 of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ‘‘Construction, major projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, minor projects’’ accounts, to remain available until expended for the purposes of these 

accounts. 

SEC. 220. None of the funds available to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in this Act or any other Act, may be used to replace 

the current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Networks select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and 

equipment. 

SEC. 221. None of the funds made available in this Act may be 

used to implement any policy prohibiting the Directors of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks from conducting outreach or 

marketing to enroll new veterans within their respective Networks. 

SEC. 222. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly report on the financial status of the Veterans Health Administration. 

21 

SEC. 223. None of the funds made available in this Act or any 

other Act may be used— (1) with respect to the 2,100 compensation cases identified 

in the Scope and Methodology description in VA Inspector General Report No. 05–00765–137 as having been reviewed by the 

Office of Inspector General— (A) to retroactively revoke or reduce a veteran’s disability compensation payments for post traumatic stress 

disorder based on a finding that the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to collect justifying documentation unless the award of compensation was the direct result of 

fraud by the applicant; or 

(B) to prospectively revoke or reduce a veteran’s disability compensation payments for post traumatic stress 

disorder, based on a finding that the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to collect justifying documentation, effective before the date on which the veteran’s time to exhaust all available administrative and judicial appeals has 

expired or such administrative and judicial appeals are finally decided; or 

(2) for the implementation of Recommendation 3 of VA Inspector General Report No. 05–00765–137 or any related review 

and investigation of post traumatic stress, individual 

unemployability, and schedular 100 percent ratings cases, until 

the Department of Veterans Affairs reports to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on its plans for implementing this recommendation, and outlines the staffing and 

funding requirements. 

SEC. 224. CLINICAL TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS. (a) FINDINGS.—

Congress finds that—

(1) the Iraq War Clinician Guide has tremendous value; 

and 

(2) the Secretary of Defense and the National Center on 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should continue to work together to ensure that the mental health care needs of 

servicemembers and veterans are met. 

(b) COLLABORATION.—The National Center on Post Traumatic 

Stress Disorder shall collaborate with the Secretary of Defense— (1) to enhance the clinical skills of military clinicians 

through training, treatment protocols, web-based interventions, 

and the development of evidence-based interventions; and 

(2) to promote pre-deployment resilience and post-deployment readjustment among servicemembers serving in Operation 

Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. 

(c) TRAINING.—The National Center on Post Traumatic Stress 

Disorder shall work with the Secretary of Defense to ensure that clinicians in the Department of Defense are provided with the training 

and protocols developed pursuant to subsection (b)(1). 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 225. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Medical administration’’, ‘‘Medical services’’, ‘‘Medical facilities’’, ‘‘General operating expenses’’, ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’ and ‘‘Office of 

Inspector General’’ accounts for fiscal year 2006, may be transferred 

to or from the ‘‘Information technology systems’’ account: Provided, 

22 

That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued. 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 226. For purposes of perfecting the funding sources of the 

Department of Veterans Affairs’ new ‘‘Information technology systems’’ account, funds made available for fiscal year 2006 may be 

transferred from the ‘‘General operating expenses’’, ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’, and ‘‘Office of Inspector General’’ accounts to 

the ‘‘Medical administration’’ account: Provided, That before a 

transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is 

issued. 

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

SEC. 227. Amounts made available for the ‘‘Information technology systems’’ account may be transferred between projects: Provided, That no project may be increased or decreased by more than 

$1,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to the Committees 

on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 

the transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. 

SEC. 228. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an 

information campaign in States with an average annual disability 

compensation payment of less than $7,300 (according to the report 

issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector 

General on May 19, 2005), to inform all veterans receiving disability 

compensation, by direct mail, of the history of below average disability compensation payments to veterans in such States, and to 

provide all veterans in each such State, through broadcast or print 

advertising, with the aforementioned historical information and instructions for submitting new claims and requesting review of past 

disability claims and ratings. 

SEC. 229. Of the funds available to the Department of Veterans 

Affairs in this Act or any other Act, no more than $50,000,000 shall 

be available for the HealtheVetVista project, for fiscal year 2006: 

Provided, That none of the funds made available for the 

HealtheVetVista project may be obligated until the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress approve a financial expenditure plan for the entire project. 

SEC. 230. The authority provided by section 2011 of title 38, 

United States Code, shall continue in effect through September 30, 

2006. 

23 

TITLE III 

RELATED AGENCIES 

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition of 

land or interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and repair 

of uniforms for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments 

outside of the United States and its territories and possessions; rent 

of office and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one for replacement only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed 

$7,500 for official reception and representation expenses; and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when required by 

law of such countries, $36,250,000, to remain available until expended. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the Amer- ican Battle Monuments Commission, $15,250,000, to remain available until expended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 

36, United States Code. 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses for the operation of the United States 

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by sections 

7251–7298 of title 38, United States Code, $18,795,000, of which $1,260,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing financial 

assistance as described, and in accordance with the process and reporting procedures set forth, under this heading in Public Law 102– 229. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses, as authorized by law, for maintenance, 

operation, and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and 

Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, including the purchase of two passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, and not 

to exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation expenses, 

$29,050,000, to remain available until expended. In addition, such 

sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from the Lease of Department of Defense 

Real Property for Defense Agencies account. 

ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home 

to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home—

Washington, District of Columbia and the Armed Forces Retirement 

Home—Gulfport, Mississippi, to be paid from funds available in the 

Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $58,281,000, of which 

24 

$1,248,000 shall remain available until expended for construction 

and renovation of the physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia and the Armed 

Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mississippi. 

TITLE IV 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

SEC. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act 

shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year 

unless expressly so provided herein. 

SEC. 402. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006 

pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be absorbed within 

the levels appropriated in this Act. 

SEC. 403. None of the funds made available in this Act may be 

used for any program, project, or activity, when it is made known 

to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are made available that the program, project, or activity is not in compliance with 

any Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 

SEC. 404. No part of any funds appropriated in this Act shall 

be used by an agency of the executive branch, other than for normal 

and recognized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or 

propaganda purposes, and for the preparation, distribution or use 

of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, radio, television or film 

presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before 

Congress, except in presentation to Congress itself. 

SEC. 405. All departments and agencies funded under this Act 

are encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of ‘‘E-Commerce’’ technologies 

and procedures in the conduct of their business practices and public 

service activities. 

SEC. 406. None of the funds made available in this Act may be 

transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the 

United States Government except pursuant to a transfer made by, 

or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriations Act. 

SEC. 407. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and notifications 

required by this Act shall be submitted to the Subcommittee on 

Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 

of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 

and the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of 

the Senate. 

SEC. 408. (a) Section 613 of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, is amended 

by striking ‘‘the United States-China Economic and Security Review 

Commission’’, and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘a grant for the Trade 

Lawyers Advisory Group’’. 

(b) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 

the date of enactment of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military Construction, Military 

Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006’’. 

And the Senate agree to the same. 

25 

That the Senate recede from its amendment to the title of the 

bill. 

JAMES T. WALSH, ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, ANNE M. NORTHUP, MICHAEL K. SIMPSON, ANDER CRENSHAW, C.W. BILL YOUNG, MARK STEVEN KIRK, DENNIS R. REHBERG, JOHN CARTER, JERRY LEWIS, 

CHET EDWARDS, 

SAM FARR, 

ALLEN BOYD, 

SANFORD D. BISHOP, Jr., 

DAVID E. PRICE, 

ROBERT E. CRAMER, Jr., 

DAVID R. OBEY, 

Managers on the Part of the House. 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, 

CONRAD BURNS, 

LARRY CRAIG, 

MIKE DEWINE, 

SAM BROWNBACK, 

WAYNE ALLARD, 

MITCH MCCONNELL, 

THAD COCHRAN, 

DIANNE FEINSTEIN, 

DANIEL K. INOUYE, 

TIM JOHNSON, 

MARY L. LANDRIEU, 

ROBERT C. BYRD, 

PATTY MURRAY, 

PATRICK LEAHY, 

Managers on the Part of the Senate. 

(27) 

JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF 

CONFERENCE 

The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the 

conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 

amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2528) making appropriations for military quality of life functions of the Department of 

Defense, military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, 

and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, 

and for other purposes, submit the following joint statement to the 

House of Representatives and the Senate in explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and recommended 

in the accompanying conference report. 

The Senate amended the House bill with two amendments. 

The Senate amendment to the text deleted the entire House bill 

after the enacting clause and inserted the Senate bill. The conference agreement includes a revised bill. 

The Senate amended the title of the House bill. The conference 

agreement adopts the title of the bill as proposed by the House. 

ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Matters Addressed by Only One Committee.—The language and 

allocations set forth in House Report 109–95 and Senate Report 

109–105 should be complied with unless specifically addressed to 

the contrary in the conference report and statement of the managers. Report language included by the House, which is not 

changed by the report of the Senate or the conference, and Senate 

report language, which is not changed by the conference is approved by the committee of conference. The statement of the managers, while repeating some report language for emphasis, does not 

intend to negate the language referred to above unless expressly 

provided herein. In cases where the House or the Senate have directed the submission of a report, such report is to be submitted 

to both Houses of Congress. 

Timely Submissions of Military Construction Reprogramming 

Requests.—The conferees regret that submissions of military construction reprogramming requests to Congress are often delayed. 

Such delays are of particular concern when projects carry bid expiration deadlines, which can lead to increased costs when those 

deadlines are not met. Therefore, the conferees direct the Comptroller of the Department of Defense to ensure reprogramming requests are processed expeditiously to allow Congress sufficient time 

to consider and act upon such requests. 

Impact of Natural Disasters on Military Construction Costs.— The conferees are aware that military construction costs have increased in the United States due to reduced contractor availability 

and increased competition, as well as increased prices for certain 

materials, as a result of recent natural disasters. The conferees are 

28 

additionally concerned that damage and reconstruction requirements caused by these natural disasters will seriously exacerbate 

this problem. Therefore, the conferees direct the Department of Defense to account for the potential increased cost to military construction projects in the fiscal year 2007 budget request. Further, 

the Assistant Secretary of each military department with responsibility for installations and the head of each Defense agency should 

certify that such costs have been taken into account upon the submission of the Administration’s fiscal year 2007 military construction budget request. 

Revisions to CENTCOM Master Plan.—The conferees have rescinded funds for the repair of an airfield at Karshi-Khanabad Air 

Base, Uzbekistan, because access to that base is no longer available 

to the United States. The conferees understand that revisions to 

the Central Command (CENTCOM) master plan, submitted to Congress in 2005, have already been made for Iraq, and the conferees 

believe that the loss of access rights in Uzbekistan will require further revisions to the plan. The conferees emphasize that it is the 

duty of CENTCOM to keep the congressional defense committees 

apprised of any changes to this plan and direct CENTCOM to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on changes made since its original submission no later than 

January 31, 2006. 

Submission of Defense-Wide Military Construction Future Years 

Defense Plan.—The conferees clarify that Military Construction, 

Defense-Wide is not exempt from the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) submission requirements of 10 U.S.C. 221. The conferees direct the Department of Defense to submit the FYDP for 

the Defense-Wide military construction budget with the fiscal year 

2007 request. 

Military Construction and Global Rebasing.—The conferees are 

aware that the Army spent approximately $71,400,000 of fiscal 

year 2005 operation and maintenance funds on the renovation of 

14 ‘‘rolling-pin’’ barracks at Fort Carson, Colorado, to accommodate 

soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which was restationed from Korea as part of the Department of Defense’s Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy (IGPBS). The Army 

indicated that the expected life cycle of these renovated barracks 

is 15–20 years and asserted that, at a cost of approximately 

$41,000 per soldier, renovated barracks are more cost-efficient than 

new construction, at a cost of approximately $71,000 per soldier. 

The conferees note that given the Department of Defense’s recapitalization goal of 67 years, the comparable cost of the renovated 

barracks is likely to be much higher. The Army, however, further 

indicated that the overriding factor was not cost efficiency, but expediency, which raises another concern of the conferees. Costs associated with IGPBS and the modularity initiative should not be 

funded solely through supplemental appropriations and 

reprogrammings, but rather should be considered through the regular authorization and appropriations process. The conferees therefore direct the Department of Defense to integrate IGPBS, and the 

Army’s modularity initiative, with the regular military construction 

program beginning with its fiscal year 2007 budget submission. 

29 

TITLE I 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

The conference agreement appropriates $1,775,260,000 for 

Military Construction, Army, instead of $1,652,552,000 as proposed 

by the House and $1,640,641,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement provides $170,021,000 for 

study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, and host 

nation support instead of $168,804,000 as proposed by the House 

and $179,343,000 as proposed by the Senate. The agreement also 

includes $50,000,000 for force protection activities in Iraq as proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement also rescinds $3,046,000 from Public 

Law 107–249 and $16,700,000 from Public Law 108–324. The conferees direct the Army to submit by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescissions of funds in this Act will be applied. 

This report shall list, by project, the amount of funds to be sourced 

to such rescissions. 

The conference agreement does not include language proposed 

by the Senate to designate funding for two projects. The agreement 

addresses this language in the attached detail table by State. The 

House bill contained no similar provision. 

Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, the conferees direct that $90,000 be made available for the planning and design of the land purchase, Main Gate, Yakima Training 

Center, Washington. 

Of the funds provided for minor construction in this account, the conferees direct that $1,100,000 be made available for the construction of a high explosive magazine at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Oklahoma. 

Of the funds provided for minor construction in this account, 

the conferees direct that $1,500,000 be made available for the construction of the first phase of a tactical operations center on Kwajalein Atoll, instead of dome housing as proposed by the Senate. 

However, the conferees continue to expect the Secretary of Defense 

to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress no later than December 1, 2005, detailing the 

timeline for the replacement of substandard housing on Kwajalein 

Atoll. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

The conference agreement appropriates $1,157,141,000 for 

Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps, instead of 

$1,109,177,000 as proposed by the House and $1,045,882,000 as 

proposed by the Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement provides $34,893,000 for study, planning, design, architect 

and engineer services instead of $36,029,000 as proposed by the 

House and $32,524,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

30 

The conference agreement rescinds $5,767,000 from Public Law 

108–132. The agreement also rescinds $44,270,000 from Public Law 

108–324, instead of $92,354,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 

House bill contained no similar provision. The conferees direct the 

Navy to submit by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescissions of funds in this Act will be applied. This report shall list, 

by project, the amount of funds to be sourced to such rescissions. 

North Island, California—Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, Homeport Ashore.—The conferees are very supportive of the Homeport 

Ashore program to provide unaccompanied housing for enlisted 

sailors when in port, and encourage the Navy to pursue this initiative as part of the bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) privatization 

pilot program. Although the conferees commend the Navy for seeking innovative solutions, including privatization, to expedite the 

construction of new BEQ units, they also note that the authorization, as contained in the fiscal year 2003 Defense Authorization 

Act, limits the Navy to three pilot projects. The North Island proposal is not among the projects earlier identified by the Navy as 

part of the pilot program, and is therefore not authorized under 

current law. Although the conferees have denied funding for the 

North Island project for this reason, they urge the Navy to proceed 

as expeditiously as possible with the projects currently authorized 

under the BEQ privatization pilot program so that Congress has a 

basis on which to evaluate the potential for expansion of the program in future years. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

The conference agreement appropriates $1,288,530,000 for 

Military Construction, Air Force, instead of $1,171,338,000 as proposed by the House and $1,209,128,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

Within this amount, the conference agreement provides 

$95,537,000 for study, planning, design, architect and engineer 

services instead of $91,733,000 as proposed by the House and 

$83,626,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The conference agreement rescinds $13,000,000 from Public 

Law 108–11, $6,600,000 from Public Law 108–132, and $9,500,000 

from Public Law 108–324. The agreement also rescinds $46,500,000 

from Public Law 109–13 for the runway repair project, including 

associated planning and design, at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, 

Uzbekistan. The conferees direct the Air Force to submit by March 

31, 2006 a report describing how the rescissions of funds in this Act 

will be applied. This report shall list, by project, the amount of 

funds to be sourced to such rescissions. 

The conference agreement does not include language proposed 

by the Senate to designate funding for two projects. The agreement 

addresses this language in the attached detail table by State. The 

House bill contained no similar provision. 

31 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

(INCLUDING RESCISSION AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement appropriates $1,008,855,000 for 

Military Construction, Defense-Wide, instead of $976,664,000 as 

proposed by the House and $1,072,165,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within this amount, the conference agreement provides 

$136,406,000 for study, planning, design, architect and engineer 

services instead of $107,285,000 as proposed by the House and 

$133,120,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The conference agreement also rescinds $20,000,000 from Public Law 108–324 due to unobligated balances in contingency construction. 

The conference agreement provides $50,000,000 for the Energy 

Conservation Improvement Program as proposed by the House, instead of $60,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The agreement 

does not provide funding for contingency construction due to the recurrence of carryover amounts. 

The conferees direct the National Security Agency to follow 

standard acquisition and design-review procedures on its fiscal 

year 2006 projects. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

The conference agreement appropriates $523,151,000 for Military Construction, Army National Guard, instead of $410,624,000 

as proposed by the House and $467,146,000 as proposed by the 

Senate. 

Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, 

the conferees direct that $186,000 be made available for the planning and design of the Combined Support Maintenance Shop, 

Searcy, Arkansas. 

Of the funds provided for minor construction in this account, 

the conferees direct the specified amounts be made available for 

the construction of the following facilities: Marana, Arizona—Fire 

Station, $1,499,000; Camp Murray, Washington—Homeland Security Multi-Functional Education Center, $1,424,000. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

The conference agreement appropriates $316,117,000 for Military Construction, Air National Guard, instead of $225,727,000 as 

proposed by the House and $279,156,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement also rescinds $13,700,000 from Public Law 108–324. The conferees direct the Air National Guard to 

submit by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescission 

of funds in this Act will be applied. This report shall list, by 

project, the amount of funds to be sourced to such rescission. 

Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, 

the conferees direct that the specified amounts be made available 

for the planning and design of the following facilities: New Castle 

County Airport, Delaware—Replacement C–130 Maintenance 

Hangar, $1,440,000; Duluth IAP, Minnesota—Addition to Joint 

32 

FAA/ANG Fire Station Facility, Phase 2, $700,000; March ARB, 

California—Replace Aircraft Maintenance Hangar and Shops, 

$960,000; Fresno Yosemite IAP, California—Replace Vehicle Maintenance Complex, $340,000. 

Of the funds provided for minor construction in this account, 

the conferees direct that $1,500,000 be made available for the construction of an arm and disarm apron at the end of runway 13 at 

Atlantic City IAP, New Jersey. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

The conference agreement appropriates $152,569,000 for Military Construction, Army Reserve, instead of $138,425,000 as proposed by the House and $136,077,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVAL RESERVE

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

The conference agreement appropriates $46,864,000 for Military Construction, Naval Reserve, instead of $45,226,000 as proposed by the House and $46,676,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The conference agreement also rescinds $5,368,000 from Public 

Law 108–132 and $11,192,000 from Public Law 108–324. The conferees direct the Naval Reserve to submit by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescissions of funds in this Act will be applied. This report shall list, by project, the amount of funds to be 

sourced to such rescissions. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

The conference agreement appropriates $105,883,000 for Military Construction, Air Force Reserve, instead of $110,847,000 as 

proposed by the House and $89,260,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The conference agreement also rescinds $13,815,000 from Public 

Law 108–324. The conferees direct the Air Force Reserve to submit 

by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescission of funds 

in this Act will be applied. This report shall list, by project, the 

amount of funds to be sourced to such rescission. 

Of the funds provided for planning and design in this account, 

the conferees direct that $207,000 be made available for the planning and design of the Addition/Alteration Aerial Port Facility, 

Homestead ARB, Florida. 

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION SECURITY INVESTMENT

PROGRAM

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

The conference agreement appropriates $206,858,000 for the 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program 

as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The conference 

agreement also includes a rescission of $30,000,000 from Public 

Law 108–324 due to the slow spendout rate of the program and the 

recurrence of carryover amounts. 

33 

FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW

Family Housing Reprogramming Requests.—The conferees note 

the language contained in House Report 109–95 regarding the applicability of reprogramming guidelines to family housing projects. 

The conferees feel strongly that these guidelines should continue to 

apply to family housing projects, including privatization projects, to 

enable adequate congressional oversight. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

The conference agreement appropriates $549,636,000 for Family Housing Construction, Army as proposed by both the House and 

the Senate. The conference agreement also rescinds $16,000,000 

from Public Law 108–324. The conferees direct the Army to submit 

by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescission of funds 

in this Act will be applied. This report shall list, by project, the 

amount of funds to be sourced to such rescission. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY

The conference agreement appropriates $803,993,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army as proposed by the 

House, instead of $812,993,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

The conference agreement appropriates $218,942,000 for Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY AND

MARINE CORPS

The conference agreement appropriates $588,660,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps 

as proposed by the House, instead of $593,660,000 as proposed by 

the Senate. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

The conference agreement appropriates $1,101,887,000 for Family Housing Construction, Air Force, instead of $1,236,220,000 

as proposed by the House and $1,142,622,000 as proposed by the 

Senate. The conference agreement also rescinds $7,700,000 from 

Public Law 107–249, $4,500,000 from Public Law 108–132, and 

$31,700,000 from Public Law 108–324. The conferees direct the Air 

Force to submit by March 31, 2006 a report describing how the rescissions of funds in this Act will be applied. This report shall list, 

by project, the amount of funds to be sourced to such rescissions. 

Adjustments to Air Force Family Housing Program.—The conferees note the progress made in the Air Force family housing privatization program, allowing the 2006 construction program to be 

adjusted without adversely affecting Air Force families. The privatVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Nov 22, 2005 Jkt 024526 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR305.XXX HR305
34 

ization program leverages private sector capital and expertise to 

build superior family housing at less direct cost to the Federal government. Progress in the privatization program has resulted in unanticipated savings most recently on projects at four installations: 

Peterson AFB, Colorado; the United States Air Force Academy, 

Colorado; Bolling AFB, District of Columbia; and F.E. Warren AFB, 

Wyoming. The conferees note that privatization at these four installations will now allow for the construction or renovation of 

3,156 homes, a 33 percent increase over the 2,371 units originally 

proposed in the budget request. 

Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.—The conferees note the current need for housing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and 

have provided funding for such purpose. The conferees urge the Air 

Force to consider all options to address the housing need at 

Spangdahlem Air Base. Specifically, build-to-lease housing has the 

potential to provide quality housing quickly to the families at 

Spangdahlem, while also providing a more cost-effective and flexible option to the United States. The conferees direct the Secretary 

of the Air Force to report on the housing plan at Spangdahlem. 

The report must include the following: 

Footprint requirements for family housing relative to land 

on hand at Spangdahlem and land purchase, if any, required. 

A complete cost-benefit analysis of all available housing 

options at Spangdahlem, including build-to-lease. The analysis 

should include, but not be limited to, the cost per housing unit 

of each option and evidence of efforts made to lower such cost. 

A certification that all options have been pursued with the 

German government, including, but not limited to, cost-sharing, road repair between housing units, and loan guarantees. 

As provided in the administrative provisions of this title, none 

of the funds appropriated for family housing at Spangdahlem may 

be obligated until the Secretary of the Air Force certifies to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress that the 

above-mentioned report has been completed and received the Committees’ response, or a period of 30 days has elapsed after receipt 

of the report. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE

The conference agreement appropriates $766,939,000 for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force as proposed by 

the Senate, instead of $755,319,000 as proposed by the House. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

The conference agreement does not appropriate funding for 

Family Housing Construction, Defense-Wide. The Administration’s 

budget request did not propose funding for this account in fiscal 

year 2006. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

The conference agreement appropriates $46,391,000 for Family 

Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate. 

35 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

The conference agreement appropriates $2,500,000 for the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

The conference agreement does not appropriate funding for 

Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide. The purpose of this account is to provide funds for the design and construction of full-scale chemical disposal facilities and associated projects 

to upgrade installation support facilities and infrastructure required to support the chemical demilitarization program. 

Because the Department of Defense requested no funding for 

this account for fiscal year 2006, the conferees have not provided 

funding. However, the conferees remain mindful that obligations 

exist to complete construction associated with the Department’s 

chemical demilitarization program, including the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program. The chemical demilitarization construction account within the Military Construction 

title of the relevant House and Senate appropriations bills is the 

appropriate account for funding construction associated with this 

program. The conferees expect the Department of Defense to include any requests for chemical demilitarization construction funding in future years, including for ACWA, to be included in the 

Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide account. 

BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE OVERVIEW

Past Years Military Construction Impacted by BRAC.—The 

conferees note that some projects appropriated in this Act or in 

previous Acts making appropriations for military construction may 

be rendered unnecessary as a result of the 2005 base realignment 

and closure recommendations, which became effective on November 

9, 2005. The conference agreement rescinds funds due to anticipated savings as a result. In the event that additional savings are 

realized, the conferees remind the Department that excess funds 

may not be reprogrammed except in accordance with the guidelines 

set forth by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress. Further, the conferees have provided a single appropriation for the implementation of BRAC 2005, as requested by the Department, in order to ensure the Department has maximum flexibility to carry out this effort. All expenses resulting from the 2005 

base realignment and closure recommendations should be paid 

from this account. The conferees have also included a statutory reporting requirement to maintain appropriate fiscal oversight. 

BRAC Environmental Remediation.—The conferees note the 

language included in the Senate report regarding the use of Office 

of Economic Adjustment (OEA) funding, which is appropriated 

through the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, for the 

community share of certain environmental remediation activities at 

the former McClellan Air Force Base, California. The conferees 

support this language and further emphasize that OEA funds are 

to be used in all instances for the purpose for which they were apVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Nov 22, 2005 Jkt 024526 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR305.XXX HR305
36 

propriated and not used to supplant BRAC environmental remediation funding at any Department of Defense installation. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT 1990 

The conference agreement appropriates $254,827,000 for the 

Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990, instead of 

$377,827,000 as proposed by the House and $402,827,000 as proposed by the Senate. This amount fully funds the Administration’s 

request for environmental cleanup and other activities associated 

with past BRAC rounds of all the Services with the exception of the 

Navy, which will self-finance its program. Included in the funding 

is an additional $14,000,000 for the Army and $6,000,000 for the 

Air Force above the Administration’s request. The purpose of this 

additional funding is to expedite cleanup activities in fiscal year 

2006 that the Services have identified as candidates for acceleration. 

The conferees note that the Navy has collected approximately 

$650,000,000 from the recent sale of property at the former El 

Toro, California, Marine Corps Air Station. By law, proceeds from 

the sale of property closed under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 must be deposited into the 1990 Department 

of Defense Base Closure (BRAC) account to be used for BRAC related activities, including environmental cleanup. By agreement between the military Services and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, BRAC land sale revenues are credited to the military Service 

owner of the property that was sold and are used to offset BRAC 

costs by that Service. Based on this agreement and the Navy’s recent land sale revenues, the Navy no longer requires the 

$143,000,000 in fiscal year 2006 appropriated funds as requested 

in the President’s budget submission for activities funded through 

the BRAC 1990 account. 

Environmental remediation associated with the BRAC process 

remains a key concern of the conferees. The conferees commend the 

Navy for its efforts to maximize revenue from the disposal of property from installations closed under previous BRAC rounds and for 

its application of those revenues to the environmental cleanup of 

closed Navy facilities. The conferees further encourage the Department of Defense and the other Services to pursue similar land sale 

strategies to provide additional revenue for the cleanup of their installations. To ensure that Navy land sale revenues are used to expedite environmental remediation activities at Navy installations, 

the conferees have included a provision in the conference report directing that no less than $300,000,000 of the revenues deposited 

into the BRAC 1990 account from the sale of Navy property be 

used to execute the Navy’s fiscal year 2006 environmental cleanup 

program. This level of funding is $24,000,000 above the original 

budget estimate, including both appropriated funds and earlier projected land sale revenues. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT 2005 

The conference agreement appropriates $1,504,466,000 for the 

Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005, instead of 

$1,570,466,000 as proposed by the House and $1,479,466,000 as 

37 

proposed by the Senate. The agreement includes language proposed 

by the Senate to prohibit the use of these funds until the Secretary 

of Defense submits and receives approval of a report describing the 

specific use of these funds. The House bill contained no similar provision. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement includes section 101 to limit the use 

of funds under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 102 as proposed by 

the House to allow the use of construction funds in this title for 

hire of passenger motor vehicles. The Senate bill contained a similar provision, but allowed the use of all funds in the title for such 

purpose. 

The conference agreement includes section 103 as proposed by 

the House to allow the use of construction funds in this title for advances to the Federal Highway Administration for the construction 

of access roads. The Senate bill contained a similar provision, but 

allowed the use of all funds in the title for such purpose. 

The conference agreement includes section 104 to prohibit construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 105 to limit the use 

of funds for the purchase of land or land easements that exceed 100 

percent of the value as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 106 to prohibit the 

use of funds, except funds appropriated in this title for that purpose, for family housing as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 107 to limit the use 

of minor construction funds to transfer or relocate activities as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 108 to prohibit the 

procurement of steel unless American producers, fabricators, and 

manufacturers have been allowed to compete as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 109 as proposed by 

the House to prohibit the use of construction and family housing 

funds available to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 

The Senate bill contained a similar provision, but prohibited the 

use of all funds in the title for such purpose. 

The conference agreement includes section 110 to prohibit the 

use of funds to initiate a new installation overseas without prior 

notification as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 111 to establish a 

preference for American architectural and engineering services for 

overseas projects as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 112 to establish a 

preference for American contractors in certain locations as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

38 

The conference agreement includes section 113 to require congressional notification of military exercises where construction 

costs exceed $100,000 as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 114 to limit obligations in the last two months of the fiscal year as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 115 to allow funds 

appropriated in prior years for new projects authorized during the 

current session of Congress as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 116 to allow the use 

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

project being completed with lapsed funds as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 117 to allow military construction funds to be available for five years as proposed 

by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 118 to require an 

annual report on actions taken to encourage other nations to assume a greater share of the common defense burden as proposed 

by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 119 to allow the 

transfer of proceeds between BRAC accounts as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 120 to allow the 

transfer of funds from Family Housing Construction accounts to 

the Family Housing Improvement Fund as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 121 to limit the obligation of funds for Partnership for Peace programs as proposed by 

both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 122 to require congressional notification prior to issuing a solicitation for a contract 

with the private sector for family housing as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 123 to allow transfers to the Homeowners Assistance Fund as proposed by both 

Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 124 to limit the 

source of operation and maintenance funds for flag and general officer quarters as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 125 to prohibit the 

use of NATO Security Investment Program funds for missile defense studies as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes section 126 as proposed by 

the House to require the Department of Defense to respond to a 

question or inquiry, in writing, within 21 days of the request. The 

Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement includes section 127 to extend the 

availability of funds in the Ford Island Improvement Fund as proposed by both Houses of Congress. 

The conference agreement includes a modified section 128 to 

place limitations on the expenditure of funds for projects impacted 

by BRAC 2005. 

39 

The conference agreement includes a new section 129 to des- ignate $300,000,000 of the funds available in the Department of 

Defense Base Closure Account 1990 for the Department of Navy 

and require a report on a plan for the use of the funds. 

The conference agreement includes a new section 130 to require a report from the Secretary of the Air Force containing a 

housing plan for Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the House to allow the transfer of expired funds to the 

Foreign Currency Fluctuation, Construction, Defense account. The 

Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the House to prohibit the use of funds in this title for 

maintenance and repair of general and flag officer quarters in the 

National Capital Region until the Department submits a report as 

required in Public Law 108–375. The Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate to provide planning and design funds for a 

project. The agreement addresses this language under the Military 

Construction, Air National Guard account. The House bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate to provide funding for a project. The agreement addresses this language in the attached detail table by State. 

The House bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate regarding funding for the Department of Defense Base Closure Accounts. The House bill contained no similar 

provision. 

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

Centers of Excellence.—The conferees feel the Department of 

Veterans Affairs should consider designating specialized medical 

treatment facilities for mental health and post traumatic stress disorder as ‘‘Centers of Excellence’’. Establishing these centers would 

allow the VA to consolidate personnel, training and specialized resources. This will ensure the VA utilizes these resources in the 

most efficient manner, while providing better service to our Nation’s veterans. The conferees are concerned that mental health 

care is one of the most critical needs of our Nation’s veterans, particularly those veterans returning from Operations Iraqi Freedom 

and Enduring Freedom. 

Therefore, the conferees direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to place more emphasis on psychiatric care of our veterans by 

designating three centers of excellence to focus on mental health/ 

PTSD needs. These three centers will be established at Waco 

VAMC, Texas; San Diego VAMC, California; and the Canandaigua 

VAMC, New York. 

The VA should submit a report within six months of enactment 

of this Act to the Committees on Appropriations in both Houses of 

Congress outlining the progress made in this area. 

Housing for Low-Income Veterans.—The conferees agree that 

the Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study on 

40 

housing assistance to low-income veterans and submit the report to 

the Congress within six months of enactment of this Act. As jurisdiction over assistance to veterans spans many departments, the 

conferees expect the Government Accountability Office to consult 

with the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

concerning the scope of such a study. This issue was addressed by 

the Senate as an administrative provision, section 222. 

Veterans Benefits Handbooks.—The conferees recognize the valuable information contained in the Department’s annual publication ‘‘Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents.’’ Adequate distribution of this publication is essential to keep veterans informed 

of the benefits to which they are entitled. The conferees urge the 

Secretary to work in coordination with the various veterans services organizations, including the National Association of County 

Veterans Service Officers, as well as with State departments of veterans affairs, to ensure that a comprehensive plan exists to distribute an adequate supply of the 2006 and future editions of ‘‘Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents.’’ This issue was addressed by the Senate as section 223 of the administrative provisions which the conferees have deleted from the bill. 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.—The conferees agree with the 

House direction under the ‘‘Items of Interest’’ regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Teams. 

Changing Veterans Population.—The conferees agree with the 

direction of the Senate responding to the changing population of 

veterans. 

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement appropriates $33,897,787,000 for 

Compensation and Pensions, instead of $33,412,879,000 as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The amount provided reflects the most current estimate of funding required for this mandatory account and reflects a 4.1 percent cost-of-living adjustment. 

Of the amount provided, not more than $23,491,000 is to be transferred to General Operating Expenses and Medical Services for reimbursement of necessary expenses in implementing the Omnibus 

Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Veterans’ Benefits Act 

of 1992. 

Annual Benefits Report.—The conferees agree with the Senate 

language directing the Department to continue production of the 

annual benefits report which shall include select veteran data for 

all benefit programs by State. 

READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

The conference agreement appropriates $3,309,234,000 for Re- adjustment Benefits, instead of $3,214,246,000 as proposed by both 

the House and the Senate. The amount provided reflects the most 

current estimate of funding required for this mandatory account. 

Task Force on VRE Benefits.—The conferees direct the Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

41 

of Congress by March 16, 2006 on its efforts to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on the Vocational Rehabilitation 

and Employment benefits program. 

VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

The conference agreement appropriates $45,907,000 for Veterans Insurance and Indemnities as proposed by both the House 

and the Senate. 

VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement appropriates such sums as may be 

necessary for costs associated with direct and guaranteed loans 

from the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund Program Account as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The agreement limits obligations for direct loans to not more than $500,000 

and provides that $153,575,000 is to be transferred to and merged 

with General Operating Expenses. 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement appropriates $53,000 for the costs of 

direct loans from the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account as proposed by both the House and the Senate, plus $305,000 

to be transferred to and merged with General Operating Expenses. 

The agreement provides for a direct loan limitation of $4,242,000. 

NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement appropriates $580,000 for administrative expenses of the Native American Veteran Housing Loan 

Program Account to be transferred to and merged with General 

Operating Expenses as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

The agreement also provides for a loan limitation of $30,000,000 

for the program as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

GUARANTEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS

VETERANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

The conference agreement provides up to $750,000 of the funds 

available in Medical Administration and General Operating Expenses to carry out the Guaranteed Transitional Housing Loans for 

Homeless Veterans program as proposed by both the House and 

the Senate. 

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

MEDICAL SERVICES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement appropriates $22,547,141,000 to finance Medical Services for all veterans and beneficiaries in Department of Veterans Administration facilities, State nursing homes, 

42 

and contract medical facilities, of which $1,225,000,000 is designated an emergency. The House had proposed $20,995,141,000 

and the Senate had proposed $23,308,011,000, of which 

$1,977,000,000 was designated as emergency funding. Of the amount provided, $1,100,000,000 is available for obligation until September 30, 2007 as proposed by the House, instead 

of $1,500,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees also 

agree that the Department shall spend not less than 

$2,200,000,000 for specialty mental health care as proposed by the 

House. 

The conference agreement includes a net increase of $1,100,000,000 to the original budget request to reverse policy proposals contained in the budget. These proposals included a priority 

system of care relating to veterans needing long-term or nursing 

home care, a proposal to institute an enrollment fee for certain veterans, and a change in the co-pay amount for prescription drugs. 

The conferees reject all of these proposals and direct the Department to maintain policies in existence prior to submission of the 

budget. It is the agreement of the conferees that the budget savings 

anticipated from such policy proposals in the future should not be 

included in the budget unless the proposals are enacted and savings are realized. For the last four years, there has been a proposal 

for an enrollment fee and an increase in pharmacy co-payments included in the budget with unrealistic savings. Every year the Congress has had to find resources to make up for savings projections 

which do not materialize. 

In addition, the conference agreement includes funding of $1,452,000,000 tied to various corrections of errors in the original 

budget submission and adjustments for workload due to corrections 

of the Department’s actuarial model. The conferees have made 

some funding adjustments to accommodate this increased need for 

funding, and language is included which requires submission of a 

revised budget amendment by the President to enable the use of 

emergency funding for the remaining funds. 

The conference agreement retains language proposed by both 

the House and the Senate providing the Secretary with the authority to establish a priority system for veterans seeking medical care, 

allowing the Secretary to give priority to medical services for priority 1–6 veterans, allowing the Secretary to fill privately written 

prescriptions by Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, and provides $15,000,000 for the Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs 

Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund. 

Long-Term Care.—The conferees do not agree with the proposal contained in the budget to alter the long-term care policies, 

including a policy of priority care in nursing homes. The conferees 

have provided, within this total appropriation, sufficient resources 

to maintain a policy of providing long-term care to all veterans, utilizing VA-owned facilities, community nursing homes, State nursing homes, and other non-institutional venues. The conferees expect there to be no change from the policy in existence prior to fiscal year 2005. 

Prosthetics Research and Integrative Health Care.—The conferees note that the fiscal year 2005 conference agreement included 

language directing the Department to prioritize prosthetics in its 

43 

research agenda and establish a new prosthetics and integrative 

health care initiative. The conferees are pleased with the response 

of the Department, including designating four VA Medical Centers 

as polytrauma centers which will provide medical care and rehabilitation to service members sustaining multiple conditions such 

as amputation, visual and auditory impairment, post traumatic 

stress, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. The conferees continue to be interested in progress being made in this area 

of integrative treatment and direct the Department to provide 

semi-annual updates on the status of this initiative. 

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION

The conference agreement appropriates $2,858,442,000 for 

Medical Administration as proposed by the Senate instead of 

$4,134,874,000 as proposed by the House. The conference funding 

level includes the movement of information technology development 

funding to a new Information Technology Systems account, as proposed by the Senate, under Departmental Administration. The 

agreement also includes language allowing $250,000,000 of the 

funds to be available until September 30, 2007. 

Revenue Improvement Demonstration.—The conferees share the 

Senate concern that the Department of Veterans Affairs is only collecting 41 percent (unadjusted for Medicare impacts) of the billed 

amounts from third party insurance companies and expect the Department to report to both Houses of Congress on its efforts to improve this collection rate by January 1, 2006. Furthermore, the 

conference agreement does not support all the guidelines as specified in House Report 109–95; however, the conferees do support the 

following guidelines regarding a revenue improvement demonstration project: the recommendation that the VA initiate a new pilot 

program that will provide a comprehensive restructuring of the 

complete revenue cycle including cash-flow management and accounts receivable processes in certain VA hospitals; the recommendation that the VHA Chief Business Officer must have the 

concurrence of the VA Chief Information Officer on the business 

plan for this demonstration; and that the Department provide 

quarterly progress reports to the Committees on Appropriations in 

both Houses of Congress. 

In selecting a site for this project, the conferees direct the Department to select one medical center in a Veterans Integrated 

Service Network (VISN) other than 10, which is the host site of a 

demonstration project authorized by Public Law 108–357. The Department must initiate this project within 60 days of the date of 

enactment of this Act. The conferees expect that no Department 

full-time equivalent employees associated with the demonstration 

project would be terminated during the term of the project, except 

for purposes of personnel action relating to employee misconduct or 

unsatisfactory performance, in accordance with existing labor management agreements and personnel authorities of titles 5 and 38, 

United States Code, as applicable. 

Contract Care Coordination.—The conferees support expeditious action by the Department to implement care management 

strategies that have proven valuable in the broader public and private sectors. It is essential that care purchased for enrollees from 

44 

private sector providers be secured in a cost effective manner, in 

a way that complements the larger Veterans Health Administration system of care, and preserves important agency interest, such 

as sustaining a partnership with university affiliates. In that interest, the VHA shall establish through competitive award by the end 

of calendar year 2006, at least three managed care demonstration 

programs designed to satisfy a set of health system objectives related to arranging and managing care. The conferees encourage the 

Department to formulate demonstration objectives in collaboration 

with industry and academia, and the Secretary will report objectives to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 days of the enactment of this Act. Multiple competitive awards and designs may be employed that may incorporate 

a variety of forms of public-private participation. The demonstrations, in satisfying the objectives to be enumerated, must be established in at least three VISNs, be comprehensive in scope, and 

serve a substantial patient population. 

Management Efficiencies.—The conferees share the concern of 

the Senate that estimated management efficiencies are not supported by adequate budget justification details. Therefore, in future 

budget submissions, the Department is directed to provide more detail on its justification for management efficiencies. 

MEDICAL FACILITIES

The conference agreement appropriates $3,297,669,000 for operation, maintenance and security of Medical Facilities as proposed 

by both the House and the Senate. The agreement also includes 

language allowing $250,000,000 of the funds to be available until 

September 30, 2007. 

Community Based Outpatient Clinics.—The conferees have received numerous requests for funding specific Community Based 

Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) but have retained the practice of not 

earmarking funds for these facilities. However, the conferees are 

concerned that the commitments made as a result of the final recommendations of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced 

Services Commission may not be kept due to a variety of reasons. 

The conferees direct the Department to report on the status of 

CBOC’s in Bessemer, Alabama; Richmond County (Hamlet), North 

Carolina; Conroe, Texas; Athens, Tennessee; North Central Washington; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Charlottesville, Virginia, including the reasons for any delay associated with their establishment. 

In addition, the conferees urge the Department to reevaluate the 

need for CBOC’s in Capitola, California; Jackson County, Florida; 

Levittown (Bucks County), Pennsylvania; Sunbury (Northumberland County), Pennsylvania; Bellingham, Washington; and Gladstone, Michigan. The conferees direct the Department to complete 

this report no later than March 15, 2006 and submit it to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Rural Areas.—The 

conferees remain concerned about veterans’ access to healthcare in 

rural areas. As such, the conferees direct the Secretary to reevaluate Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1006.1 and other 

guidance and procedures related to planning, activating, staffing, 

and maintaining Community Based Outpatient Clinics to ensure 

45 

that rural areas are adequately served. In addition, the Secretary 

should also review the criteria utilized, including geographic access, number of Priority 1 through 6 veterans, market penetration, 

cost effectiveness and distance to parent facilities, to determine 

whether planning criteria disadvantage rural veterans. The Senate 

had addressed this issue as administrative provision 227. 

Beckley, West Virginia.—The conferees agree with language included in the Senate report urging the Department to include sufficient funding in its fiscal year 2007 budget request for construction 

of a 120-bed nursing home care unit at the Beckley, West Virginia 

VAMC, consistent with the CARES priority list as described in the 

Department’s February 2005 Five-Year Capital Plan 2005–2010 report. 

MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

The conference agreement appropriates $412,000,000 for Medical and Prosthetic Research as proposed by the Senate instead of 

$393,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees agree with 

the Senate provision which designates $15,000,000 for Gulf War 

Illness research. 

Mental Health Research.—The conferees agree that research on 

mental health diagnosis and treatment should be a priority of the 

Department of Veterans Affairs. The conferees believe that more 

research may lead to earlier identification of problems and more effective treatment, thereby reducing the long-term complications 

and costs associated with mental health issues. The conferees 

strongly suggest that the Department encourage research in this 

discipline by establishing a balanced and goal-based research program which takes into consideration the potential benefit of better 

treatment as well as reducing the cost of care provided by the Department. 

Gulf War Illness.—The conferees recognize the unique nature 

of Gulf War Illness and direct the Department to implement the 

recommendations of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) on 

Gulf War Veterans’ Illness in the context of the overall Department 

research program. One aspect of this effort is the establishment of 

a research center of excellence devoted to Gulf War Illness research. The conferees are supportive of this effort and direct the 

Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress regarding establishment of such a center by 

March 15, 2006. In complying with the RAC recommendations, the 

Department is directed to devote at least $15,000,000 to Gulf War 

Illness research in this fiscal year, and in each of the next four fiscal years. In addition, this initiative shall, at a minimum, begin 

with a pilot study involving collaborative research between a VA 

Medical Center and the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical 

Center, which is presently conducting extensive research on Gulf 

War Illness. 

DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES

The conference agreement appropriates $1,410,520,000 for 

General Operating Expenses instead of $1,411,827,000 as proposed 

46 

by the House and $1,418,827,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 

conference agreement provides not less than $1,053,938,000 for the 

Veterans Benefits Administration, instead of $1,086,938,000 as proposed by the House and $1,093,937,500 as proposed by the Senate. 

Of the amount provided, $70,000,000 is available for obligation 

until September 30, 2007, as proposed by the House instead of 

$71,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The agreement also provides for a limitation on the purchase 

of passenger motor vehicles for use in operations by the Veterans 

Benefits Administration in Manila, Philippines, as proposed by the 

House. The Senate had proposed no limitation. 

Senate language directing the Department to conduct an information campaign in States with lower disability compensation payments has been moved to administrative provisions, section 228. 

The conferees do not agree to the Senate language calling for 

a report on the cost of replacing non-standardized home glucose 

monitoring equipment while maintaining existing equipment, depending upon patient choice. The report is not required since the 

conferees have adopted an administrative provision (section 220) 

prohibiting the Department from moving forward with a national 

standardization effort for home glucose monitoring equipment. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

The conference agreement appropriates $1,213,820,000 for Information Technology Systems as a new account instead of 

$1,456,821,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House had maintained information technology funding as part of existing accounts, 

including Medical Administration. 

Senate language regarding the HealtheVet program has been 

moved to administrative provisions, section 229. 

Based upon the funding provided, the Department is to provide 

a comprehensive listing of priority projects for fiscal year 2006 and 

submit it to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress within 30 days of enactment of this Act. 

The conferees note that on October 19, 2005, the Secretary of 

the Department of Veterans Affairs approved a federated information technology model for the Department. This model will require 

significant reorganization of the Department’s information technology management and operations and will take a minimum of 12 

months to accomplish. The conferees hope that the revised account 

structure approved in this appropriations Act and the management 

model approved by the Secretary will go far in improving the efficiency of the Department’s information technology systems while 

giving Congress better insight into these programs. 

The conferees agree that in this first year of a major reorganization of information technology activities, funding will be available for a two-year period instead of one year. This will allow sufficient time for the Department to reorganize and execute its information technology projects in an effective manner. 

The conferees agree that the Department is to provide the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress with 

quarterly reports on the status of each information technology 

project included in the budget. Each report shall include, but not 

be limited to, a milestone schedule for each project, each project’s 

47 

scheduled completion date, the amount appropriated for each 

project, planned and actual obligations of each project with explanations of the variance, and the unobligated balances of each 

project. 

The conferees are in agreement that the amount provided for 

the CoreFLS project shall be limited to $30,000,000 in fiscal year 

2006. 

NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

The conference agreement appropriates $156,447,000 for the 

National Cemetery Administration as proposed by both the House 

and the Senate. The conferees agree that the Department is to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

of Congress on the potential use of land at Fort Ord, California, for 

a national cemetery. The conferees direct the Secretary and the 

Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs to examine the unique situation at Fort Ord and report back to the Committees no later than 

January 16, 2006. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The conference agreement appropriates $70,174,000 for the Office of Inspector General as proposed by both the House and the 

Senate. 

CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

The conference agreement appropriates $607,100,000 for Construction, Major Projects as proposed by both the House and the 

Senate. Within the amount provided, $532,010,000 is for Capital 

Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) projects as proposed by the House instead of $539,800,000 as proposed by the 

Senate. The agreement also provides $2,500,000 for reimbursement 

for contract disputes as proposed by the Senate, instead of 

$8,091,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees have included 

a modified provision, proposed by the Senate, which restricts the 

Department’s ability to reduce the mission, services or infrastructure, including land, of 18 facilities on the CARES list requiring 

further study, without prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

CARES Feasibility Studies.—The conferees are concerned with 

ongoing delays in the feasibility study for new veterans hospitals. 

The CARES decision recognized that these hospitals need to be replaced with new hospitals in order to provide veterans with the access and quality of care they need. The feasibility study delays are 

undermining the Secretary’s decision and threaten to unnecessarily 

delay construction of these new hospitals. The Department is directed to work with the contractor conducting the feasibility studies 

to ensure that they are completed and the Secretary has made a 

final decision, by June 1, 2006, on building these new hospitals. 

The Department will report to the Committees on Appropriations 

of both Houses of Congress within 30 days of enactment of this bill 

on the action it has taken to meet these requirements. 

48 

CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

The conference agreement appropriates $198,937,000 for Construction, Minor Projects instead of $208,937,000 as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate. The conference agreement provides 

$155,000,000 for construction projects implementing CARES recommendations, instead of $160,000,000 as proposed by both the 

House and the Senate. The agreement does not include a provision 

proposed by the Senate which would make additional funding 

available for CARES activities upon notification and approval by 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

The conference agreement appropriates $85,000,000 for Grants 

for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities instead of 

$25,000,000 as proposed by the House and $104,322,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The conferees agree with the direction of the House calling for 

the Department to undertake a rigorous and extensive analysis of 

long-term care needs of veterans and report to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress by March 31, 2006, on 

the results of that study. This study is to be done with all interested stakeholders participating. 

The conferees do not agree with the Senate position restricting 

grants to any one state to one-third of the amount appropriated in 

any one fiscal year. 

GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES

The conference agreement appropriates $32,000,000 for Grants 

for the Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement includes section 201 allowing for 

transfers among various mandatory accounts as proposed by both 

the House and the Senate and includes a proviso requiring Congressional notification and approval as proposed by the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 202 allowing for the 

use of salaries and expenses funds to be used for other authorized 

purposes as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 203 restricting the 

use of funds for the acquisition of land as proposed by the House. 

The conference agreement includes section 204, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate, limiting the use of funds in the 

Medical Services account to only entitled beneficiaries or unless reimbursement is made to the Department. 

The conference agreement includes section 205 allowing for the 

use of certain mandatory appropriations accounts for payment of 

prior year accrued obligations for those accounts as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate. 

49 

The conference agreement includes section 206 allowing for the 

use of appropriations available in this title to pay prior year obligations as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 207, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate, regarding administration of the 

National Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans’ Special Life 

Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance 

Fund. 

The conference agreement includes section 208 making the Department’s Franchise Fund authority permanent. The House had 

proposed a one-year extension and the Senate had proposed permanent authority with different language. 

The conference agreement includes section 209, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate, allowing for the proceeds from enhanced-use leases to be obligated in the year in which the proceeds 

are received. 

The conference agreement includes section 210, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate, allowing for the use of funds in 

this title for salaries and other administrative expenses to be used 

to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management and the Office 

of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication. 

The conference agreement includes section 211 limiting the use 

of funds for any lease with an estimated annual rental of more 

than $300,000 unless approved by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, as proposed by both the House 

and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 212 requiring the 

Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect thirdparty payer information for persons treated for non-service connected disability, as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 213, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate, allowing for the use of enhanceduse leasing revenue for Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects. 

The conference agreement includes section 214 allowing for the 

use of Medical Services funds to be used for recreational facilities 

and funeral expenses as proposed by both the House and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 215 allowing for 

funds deposited into the Medical Care Collections Fund to be transferred to the Medical Services account, as proposed by both the 

House and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 216 allowing for the 

transfer of funds among three medical accounts for the purpose of 

perfecting the restructuring of the Veterans Health Administration 

accounts. Such transfers are subject to prior Congressional approval. Both the House and the Senate had proposed similar transfer provisions with slightly different language. The conferees would 

like to emphasize that the transfers permitted by this provision are 

to be highlighted to the Congress in a timely manner. The conferees note that this new account structure has been in place for 

three years and sufficient time has passed for the Department to 

budget properly in this account structure. The conferees do not expect to continue this provision in the future. 

50 

The conference agreement includes section 217 allowing for the 

transfer of funds from General Operating Expenses to the Veterans 

Housing Benefit Program Fund Program Account for the cost of a 

nationwide property management contract, as proposed by both the 

House and the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 218, as proposed by 

both the House and the Senate, which allows Alaskan veterans to 

use medical facilities of the Indian Health Service or tribal organizations at no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs 

or the Indian Health Service. 

The conference agreement includes section 219 which provides 

for the transfer of funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs 

Capital Asset Fund to the Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects accounts and makes those funds available 

until expended. This provision was included in both the House and 

the Senate bills. 

The conference agreement includes section 220, which prohibits the expenditure of funds to replace the current system by 

which VISNs select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies 

and equipment. The House had proposed a similar prohibition and 

the Senate had proposed report language on this issue. 

The conference agreement includes section 221, prohibiting the 

use of funds on any policy prohibiting the outreach or marketing 

to enroll new veterans, as proposed by the Senate. 

The conference agreement includes section 222, which requires 

the Secretary to submit quarterly reports on the financial status 

and service level status of the Veterans Health Administration. 

The report shall contain, at a minimum, both planned and actual 

expenditure rates, unobligated balances, potential financial shortfalls, any transfers between major accounts (medical services, medical administration, and medical facilities), and status of any equipment or non-recurring maintenance funds—including whether they 

have been used to pay for operating expenses. In addition, the service portion of the report will contain, at a minimum, the time required for new patients to get their first appointment, the time required for established patients to get their next appointment, and 

the number of unique veterans and patients being served. Each report should address data for the system total and for each VISN, 

and for comparison purposes the initial report shall also provide 

patient data for the preceding eight quarters. The conference agreement modifies Senate section 203. 

The conference agreement includes section 223, requiring the 

Department of Veterans Affairs to submit to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, a plan for implementation of the third recommendation contained in Office of Inspector 

General Report No. 05–00765–137. The provision also prohibits the 

expenditure of funds retroactively to revoke or reduce disability 

compensation payments related to 2,100 cases used in preparing 

the Inspector General report. The language in the conference 

agreement is a modification of the language included in the Senate 

bill. 

The conference agreement includes section 224, as proposed by 

the Senate, calling for collaboration between the National Center 

51 

for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Department of Defense. 

The provision was not in the House bill. 

The conference agreement includes section 225, allowing for 

the transfer of funds from various accounts to the Information 

Technology Systems account to complete the restructuring in this 

appropriations Act, subject to congressional approval. This provision was not in either the House or Senate bill. 

The conference agreement includes section 226, allowing for 

the transfer of funds among various accounts to perfect the accounting structure of the Information Technology Systems account, 

subject to congressional approval. This provision was not in either 

the House or Senate bill. 

The conference agreement includes section 227, providing for 

transfer of funds among projects within the Information Technology 

Systems account, subject to congressional notification and approval 

for any change of $1,000,000 or more. 

The conference agreement includes section 228, providing for 

the Department to conduct an information campaign in States 

where disability compensation payments are less than $7,300. The 

Senate had proposed this language as a proviso within the General 

Operating Expenses account. 

The conference agreement includes section 229, which places a 

cap on the total funding available for HealtheVetVista in fiscal 

year 2006 and requires approval of an expenditure plan for the 

project by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress. The Senate had proposed similar language as part of the 

Information Technology account. 

The conference agreement includes section 230, which extends 

the authorization of the Department’s homeless program until September 30, 2006. This provision was not in either the House or 

Senate bill. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate (section 204), which would have required the 

Department to seek approval of the Congress for a change of 10 

percent or more in the scope of a major construction project. The 

proposed provision would have duplicated section 8104 of title 38, 

United States Code. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the House (section 213) restricting the use of funds for implementing sections 2 and 5 of Public Law 107–287 and section 303 

of Public Law 108–422. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate (section 222). The report requested in the provision has been addressed in the overview language at the beginning of this section on the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate (section 223) regarding distribution of veterans’ benefits handbooks. This issue is addressed in the overview 

language at the beginning of this section on the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate (section 226) because it duplicates the intent 

of Senate section 203. 

52 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate (section 227) regarding Community Based 

Outpatient Clinics in rural areas. This issue is addressed in the 

Medical Facilities section of the statement of the managers. 

TITLE III 

RELATED AGENCIES 

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The conference agreement appropriates $36,250,000 for Salaries and Expenses as proposed by the Senate, instead of 

$35,750,000 as proposed by the House. 

Within the amount provided, the conferees are in agreement 

that the Commission is to use $500,000 to have a study conducted 

to determine what action is warranted to preserve the stability of 

the World War II Point du Hoc Ranger Monument located near the 

Normandy American Cemetery in France. 

The conferees have also provided the full budget request of 

$3,100,000 for the completion of funding required to construct the 

Normandy Interpretive Center at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. 

The conferees agree with direction in the House report that the 

Commission is to provide a report of the financial position of the 

World War II Memorial fund annually to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT

The conference agreement appropriates $15,250,000 for the 

Foreign Currency Fluctuations Account as proposed by both the 

House and the Senate. 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The conference agreement appropriates $18,795,000 for the 

Salaries and Expenses account as proposed by the Senate, instead 

of $18,295,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees are in 

agreement that the increase shall be used to begin implementation 

of an electronic case management system as directed in the Senate 

report. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The conference agreement appropriates $29,050,000 for Salaries and Expenses, instead of $29,550,000 as proposed by the 

House and $28,550,000 as proposed by the Senate. 

The conferees are in agreement that $1,000,000 is to be used 

to continue the Arlington Cemetery automation process with a priority placed on providing for the physical security of the ‘‘hard 

copy’’ records. Additionally, the conferees direct the Army to proVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Nov 22, 2005 Jkt 024526 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR305.XXX HR305
53 

vide an updated report to the Committees on Appropriations of the 

House and Senate on its automation process. The report shall identify detailed cost estimates for the total project as well as costs for 

key components, which may be procured on a stand-alone basis. 

ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

The conference agreement appropriates $58,281,000 for the 

Armed Forces Retirement Home as proposed by both the House 

and the Senate. These funds are to be paid from funds available 

in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund. Of the amount 

provided, $1,248,000 shall remain available until expended for construction and renovation of physical plants at the Armed Forces 

Retirement Home. The conferees recognize that the Washington, 

D.C. facility is undergoing a transformation as a result of moving 

residents from the Gulfport, Mississippi facility after Hurricane 

Katrina. The conferees wish to be fully informed of any changes at 

the Washington, D.C. facility and direct the Armed Forces Retirement Home to provide periodic updates and information to the 

Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate. 

TITLE IV 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

The conference agreement includes section 401 as proposed by 

the House to prohibit the obligation of funds in the Act beyond the 

current fiscal year unless expressly so provided. The Senate bill 

contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement includes section 402 as proposed by 

the House to require pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in the Act. The Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement includes section 403 as proposed by 

the House to prohibit the use of funds in the Act for programs, 

projects or activities not in compliance with Federal law relating to 

risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. The Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement includes section 404 as proposed by 

the House to prohibit the use of funds in the Act to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress. The Senate bill contained 

no similar provision. 

The conference agreement includes section 405 as proposed by 

the House to encourage the expansion of E-Commerce technologies 

and procedures. The Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement includes section 406 as proposed by 

both Houses of Congress to prohibit the transfer of funds to any instrumentality of the United States Government without authority 

from an appropriations Act. 

The conference agreement includes section 407 as proposed by 

both Houses of Congress to specify the congressional committees 

that are to receive all reports and notifications. 

The conference agreement includes a new section 408 to amend 

section 613 of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related 

Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006. 

54 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the House regarding reimbursements for consultants. The 

Senate bill contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the House regarding a reporting requirement in the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990. The Senate bill 

contained no similar provision. 

The conference agreement does not include a provision proposed by the Senate regarding conference report requirements. The 

House bill contained no similar provision. 

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CONFERENCE TOTAL—WITH COMPARISONS

The total new budget (obligational) authority for the fiscal year 

2006 recommended by the Committee of Conference, with comparisons to the fiscal year 2005 amount, the 2006 budget estimates, 

and the House and Senate bills for 2006 follow: 

[In thousands of dollars] 

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2005 ........................ $78,799,417 

Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2006 81,726,037 

House bill, fiscal year 2006 ................................................................... 80,531,818 

Senate bill, fiscal year 2006 .................................................................. 82,984,618 

Conference agreement, fiscal year 2006 .............................................. 82,573,514 

Conference agreement compared with: 

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2005 ................ +3,774,097 

Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year 

2006 .............................................................................................. +847,477 

House bill, fiscal year 2006 ............................................................ +2,041,696 

Senate bill, fiscal year 2006 ........................................................... ¥411,104 

JAMES T. WALSH, 

ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, 

ANNE M. NORTHUP, 

MICHAEL K. SIMPSON, 

ANDER CRENSHAW, 

C.W. BILL YOUNG, 

MARK STEVEN KIRK, 

DENNIS R. REHBERG, 

JOHN CARTER, 

JERRY LEWIS, 

CHET EDWARDS, 

SAM FARR, 

ALLEN BOYD, 

SANFORD D. BISHOP, Jr., 

DAVID E. PRICE, 

ROBERT E. CRAMER, Jr., 

DAVID R. OBEY, Managers on the Part of the House. 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, 

CONRAD BURNS, 

LARRY CRAIG, 

MIKE DEWINE, 

SAM BROWNBACK, 

WAYNE ALLARD, 

MITCH MCCONNELL, 

THAD COCHRAN, 

DIANNE FEINSTEIN, 

DANIEL K. INOUYE, 

TIM JOHNSON, 

MARY L. LANDRIEU, 

ROBERT C. BYRD, 

PATTY MURRAY, 

PATRICK LEAHY, Managers on the Part of the Senate. 

Æ