II 

Calendar No. 446 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3024 

[Report No. 115–269] 

Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 

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

2019, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 7, 2018 

Mr. BOOZMAN, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following 

original bill; which was read twice and placed on the calendar 

A BILL 

Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the 

fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other 

purposes. 

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

3 That the following sums are appropriated, out of any 

4 money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for 

5 military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
2 

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1 and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 

2 30, 2019, and for other purposes, namely: 

3 TITLE I 

4 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

5 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

6 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip7 ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 

8 installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as 

9 currently authorized by law, including personnel in the 

10 Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services nec11 essary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for con12 struction and operation of facilities in support of the func13 tions of the Commander in Chief, $1,021,768,000, to re14 main available until September 30, 2023: Provided, That, 

15 of this amount, not to exceed $110,068,000 shall be avail16 able for study, planning, design, architect and engineer 

17 services, and host nation support, as authorized by law, 

18 unless the Secretary of the Army determines that addi19 tional obligations are necessary for such purposes and no20 tifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

21 of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor. 

22 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

23 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip24 ment of temporary or permanent public works, naval in25 stallations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and 
3 

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1 Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including 

2 personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 

3 and other personal services necessary for the purposes of 

4 this appropriation, $2,222,522,000, to remain available 

5 until September 30, 2023: Provided, That, of this amount, 

6 not to exceed $185,542,000 shall be available for study, 

7 planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as 

8 authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy deter9 mines that additional obligations are necessary for such 

10 purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations 

11 of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the 

12 reasons therefor. 

13 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

14 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip15 ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 

16 installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force 

17 as currently authorized by law, $1,495,423,000, to remain 

18 available until September 30, 2023: Provided, That, of 

19 this amount, not to exceed $206,577,000 shall be available 

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

21 services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the 

22 Air Force determines that additional obligations are nec23 essary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on 

24 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the deter25 mination and the reasons therefor. 
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1 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

2 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

3 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip4 ment of temporary or permanent public works, installa5 tions, facilities, and real property for activities and agen6 cies of the Department of Defense (other than the military 

7 departments), as currently authorized by law, 

8 $2,575,938,000, to remain available until September 30, 

9 2023: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation 

10 as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may 

11 be transferred to such appropriations of the Department 

12 of Defense available for military construction or family 

13 housing as the Secretary may designate, to be merged with 

14 and to be available for the same purposes, and for the 

15 same time period, as the appropriation or fund to which 

16 transferred: Provided further, That, of the amount, not to 

17 exceed $195,345,000 shall be available for study, plan18 ning, design, and architect and engineer services, as au19 thorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense deter20 mines that additional obligations are necessary for such 

21 purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations 

22 of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the 

23 reasons therefor. 
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1 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

2 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita3 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad4 ministration of the Army National Guard, and contribu5 tions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, 

6 United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza7 tion Acts, $190,122,000, to remain available until Sep8 tember 30, 2023: Provided, That, of the amount, not to 

9 exceed $16,622,000 shall be available for study, planning, 

10 design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized 

11 by law, unless the Director of the Army National Guard 

12 determines that additional obligations are necessary for 

13 such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropria14 tions of both Houses of Congress of the determination and 

15 the reasons therefor. 

16 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

17 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita18 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad19 ministration of the Air National Guard, and contributions 

20 therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 

21 States Code, and Military Construction Authorization 

22 Acts, $139,126,000, to remain available until September 

23 30, 2023: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed 

24 $18,500,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, 

25 and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, 
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1 unless the Director of the Air National Guard determines 

2 that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 

3 and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both 

4 Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons 

5 therefor. 

6 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

7 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita8 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad9 ministration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 

10 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Con11 struction Authorization Acts, $64,919,000, to remain 

12 available until September 30, 2023: Provided, That, of the 

13 amount, not to exceed $5,855,000 shall be available for 

14 study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv15 ices, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army 

16 Reserve determines that additional obligations are nec17 essary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on 

18 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the deter19 mination and the reasons therefor. 

20 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE

21 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita22 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad23 ministration of the reserve components of the Navy and 

24 Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, 

25 United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza-
7 

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1 tion Acts, $43,065,000, to remain available until Sep2 tember 30, 2023: Provided, That, of the amount, not to 

3 exceed $4,695,000 shall be available for study, planning, 

4 design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized 

5 by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy determines that 

6 additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and 

7 notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

8 of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor. 

9 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

10 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita11 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad12 ministration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by 

13 chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military 

14 Construction Authorization Acts, $50,163,000, to remain 

15 available until September 30, 2023: Provided, That, of the 

16 amount, not to exceed $4,055,000 shall be available for 

17 study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv18 ices, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air 

19 Force Reserve determines that additional obligations are 

20 necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees 

21 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the de22 termination and the reasons therefor. 
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1 NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

2 SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

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

4 Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Pro5 gram for the acquisition and construction of military fa6 cilities and installations (including international military 

7 headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective 

8 defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized 

9 by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Mili10 tary Construction Authorization Acts, $171,064,000, to 

11 remain available until expended. 

12 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT

13 For deposit into the Department of Defense Base 

14 Closure Account, established by section 2906(a) of the De15 fense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 

16 U.S.C. 2687 note), $277,538,000, to remain available 

17 until expended. 

18 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

19 For expenses of family housing for the Army for con20 struction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, ex21 pansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 

22 $330,660,000, to remain available until September 30, 

23 2023. 
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1 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

2 ARMY

3 For expenses of family housing for the Army for op4 eration and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, 

5 minor construction, principal and interest charges, and in6 surance premiums, as authorized by law, $376,509,000. 

7 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE

8 CORPS

9 For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Ma10 rine Corps for construction, including acquisition, replace11 ment, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as 

12 authorized by law, $104,581,000, to remain available until 

13 September 30, 2023. 

14 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

15 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

16 For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Ma17 rine Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt 

18 payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and inter19 est charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by 

20 law, $314,536,000. 

21 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

22 For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 

23 construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, 

24 expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 
10 

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1 $78,446,000, to remain available until September 30, 

2 2023. 

3 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR

4 FORCE

5 For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 

6 operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leas7 ing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, 

8 and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, 

9 $317,274,000. 

10 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

11 DEFENSE-WIDE

12 For expenses of family housing for the activities and 

13 agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the 

14 military departments) for operation and maintenance, 

15 leasing, and minor construction, as authorized by law, 

16 $58,373,000. 

17 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

18 FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

19 For the Department of Defense Family Housing Im20 provement Fund, $1,653,000, to remain available until ex21 pended, for family housing initiatives undertaken pursu22 ant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, pro23 viding alternative means of acquiring and improving mili24 tary family housing and supporting facilities. 
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1 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

2 MILITARY UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING IMPROVEMENT

3 FUND

4 For the Department of Defense Military Unaccom5 panied Housing Improvement Fund, $600,000, to remain 

6 available until expended, for unaccompanied housing ini7 tiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, 

8 United States Code, providing alternative means of acquir9 ing and improving military unaccompanied housing and 

10 supporting facilities. 

11 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

12 SEC. 101. None of the funds made available in this 

13 title shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a14 fixed-fee contract for construction, where cost estimates 

15 exceed $25,000, to be performed within the United States, 

16 except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of 

17 the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons there18 for. 

19 SEC. 102. Funds made available in this title for con20 struction shall be available for hire of passenger motor ve21 hicles. 

22 SEC. 103. Funds made available in this title for con23 struction may be used for advances to the Federal High24 way Administration, Department of Transportation, for 

25 the construction of access roads as authorized by section 
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1 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects author2 ized therein are certified as important to the national de3 fense by the Secretary of Defense. 

4 SEC. 104. None of the funds made available in this 

5 title may be used to begin construction of new bases in 

6 the United States for which specific appropriations have 

7 not been made. 

8 SEC. 105. None of the funds made available in this 

9 title shall be used for purchase of land or land easements 

10 in excess of 100 percent of the value as determined by 

11 the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engi12 neering Command, except: (1) where there is a determina13 tion of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated 

14 by the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney 

15 General; (3) where the estimated value is less than 

16 $25,000; or (4) as otherwise determined by the Secretary 

17 of Defense to be in the public interest. 

18 SEC. 106. None of the funds made available in this 

19 title shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site 

20 preparation; or (3) install utilities for any family housing, 

21 except housing for which funds have been made available 

22 in annual Acts making appropriations for military con23 struction. 

24 SEC. 107. None of the funds made available in this 

25 title for minor construction may be used to transfer or 
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1 relocate any activity from one base or installation to an2 other, without prior notification to the Committees on Ap3 propriations of both Houses of Congress. 

4 SEC. 108. None of the funds made available in this 

5 title may be used for the procurement of steel for any con6 struction project or activity for which American steel pro7 ducers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied 

8 the opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. 

9 SEC. 109. None of the funds available to the Depart10 ment of Defense for military construction or family hous11 ing during the current fiscal year may be used to pay real 

12 property taxes in any foreign nation. 

13 SEC. 110. None of the funds made available in this 

14 title may be used to initiate a new installation overseas 

15 without prior notification to the Committees on Appro16 priations of both Houses of Congress. 

17 SEC. 111. None of the funds made available in this 

18 title may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts 

19 estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for 

20 projects to be accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlan21 tic Treaty Organization member country, or in countries 

22 bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are 

23 awarded to United States firms or United States firms 

24 in joint venture with host nation firms. 
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1 SEC. 112. None of the funds made available in this 

2 title for military construction in the United States terri3 tories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein 

4 Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be 

5 used to award any contract estimated by the Government 

6 to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided, 

7 That this section shall not be applicable to contract 

8 awards for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid 

9 of a United States contractor exceeds the lowest respon10 sive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater 

11 than 20 percent: Provided further, That this section shall 

12 not apply to contract awards for military construction on 

13 Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and re14 sponsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor. 

15 SEC. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the 

16 appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, in17 cluding the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and 

18 scope of any proposed military exercise involving United 

19 States personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if amounts 

20 expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, 

21 are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 

22 SEC. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of 

23 Defense for construction in prior years shall be available 

24 for construction authorized for each such military depart-
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1 ment by the authorizations enacted into law during the 

2 current session of Congress. 

3 SEC. 115. For military construction or family housing 

4 projects that are being completed with funds otherwise ex5 pired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may 

6 be used to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspec7 tion, overhead, engineering and design on those projects 

8 and on subsequent claims, if any. 

9 SEC. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

10 law, any funds made available to a military department 

11 or defense agency for the construction of military projects 

12 may be obligated for a military construction project or 

13 contract, or for any portion of such a project or contract, 

14 at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after 

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

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

17 obligated from funds available for military construction 

18 projects; and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated 

19 for such project, plus any amount by which the cost of 

20 such project is increased pursuant to law. 

21 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

22 SEC. 117. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 

23 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic me24 dium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, 

25 United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations 
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1 of both Houses of Congress, such additional amounts as 

2 may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be 

3 transferred to: (1) the Department of Defense Family 

4 Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated 

5 for construction in ‘‘Family Housing’’ accounts, to be 

6 merged with and to be available for the same purposes 

7 and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated 

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

9 Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund 

10 from amounts appropriated for construction of military 

11 unaccompanied housing in ‘‘Military Construction’’ ac12 counts, to be merged with and to be available for the same 

13 purposes and for the same period of time as amounts ap14 propriated directly to the Fund: Provided, That appropria15 tions made available to the Funds shall be available to 

16 cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Con17 gressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan 

18 guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant 

19 to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 

20 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means 

21 of acquiring and improving military family housing, mili22 tary unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 

23 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

24 SEC. 118. In addition to any other transfer authority 

25 available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be 
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1 transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure 

2 Account to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the 

3 Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act 

4 of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated 

5 with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 

6 42 U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall 

7 be merged with and be available for the same purposes 

8 and for the same time period as the fund to which trans9 ferred. 

10 SEC. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

11 law, funds made available in this title for operation and 

12 maintenance of family housing shall be the exclusive 

13 source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family 

14 housing units, including general or flag officer quarters: 

15 Provided, That not more than $35,000 per unit may be 

16 spent annually for the maintenance and repair of any gen17 eral or flag officer quarters without 30 days prior notifica18 tion, or 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic 

19 medium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, 

20 United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations 

21 of both Houses of Congress, except that an after-the-fact 

22 notification shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded 

23 solely due to costs associated with environmental remedi24 ation that could not be reasonably anticipated at the time 

25 of the budget submission: Provided further, That the 
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1 Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is to report an2 nually to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

3 Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance ex4 penditures for each individual general or flag officer quar5 ters for the prior fiscal year. 

6 SEC. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Im7 provement Account established by subsection (h) of sec8 tion 2814 of title 10, United States Code, are appro9 priated and shall be available until expended for the pur10 poses specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until 

11 transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section. 

12 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

13 SEC. 121. During the 5-year period after appropria14 tions available in this Act to the Department of Defense 

15 for military construction and family housing operation and 

16 maintenance and construction have expired for obligation, 

17 upon a determination that such appropriations will not be 

18 necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making 

19 authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obliga20 tions incurred during the period of availability of such ap21 propriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations 

22 may be transferred into the appropriation ‘‘Foreign Cur23 rency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense’’, to be merged 

24 with and to be available for the same time period and for 
19 

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1 the same purposes as the appropriation to which trans2 ferred. 

3 SEC. 122. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 

4 available in an account funded under the headings in this 

5 title may be transferred among projects and activities 

6 within the account in accordance with the reprogramming 

7 guidelines for military construction and family housing 

8 construction contained in Department of Defense Finan9 cial Management Regulation 7000.14–R, Volume 3, Chap10 ter 7, of March 2011, as in effect on the date of enactment 

11 of this Act. 

12 SEC. 123. None of the funds made available in this 

13 title may be obligated or expended for planning and design 

14 and construction of projects at Arlington National Ceme15 tery. 

16 SEC. 124. For an additional amount for the accounts 

17 and in the amounts specified, to remain available until 

18 September 30, 2023: 

19 ‘‘Military Construction, Army’’, $77,600,000; 

20 ‘‘Military Construction, Navy and Marine 

21 Corps’’, $244,400,000, of which $10,000,000 is for 

22 planning and design; 

23 ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’, 

24 $118,516,000, of which $22,316,000 is for planning 

25 and design; 
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1 ‘‘Military Construction, Army National Guard’’, 

2 $22,000,000; 

3 ‘‘Military Construction, Air National Guard’’, 

4 $11,100,000, for planning and design; 

5 ‘‘Military Construction, Army Reserve’’, 

6 $10,000,000; and 

7 ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force Reserve’’, 

8 $14,400,000, of which $5,000,000 is for planning 

9 and design: 

10 Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry 

11 out construction projects identified in the respective mili12 tary department’s unfunded priority list for fiscal year 

13 2019 submitted to Congress: Provided further, That such 

14 projects are subject to authorization prior to obligation 

15 and expenditure of funds to carry out construction: Pro16 vided further, That not later than 30 days after enactment 

17 of this Act, the Secretary of the military department con18 cerned, or his or her designee, shall submit to the Commit19 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an ex20 penditure plan for funds provided under this section. 

21 (RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

22 SEC. 125. Of the unobligated balances available to 

23 the Department of Defense from prior appropriation Acts, 

24 the following funds are hereby rescinded from the fol25 lowing accounts in the amounts specified: 
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1 ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’, 

2 $31,158,000; 

3 ‘‘Military Construction, Army National Guard’’, 

4 $10,000,000; and 

5 ‘‘Family Housing Construction, Navy and Ma6 rine Corps’’, $2,138,000: 

7 Provided, That no amounts may be rescinded from 

8 amounts that were designated by the Congress for Over9 seas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or 

10 as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent 

11 resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and 

12 Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. 

13 SEC. 126. For the purposes of this Act, the term 

14 ‘‘congressional defense committees’’ means the Commit15 tees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 

16 and the Senate, the Subcommittee on Military Construc17 tion and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropria18 tions of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Military 

19 Construction and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on 

20 Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 

21 SEC. 127. None of the funds made available by this 

22 Act may be used to carry out the closure or realignment 

23 of the United States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, 

24 Cuba. 
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1 SEC. 128. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

2 law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 

3 available by this or any other Act may be used to consoli4 date or relocate any element of a United States Air Force 

5 Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair 

6 Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) outside of the United 

7 States until the Secretary of the Air Force (1) completes 

8 an analysis and comparison of the cost and infrastructure 

9 investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED 

10 HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus 

11 within the United States; (2) provides to the Committees 

12 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress (‘‘the Com13 mittees’’) a report detailing the findings of the cost anal14 ysis; and (3) certifies in writing to the Committees that 

15 the preferred site for the consolidation or relocation yields 

16 the greatest savings for the Air Force: Provided, That the 

17 term ‘‘United States’’ in this section does not include any 

18 territory or possession of the United States. 

19 SEC. 129. Notwithstanding section 123 of this Act, 

20 for an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

21 Army’’ in this title, $30,000,000, to remain available until 

22 expended, is provided for completion of the Defense Access 

23 Roads project and land acquisition for Arlington National 

24 Cemetery as authorized by section 2101 of the National 

25 Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public 
23 

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1 Law 114–92) and section 2829A of the National Defense 

2 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 

3 328): Provided, That such funds shall be in addition to 

4 any other funds made available in this or prior year Acts 

5 for such purposes, including funds made available by sec6 tion 132 of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, 

7 and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public 

8 Law 114–113). 

9 SEC. 130. All amounts appropriated to the ‘‘Depart10 ment of Defense—Military Construction, Army’’, ‘‘De11 partment of Defense—Military Construction, Navy and 

12 Marine Corps’’, ‘‘Department of Defense—Military Con13 struction, Air Force’’, and ‘‘Department of Defense—Mili14 tary Construction, Defense-Wide’’ accounts pursuant to 

15 the authorization of appropriations in a National Defense 

16 Authorization Act specified for fiscal year 2019 in the 

17 funding table in section 4601 of that Act shall be imme18 diately available and allotted to contract for the full scope 

19 of authorized projects. 
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1 TITLE II 

2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

3 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

4 COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

5 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

6 For the payment of compensation benefits to or on 

7 behalf of veterans and a pilot program for disability ex8 aminations as authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 

9 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; 

10 pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized 

11 by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United 

12 States Code; and burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitle13 ment Program for Survivors, emergency and other offi14 cers’ retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and certifi15 cates, payment of premiums due on commercial life insur16 ance policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV 

17 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 

18 541 et seq.) and for other benefits as authorized by sec19 tions 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, and chapters 23, 51, 

20 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code, 

21 $108,530,139,000, to remain available until expended, of 

22 which $107,119,807,000 shall become available on Octo23 ber 1, 2019: Provided, That not to exceed $18,047,000 

24 of the amount made available for fiscal year 2020 under 

25 this heading shall be reimbursed to ‘‘General Operating 
25 

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1 Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, and ‘‘Infor2 mation Technology Systems’’ for necessary expenses in 

3 implementing the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 

4 of title 38, United States Code, the funding source for 

5 which is specifically provided as the ‘‘Compensation and 

6 Pensions’’ appropriation: Provided further, That such 

7 sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient 

8 basis, shall be reimbursed to ‘‘Medical Care Collections 

9 Fund’’ to augment the funding of individual medical facili10 ties for nursing home care provided to pensioners as au11 thorized. 

12 READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

13 For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation 

14 benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chap15 ters 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 

16 61 of title 38, United States Code, $14,065,282,000, to 

17 remain available until expended and to become available 

18 on October 1, 2019: Provided, That expenses for rehabili19 tation program services and assistance which the Sec20 retary is authorized to provide under subsection (a) of sec21 tion 3104 of title 38, United States Code, other than 

22 under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that sub23 section, shall be charged to this account. 
26 

•S 3024 PCS

1 VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

2 For military and naval insurance, national service life 

3 insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled vet4 erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as 

5 authorized by chapters 19 and 21, title 38, United States 

6 Code, $111,340,000, which shall become available on Oc7 tober 1, 2019, and shall remain available until expended. 

8 VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND

9 For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such 

10 sums as may be necessary to carry out the program, as 

11 authorized by subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of 

12 title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, 

13 including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as de14 fined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 

15 1974: Provided further, That, during fiscal year 2019, 

16 within the resources available, not to exceed $500,000 in 

17 gross obligations for direct loans are authorized for spe18 cially adapted housing loans. 

19 In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 

20 the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $200,612,000. 

21 VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

22 For the cost of direct loans, $39,000, as authorized 

23 by chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, 

24 That such costs, including the cost of modifying such 

25 loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
27 

•S 3024 PCS

1 sional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds 

2 made available under this heading are available to sub3 sidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 

4 loans not to exceed $2,037,366. 

5 In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 

6 carry out the direct loan program, $396,000, which may 

7 be paid to the appropriation for ‘‘General Operating Ex8 penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’. 

9 NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM

10 ACCOUNT

11 For administrative expenses to carry out the direct 

12 loan program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 

13 of title 38, United States Code, $1,163,000. 

14 GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS

15 ADMINISTRATION

16 For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans 

17 Benefits Administration, not otherwise provided for, in18 cluding hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement 

19 of the General Services Administration for security guard 

20 services, and reimbursement of the Department of De21 fense for the cost of overseas employee mail, 

22 $2,956,316,000: Provided, That expenses for services and 

23 assistance authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and 

24 (11) of section 3104(a) of title 38, United States Code, 

25 that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are nec-
28 

•S 3024 PCS

1 essary to enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum ex2 tent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and 

3 maintain suitable employment; or (2) to achieve maximum 

4 independence in daily living, shall be charged to this ac5 count: Provided further, That, of the funds made available 

6 under this heading, not to exceed 10 percent shall remain 

7 available until September 30, 2020. 

8 VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

9 MEDICAL SERVICES

10 For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized 

11 by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to 

12 beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 

13 veterans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United 

14 States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not 

15 under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including 

16 medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, 

17 food services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare em18 ployees hired under title 38, United States Code, aid to 

19 State homes as authorized by section 1741 of title 38, 

20 United States Code, assistance and support services for 

21 caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38, 

22 United States Code, loan repayments authorized by sec23 tion 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 

24 Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 

25 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), monthly assistance allow-
29 

•S 3024 PCS

1 ances authorized by section 322(d) of title 38, United 

2 States Code, grants authorized by section 521A of title 

3 38, United States Code, and administrative expenses nec4 essary to carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, 

5 United States Code, and hospital care and medical serv6 ices authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States 

7 Code; $750,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds 

8 previously appropriated under this heading that become 

9 available on October 1, 2018; and, in addition, 

10 $51,411,165,000, plus reimbursements, shall become 

11 available on October 1, 2019, and shall remain available 

12 until September 30, 2020: Provided, That, of the amount 

13 made available on October 1, 2019, under this heading, 

14 $1,500,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

15 2021: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other 

16 provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

17 establish a priority for the provision of medical treatment 

18 for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower 

19 income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, not20 withstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 

21 Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provi22 sion of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment 

23 priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That, not24 withstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 

25 Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescrip-
30 

•S 3024 PCS

1 tion drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities 

2 to enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions 

3 based on requirements established by the Secretary: Pro4 vided further, That the implementation of the program de5 scribed in the previous proviso shall incur no additional 

6 cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided fur7 ther, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure 

8 that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading 

9 for medical supplies and equipment are available for the 

10 acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically for female 

11 veterans. 

12 MEDICAL COMMUNITY CARE

13 For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to 

14 individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United 

15 States Code, at non-Department facilities, 

16 $1,000,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds pre17 viously appropriated under this heading that become avail18 able on October 1, 2018; and, in addition, 

19 $10,758,399,000, plus reimbursements, shall become 

20 available on October 1, 2019, and shall remain available 

21 until September 30, 2020: Provided, That, of the amount 

22 made available on October 1, 2019, under this heading, 

23 $2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

24 2021. 
31 

•S 3024 PCS

1 MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE

2 For necessary expenses in the administration of the 

3 medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 

4 supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad5 ministrative expenses in support of capital policy activi6 ties; and administrative and legal expenses of the Depart7 ment for collecting and recovering amounts owed the De8 partment as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, 

9 United States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recov10 ery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $7,239,156,000, plus 

11 reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 

12 2019, and shall remain available until September 30, 

13 2020: Provided, That, of the amount made available on 

14 October 1, 2019, under this heading, $100,000,000 shall 

15 remain available until September 30, 2021. 

16 MEDICAL FACILITIES

17 For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op18 eration of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, 

19 and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Ad20 ministration; for administrative expenses in support of 

21 planning, design, project management, real property ac22 quisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of 

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

24 Department; for oversight, engineering, and architectural 

25 activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, alter-
32 

•S 3024 PCS

1 ing, improving, or providing facilities in the several hos2 pitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the Depart3 ment, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by 

4 the hire of temporary employees and purchase of mate5 rials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services; 

6 $211,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds pre7 viously appropriated under this heading that become avail8 able on October 1, 2018; and, in addition, 

9 $6,141,880,000, plus reimbursements, shall become avail10 able on October 1, 2019, and shall remain available until 

11 September 30, 2020: Provided, That, of the amount made 

12 available on October 1, 2019, under this heading, 

13 $250,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

14 2021. 

15 MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

16 For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of 

17 medical and prosthetic research and development as au18 thorized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, 

19 $779,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain avail20 able until September 30, 2020: Provided, That the Sec21 retary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient 

22 amounts appropriated under this heading are available for 

23 prosthetic research specifically for female veterans, and 

24 for toxic exposure research. 
33 

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1 NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

2 For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Ad3 ministration for operations and maintenance, not other4 wise provided for, including uniforms or allowances there5 for; cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase 

6 of one passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial oper7 ations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alter8 ation or improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction 

9 of the National Cemetery Administration, $315,836,000, 

10 of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available 

11 until September 30, 2020. 

12 DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

13 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

14 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

15 For necessary operating expenses of the Department 

16 of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including 

17 administrative expenses in support of Department-wide 

18 capital planning, management and policy activities, uni19 forms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for 

20 official reception and representation expenses; hire of pas21 senger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General 

22 Services Administration for security guard services, 

23 $365,976,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall re24 main available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That 

25 funds provided under this heading may be transferred to 
34 

•S 3024 PCS

1 ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Adminis2 tration’’. 

3 BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS

4 For necessary operating expenses of the Board of 

5 Veterans Appeals, $174,748,000, of which not to exceed 

6 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 

7 2020. 

8 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

9 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

10 For necessary expenses for information technology 

11 systems and telecommunications support, including devel12 opmental information systems and operational information 

13 systems; for pay and associated costs; and for the capital 

14 asset acquisition of information technology systems, in15 cluding management and related contractual costs of said 

16 acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with 

17 operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United 

18 States Code, $4,184,571,000, plus reimbursements: Pro19 vided, That $1,243,220,000 shall be for pay and associ20 ated costs, of which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain 

21 available until September 30, 2020: Provided further, That 

22 $2,560,780,000 shall be for operations and maintenance, 

23 of which not to exceed 5 percent shall remain available 

24 until September 30, 2020: Provided further, That 

25 $380,571,000 shall be for information technology systems 
35 

•S 3024 PCS

1 development, and shall remain available until September 

2 30, 2020: Provided further, That amounts made available 

3 for salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, 

4 and information technology systems development may be 

5 transferred among the three subaccounts after the Sec6 retary of Veterans Affairs requests from the Committees 

7 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the author8 ity to make the transfer and an approval is issued: Pro9 vided further, That amounts made available for the ‘‘Infor10 mation Technology Systems’’ account for development 

11 may be transferred among projects or to newly defined 

12 projects: Provided further, That no project may be in13 creased or decreased by more than $1,000,000 of cost 

14 prior to submitting a request to the Committees on Appro15 priations of both Houses of Congress to make the transfer 

16 and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a period 

17 of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, That the funds 

18 made available under this heading for information tech19 nology systems development shall be for the projects, and 

20 in the amounts, specified under this heading in the report 

21 accompanying this Act. 

22 VETERANS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD

23 For activities related to implementation, preparation, 

24 development, interface, management, rollout, and mainte25 nance of a Veterans Electronic Health Record system, in-
36 

•S 3024 PCS

1 cluding contractual costs associated with operations au2 thorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 

3 and salaries and expenses of employees hired under titles 

4 5 and 38, United States Code, $800,000,000, to remain 

5 available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That the 

6 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Commit7 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress quar8 terly reports detailing obligations, expenditures, and de9 ployment implementation by facility: Provided further, 

10 That the funds provided in this account shall only be avail11 able to the Office of the Deputy Secretary, to be adminis12 tered by that Office. 

13 OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

14 For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector 

15 General, to include information technology, in carrying out 

16 the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 

17 U.S.C. App.), $192,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 

18 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2020. 

19 CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

20 For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 

21 any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the 

22 jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 

23 Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 

24 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States 

25 Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning, ar-
37 

•S 3024 PCS

1 chitectural and engineering services, construction manage2 ment services, maintenance or guarantee period services 

3 costs associated with equipment guarantees provided 

4 under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility 

5 and storm drainage system construction costs, and site ac6 quisition, where the estimated cost of a project is more 

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

8 38, United States Code, or where funds for a project were 

9 made available in a previous major project appropriation, 

10 $1,127,486,000, of which $647,486,000 shall remain 

11 available until September 30, 2023, and of which 

12 $480,000,000 shall remain available until expended, of 

13 which $400,000,000 shall be available for seismic improve14 ment projects and seismic program management activities: 

15 Provided, That except for advance planning activities, in16 cluding needs assessments which may or may not lead to 

17 capital investments, and other capital asset management 

18 related activities, including portfolio development and 

19 management activities, and investment strategy studies 

20 funded through the advance planning fund and the plan21 ning and design activities funded through the design fund, 

22 including needs assessments which may or may not lead 

23 to capital investments, and salaries and associated costs 

24 of the resident engineers who oversee those capital invest25 ments funded through this account and contracting offi-
38 

•S 3024 PCS

1 cers who manage specific major construction projects, and 

2 funds provided for the purchase, security, and mainte3 nance of land for the National Cemetery Administration 

4 through the land acquisition line item, none of the funds 

5 made available under this heading shall be used for any 

6 project that has not been notified to Congress through the 

7 budgetary process or that has not been approved by the 

8 Congress through statute, joint resolution, or in the ex9 planatory statement accompanying such Act and pre10 sented to the President at the time of enrollment: Provided 

11 further, That funds made available under this heading for 

12 fiscal year 2019, for each approved project shall be obli13 gated: (1) by the awarding of a construction documents 

14 contract by September 30, 2019; and (2) by the awarding 

15 of a construction contract by September 30, 2020: Pro16 vided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

17 promptly submit to the Committees on Appropriations of 

18 both Houses of Congress a written report on any approved 

19 major construction project for which obligations are not 

20 incurred within the time limitations established above. 

21 CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

22 For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 

23 any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the 

24 jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 

25 Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs 
39 

•S 3024 PCS

1 which may lead to capital investments, architectural and 

2 engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period 

3 services costs associated with equipment guarantees pro4 vided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite 

5 utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and 

6 site acquisition, or for any of the purposes set forth in 

7 sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, 

8 United States Code, not otherwise provided for, where the 

9 estimated cost of a project is equal to or less than the 

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

11 United States Code, $706,889,000, to remain available 

12 until September 30, 2023, along with unobligated balances 

13 of previous ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ appropriations 

14 which are hereby made available for any project where the 

15 estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth 

16 in such section: Provided, That funds made available 

17 under this heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the 

18 nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use 

19 of the Department which are necessary because of loss or 

20 damage caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; 

21 and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to 

22 minimize further loss by such causes. 
40 

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1 GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF

2 STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

3 For grants to assist States to acquire or construct 

4 State nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to re5 model, modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, 

6 and domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing 

7 care to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 

8 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $150,000,000, to 

9 remain available until expended. 

10 GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES

11 For grants to assist States and tribal organizations 

12 in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans ceme13 teries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United 

14 States Code, $45,000,000, to remain available until ex15 pended. 

16 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

17 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

18 SEC. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2019 for 

19 ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 

20 and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ may be trans21 ferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appro22 priations: Provided, That, before a transfer may take 

23 place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from 

24 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con25 gress the authority to make the transfer and such Com-
41 

•S 3024 PCS

1 mittees issue an approval, or absent a response, a period 

2 of 30 days has elapsed. 

3 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

4 SEC. 202. Amounts made available for the Depart5 ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2019, in this or 

6 any other Act, under the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical 

7 Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, 

8 and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’ accounts may be transferred 

9 among the accounts: Provided, That any transfers among 

10 the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, and 

11 ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ accounts of 1 percent 

12 or less of the total amount appropriated to the account 

13 in this or any other Act may take place subject to notifica14 tion from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Com15 mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of 

16 the amount and purpose of the transfer: Provided further, 

17 That any transfers among the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Med18 ical Community Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Support and Compli19 ance’’ accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the 

20 cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may take place 

21 only after the Secretary requests from the Committees on 

22 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 

23 to make the transfer and an approval is issued: Provided 

24 further, That any transfers to or from the ‘‘Medical Facili25 ties’’ account may take place only after the Secretary re-
42 

•S 3024 PCS

1 quests from the Committees on Appropriations of both 

2 Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer 

3 and an approval is issued. 

4 SEC. 203. Appropriations available in this title for 

5 salaries and expenses shall be available for services au6 thorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; 

7 hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land 

8 or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as author9 ized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United 

10 States Code. 

11 SEC. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the 

12 appropriations for ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’, and 

13 ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’) shall be available for the 

14 purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any 

15 new hospital or home. 

16 SEC. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be 

17 available for hospitalization or examination of any persons 

18 (except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or ex19 amination under the laws providing such benefits to vet20 erans, and persons receiving such treatment under sec21 tions 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, 

22 or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

23 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reim24 bursement of the cost of such hospitalization or examina-
43 

•S 3024 PCS

1 tion is made to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account at such 

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

3 SEC. 206. Appropriations available in this title for 

4 ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 

5 and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ shall be avail6 able for payment of prior year accrued obligations re7 quired to be recorded by law against the corresponding 

8 prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 

9 2018. 

10 SEC. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall 

11 be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding 

12 prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 

13 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States 

14 Code, except that if such obligations are from trust fund 

15 accounts they shall be payable only from ‘‘Compensation 

16 and Pensions’’. 

17 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

18 SEC. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

19 law, during fiscal year 2019, the Secretary of Veterans 

20 Affairs shall, from the National Service Life Insurance 

21 Fund under section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, 

22 the Veterans’ Special Life Insurance Fund under section 

23 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United 

24 States Government Life Insurance Fund under section 

25 1955 of title 38, United States Code, reimburse the ‘‘Gen-
44 

•S 3024 PCS

1 eral Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administra2 tion’’ and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ accounts for 

3 the cost of administration of the insurance programs fi4 nanced through those accounts: Provided, That reimburse5 ment shall be made only from the surplus earnings accu6 mulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 

7 2019 that are available for dividends in that program after 

8 claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves 

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

10 administration of such an insurance program exceeds the 

11 amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, 

12 reimbursement shall be made only to the extent of such 

13 surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Secretary 

14 shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 

15 2019 which is properly allocable to the provision of each 

16 such insurance program and to the provision of any total 

17 disability income insurance included in that insurance pro18 gram. 

19 SEC. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use 

20 lease proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses in21 curred by that account during a prior fiscal year for pro22 viding enhanced-use lease services, may be obligated dur23 ing the fiscal year in which the proceeds are received. 
45 

•S 3024 PCS

1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for 

3 salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be 

4 available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Manage5 ment, the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint 

6 Adjudication, the Office of Accountability and Whistle7 blower Protection, and the Office of Diversity and Inclu8 sion for all services provided at rates which will recover 

9 actual costs but not to exceed $48,431,000 for the Office 

10 of Resolution Management, $4,333,000 for the Office of 

11 Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, 

12 $17,700,000 for the Office of Accountability and Whistle13 blower Protection, and $3,230,000 for the Office of Diver14 sity and Inclusion: Provided, That payments may be made 

15 in advance for services to be furnished based on estimated 

16 costs: Provided further, That amounts received shall be 

17 credited to the ‘‘General Administration’’ and ‘‘Informa18 tion Technology Systems’’ accounts for use by the office 

19 that provided the service. 

20 SEC. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans 

21 Affairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home 

22 care, or medical services provided to any person under 

23 chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-serv24 ice-connected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of 

25 such title, unless that person has disclosed to the Sec-
46 

•S 3024 PCS

1 retary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary 

2 may require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement 

3 information for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Pro4 vided, That the Secretary may recover, in the same man5 ner as any other debt due the United States, the reason6 able charges for such care or services from any person who 

7 does not make such disclosure as required: Provided fur8 ther, That any amounts so recovered for care or services 

9 provided in a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the 

10 Secretary during the fiscal year in which amounts are re11 ceived. 

12 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

13 SEC. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

14 law, proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leas15 ing activities (including disposal) may be deposited into 

16 the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, 

17 Minor Projects’’ accounts and be used for construction 

18 (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, 

19 and improvements of any medical facility under the juris20 diction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Af21 fairs. Such sums as realized are in addition to the amount 

22 provided for in ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Con23 struction, Minor Projects’’. 

24 SEC. 213. Amounts made available under ‘‘Medical 

25 Services’’ are available— 
47 

•S 3024 PCS

1 (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, sup2 plies, and equipment; and 

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

4 other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 

5 beneficiaries receiving care in the Department. 

6 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

7 SEC. 214. Such sums as may be deposited to the 

8 Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 

9 of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the 

10 ‘‘Medical Services’’ and ‘‘Medical Community Care’’ ac11 counts to remain available until expended for the purposes 

12 of these accounts. 

13 SEC. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

14 enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health 

15 Centers in the State of Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal 

16 organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health 

17 Compact with the Indian Health Service, to provide 

18 healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to 

19 veterans in rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require par20 ticipating veterans and facilities to comply with all appro21 priate rules and regulations, as established by the Sec22 retary. The term ‘‘rural Alaska’’ shall mean those lands 

23 which are not within the boundaries of the municipality 

24 of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 
48 

•S 3024 PCS

1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 216. Such sums as may be deposited to the De3 partment of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursu4 ant to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may 

5 be transferred to the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and 

6 ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ accounts, to remain avail7 able until expended for the purposes of these accounts. 

8 SEC. 217. Not later than 30 days after the end of 

9 each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

10 submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

11 Houses of Congress a report on the financial status of the 

12 Department of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: 

13 Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include 

14 the direction contained in the paragraph entitled ‘‘Quar15 terly reporting’’, under the heading ‘‘General Administra16 tion’’ in the joint explanatory statement accompanying 

17 Public Law 114–223. 

18 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

19 SEC. 218. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Med20 ical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Sup21 port and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Op22 erating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, 

23 ‘‘Board of Veterans Appeals’’, ‘‘General Administration’’, 

24 and ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’ accounts for fis25 cal year 2019 may be transferred to or from the ‘‘Informa-
49 

•S 3024 PCS

1 tion Technology Systems’’ account: Provided, That such 

2 transfers may not result in a more than 10 percent aggre3 gate increase in the total amount made available by this 

4 Act for the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ account: 

5 Provided further, That, before a transfer may take place, 

6 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the 

7 Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

8 the authority to make the transfer and an approval is 

9 issued. 

10 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

11 SEC. 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the De12 partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2019 for 

13 ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 

14 Support and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Con15 struction, Minor Projects’’, and ‘‘Information Technology 

16 Systems’’, up to $301,578,000, plus reimbursements, may 

17 be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—De18 partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstra19 tion Fund, established by section 1704 of the National De20 fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 

21 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation 

22 of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical 

23 facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan 

24 Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

25 Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Pro-
50 

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1 vided, That additional funds may be transferred from ac2 counts designated in this section to the Joint Department 

3 of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Fa4 cility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by 

5 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on 

6 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided fur7 ther, That section 220 of title II of division J of Public 

8 Law 115–141 is repealed. 

9 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

10 SEC. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the De11 partment of Veterans Affairs which become available on 

12 October 1, 2019, for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Com13 munity Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and 

14 ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, up to $307,609,000, plus reimburse15 ments, may be transferred to the Joint Department of De16 fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 

17 Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 

18 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

19 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used 

20 for operation of the facilities designated as combined Fed21 eral medical facilities as described by section 706 of the 

22 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 

23 Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): 

24 Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from 

25 accounts designated in this section to the Joint Depart-
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1 ment of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Med2 ical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notifica3 tion by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Commit4 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

5 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

6 SEC. 221. Such sums as may be deposited to the 

7 Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 

8 of title 38, United States Code, for healthcare provided 

9 at facilities designated as combined Federal medical facili10 ties as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter 

11 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 

12 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be avail13 able: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of De14 fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 

15 Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 

16 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

17 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for oper18 ations of the facilities designated as combined Federal 

19 medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Dun20 can Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

21 Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Pro22 vided, That, notwithstanding section 1704(b)(3) of the 

23 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

24 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2573), amounts trans25 ferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department 
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1 of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund 

2 shall remain available until expended. 

3 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

4 SEC. 222. Of the amounts available in this title for 

5 ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 

6 Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, a 

7 minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the 

8 DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as au9 thorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States 

10 Code, to remain available until expended, for any purpose 

11 authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 

12 SEC. 223. None of the funds available to the Depart13 ment of Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may 

14 be used to replace the current system by which the Vet15 erans Integrated Service Networks select and contract for 

16 diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. 

17 SEC. 224. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall no18 tify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

19 Congress of all bid savings in a major construction project 

20 that total at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the pro21 grammed amount of the project, whichever is less: Pro22 vided, That such notification shall occur within 14 days 

23 of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Pro24 vided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Commit25 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 
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1 days prior to the obligation of such bid savings and shall 

2 describe the anticipated use of such savings. 

3 SEC. 225. None of the funds made available for 

4 ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ may be used for a project 

5 in excess of the scope specified for that project in the origi6 nal justification data provided to the Congress as part of 

7 the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on 

9 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

10 SEC. 226. Not later than 30 days after the end of 

11 each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

12 submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

13 Houses of Congress a quarterly report containing perform14 ance measures and data from each Veterans Benefits Ad15 ministration Regional Office: Provided, That, at a min16 imum, the report shall include the direction contained in 

17 the section entitled ‘‘Disability claims backlog’’, under the 

18 heading ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 

19 Administration’’ in the joint explanatory statement accom20 panying Public Law 114–223: Provided further, That the 

21 report shall also include information on the number of ap22 peals pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration as 

23 well as the Board of Veterans Appeals on a quarterly 

24 basis. 
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1 SEC. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

2 provide written notification to the Committees on Appro3 priations of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to or4 ganizational changes which result in the transfer of 25 or 

5 more full-time equivalents from one organizational unit of 

6 the Department of Veterans Affairs to another. 

7 SEC. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

8 provide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appro9 priations of both Houses of Congress notification of any 

10 single national outreach and awareness marketing cam11 paign in which obligations exceed $2,000,000. 

12 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

13 SEC. 229. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon 

14 determination that such action is necessary to address 

15 needs of the Veterans Health Administration, may trans16 fer to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account any discretionary 

17 appropriations made available for fiscal year 2019 in this 

18 title (except appropriations made to the ‘‘General Oper19 ating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ ac20 count) or any discretionary unobligated balances within 

21 the Department of Veterans Affairs, including those ap22 propriated for fiscal year 2019, that were provided in ad23 vance by appropriations Acts: Provided, That transfers 

24 shall be made only with the approval of the Office of Man25 agement and Budget: Provided further, That the transfer 
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1 authority provided in this section is in addition to any 

2 other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, 

3 That no amounts may be transferred from amounts that 

4 were designated by Congress as an emergency requirement 

5 pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the 

6 Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 

7 1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer 

8 may not be used unless for higher priority items, based 

9 on emergent healthcare requirements, than those for 

10 which originally appropriated and in no case where the 

11 item for which funds are requested has been denied by 

12 Congress: Provided further, That, upon determination that 

13 all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation 

14 are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back 

15 to that appropriation and shall be available for the same 

16 purposes as originally appropriated: Provided further, 

17 That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of 

18 Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on 

19 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 

20 to make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 

21 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

22 SEC. 230. Amounts made available for the Depart23 ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2019, under the 

24 ‘‘Board of Veterans Appeals’’ and the ‘‘General Operating 

25 Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ accounts 
56 

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1 may be transferred between such accounts: Provided, That 

2 before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Vet3 erans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appro4 priations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 

5 make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 

6 SEC. 231. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 

7 reprogram funds among major construction projects or 

8 programs if such instance of reprogramming will exceed 

9 $7,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by 

10 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con11 gress. 

12 SEC. 232. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

13 ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 

14 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code— 

15 (1) provides to individuals who contact the hot16 line immediate assistance from a trained profes17 sional; and 

18 (2) adheres to all requirements of the American 

19 Association of Suicidology. 

20 (b)(1) None of the funds made available by this Act 

21 may be used to enforce or otherwise carry out any Execu22 tive action that prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

23 from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil 

24 service position, or establishing a new civil service position, 

25 at the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to 
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1 such a position relating to the hotline specified in sub2 section (a). 

3 (2) In this subsection— 

4 (A) the term ‘‘civil service’’ has the meaning 

5 given such term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United 

6 States Code; and 

7 (B) the term ‘‘Executive action’’ includes— 

8 (i) any Executive order, presidential memo9 randum, or other action by the President; and 

10 (ii) any agency policy, order, or other di11 rective. 

12 SEC. 233. None of the funds in this or any other Act 

13 may be used to close Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

14 hospitals, domiciliaries, or clinics, conduct an environ15 mental assessment, or to diminish healthcare services at 

16 existing Veterans Health Administration medical facilities 

17 located in Veterans Integrated Service Network 23 as part 

18 of a planned realignment of VA services until the Sec19 retary provides to the Committees on Appropriations of 

20 both Houses of Congress a report including the following 

21 elements: 

22 (1) a national realignment strategy that in23 cludes a detailed description of realignment plans 

24 within each Veterans Integrated Services Network 
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1 (VISN), including an updated Long Range Capital 

2 Plan to implement realignment requirements; 

3 (2) an explanation of the process by which 

4 those plans were developed and coordinated within 

5 each VISN; 

6 (3) a cost versus benefit analysis of each 

7 planned realignment, including the cost of replacing 

8 Veterans Health Administration services with con9 tract care or other outsourced services; 

10 (4) an analysis of how any such planned re11 alignment of services will impact access to care for 

12 veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, includ13 ing travel distances and transportation costs to ac14 cess a VA medical facility and availability of local 

15 specialty and primary care; 

16 (5) an inventory of VA buildings with historic 

17 designation and the methodology used to determine 

18 the buildings’ condition and utilization; 

19 (6) a description of how any realignment will be 

20 consistent with requirements under the National 

21 Historic Preservation Act; and 

22 (7) consideration given for reuse of historic 

23 buildings within newly identified realignment re24 quirements: Provided, That, this provision shall not 

25 apply to capital projects in VISN 23, or any other 
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1 VISN, which have been authorized or approved by 

2 Congress. 

3 SEC. 234. None of the funds made available to the 

4 Secretary of Veterans Affairs by this or any other Act may 

5 be obligated or expended in contravention of the ‘‘Veterans 

6 Health Administration Clinical Preventive Services Guid7 ance Statement on the Veterans Health Administration’s 

8 Screening for Breast Cancer Guidance’’ published on May 

9 10, 2017, as issued by the Veterans Health Administra10 tion National Center for Health Promotion and Disease 

11 Prevention. 

12 SEC. 235. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision 

13 of law, the amounts appropriated or otherwise made avail14 able to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ‘‘Med15 ical Services’’ account may be used to provide— 

16 (1) fertility counseling and treatment using as17 sisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran 

18 or the spouse of a covered veteran; or 

19 (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered vet20 eran. 

21 (b) In this section: 

22 (1) The term ‘‘service-connected’’ has the 

23 meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 

24 United States Code. 
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1 (2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a vet2 eran, as such term is defined in section 101 of title 

3 38, United States Code, who has a service-connected 

4 disability that results in the inability of the veteran 

5 to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 

6 (3) The term ‘‘assisted reproductive tech7 nology’’ means benefits relating to reproductive as8 sistance provided to a member of the Armed Forces 

9 who incurs a serious injury or illness on active duty 

10 pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 10, United 

11 States Code, as described in the memorandum on 

12 the subject of ‘‘Policy for Assisted Reproductive 

13 Services for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/ 

14 Injured (Category II or III) Active Duty Service 

15 Members’’ issued by the Assistant Secretary of De16 fense for Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and the 

17 guidance issued to implement such policy, including 

18 any limitations on the amount of such benefits avail19 able to such a member except that— 

20 (A) the time periods regarding embryo 

21 cryopreservation and storage set forth in part 

22 III(G) and in part IV(H) of such memorandum 

23 shall not apply; and 

24 (B) such term includes embryo 

25 cryopreservation and storage without limitation 
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1 on the duration of such cryopreservation and 

2 storage. 

3 (4) The term ‘‘adoption reimbursement’’ means 

4 reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for 

5 an adoption that is finalized after the date of the en6 actment of this Act under the same terms as apply 

7 under the adoption reimbursement program of the 

8 Department of Defense, as authorized in Depart9 ment of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the 

10 reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in 

11 such instruction. 

12 (c) Amounts made available for the purposes speci13 fied in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the 

14 requirements for funds contained in section 508 of division 

15 H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public 

16 Law 115–141). 

17 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

18 SEC. 236. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 

19 2019 under the heading ‘‘Department of Veterans Af20 fairs—Veterans Health Administration—Medical Support 

21 and Compliance’’ in title II of division J of the Consoli22 dated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141), 

23 $211,000,000 is hereby rescinded. 

24 SEC. 237. None of the funds appropriated or other25 wise made available by this Act or any other Act for the 
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1 Department of Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner 

2 that is inconsistent with: (1) section 842 of the Transpor3 tation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the 

4 Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent 

5 Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–115; 

6 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, 

7 United States Code. 

8 SEC. 238. Section 842 of Public Law 109–115 shall 

9 not apply to conversion of an activity or function of the 

10 Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Ad11 ministration, or National Cemetery Administration to con12 tractor performance by a business concern that is at least 

13 51 percent owned by one or more Indian tribes as defined 

14 in section 5304(e) of title 25, United States Code, or one 

15 or more Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined in sec16 tion 637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. 

17 SEC. 239. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), 

18 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 

19 Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall dis20 continue using Social Security account numbers to identify 

21 individuals in all information systems of the Department 

22 of Veterans Affairs as follows: 

23 (1) For all veterans submitting to the Secretary 

24 of Veterans Affairs new claims for benefits under 
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1 laws administered by the Secretary, not later than 5 

2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

3 (2) For all individuals not described in para4 graph (1), not later than 8 years after the date of 

5 the enactment of this Act. 

6 (b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use a So7 cial Security account number to identify an individual in 

8 an information system of the Department of Veterans Af9 fairs if and only if the use of such number is required 

10 to obtain information the Secretary requires from an in11 formation system that is not under the jurisdiction of the 

12 Secretary. 

13 SEC. 240. For funds provided to the Department of 

14 Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2019 and 2020 

15 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, section 239 of Division A of Public 

16 Law 114–223 shall apply. 

17 SEC. 241. None of the funds appropriated in this or 

18 prior appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to 

19 the Department of Veterans Affairs may be used to trans20 fer any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Com21 pensation Fund to any other account within the Depart22 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

23 SEC. 242. Of the funds provided to the Department 

24 of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2019 and fiscal 

25 year 2020 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, funds may be used in 
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1 each year to carry out and expand the child care program 

2 authorized by section 205 of Public Law 111–163, not3 withstanding subsection (e) of such section. 

4 SEC. 243. For funds provided to the Department of 

5 Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2019 and 2020, 

6 section 248 of Division A of Public Law 114–223 shall 

7 apply. 

8 SEC. 244. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

9 use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in 

10 this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time 

11 employment equivalents within any program of rehabilita12 tion conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States 

13 Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time em14 ployment equivalent. 

15 (b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the en16 actment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con17 gress a report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted 

18 under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, includ19 ing— 

20 (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio 

21 for each such program; and 

22 (2) recommendations for such action as the 

23 Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran24 to-staff ratio for each such program. 
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1 SEC. 245. None of the funds appropriated or other2 wise made available in this title may be used by the Sec3 retary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement re4 lated to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual 

5 that would restrict in any way the individual from speak6 ing to members of Congress or their staff on any topic 

7 not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal law 

8 or required by Executive Order to be kept secret in the 

9 interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign af10 fairs. 

11 SEC. 246. For funds provided to the Department of 

12 Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2019 and 2020, 

13 section 258 of Division A of Public Law 114–223 shall 

14 apply. 

15 SEC. 247. None of the funds appropriated or other16 wise made available by this Act may be used to conduct 

17 research using canines unless: the scientific objectives of 

18 the study can only be met by research with canines; the 

19 study has been directly approved by the Secretary; and 

20 the study is consistent with the revised Department of 

21 Veterans Affairs canine research policy document released 

22 on December 18, 2017: Provided, That not later than 180 

23 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub24 mit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

25 of Congress a detailed report outlining under what cir-
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1 cumstances canine research may be needed if there are 

2 no other alternatives, how often it was used during that 

3 time period, and what protocols are in place to determine 

4 both the safety and efficacy of the research. 

5 SEC. 248. For an additional amount for the Depart6 ment of Veterans Affairs, $2,000,000,000 to remain avail7 able until expended, for infrastructure improvements, in8 cluding new construction, and in addition to amounts oth9 erwise made available in this Act for such purpose, of 

10 which: 

11 (1) $1,000,000,000 shall be for ‘‘Veterans 

12 Health Administration—Medical Facilities’’ to be 

13 used for non-recurring maintenance; 

14 (2) $500,000,000 shall be for ‘‘Departmental 

15 Administration—Construction, Minor Projects’’; and 

16 (3) $500,000,000 shall be for ‘‘Departmental 

17 Administration—Construction, Major Projects’’: 

18 Provided, That the additional amounts appropriated for 

19 the purposes of non-recurring maintenance and minor con20 struction may be used to carry out critical life-safety 

21 projects identified in the Department’s annual facility con22 dition assessments; sustainment projects; modernization 

23 projects; infrastructure repair; renovations at existing Vet24 erans Health Administration medical centers and out25 patient clinics; and projects included in the Strategic Cap-
67 

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1 ital Investment Process plan: Provided further, That, of 

2 the funds made available under this section for ‘‘Construc3 tion, Major Projects’’, $300,000,000 shall be available for 

4 previously authorized and partially funded major construc5 tion projects, and $200,000,000 shall be available for seis6 mic improvement projects and seismic program manage7 ment activities: Provided further, That the additional 

8 amounts appropriated under this section may not be obli9 gated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

10 submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

11 Houses of Congress, and such Committees approve, a de12 tailed expenditure plan, including project descriptions and 

13 costs, for any non-recurring maintenance, minor construc14 tion, major construction, or seismic improvement project 

15 being funded with the additional amounts made available 

16 in this administrative provision. 

17 SEC. 249. None of the funds appropriated or other18 wise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs 

19 in this Act may be used in a manner that would— 

20 (1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to 

21 participate in a medicinal marijuana program ap22 proved by a State; 

23 (2) deny any services from the Department to 

24 a veteran who is participating in such a program; or 
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1 (3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health 

2 care provider of the Department to make appro3 priate recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps 

4 to comply with such a program. 
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1 TITLE III 

2 RELATED AGENCIES 

3 AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

4 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

5 For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, 

6 of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including 

7 the acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign coun8 tries; purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of 

9 national cemeteries and monuments outside of the United 

10 States and its territories and possessions; rent of office 

11 and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for12 one replacement basis only) and hire of passenger motor 

13 vehicles; not to exceed $15,000 for official reception and 

14 representation expenses; and insurance of official motor 

15 vehicles in foreign countries, when required by law of such 

16 countries, $81,000,000, to remain available until ex17 pended. 

18 FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT

19 For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, 

20 of the American Battle Monuments Commission, such 

21 sums as may be necessary, to remain available until ex22 pended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 

23 36, United States Code. 
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1 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS

2 CLAIMS

3 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

4 For necessary expenses for the operation of the 

5 United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as 

6 authorized by sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, 

7 United States Code, $34,955,000: Provided, That 

8 $2,580,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing 

9 financial assistance as described and in accordance with 

10 the process and reporting procedures set forth under this 

11 heading in Public Law 102–229. 

12 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL

13 CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

14 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

15 For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, 

16 and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Sol17 diers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, including 

18 the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles for re19 placement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed 

20 $2,000 for official reception and representation expenses, 

21 $80,800,000, of which not to exceed $15,000,000 shall re22 main available until September 30, 2021. In addition, 

23 such sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, 

24 repairs and replacement, to be derived from the ‘‘Lease 
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1 of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense 

2 Agencies’’ account. 

3 CONSTRUCTION

4 For necessary expenses for planning and design and 

5 construction at Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers’ 

6 and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, $56,600,000, to 

7 remain available until expended, for planning and design 

8 and construction associated with the Southern Expansion 

9 project at Arlington National Cemetery. 

10 ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

11 TRUST FUND

12 For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retire13 ment Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces 

14 Retirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia, 

15 and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mis16 sissippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed 

17 Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $64,300,000, of 

18 which $1,000,000 shall remain available until expended 

19 for construction and renovation of the physical plants at 

20 the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, Dis21 trict of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement 

22 Home—Gulfport, Mississippi: Provided, That of the 

23 amounts made available under this heading from funds 

24 available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust 
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1 Fund, $22,000,000 shall be paid from the general fund 

2 of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. 

3 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

4 SEC. 301. Amounts deposited into the special account 

5 established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are appropriated and 

6 shall be available until expended to support activities at 

7 the Army National Military Cemeteries. 
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1 TITLE IV 

2 OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS 

3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

5 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

6 Army’’, $192,250,000, to remain available until Sep7 tember 30, 2023, for projects outside of the United States: 

8 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 

9 for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter10 rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Bal11 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

12 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

13 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

14 Navy and Marine Corps’’, $227,320,000, to remain avail15 able until September 30, 2023, for projects outside of the 

16 United States: Provided, That such amount is designated 

17 by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/ 

18 Global War on Terrorism pursuant to section 

19 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

20 Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

21 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

22 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

23 Air Force’’ $414,800,000, to remain available until Sep24 tember 30, 2023, for projects outside of the United States: 

25 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 
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1 for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter2 rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Bal3 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

5 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

6 Defense-Wide’’, $87,050,000, to remain available until 

7 September 30, 2023, for projects outside of the United 

8 States: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 

9 Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global 

10 War on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of 

11 the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 

12 of 1985. 

13 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

14 SEC. 401. Each amount designated in this Act by the 

15 Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global 

16 War on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of 

17 the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 

18 of 1985 shall be available only if the President subse19 quently so designates all such amounts and transmits such 

20 designations to the Congress. 

21 SEC. 402. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

22 law, the Secretary of Defense is directed to provide the 

23 congressional defense committees a future years defense 

24 program for funds appropriated to the Department of De25 fense for construction projects related to European Reas-
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1 surance Initiative and European Deterrence Initiative be2 ginning in fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal 

3 year that funding is requested for either initiative. Fur4 ther, the Secretary of Defense is directed to submit the 

5 future years defense program with each fiscal year budget 

6 submission. 
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1 TITLE V 

2 GENERAL PROVISIONS 

3 SEC. 501. No part of any appropriation contained in 

4 this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the 

5 current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. 

6 SEC. 502. None of the funds made available in this 

7 Act may be used for any program, project, or activity, 

8 when it is made known to the Federal entity or official 

9 to which the funds are made available that the program, 

10 project, or activity is not in compliance with any Federal 

11 law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private 

12 property rights, or unfunded mandates. 

13 SEC. 503. All departments and agencies funded under 

14 this Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing 

15 statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of 

16 ‘‘E–Commerce’’ technologies and procedures in the con17 duct of their business practices and public service activi18 ties. 

19 SEC. 504. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and no20 tifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the 

21 Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Af22 fairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appro23 priations of the House of Representatives and the Sub24 committee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, 
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1 and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations 

2 of the Senate. 

3 SEC. 505. None of the funds made available in this 

4 Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or in5 strumentality of the United States Government except 

6 pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority pro7 vided in, this or any other appropriations Act. 

8 SEC. 506. (a) Any agency receiving funds made avail9 able in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), 

10 post on the public Web site of that agency any report re11 quired to be submitted by the Congress in this or any 

12 other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agen13 cy that it shall serve the national interest. 

14 (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if— 

15 (1) the public posting of the report com16 promises national security; or 

17 (2) the report contains confidential or propri18 etary information. 

19 (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall 

20 do so only after such report has been made available to 

21 the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for 

22 no less than 45 days. 

23 SEC. 507. (a) None of the funds made available in 

24 this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer 
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1 network unless such network blocks the viewing, 

2 downloading, and exchanging of pornography. 

3 (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of 

4 funds necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law 

5 enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out crimi6 nal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 

7 SEC. 508. None of the funds made available in this 

8 Act may be used by an agency of the executive branch 

9 to pay for first-class travel by an employee of the agency 

10 in contravention of sections 301–10.122 through 301– 

11 10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. 

12 SEC. 509. None of the funds made available in this 

13 Act may be used to execute a contract for goods or serv14 ices, including construction services, where the contractor 

15 has not complied with Executive Order No. 12989. 

16 SEC. 510. None of the funds made available by this 

17 Act may be used by the Department of Defense or the 

18 Department of Veterans Affairs to lease or purchase new 

19 light duty vehicles for any executive fleet, or for an agen20 cy’s fleet inventory, except in accordance with Presidential 

21 Memorandum—Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 

22 24, 2011. 

23 SEC. 511. (a) IN GENERAL.—None of the funds ap24 propriated or otherwise made available to the Department 

25 of Defense in this Act may be used to construct, renovate, 
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1 or expand any facility in the United States, its territories, 

2 or possessions to house any individual detained at United 

3 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, for the 

4 purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or 

5 under the control of the Department of Defense. 

6 (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply 

7 to any modification of facilities at United States Naval 

8 Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

9 (c) An individual described in this subsection is any 

10 individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United 

11 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, and who— 

12 (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a 

13 member of the Armed Forces of the United States; 

14 and 

15 (2) is— 

16 (A) in the custody or under the effective 

17 control of the Department of Defense; or 

18 (B) otherwise under detention at United 

19 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

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

21 Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations 

22 Act, 2019’’. 
Calendar No. 446 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3024 

[Report No. 115–269] 

A BILL 

Making appropriations for military construction, 

2019, and for other purposes. agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 

JUNE 7, 2018 

Read twice and placed on the calendar