87–931 PDF 

Calendar No. 400 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 113–174 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND 

RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION BILL, 2015 

MAY 22, 2014.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 4486] 

The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the bill 

(H.R. 4486) making appropriations for military construction, the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 

year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes, reports 

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

the bill as amended do pass. 

Amounts in new budget authority 

Total of bill as reported to the Senate ....................$168,438,803,000 

Amount of 2014 appropriations 1 ............................. 159,160,796,000 

Amount of 2015 budget estimate ............................ 168,437,946,000 

Amount of House allowance .................................... 168,039,751,000 

Bill as recommended to Senate compared to— 

Amount of 2014 appropriations ........................ ∂9,278,007,000 

Amount of 2015 budget estimate ..................... ∂857,000 

House allowance ................................................ ∂399,052,000 
(2) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Background: 

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

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

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

Title I: 

Military Construction: 

Items of Special Interest: 

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

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

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

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

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

Military Construction, Defense-Wide ...................................................... 16 

Military Construction, Reserve Components .......................................... 18 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization ........................................................ 18 

Family Housing Overview ........................................................................ 19 

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

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army ............................. 21 

Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps ........................ 21 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine 

Corps ....................................................................................................... 22 

Family Housing Construction, Air Force ................................................. 22 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force ....................... 22 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide ................ 23 

Family Housing Improvement Fund ........................................................ 23 

Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide ........................ 24 

Department of Defense Base Closure Account ....................................... 24 

Administrative Provisions ........................................................................ 25 

Title II: 

Department of Veterans Affairs: 

Items of Special Interest: 

Hearings .............................................................................................. 28 

Summary of Committee Recommendations ..................................... 28 

Department Overview ........................................................................ 28 

Veterans Benefits Administration ........................................................... 36 

Compensation and Pensions .............................................................. 36 

Readjustment Benefits ....................................................................... 38 

Veterans Insurance and Indemnities ............................................... 38 

Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund ........................................ 39 

Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account ......................... 39 

Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account ........... 40 

Veterans Health Administration .............................................................. 40 

Medical Services ................................................................................. 45 

Medical Support and Compliance ..................................................... 56 

Medical Facilities ............................................................................... 57 

Medical and Prosthetic Research ...................................................... 59 

Medical Care Cost Recovery Collections .......................................... 60 

National Cemetery Administration .......................................................... 61 

Departmental Administration .................................................................. 62 

General Administration ..................................................................... 63 

Board of Veterans Appeals ................................................................ 64 

General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration .. 65 

Information Technology Systems ...................................................... 68 

Office of Inspector General ................................................................ 71 
Page

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Title II—Continued 

Department of Veterans Affairs—Continued 

Departmental Administration—Continued 

Construction, Major Projects ............................................................. 71 

Construction, Minor Projects ............................................................. 73 

Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities ............ 74 

Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries ............................ 75 

Administrative Provisions ........................................................................ 76 

Title III: 

Related Agencies: 

American Battle Monuments Commission: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................... 79 

Foreign Currency Fluctuations ......................................................... 79 

United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: Salaries and 

Expenses ................................................................................................. 80 

Department of Defense—Civil: Cemeterial Expenses, Army: 

Salaries and Expenses ....................................................................... 81 

Armed Forces Retirement Home: Trust Fund ........................................ 82 

Title IV: General Provisions ................................................................................... 83 

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

Senate ................................................................................................................... 84 

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

Senate ................................................................................................................... 85 

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

Senate ................................................................................................................... 86 

Budgetary Impact of Bill ......................................................................................... 87 

Military Construction Project Listing by Location ................................................ 88 

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

BACKGROUND 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related 

Agencies appropriations bill provides necessary funding for the 

planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of military facilities worldwide, for both active and reserve forces. It also 

finances the cost of military family housing and the U.S. share of 

the NATO Security Investment Program. In addition, the bill provides funding, including environmental remediation, for base closures and realignments authorized by law. The bill provides resources to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans benefits 

and healthcare and funding for U.S. cemeteries and battlefield 

monuments both in the United States and abroad, including Arlington National Cemetery and the American Battle Monuments 

Commission. Additionally, the bill funds the U.S. Court of Appeals 

for Veterans Claims, and the Armed Forces Retirement Homes. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends new budget authority totaling 

$165,410,828,000 for fiscal year 2015 military construction, family 

housing, base closure, veterans healthcare and benefits, including 

fiscal year 2016 advance appropriations for veterans medical care, 

and related agencies. This includes $93,512,828,000 in mandatory 

funding and $71,898,000,000 in discretionary funding. The table at 

the end of the report displays the Committee recommendation in 

comparison with the current fiscal year, and the President’s fiscal 

year 2015 request. 

APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 

Budget request Senate 

recommendation 

New budget authority ..................................................................................... $168,437,946,000 $168,438,803,000 

Previous advances provided for fiscal year 2015 .......................................... 55,634,227,000 55,634,227,000 

Less advances provided for fiscal year 2016 ................................................ ¥58,662,202,000 ¥58,662,202,000 

Total appropriations for fiscal year 2015 ......................................... 165,409,971,000 165,410,828,000 

OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF BILL

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related 

Agencies appropriations bill funds an array of programs that are 

vital to America’s military personnel and their families, and to the 

Nations’ veterans. For U.S. military forces and their families worldwide, the bill funds critical infrastructure, ranging from mission essential operational and training facilities to key quality-of-life facilities, including barracks, family housing, child care centers, 
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schools and hospitals. For America’s 22.3 million veterans, the bill 

provides the necessary funding for veterans benefits and 

healthcare, from prescription drugs and clinical services to the construction of hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the 

Nation. The bill also funds veterans cemeteries in the United 

States and provides funding for four independent agencies—the 

American Battle Monuments Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Armed Forces Retirement Homes, 

and Arlington National Cemetery. 
(6) 

TITLE I 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

HEARINGS

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

year 2015 military construction budget request. Witnesses included 

representatives of the Office of Secretary of Defense and of the active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The fiscal year 2015 budget request for military construction and 

family housing totals $6,557,447,000. The Committee recommends 

$6,559,000,000, which is equal to the Congressional Budget Office’s 

reestimate of the President’s budget request for military construction and family housing. 

REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES

The following reprogramming guidelines apply for all military 

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

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

is required. Accordingly, no reprogrammings to an item specifically 

reduced below the threshold by the Congress are permitted. 

The reprogramming criteria that apply to military construction 

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

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

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

delay, the costs associated with environmental hazard remediation 

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

requirements could not be reasonably anticipated at the time of the 

budget submission. This exclusion applies to projects authorized in 

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

which construction has not been completed. 

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

Committee, the adjusted amount approved becomes the new base 

for any future increase or decrease via below-threshold 

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

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

Regulation 7000.14–R and relevant updates and policy memoranda. 

REAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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

—Components of the facility may be repaired by replacement, 

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

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

must be performed as military construction projects. 

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

long as the final conjunctively funded project is a complete and 

usable facility. 

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

The Department is directed to continue to report on the real 

property maintenance backlog at all installations for which there 

is a requested construction project in future budget requests. This 

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

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

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

INCREMENTAL FUNDING

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

Committee to provide incremental funding for certain large 

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

services to more efficiently allocate military construction dollars 

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

For fiscal year 2015, the Committee recommends incremental funding for the following project: Medical Center Replacement, increment 4, Rhine Ordinance Barracks, Germany. 

ENERGY POLICY

The Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy in 

the Federal Government, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the 

government’s total energy consumption. DOD spends nearly 

$4,100,000,000 annually on facility energy alone, nearly a quarter 

of its total energy costs. However, installation energy consumption 

accounts for nearly 40 percent of the Department’s greenhouse gas 

emissions. The Committee commends the Department for its aggressive efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and 

installations, reduce consumption, mitigate its carbon footprint, invest in renewable energy projects, and enhance energy security on 

its installations. 
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The Committee also supports the efforts of the Department to incorporate green building technologies into both new construction 

and renovations of buildings. As noted in the past, the Committee 

believes that the use of these technologies should be a fundamental 

consideration in the design or retrofit of all military construction 

projects. 

European Infrastructure Consolidation [EIC] Study.—The Committee is aware that the Department of Defense is conducting an 

EIC study in an effort to reduce excess DOD infrastructure in Europe. However, the study has not yet been finalized, nor have the 

recommendations been presented to Congress or to the host nations. Moreover, the timeline for completing that process remains 

uncertain. 

As noted last year, the Committee continues to question the rationale for funding certain projects in Europe before DOD has determined the overall outcome of this study. 

In particular, the Committee is interested in the savings-to-investment ratio of the EIC. The fiscal year 2015 budget request includes $92,223,000 for the first of a three-phase Joint Intelligence 

Analysis Center at Royal Air Force Base Croughton in the United 

Kingdom. The project would consolidate U.S. intelligence gathering 

operations for the European [EUCOM] and Africa [AFRICOM] 

Commands and establish a NATO Intelligence Fusion Center. The 

overall cost of this three-phase project is estimated to be in excess 

of $300,000,000. 

The Committee is concerned that reliance on new construction to 

consolidate facilities as a means to reduce excess infrastructure can 

come with a heavy price tag. This is particularly troubling during 

a time in which the Defense Department is strapped for cash, and 

the military construction budget request for fiscal year 2015 

plunged 40 percent from the fiscal year 2014 request. 

While the Committee recognizes the importance of having a modernized intelligence center in Europe, it is concerned about the full 

cost and scope of this project, the rationale for an AFRICOM component when the AFRICOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, 

is still being analyzed, and the associated costs of significantly expanding the U.S. military and family population at RAF 

Croughton, which is likely to require additional family housing, 

schools, health facilities, commissaries, and exchange facilities. 

For this reason, the Committee has fenced funding for the 

Croughton project until the European Infrastructure Consolidation 

Study is transmitted to Congress and the Secretary of Defense certifies in writing to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress the requirement for this project. This restriction is consistent with the restrictions on funding included in the 

fiscal year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations bill for projects in Germany and 

England associated with the EIC. 

The Committee further believes that the Department’s request 

for another round of base closures within the United States is premature until DOD completes a thorough review of all overseas 

bases and determines that all facilities that are operationally prudent to close are done so before assessing which bases in the 

United States should be closed or realigned. The Committee urges 
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the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the European Infrastructure Consolidation Study and all overseas basing studies are conducted without predetermined outcomes and will represent a thorough evaluation of the needs of the Department of Defense. 

The Committee also directs the Department to provide to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a savings-to-investment report on the EIC proposal, detailing the 

metrics and assumptions used to determine the savings associated 

with the EIC. This report should accompany the submission of the 

final EIC recommendations to Congress. 

Pacific Resiliency Study.—The Committee remains concerned 

that the Pacific Command [PACOM] has not completed a resiliency 

plan for the laydown of forces in the Pacific Area of Responsibility 

[AOR]. It is imperative that as DOD rebalances forces in the Pacific region, PACOM develop a prioritized resiliency plan to protect, 

disperse and/or repair U.S. military assets within the AOR. The 

Committee urges PACOM to include robust, permanent ballistic 

missile defense as part of this plan, particularly on Guam. The 

temporary deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense 

battery to Guam is a positive first step, but given the planned U.S. 

military build-up in Guam, a permanent missile defense capability 

is needed. The Committee urges DOD to expedite its efforts to finalize the resiliency plan for the beddown of forces in the Pacific 

AOR and directs DOD to report its recommendations to the Committees on Appropriations of both houses of Congress upon completion, or within 90 days of enactment of this act, whichever occurs 

first. 

Department of Defense Studies.—The Committee notes that the 

Department of Defense frequently fails to complete and deliver to 

Congress significant studies in a timely manner. The European 

Consolidation Study is now overdue, and the Pacific Resiliency 

Study has been delayed nearly a year. As a result, the Committee 

is handicapped in its ability to adequately evaluate the Department’s request for additional projects due to the realignment of 

forces, consolidation of facilities, or major force structure changes. 

The Committee is supportive of the Department’s efforts to reevaluate its long range overseas mission and basing strategy, but 

notes that premature requests to fund projects that could be impacted by the results of the re-evaluation before the studies have 

been completed and provided to Congress for review are not in the 

best interests of either the Department or the American taxpayer. 

Afghanistan Military Construction.—With the ongoing drawdown 

of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the Committee is concerned about 

the status of unfinished military construction projects in the country and plans for the divestment of these and other military construction facilities that will no longer be required to support U.S. 

military operations. 

The Committee recognizes that military construction decisions 

during contingency operations are difficult for several reasons: 

timeframes are often unclear or subject to unanticipated change; 

troop and equipment levels fluctuate; enemy activity may compel 

changes in force protection measures; and the relative permanence 

of structures may signal misleading intent on the part of U.S. 

forces. Nonetheless, in order to provide security and support for our 
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troops and associated personnel, military leaders must make decisions about military construction during contingencies, all of which 

are funded by American taxpayers. However, the Committee is 

aware of instances in which military construction projects in Afghanistan continued to be funded and executed even though local 

commanders had determined there was no longer a need for those 

facilities, potentially wasting millions of dollars. 

The Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Research Service, and several non-governmental organizations have 

issued reports on the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and 

have highlighted, among other things, the costs associated with 

building and maintaining structures in a contingency environment. 

While these reports have provided great insights into the broader 

DOD processes and related costs for supporting contingency operations, they have not focused specifically on the means by which 

the Department makes decisions about construction in a contingency environment or the challenges faced when making those decisions. In light of the recent end of the war in Iraq and the continued drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, the Committee recommends a comprehensive review of this issue with the intent that 

any lessons learned could be applied in future contingencies. Therefore, the committee directs the Comptroller General to conduct a 

review of the following: 

—The processes Department of Defense officials used to make decisions about military construction in Iraq and Afghanistan, to 

include procedures for determining whether a structure should 

be permanent, enduring, or temporary; 

—The costs associated with decisions made about military construction in Iraq and Afghanistan, to include the source or 

sources of funding; 

—Any lessons the Department has learned about military construction during contingency operations based on the experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan; and 

—Any other issues related to the military construction in a contingency environment that may come to light during the course 

of the review. 

The Committee directs that the Comptroller General provide a 

briefing to the Committee on this work no later than March 1, 

2015, with a report to follow. 

The Committee also directs the Department of Defense to provide 

to the congressional defense committees a quarterly report on the 

status of all active military construction projects in Afghanistan, 

including the fiscal year and appropriations act in which the funding was provided, amount of appropriation, scheduled completion 

date, contract award date, contract award amount, and percent 

complete. The report shall also include the disposition of all major 

military construction projects at installations that the Department 

has determined will not be enduring U.S. locations following the 

end of major combat operations in Afghanistan. This assessment 

should include the cost, by project and quarter, of maintaining or 

demolishing any facilities that will not be returned to the host nation, as well as the cost of repairing or renovating any facilities 

that will be turned over to the Afghan government. The initial report should be provided at the end of the first quarter following en-
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actment of this act, and each quarter thereafter until the Department has determined the disposition of all major military construction projects at non-enduring locations in Afghanistan. 

Payment-in-Kind Funds.—The Committee remains concerned 

over the use of payment-in-kind [PIK] funds derived from residual 

value compensation for overseas military construction. An April 15, 

2013, Senate Armed Services Committee report (Committee Report 

113–12) found that Installation Management Command-Europe’s 

[IMCOM–E] use of PIK funds was in some cases inconsistent with 

the intent of Congress. Specific concerns identified in the report include the opaque residual value assessments of overseas U.S. facilities, the use of ‘‘advance PIK’’ for military construction, the selection process for PIK projects, and lapses in required Congressional 

notifications before beginning residual value negotiations for inkind payments used for military construction projects. 

In response to these findings, the Senate Appropriations Committee included language in the report accompanying the Senate 

fiscal year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations bill directing the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures to enhance oversight of the PIK program. The language also directed the Secretary to provide a report 

within 90 days of enactment of the act on the steps the Department 

is taking to address the concerns raised by both Committees, and 

to provide quarterly reports on the status of approved and pending 

PIK projects. 

The Committee understands that in response to the directive, the 

Department is undertaking a comprehensive review of the PIK 

process to develop a revised PIK project submission and approval 

process. According to the Department, the new procedures will result in projects being prioritized by a Combatant Command and 

submitted for inclusion in the President’s budget request instead of 

being funded outside of normal budget channels. The Committee is 

aware that this redesign is still in the early stages, and urges the 

Department to move forward as quickly as possible to finalize and 

implement the new procedures. The Committee further directs the 

Secretary to provide a report to the congressional defense committees within 90 days of enactment of this act on the status of the 

PIK program reorganization. 

Missile Defense.—The Committee continues to support implementation of the European Phased Adaptive Approach [EPAA] to protect our deployed forces and European NATO allies from ballistic 

missile attacks. Last October the Missile Defense Agency broke 

ground on the first Aegis Ashore missile defense site in Deveselu, 

Romania. Construction continues at the site, and the project is 

under budget and on schedule with a planned completion date of 

December 2014. Activation of this site will begin to provide the 

United States and our European allies with a defensive capability 

against the growing threat of Iranian ballistic missiles. The Committee is encouraged by the significant progress made to date and 

urges the Department to aggressively pursue opportunities to expedite construction and deployment of the second Aegis Ashore system in Redzikowo, Poland. The Committee expects the fiscal year 

2016 budget request to include full funding for the expedited construction of this second site. 
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MDA Long Range Discrimination Radar.—The Committee fully funds the President’s request of $29,000,000 for planning and design for the Missile Defense Agency [MDA] Long Range Discrimination Radar [LRDR] in the Pacific Region. The Committee understands that the Administration intends to seek funds for the construction of the LRDR in its fiscal year 2016 military construction 

program, with the objective of delivering the LRDR by the end of 

2019 to meet 2020 MDA Enhanced Homeland Defense Capability 

goals. The LRDR will serve as a midcourse sensor to mitigate 

threat evolution and improve discriminating capability in the Ballistic Missile Defense System architecture focused on threats in the 

Pacific. The Committee encourages the Department of Defense to 

remain on course to deliver the system in line with the program’s 

schedule. 

While a site determination has not yet been made, MDA indicates that the LRDR will likely be located in Alaska, where assuring one-hundred percent reliable, secure, and cost effective power 

generation is a key concern. The Committee is concerned that sufficient and reliable power generation be available to support both 

the LRDR and the candidate installations’ current and expected future mission needs. Accordingly, when determining different energy 

supply options and upgrades needed to support the LRDR, MDA 

should coordinate with the services to assess current power generation capabilities at the candidate installations, and to determine 

the cost of any expansion or enhancements required to ensure that 

future power needs are taken into consideration. 

Defense Access Roads.—Nationwide, there are immediate and significant transportation needs in many States and communities that 

are experiencing substantial population growth as a result of defense activities. The Department of Defense’s Office of Economic 

Adjustment estimates that there are a considerable number of mission critical transportation projects in need of funding. Providing 

Department of Defense funding in conjunction with State transportation improvement programs to address defense-related transportation projects, including those required as a result of Base Realignment and Closure development, would enhance the ability of 

work on these projects to begin promptly. By including mission 

growth transportation projects as eligible infrastructure projects for 

Federal defense funding, important improvements can be made 

while creating jobs and strengthening national security. The Committee supports adjustment in Defense Access Road eligibility 

thresholds and requirements for installations of strategic importance, and a separate Defense Access Road funding source to offset 

the impacts of base expansion and resultant traffic congestion. 

The Committee further urges the Secretary of Defense to 

prioritize the construction of Defense Access Roads to relieve traffic 

congestion associated with mission growth and base realignment 

activities. 

U.S. Special Operations Command [USSOCOM].—The Committee commends the Department of Defense for following through 

on previous Committee direction to prioritize SOCOM’s long-range 

training plan for bases in the continental United States [CONUS]. 

Accordingly, the Committee fully funds the President’s fiscal year 

2015 request for CONUS Special Operations Forces projects, and 
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urges the Department of Defense to execute the fiscal year 2015 

SOCOM projects as expeditiously as possible. 

Redevelopment Potential for Military Properties and Facilities.— The Committee directs the Department of Defense to report to Congress within 120 days after enactment of this act on steps DOD 

could take to assess the local redevelopment potential for military 

properties and facilities. Prior to approving new construction or upgrades, the Department should consider local interest, property 

value, and related cost savings that could result from the transfer 

and disposal of facilities or properties. 

Military Construction Funding Initiatives.—The bill includes 

funding for military construction initiatives to address important 

quality-of-life and unfunded priorities of the services. The fiscal 

year 2015 military construction budget request is 40 percent below 

last year’s request. The Department of Defense and all of the services have acknowledged that they are taking risk in their military 

construction programs to provide additional funding for readiness. 

The Committee fully understands the importance of providing adequate funding for readiness, but believes that infrastructure plays 

a major role in the morale and readiness of military forces. 

The Committee notes, as it has in the past, that military construction is the foundation of military readiness, but it is too often 

the go-to bill payer in constrained budget environments, resulting 

in the sometimes indefinite deferral of many meritorious construction projects. As the Department and each of the services noted in 

testimony before the Committee, the fiscal year 2015 military construction budget is targeted almost exclusively at new mission and 

life, safety, and health investments. A major concern of the Committee is that important quality-of-life projects, such as troop housing, child care centers, and troop and family physical fitness centers, tend to be the first casualties of budget constraints. The scandals surrounding revelations of deplorable troop housing conditions 

at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Walter Reed Army Medical 

Center in Washington, DC, that emerged a few years ago underscore the consequences of neglecting quality-of-life military construction projects. 

For this reason, the Committee includes an additional 

$315,000,000 for quality-of-life projects for the Navy, Air Force and 

Air Force Reserve. These projects are among those included in the 

President’s fiscal year 2015 Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative budget request. An additional $60,000,000 is provided for 

Army quality-of-life projects, and $90,000,000 is provided for unfunded requirements of the Army National Guard and Reserve. 

This funding is reserved for projects that were included in the 

Army’s Unfunded Priority Requirements list provided to Congress 

on April 1, 2014. 

The Committee notes that the funding for these initiatives comes 

from prior year bid savings, incremental funding, cancelled projects 

and prior year projects that are either unexecutable or are no 

longer required. No funding was diverted from the military construction readiness or life, safety, and health projects in the fiscal 

year 2015 budget request. 

Rescissions.—The Committee recommends administrative provisions which rescind prior year unobligated funds due primarily to 
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project bid savings and the slow execution of projects. In addition, 

these provisions rescind fiscal year 2011 funds appropriated in the 

‘‘Military Construction, Navy’’ and ‘‘Military Construction, Air 

Force’’ accounts due to the lack of host nation approval to proceed 

with construction projects at Isa Air Base in Bahrain. Further, the 

recommendation rescinds fiscal year 2012 and 2013 funds appropriated in the ‘‘Military Construction, Army’’ account due to Gray 

Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program changes and scope adjustments. The Committee also rescinds fiscal year 2014 funds appropriated in the ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’ account to develop 

an aircraft divert and training exercise capability within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [CNMI]. These funds 

are rescinded due to the lack of a site plan and poor synchronization with the U.S. Marine Corps to potentially realize efficiencies 

in the activities and infrastructure requirements in the CNMI. Finally, the Committee rescinds funds previously appropriated in the 

‘‘Military Construction, Defense-wide’’ account in response to overseas construction project savings. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $1,104,875,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 539,427,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 526,427,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 539,427,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The military construction appropriation for the Army provides for 

acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary 

or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and 

real property for the Army. This appropriation also provides for facilities required as well as funds for infrastructure projects and 

programs required to support bases and installations around the 

world. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $539,427,000 for the Army for fiscal 

year 2015. This amount is $565,448,000 below the fiscal year 2014 

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

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

the end of this report. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $1,629,690,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 1,018,772,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 998,772,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,018,772,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Military Construction appropriation for the Navy and Marine Corps provides for acquisition, construction, installation, and 

equipment of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and the Marine 

Corps. This appropriation also provides for facilities required as 
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well as funds for infrastructure projects and programs required to 

support bases and installations around the world. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,018,772,000 for Navy and Marine 

Corps military construction for fiscal year 2015. This amount is 

$610,918,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level, and equal to 

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

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $1,052,796,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 811,774,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 719,551,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 811,774,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The military construction appropriation for the Air Force provides for acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 

temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force. This appropriation also 

provides for facilities required as well as funds for infrastructure 

projects and programs required to support bases and installations 

around the world. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $811,774,000 for the Air Force in 

fiscal year 2015. This amount is $241,022,000 below the fiscal year 

2014 enacted level, and equal to the budget request. Further detail 

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

at the end of this report. 

Air Force Infrastructure Consolidation.—The Committee recognizes the Air Force’s efforts to reduce overhead throughout its 

budget. As the Air Force continues to scrutinize its infrastructure 

for savings, the Committee recommends that the Air Force pay special attention to consolidating infrastructure and commands on its 

installations, including, but not limited to, communications, civil 

engineering, and administrative facilities. 

Aerospace Control Alert Facilities.—Aerospace Control Alert facilities contribute to the safety and security of our Nation. The Air 

Force squadrons that sit alert at these facilities spend 24 hours a 

day, 7 days a week, on standby in order to provide that protection 

to the Nation’s critical infrastructure, often in substandard temporary facilities. The Committee encourages the Air Force to accelerate the planned permanent construction of all alert facilities that 

are currently composed of substandard mobile and modular building units. 
16 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $3,445,423,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 2,061,890,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,021,690,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,961,890,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The military construction appropriation for the Department of 

Defense provides for acquisition, construction, installation, and 

equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property Defense-Wide. This appropriation also provides for facilities required as well as funds for infrastructure projects and programs required to support bases and 

installations around the world. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,961,890,000 for projects considered within the ‘‘Defense-Wide’’ account in fiscal year 2015. This 

amount is $1,483,533,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level 

and $100,000,000 below the budget request. Further detail of the 

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

end of this report. 

ENERGY CONSERVATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM

The Committee recommends the requested level of $150,000,000 

for the Energy Conservation Investment Program [ECIP], and 

$10,000,000 for ECIP Planning and Design [P&D]. The Committee 

commends DOD for including a separate line item for ECIP planning and design in its fiscal year 2015 budget justification materials, and fully funds the request to help ensure that adequate 

funds are available for future ECIP project design. 

In an era of declining defense budgets, and in an environment 

in which energy efficiency, security, and renewable energy investments are mission-critical requirements, ECIP is an important 

component of the Department of Defense’s [DOD] energy strategy, 

and its only dedicated stream of funding for energy projects. DOD 

is the largest consumer of energy in the Federal Government, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the government’s total energy 

consumption. Currently, the Department spends nearly 

$4,000,000,000 per year on facility energy, or almost a quarter of 

its total energy costs. The Committee encourages the transition of 

ECIP from funding small, rapid pay-back projects, such as isolated 

heating, cooling and lighting efficiencies, to playing a central role 

in leveraging larger energy security and renewable energy projects. 

As such, the Committee urges DOD and the services to compete 

projects that will produce significant ‘‘game-changing’’ improvements to reduce carbon emissions, energy consumption, and energy 

costs, as well as projects to enhance installation energy security. 

Projects such as energy security microgrids, net-zero facilities, 

and renewable energy projects have the potential to offer long term 

pay-back that far exceeds initial investment, while concurrently 

driving innovation. In an environment of heightened security risks 
17 

and growing concern over carbon emissions, it is more important 

than ever for DOD to maintain robust investment in ECIP to reduce installation energy expenses, limit carbon emissions, and enhance installation energy security. 

While the Committee strongly supports ECIP, it also believes 

that an updated evaluation of the program’s impact on DOD energy 

consumption and efforts to reduce energy costs is warranted. 

Therefore, the Committee directs the Comptroller General of the 

Government Accountability Office [GAO] to examine DOD’s use of 

ECIP funding for energy-related projects and the extent to which 

ECIP investments reduce the Department’s use of energy and energy costs. DOD selects ECIP projects in part based on their projected Savings-to-Investment Ratio, an estimate of a project’s return on investment within a 10-year payback period. DOD estimates that ECIP investment has resulted in a cost savings of approximately $2,000,000,000 since 2001. As DOD continues to make 

ECIP investments in projects to reduce energy consumption, save 

money, and increase the use of renewable energy, the Committee 

directs the Comptroller General to verify the energy savings associated with ECIP by addressing the following issues: (1) to what extent have ECIP funded projects reduced the Department’s use of 

energy or its energy costs; (2) how does DOD’s estimated return on 

investment and energy savings for ECIP projects compare with actual savings; (3) to what extent has DOD realized the projected return on investment, energy savings, or cost savings of ECIP 

projects during the 10-year payback period, and (4) to what extent 

do renewable energy projects funded by ECIP conform to the 10- 

year payback period. The Committee directs GAO to provide this 

assessment, using a representative sample of ECIP funded projects, 

no later than 180 days after enactment of this act. 

Medical Military Construction Program.—The Committee provides funding for five projects to upgrade or modernize medical 

treatment facilities within the Department of Defense. Investments 

in medical infrastructure projects are crucial to ensuring that quality healthcare is delivered to service members and their families in 

the future. Therefore, the Committee is concerned that the Future 

Years Defense Program [FYDP] accompanying the fiscal year 2015 

budget submission proposes indefinite deferral of a number of 

planned medical military construction projects. For example, the 

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, hospital replacement project, which 

was programmed for fiscal year 2016, is deferred in the new FYDP 

to fiscal year 2020 or later. The Committee notes that the Surgeon 

General of the United States Army testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on April 9, 2014, that this 

hospital replacement project is the Army’s top priority for medical 

military construction projects. The existing hospital at Fort Leonard Wood last underwent a major renovation nearly 40 years ago. 

Due to the quality of life importance of these medical facilities, the 

Committee strongly encourages the Department to prioritize and 

restore medical military construction projects within the FYDP 

submitted for fiscal year 2016. In addition, the Committee encourages the Department to continue collaborating with the Department of Veterans Affairs to pursue Joint DOD/VA medical facility 

projects. 
18 

CONTINGENCY CONSTRUCTION

The Committee has provided $9,000,000 for the Secretary of Defense ‘‘Contingency Construction’’ account, equal to the request. 

This account provides funds which may be used by the Secretary 

of Defense for unforeseen facility requirements and military exercises, including those related to overseas contingency operations. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, RESERVE COMPONENTS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $665,759,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 426,549,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 426,549,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 426,549,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The military construction appropriation for Reserve components 

provides for acquisition, construction, expansion, rehabilitation, 

and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of 

the Reserve components. This appropriation also provides for facilities required as well as funds for infrastructure projects and programs required to support bases and installations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $426,549,000 for military construction projects for the Guard and Reserve components for fiscal year 

2015. This amount is $239,210,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. Further detail of the 

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

end of this report. 

The Committee recommends approval of military construction, 

Reserve components, as outlined in the following table: 

RESERVE COMPONENTS 

Component Budget request Committee 

recommendation 

Army National Guard .......................................................................................................... $126,920,000 $126,920,000 

Air National Guard .............................................................................................................. 94,663,000 94,663,000 

Army Reserve ...................................................................................................................... 103,946,000 103,946,000 

Navy Reserve ....................................................................................................................... 51,528,000 51,528,000 

Air Force Reserve ................................................................................................................ 49,492,000 49,492,000 

Total ....................................................................................................................... 426,549,000 426,549,000 

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $199,700,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 199,700,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 199,700,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 199,700,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] appropriation 

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

Program for the acquisition and construction of military facilities 
19 

and installations (including international military headquarters) 

and for related expenses for the collective defense of the NATO 

Treaty area. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $199,700,000 for the North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization Security Investment Program [NSIP] for fiscal 

year 2015 as requested. This amount is equal to the fiscal year 

2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING OVERVIEW

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $1,515,713,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 1,190,535,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,190,535,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,190,535,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Family Housing appropriation provides funds for military 

family housing construction activities, operation and maintenance, 

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

construction, improvements and the Federal Government share of 

housing privatization. Operation and maintenance accounts fund 

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

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,190,535,000 for Family Housing 

Construction, Operations and Maintenance, and the Department’s 

family housing improvement fund for fiscal year 2015. This amount 

is $325,178,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal 

to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $27,408,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 78,609,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 78,609,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 78,609,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing appropriation for the Army provides for expenses of family housing for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration. This appropriation provides for the financing of all costs for construction, 

improvements, and leasing of all Army housing. In addition to 

quality-of-life enhancements, the program contains initiatives to reduce operating costs and conserve energy by upgrading or replacing 

facilities which can be made more efficient through relatively modest investments in improvements. The Department of Defense is 

authorized to use limited partnerships, make direct and guaranteed loans, and convey Department-owned property to stimulate 

the private sector to increase the availability of affordable, quality 

housing for the Army. 
20 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $78,609,000 for Army Family Housing Construction in fiscal year 2015, an amount equal to the budget 

request and $51,201,000 above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. 

U.S. Military Family Housing in Korea.—The relocation of a 

large number of U.S. forces from Yongsan Garrison in the Republic 

of Korea to the Camp Humphreys U.S. Army base south of Seoul 

is one of the largest construction projects the Department of Defense has undertaken in recent years. The Army’s planned publicprivate venture to build family housing units, the Humphreys 

Housing Opportunity Program [HHOP], specified that a private developer would build, operate, and maintain on-base family housing 

that service members could rent using their overseas housing allowance [OHA]. The goal was to fill a family housing deficit of over 

600 units. 

However, from the outset, expected rents far surpassed the OHA 

for accompanied service members in Korea, and the Department of 

Defense repeatedly denied the Army’s requests for a ‘‘special circumstances’’ adjustment to the OHA rate. As a result, the HHOP 

has been stalled for several years, with no resolution in sight. 

The Committee is deeply concerned that the Army and the Department of Defense have not developed an alternative plan to the 

HHOP that will meet the on-base housing requirements of the U.S. 

Forces Korea [USFK] commander, nor conducted adequate analysis 

into potential alternative family housing arrangements to reduce 

expected costs. The Administration’s fiscal year 2015 budget request includes $57,800,000 to construct a 90-unit family housing 

project at Camp Walker, Korea. The Committee fully funds this request; however, the high cost of construction raises concerns about 

future costs associated with family housing initiatives in Korea, including Camp Humphreys. 

The Committee therefore directs the Department to provide an 

updated assessment of options to provide military family housing 

at Camps Walker, Humphreys and Daegu within 120 days of enactment of this act. The assessment should include an analysis of the 

number of personnel required to live on base, the potential of adjusting the OHA rate for Korea, and the potential cost and timeline 

of using military construction funding to meet the family housing 

requirement at the three installations. 

NEW CONSTRUCTION

The following projects are to be accomplished within the amounts 

provided for new construction: 

ARMY FAMILY HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Location Installation Project Budget request Committee 

recommendation 

Illinois ................. Rock Island ............ Family Housing New Construction .................. 19,500 19,500 

Korea ................... Camp Walker ......... Family Housing New Construction .................. 57,800 57,800 

Total ...... ................................ .......................................................................... 77,300 77,300 
21 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, ARMY

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $512,871,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 350,976,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 350,976,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 350,976,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing operation and maintenance appropriation for 

the Army provides for the operation and maintenance of family 

housing. This includes debt payment, leasing, minor construction, 

principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums of Army 

family housing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $350,976,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Army for fiscal year 2015. This amount 

is $161,895,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal 

to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $73,407,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 16,412,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 16,412,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 16,412,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing appropriation for the Navy and Marine Corps 

provides for expenses of family housing for construction, including 

acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration. This appropriation provides for the financing of all costs for 

construction, improvements, and leasing of all Navy and Marine 

Corps housing. In addition to quality-of-life enhancements, the program contains initiatives to reduce operating costs and conserve 

energy by upgrading or replacing facilities which can be made more 

efficient through relatively modest investments in improvements. 

The Department of Defense is authorized to use limited partnerships, make direct and guaranteed loans, and convey Departmentowned property to stimulate the private sector to increase the 

availability of affordable, quality housing for the Navy and Marine 

Corps. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $16,412,000 for Family Housing 

Construction, Navy and Marine Corps, for construction improvements at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in fiscal year 

2015, and for Family Housing Advance Planning and Design. This 

amount is $56,995,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 
22 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY AND

MARINE CORPS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $379,444,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 354,029,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 354,029,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 354,029,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing operation and maintenance appropriation for 

the Navy and Marine Corps provides for the operation and maintenance of family housing. This includes debt payment, leasing, 

minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance 

premiums of Navy and Marine Corps family housing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $354,029,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps, in fiscal year 

2015. This amount is $25,415,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $76,360,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... ........................... 

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

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

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing appropriation for the Air Force provides for 

expenses of family housing for construction, including acquisition, 

replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration. This 

appropriation provides for the financing of all costs for construction, improvements and leasing of all Air Force housing. In addition to quality-of-life enhancements, the program contains initiatives to reduce operating costs and conserve energy by upgrading 

or replacing facilities which can be made more efficient through relatively modest investments in improvements. The Department of 

Defense is authorized to use limited partnerships, make direct and 

guaranteed loans, and convey Department-owned property to stimulate the private sector to increase the availability of affordable, 

quality housing for the Air Force. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends no funding for Family Housing Construction, Air Force, in fiscal year 2015 in accordance with the 

budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR FORCE

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $388,598,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 327,747,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 327,747,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 327,747,000 
23 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing operation and maintenance appropriation for 

the Air Force provides for the operation and maintenance of family 

housing. This includes debt payment, leasing, minor construction, 

principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums of Air 

Force family housing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $327,747,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force, in fiscal year 2015. This 

amount is $60,851,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $55,845,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 61,100,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 61,100,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 61,100,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Family Housing Operation and Maintenance appropriation 

for Defense-Wide provides for the operation and maintenance of 

family housing. This includes debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums 

of Defense family housing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $61,100,000 for family housing operation and maintenance, Defense-Wide, for fiscal year 2015. This 

amount is $5,255,000 above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and 

equal to the budget request. 

FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $1,780,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 1,662,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,662,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,662,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The family housing improvement appropriation provides for the 

Department of Defense to undertake housing initiatives and to provide an alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing and supporting facilities. This account provides seed 

money for housing privatization initiatives. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,662,000 for the Family Housing 

Improvement Fund for fiscal year 2015. This amount is $118,000 

below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget 

request. 
24 

CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $122,536,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 38,715,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 38,715,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 38,715,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

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

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

of the fiscal year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $38,715,000 for chemical demilitarization construction projects for fiscal year 2015, a decrease of 

$83,821,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to 

the budget request. 

The Committee continues to urge the Department to take all necessary and appropriate steps to dispose of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile by the 2012 Chemical Weapons Convention deadline 

and, under no circumstances, later than 2017 consistent with section 8119 of Public Law 110–116. In light of the need for the Department to carry out its mission promptly and safely, it will need 

to provide close oversight over the execution of contracts at the 

chemical demilitarization sites to ensure funds are spent prudently 

and efficiently. The Committee will continue to monitor closely the 

Department’s compliance with both deadlines. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $451,357,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 270,085,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 270,085,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 380,085,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Section 2711 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

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

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

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

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

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a total of $380,085,000 for the Department of Defense Base Closure Account for fiscal year 2015, 

$110,000,000 above the budget request. Funds provided for fiscal 

year 2015 are for environmental cleanup and ongoing operations 

and maintenance. 
25 

BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT ENVIRONMENTAL AND MAINTENANCE

OVERVIEW

The Committee recommends $380,085,000 for the Base Closure 

Account for fiscal year 2015. This is $110,000,000 above the Administration’s request and is intended to expedite the environmental remediation of military installations closed or realigned 

through the BRAC process. The current cost to complete environmental remediation of military installations closed under the five 

previous BRAC rounds totals nearly $3,000,000,000, yet the budget 

request included only $270,000,000 for BRAC clean up, 40 percent 

below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. 

The Committee is aware of the lengthy process involved in cleaning up environmental contamination at military installations due 

to the highly toxic and unique nature of some of the contaminants. 

However, environmental remediation remains a major impediment 

to the transfer and reuse of property. The Committee believes that 

it is essential for the Department of Defense to expedite where possible the environmental cleanup of closed bases. The additional 

funding provided in this account includes $25,000,000 for the 

Army, $60,000,000 for the Navy and $25,000,000 for the Air Force. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

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

cases of contracts for environmental restoration at base closure 

sites. 

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

use of funds for the hire of passenger motor vehicles. 

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

use of funds for defense access roads. 

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

which specific appropriations have not been made. 

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

of funds for purchase of land or land easements. 

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

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

any family housing except housing for which funds have been made 

available. 

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

of minor construction funds to transfer or relocate activities among 

installations. 

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

procurement of steel unless American producers, fabricators, and 

manufacturers have been allowed to compete. 

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

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

SEC. 111. The Committee includes a provision that establishes a 

threshold for American preference of $500,000 relating to architect 

and engineering services for overseas projects. 
26 

SEC. 112. The Committee includes a provision that establishes 

preference for American contractors for military construction in the 

United States territories and possessions in the Pacific, and on 

Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Sea. 

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

$100,000. 

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

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

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

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

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

project being completed with lapsed funds. 

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

consistent with the total amount appropriated for the project. 

SEC. 118. The Committee includes a provision that allows transfer of proceeds from earlier base closure accounts to the continuing 

base closure account (1990, parts I–IV). 

SEC. 119. The Committee includes a provision that permits the 

transfer of funds from Family Housing Construction accounts to 

the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund and from Military 

Construction accounts to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 

SEC. 120. The Committee includes a provision that provides 

transfer authority to the Homeowners Assistance Fund. 

SEC. 121. The Committee includes a provision that requires all 

acts making appropriations for military construction be the sole 

funding source of all operation and maintenance for family housing, 

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

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

SEC. 122. The Committee includes a provision that provides authority to expend funds from the ‘‘Ford Island Improvement’’ account. 

SEC. 123. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

expenditure of funds at installations or for projects no longer necessary as a result of BRAC 2005. 

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

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

SEC. 125. The Committee includes a provision that allows the reprogramming of military construction and family housing construction funds among projects and activities within the account in 

which they are funded. 

SEC. 126. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

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

of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 

SEC. 127. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for unfunded quality-of-life military construction 

projects for the Department of the Army. 
27 

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

Army National Guard. 

SEC. 129. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for unfunded military construction projects for the 

Army Reserve. 

SEC. 130. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for quality-of-life military construction projects for the 

Department of the Navy. 

SEC. 131. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for quality-of-life military construction projects for the 

Department of the Air Force. 

SEC. 132. The Committee includes a provision providing additional funds for quality-of-life military construction projects for the 

Air Force Reserve. 

SEC. 133. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from various Military Construction accounts. 

SEC. 134. The Committee includes a provision rescinding unobligated balances from the Homeowners Assistance Program. 
(28) 

TITLE II 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

HEARINGS

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

year 2015 Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] budget request on 

March 25, 2014. The subcommittee heard testimony from the Honorable Eric Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommendation includes $158,613,053,000 for 

the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015, including 

$93,512,828,000 in mandatory spending and $65,100,225,000 in 

discretionary spending. The Committee also recommends 

$58,662,202,000 in advance appropriations for veterans medical 

care for fiscal year 2016. 

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Veterans Administration was established on July 21, 1930, 

as an independent agency by Executive Order 5398, in accordance 

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

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

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

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

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

As of September 30, 2013, there were an estimated 22 million living veterans, with 21.9 million of them residing in the United 

States and Puerto Rico. There were an estimated 26.5 million dependents (spouses and dependent children) of living veterans in the 

United States and Puerto Rico, and there were 575,000 survivors 

of deceased veterans receiving VA survivor benefits in the United 

States and Puerto Rico. Thus, more than 49 million people, or 15.3 

percent of the total estimated resident population of the United 

States and Puerto Rico, were recipients or potential recipients of 

veterans benefits from the Federal Government. The VA’s operating units include the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans 
29 

Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and 

staff support offices. 

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

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

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

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

protection services for veterans under legal disability; information 

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

The Veterans Health Administration [VHA] develops, maintains, 

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

healthcare personnel; conducts medical research and development; 

and furnishes health services to members of the Armed Forces during periods of war or national emergency. A system of 151 hospitals, 1,207 outpatient clinics and Vet Centers, 133 nursing 

homes, and 102 VA residential rehabilitation treatment programs 

is maintained to meet the VA’s medical mission. 

The National Cemetery Administration [NCA] provides for the 

interment of the remains of eligible deceased servicemembers and 

discharged veterans in any national cemetery with available grave 

space; permanently maintains these graves; provides headstones 

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

establishing, expanding, or improving State veterans cemeteries; 

and provides certificates to families of deceased veterans recognizing their contributions and service to the Nation. The National 

Cemetery Administration operates 133 national cemeteries and 33 

soldiers’ lots and monument sites. 

Staff support offices include the Office of Inspector General, 

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

Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, and General Counsel. 

VA PATIENT SCHEDULING DELAYS

The Committee is deeply troubled over allegations that have recently emerged regarding deliberate attempts to cover up outpatient scheduling delays at a number of VA medical centers across 

the country, including Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, and Colorado, raising the possibility of deadly 

consequences in some cases. If substantiated, these allegations constitute not only fraud and malfeasance, but also point to the more 

chilling conclusion that maintaining a false front of efficiency for 

the hospital trumped its mission of maintaining the health and 

well-being of the patients it was built to serve. 

Scheduling delays resulting from such factors as outdated and 

unwieldy scheduling systems, staffing shortages, and insufficient 

telephone capacity have plagued the VA for years, and have been 

amply documented by the Government Accountability Office and 
30 

the VA Inspector General. But the current cascade of accusations 

that some VA medical centers keep secret or falsified waiting lists 

to mask lengthy delays in patient scheduling portends a far more 

troubling problem with the very culture of the Veterans Health Administration [VHA]. 

The Committee commends the VA Inspector General [IG] for 

launching an immediate investigation and consultation with Federal criminal prosecutors into allegations that employees at the 

Phoenix, Arizona, VA medical center used secret wait lists to conceal long scheduling delays, resulting in the deaths of some veterans waiting to get an appointment. While these allegations have 

not been substantiated, and the outcome of the IG investigation 

should not be pre-judged, it is becoming increasingly evident that 

long wait times and scheduling discrepancies are not limited to one 

or even a handful of VA facilities. 

For this reason, the Committee provides an additional $5,000,000 

in funding for the Office of Inspector General and directs the IG 

to conduct a systemwide review of scheduling procedures, wait 

times for appointments, and management practices at VA medical 

centers across all Veterans Integrated Service Networks [VISNs]. 

The Committee also includes bill language restricting the VA 

from awarding performance bonuses to medical directors, assistant 

medical directors, and Senior Executive Service employees of the 

VHA until the audit is complete, the IG has provided Congress 

with a report on the findings, and the Secretary provides Congress 

an implementation plan to address the findings and recommendations of the IG audit. 

The Committee also recognizes the hard work and dedication of 

the vast majority of employees at VA clinics and medical centers 

throughout the Nation. Their contributions to the health and wellbeing of America’s veterans must not be overshadowed by the alleged misconduct a small fraction of the VA workforce. 

DISABILITY CLAIMS BACKLOG

The backlog in VA disability claims processing remains a major 

concern of the Committee. While significant progress has been 

made to reduce the backlog, more work remains to be done. Therefore the Committee has provided additional funding for claims 

processing and additional oversight requirements in this bill to ensure that the VA’s focus and momentum on reducing the claims 

backlog will not be lost. 

Last year, the backlog of veterans disability compensation claims 

reached crisis proportions. For too long, the focus of this problem 

has been narrowly viewed as a VA problem only. However, the 

claims process is highly dependent on receiving timely and accurate information from a host of other Federal agencies. In order to 

address this, on May 22, 2013, the Committee brought together an 

interagency working group including the Secretary of Defense; the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs; the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration; and the Deputy Commissioner of the 

Internal Revenue Service to discuss the unacceptable delays in the 

processing of disability claims. This unprecedented meeting resulted in the implementation of a number of intergovernmental initiatives across the Federal Government aimed at speeding the 
31 

transfer of information to the VA and eliminating the backlog. 

Among these initiatives were: 

—The development by the Social Security Administration [SSA] 

of the Government-to-Government Services Online [GSO] secure messaging system, which allows VA employees to request 

and SSA to transmit electronic records associated with veterans’ claims. In October of 2013, 36 percent of records VA requested were transmitted electronically via GSO. As of March 

2014, 74 percent are being transmitted electronically. National 

rollout will be fully implemented by the end of fiscal year 2014, 

eliminating the old process of requesting records by fax and 

having encrypted compact discs mailed. 

—A new agreement among VA, SSA and the Internal Revenue 

Service [IRS], which matches earned and unearned income to 

new VA pension claims and returns the information to the VA 

electronically. 

—The electronic transfer from the Department of Defense [DOD] 

to the VA, beginning on January 1, 2014, of certified and complete Service Treatment Records [STR] for separating 

servicemembers via the Health Artifact and Image Management System [HAIMS]. These electronic folders load directly 

into the Veterans Benefits Management System, the VA’s new 

electronic claims processing system. This ends most transfers 

of paper STRs via mail. This has streamlined the exchange of 

a significant amount of data between DOD and VA and shortened the amount of time it takes for VA claims adjudicators to 

receive critical information from DOD. 

While these efforts are to be commended, more work remains to 

improve the intergovernmental exchange of information to assist 

the VA in processing disability claims. For example, VA and DOD 

are currently working to standardize a process for the transmission 

of Guard and Reserve records, which are among the most complicated of records to aggregate given the nature of intermittent assignments to active duty and the dual State and Federal role of the 

Guard. The Committee will continue to press VA, DOD and other 

Federal agencies to expedite the flow of interagency information so 

that veterans do not experience an unnecessary delay due to lost 

or late delivery of critical documents. 

The fiscal year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, 

and Related Agencies appropriations bill addressed issues raised at 

the May 2013 roundtable by including a 10-point plan, which implemented specific measures to eliminate the claims backlog while 

bolstering oversight and transparency of the process. As a result of 

this plan and initiatives launched by the Department, the claims 

backlog has fallen from a height of 611,000 in March 2013 to 

300,620 as of May 10, 2014. Oversight has also increased as the VA 

is required to provide monthly updates to the Committee on performance measures for each Regional Office. In addition, top officials of VA, DOD, SSA, and IRS meet with the Committee every 

60 days to discuss current and potential collaborative efforts aimed 

at speeding the evidence-gathering phase of disability claims processing. The 10-point plan also required the VA and DOD Inspectors 

General to examine the process and procedures involved in the 

transmission of STRs from DOD to VA, with an emphasis on Guard 
32 

and Reserve records, and to identify problem areas and make recommendations for improvements. This report is scheduled to be 

submitted to the Committee this summer. Upon receipt of the report, the Committee will take the appropriate steps to ensure that 

these recommendations are incorporated into the fiscal year 2015 

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 

Appropriations Act as the bill makes its way through the appropriations process. 

This year’s recommendations maintain the oversight and reporting requirements contained in the 10-point plan and builds on 

them with an eye toward the future by laying the groundwork for 

enduring systemic and business process changes so that the Veterans Benefit Administration [VBA] does not face a similar backlog 

in future years. In short, with every effort underway to eliminate 

the current backlog, VBA must also be positioning itself to protect 

against a future backlog. To this end, the Committee recommendation includes numerous new reforms and initiatives and calls for an 

independent review to be conducted by the National Academy of 

Public Administration of VBA’s business processes, management 

structure, training programs and workforce allocation strategy, and 

to provide to the Committee recommendations for any structural 

changes to the current system. Moreover, the Committee recommendation also directs the VBA, working in conjunction with 

the Office of Policy and Planning, to conduct a workforce analysis 

by Regional Office, and to undertake a detailed review of VBA’s Resources Allocation Model. 

The bill also provides focus and resources on the lengthy appeals 

process and the increasing number of disability decisions on appeal. The fiscal year 2015 justification accompanying the VA’s 

budget request notes that appeals received by the Board of Veterans Appeals are projected to increase 52 percent, from 47,763 in 

2011 to 72,786 by the end of 2015. To help alleviate the impact of 

this surge in appeals, the bill includes increases above the request 

for VBA to hire additional personnel at Regional Offices, including 

Decision Review Officers, the Board of Veterans Appeals and the 

United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 

To help accomplish the goals described above, the Committee has 

provided an increase of $30,000,000 above the budget request for 

a claims processing hiring and training initiative, $10,000,000 over 

the request to bolster VBA’s migration to electronic claims processing systems, including scanning and hardware upgrades at Regional Offices, and $5,000,000 over the request for the Board of 

Veterans Appeals to address the backlog of appeals pending before 

the Board. 

The Committee recognizes that eliminating the current claims 

backlog is only the first step in addressing the long term need to 

transform claims processing to a modern, streamlined and efficient 

system. The initiatives, funding and oversight contained in this bill 

will help the VA undertake such a transformation, ensure that 

quality of claims processing does not suffer in the effort to eliminate the backlog, and establish fundamental reforms that will lead 

to the sustained efficiency and responsiveness of the disability 

claims process. 
33 

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Committee remains concerned about a lack of investment in 

current and future VA infrastructure. In 2010, the Department undertook a strategic review of current facilities and future capital investment needed to close gaps across the Veterans Health Administration [VHA]. The Department-wide planning process, known as 

the Strategic Capital Investment Planning process [SCIP], resulted 

in the creation of a single integrated, prioritized list of projects 

from all capital investment accounts (major construction, minor 

construction, and VHA non-recurring maintenance). SCIP was designed to improve the delivery of services and benefits to veterans, 

their families and survivors by addressing VA’s most critical needs. 

The prioritized list was to be a blueprint of wise investments that 

needed to be made in VA’s future and current facilities, in order 

to continue to provide high quality healthcare. The original SCIP 

estimated that a total cost of between $50,000,000,000 and 

$60,000,000,000 needed to be invested over 10 years to address the 

problem of aging hospitals and clinics across the country. The Committee was encouraged that the Department undertook such a long 

range view at its infrastructure needs and assumed that adequate 

budget submissions would follow. However, requests for major and 

minor construction have remained stagnant over the past several 

years, and requests for non-recurring maintenance have decreased 

since fiscal year 2013. 

As part of the review of current infrastructure, the VA undertakes a Facility Condition Assessment [FCA] in which the Department estimates its current maintenance backlog at hospitals across 

the country. Each building in use at Veterans Affairs Medical Center campuses are graded from A through F based on their condition, with Ds and Fs being considered deficiencies that should have 

been addressed in previous years. At the same time that the most 

current FCA estimates that the total cost of deficiencies across the 

VHA system totals between $9,800,000,000 and $10,700,000,000, 

the fiscal year 2015 budget estimate for non-recurring maintenance 

totals $460,600,000, down $861,557,000 from fiscal year 2013. 

The Committee understands that the current budget environment has caused tough choices to be made across the entire Federal Government. However, safe and modern infrastructure is paramount to delivering world class healthcare. Ignoring or deferring 

wise infrastructure investments today can cause costs to escalate 

tomorrow, and will likely drive policy decisions over how care is to 

be delivered in the future. Therefore, the Committee has included 

a number of actions within the bill to help the VA address some 

of its most pressing infrastructure needs. These include: an additional $125,000,000 for non-recurring maintenance, as well as authority for the Secretary to transfer up to $250,000,000 from the 

Medical Care Collections Fund into the Medical Facilities account 

to address critical infrastructure repairs; an additional $45,000,000 

for minor construction projects at hospitals across the country; and 

specific directions concerning how major construction projects are 

prioritized year-to-year. While these investments only scratch the 

surface of current and future budget needs, the Committee feels 

strongly that any additional funding that can be provided should 
34 

be allocated to high-priority programs and urges the Department to 

rethink its budgeting model with respect to infrastructure and to 

provide more realistic budget requests in the future. 

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Budget Justifications.—Congressional budget justifications are 

developed each year by the Department to provide a more detailed 

explanation and supplemental information on the budget submission for a given fiscal year. The Committee utilizes this information 

to effectively and efficiently evaluate resource requirements and 

proposals requested by the Administration. Last year, the Committee recommended several changes that future justifications 

should include. While the Department has adopted many of those 

changes, some were not contained in the fiscal year 2015 Congressional budget justifications. The Committee reiterates the need for 

more detailed budget explanations so that timely evaluation of requested funding and proper oversight are not hindered, and has included specific directions in the appropriate place within this report outlining the type of details future justifications should include. 

Medical Facilities Realignments.—The Committee remains concerned that VA medical care realignments are being approached in 

an ad hoc manner by each individual Veterans Integrated Service 

Network [VISN] rather than on a comprehensive basis by VA Central Office. This soda straw approach to the realignment process 

could lead to an inequitable and inefficient distribution of medical 

care resources throughout the Nation. The Committee believes that 

before VA makes a decision to relocate, close or diminish services 

at an existing medical facility, consideration must be given to the 

impact the proposed relocation would have on veterans, particularly those veterans that reside in rural or highly rural areas. 

Without a clearly articulated national strategy for realignments, 

the Committee is concerned that selected decisions are being made 

by individual VISNs without stakeholder involvement and without 

engagement or guidance from senior level policymakers before potentially irreversible decisions are made. For example, VISN directors contemplating a realignment could begin to make decisions 

years in advance about what services to offer or which vacancies 

to fill, with no guidance from the Central Office and no visibility 

of the national strategy. Such decisions could diminish the level of 

care in an area to the point that realignment becomes a foregone 

conclusion before the Central Office has an opportunity to review 

or weigh in on the merits of the proposed realignment. 

The Committee understands that VA must keep up with demographic changes. However, the VA must establish a clear and 

transparent process that engages all parties from the beginning. 

Therefore, the Committee recommendation includes an Administrative Provision suspending the proposed realignment of services in 

VISN 23 until such time as the Department transmits to the Committee a report that outlines the following: (1) a national realignment strategy that includes a detailed description of realignment 

plans within each VISN; (2) an explanation of the process by which 

those plans were developed and coordinated within the VISN; (3) 

a cost vs. benefit analysis of each planned realignment, including 
35 

the cost of replacing Veterans Health Administration services with 

contract care or other outsourced services; (4) an analysis of how 

any such planned realignment of services will impact access to care 

for veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, including travel 

distances and transportation costs to access a VA medical facility 

and availability of local specialty and primary care; (5) an inventory of VA buildings with historic designation and the methodology 

used to determine the buildings condition and utilization; (6) a description of how any realignment will be consistent with requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act; and (7) consideration given for reuse of historic buildings. 

Veterans Job Corps Initiative.—High unemployment rates for 

veterans transitioning from active duty service to the civilian workforce remain a major concern for the Committee. The Administration and the VA have taken a number of steps to incentivize the 

hiring of veterans by the private sector. Of note, the Administration has proposed a Veterans Job Corps Initiative to help returning 

veterans find a pathway to civilian employment. The Committee 

strongly supports this initiative and urges Congress to authorize it 

at the earliest possible opportunity. 

Intergovernmental Information.—The Committee recognizes that 

many services provided by the VA are contingent upon getting 

timely information from other Government agencies and Departments. As noted earlier in this report, since the Committee convened a roundtable in May of 2013 with the heads of several Departments and agencies, information flow from these agencies to 

the VA has been handled in a timelier manner. However, to ensure 

that this cooperation continues, the Committee directs the Secretary of the VA to submit an annual report beginning January 1, 

2015, detailing the average number of days it took during the previous fiscal year for the VA to receive information it requested from 

other Federal agencies. 

Integrated Disability Evaluation System.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall 

develop a plan to improve the sharing of information necessary to 

predict and address surges in workload within the Integrated Disability Evaluation System. Further, the Departments shall integrate information technology systems to ensure that an end-to-end 

information technology solution is in place for both the transfer 

and management of Integrated Disability Evaluation System cases 

between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military services no later than December 31, 2014. 

Victims of Mass Shootings on Military Bases.—The Committee is 

concerned that military and veteran victims of the mass shootings 

at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009 and 2014, and at the Navy Yard in 

Washington, DC in 2013 receive the maximum VA benefits available to soldiers or veterans who were wounded in the line of duty. 

To better understand the benefits and care these victims are entitled to now and into the future, the Committee directs the VA to 

submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress no later than July 15, 2014, that provides a detailed analysis of the benefits and care victims of workplace violence are eligible, and how these compare to benefits and care they 
36 

would receive if wounded in battle or as a result of a terrorist attack. 

Legal Training.—The Committee is aware of several law school 

based programs designed to help veterans more efficiently navigate 

the Department’s benefits process. These programs leverage significant volunteer, private sector, and other non-Federal resources that 

combine to produce better outcomes for veterans and significant 

cost-savings and efficiencies for the Department. The Committee 

encourages the VA to explore ways in which the Department might 

partner with these programs. 

Agent Orange Registry.—The VA maintains an Agent Orange 

Registry for veterans who served in Vietnam. The Committee is 

aware, however, of a number of instances where U.S. veterans may 

have been exposed to chemicals including Agent Orange during 

training activities and missions outside of Vietnam. The Committee 

urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to explore the feasibility of 

establishing a registry of U.S. veterans who served or trained outside of Vietnam and have subsequently experienced health issues, 

which may have resulted from exposure to these chemicals, and directs the Secretary to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after 

enactment of this act detailing any plans the Department may be 

considering on establishing a policy regarding presumed exposure 

for these veterans. 

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $84,849,467,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 93,675,210,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 93,675,210,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 93,675,210,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

The Veterans Benefits Administration [VBA] is responsible for 

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

housing loan guarantees. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $93,675,210,000 for the Veterans 

Benefits Administration. This amount is composed of 

$78,687,709,000 for Compensation and Pensions; $14,761,862,000 

for Readjustment Benefits; $63,257,000 for Veterans Insurance and 

Indemnities; $160,881,000 for the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund administrative expenses; $10,000 for the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program account, with $361,000 for administrative expenses; and $1,130,000 for the Native American Veteran 

Housing Loan Program account. 

COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $71,476,104,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 78,687,709,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 78,687,709,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 78,687,709,000 
37 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Compensation is payable to living veterans who have suffered 

impairment of earning power from service-connected disabilities. 

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

spouses and dependents of veterans whose deaths occur while on 

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

allowance may also be provided for service-connected veterans who 

use a prosthetic or orthopedic device. In fiscal year 2015, the Department estimates it will obligate $72,563,561,000 for payments to 

4,186,547 veterans, 382,080 survivors, and 1,190 dependents receiving special benefits. 

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

nonservice-connected disabilities which render them permanently 

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

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

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

subject to the income limitations that apply to all pensioners. 

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

income of the veteran or their survivors. In fiscal year 2015, the 

Department estimates that the Pensions program will provide benefits to 308,715 veterans and 210,635 survivors totaling 

$5,860,010,000. 

The Compensation and Pensions program funds certain burial 

benefits on behalf of eligible deceased veterans. These benefits provide the purchase and transportation costs for headstones and 

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

reimbursement for privately purchased outer burial receptacles. In 

fiscal year 2015, the Department estimates the Compensation and 

Pensions program will obligate $264,138,000 providing burial benefits. This funding will provide 64,049 burial allowances, 32,823 burial plot allowances, 27,891 service-connected death awards, 497,644 

burial flags, 362,885 headstones or markers, and 98,903 

graveliners or reimbursement for privately purchased outer burial 

receptacles. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $78,687,709,000 for Compensation 

and pensions. This is an increase of $7,211,605,000 above the fiscal 

year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The appropriation includes $15,430,000 in payments to the General operating expenses, veterans benefits administration; and Information technology systems accounts for expenses related to implementing provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 

1990, the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 1992, the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1994, and the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements 

Act of 1996. 
38 

READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $13,135,898,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 14,761,862,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 14,761,862,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 14,761,862,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Readjustment benefits appropriation finances the education 

and training of veterans and servicemembers under chapters 30, 

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

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

11 Educational Assistance Program. Basic benefits are funded 

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

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

dependents of those veterans who died from service-connected 

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

as well as dependents of servicemembers who were captured or 

missing in action. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $14,761,862,000 for Readjustment 

benefits. This is an increase of $1,625,964,000 above the fiscal year 

2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $77,567,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 63,257,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 63,257,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 63,257,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Veterans insurance and indemnities appropriation consists 

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

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

specially adapted housing. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $63,257,000 for Veterans insurance 

and indemnities. This is a decrease of $14,310,000 below the fiscal 

year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. The Department estimates there will be 6,652,777 policies in force in fiscal 

year 2015 with a value of $1,320,249,600,000. 
39 

VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND

Program account Administrative 

expenses 

Appropriations, 2014 ....................................................................................................... ............................ $158,430,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ................................................................................................... ............................ 160,881,000 

House allowance ............................................................................................................. ............................ 160,881,000 

Committee recommendation ........................................................................................... ............................ 160,881,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Veterans housing benefit program fund provides for all costs 

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

loan program. 

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

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

purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, 

even without a downpayment, if the lender agrees. The VA requires that a downpayment be made for a manufactured home. 

With a VA guaranty, the lender is protected against loss up to the 

amount of the guaranty if the borrower fails to repay the loan. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends such sums as may be necessary for 

funding subsidy payments, and $160,881,000 for administrative expenses for fiscal year 2015. Bill language limits gross obligations 

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

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Program account Administrative 

expenses 

Appropriations, 2014 ....................................................................................................... $5,000 $354,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ................................................................................................... 10,000 361,000 

House allowance ............................................................................................................. 10,000 361,000 

Committee recommendation ........................................................................................... 10,000 361,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program account covers the 

cost of direct loans for vocational rehabilitation of eligible veterans 

and, in addition, includes administrative expenses necessary to 

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

the indexed chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate) are currently 

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

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

pension, subsistence allowance, educational assistance allowance, 

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

in less than 1 year. 
40 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $10,000 for program costs and $361,000 for administrative expenses for the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program account. The administrative expenses may be 

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

loans to $2,877,000. It is estimated that the VA will make 3,099 

loans in fiscal year 2015, with an average amount of $929. 

NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $1,109,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 1,130,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,130,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,130,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

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

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

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

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

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

amount of a loan under this authority generally may not exceed 

$417,000 however, in some locations this limit may be higher depending on median area home prices. Veterans pay a funding fee 

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

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

a memorandum of understanding with the VA regarding the terms 

and conditions of the loan. The Native American Veteran Housing 

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

and Benefits Act of 2006. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $1,130,000 for administrative expenses associated with this program. This is $21,000 above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $55,122,664,000 

Advance appropriations, 2015 .............................................................. 55,634,227,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 956,807,000 

House allowance, 2015 .......................................................................... 588,922,000 

Committee recommendation, 2015 ....................................................... 813,922,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2016 ................................... 58,662,202,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2016 .................................. 58,662,202,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2016 ............... 58,662,202,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

The Veterans Health Administration [VHA] operates the largest 

Federal medical care delivery system in the country, with 151 hospitals, 1,207 outpatient clinics and Vet Centers, 133 nursing 

homes, and 102 VA residential rehabilitation treatment programs. 
41 

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections 

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

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

Program collections; Compensation and Pension Living Expenses 

Program collections; and Parking Program fees into the MCCF. 

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

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

is required under certain circumstances to establish and collect fees 

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

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

medical services activities. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2014, the Committee provided $55,634,227,000 in 

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

year 2015. This included $45,015,527,000 for Medical services; 

$5,879,700,000 for Medical support and compliance; and 

$4,739,000,000 for Medical facilities. The Committee also includes 

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

for fiscal year 2015. For fiscal year 2015, the Committee recommends an additional $100,000,000 for Medical services and 

$125,000,000 for Medical facilities. Additionally, the Committee 

recommendation includes $588,922,000 for Medical and prosthetic 

research. Medical care collections are expected to be 

$2,456,000,000. The recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of $58,662,202,000 for veterans medical care for fiscal 

year 2016. 

AREAS OF INTEREST

Advance Appropriations Budgeting.—The Committee remains 

supportive of providing advance appropriations for the three veterans medical care accounts. The intent of advance appropriations 

is to provide timely and predictable funding for veterans medical 

care and provide hospitals in the field certainty as clinical hiring 

decisions are made. The medical care budget is formed primarily 

by an actuarial analysis which factors in numerous data points including current and projected veteran population, enrollment projections, and case mix changes associated with current veteran patients. Due to the fact that medical care funding is provided a year 

in advance and that healthcare is dynamic in nature, the Department updates the actuarial model after the advance is provided, 

thus enabling the Department to make necessary changes in the 

following budget submission. The Committee appreciates this process and understands that the intention is to provide a clearer picture of medical needs. Last year, the Committee directed that the 

fiscal year 2015 Department of Veterans Affairs budget justifications include explanations on what data was modified for the actuarial projections and how those changes produced savings or increased resource requirements. This year, the VA is requesting an 
42 

additional $367,885,000 for the Medical Services account. However, 

the justification accompanying the budget request did not provide 

all of the requested information regarding what data was modified 

and what actual operational savings were achieved over the past 

fiscal year. The Committee is aware that the Department routinely 

has significant end of year balances which become available for the 

following fiscal year. Due to this lack of detailed budget information coupled with large carryover balances, the Committee recommendation includes an additional $100,000,000 for the Medical 

Services account and shifts the remaining balance to other high 

priority veteran programs. This includes providing additional funding to help address the unacceptable number of code violations and 

safety deficiencies at existing hospitals and clinics. The Committee 

will continue to closely monitor the fiscal condition of all VHA accounts and will take action to realign funding as the appropriation 

process moves forward should circumstances dictate that such action is needed. 

Allocation of Medical Funding.—The Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation [VERA] serves as the mechanism by which VA allocates funding appropriated to the three medical care accounts to 

the Veterans Integrated Service Networks [VISN] and to the medical centers. The Committee remains concerned about the transparency of this process and is specifically concerned about the 

amount of funding retained at headquarters or at the VISNs. In 

order to ensure proper oversight is maintained and the Committee 

has specific information to ensure the medical centers are receiving 

the proper allocations, the Committee directs the Veterans Health 

Administration to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 30 days after VA 

allocates the medical care appropriations to the VISNs which identifies: (1) the amount of general purpose funding allocated to each 

VISN; (2) the amount of funding retained by central headquarters 

for specific purposes, with amounts identified for each purpose; and 

(3) the amount of funding retained by each VISN before allocating 

it to the medical centers, identifying separately the amounts retained for purposes such as network operations, network initiatives, and emergencies. 

VA Transparency.—The Committee notes that the VA maintains 

a Hospital Compare Web site in which it rates the quality of care 

at every VA medical center in a number of fields, including surgical 

procedures, process of care, mortality rates, and readmission for selected diagnoses. In order to provide greater transparency into the 

quality of care at VA medical centers, the Committee directs the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include the following information 

in the Hospital Compare Web site: 

—Aggregate assessments of outcomes for individual surgical procedures to include the type and number of complications, mortality rate, average length of inpatient care, patient safety 

issues, description of any hospital-acquired medical condition, 

and rate of readmission within 30 days of discharge; 

—Assessment of in-patient mental health treatment, including 

patient safety issues and suicide rate of patients following discharge; 
43 

—Assessment of incidents affecting the safety of patients receiving nursing home treatment; 

—Average wait times for emergency room treatment; and 

—Average wait time to schedule outpatient appointments as certified by the VA Medical Center Director. 

Security at Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities.—Robust physical 

security is integral to the Department’s ability to provide high 

quality patient care across the Veterans Health Administration’s 

integrated healthcare system. This security is provided by the largest uniformed Federal police agency in the country. The VA Police 

Service is composed of approximately 4,000 officers, which provide 

law enforcement and security support to VHA’s 151 hospitals. The 

Committee is aware that the VA’s Office of Security and Law Enforcement is currently undertaking a systemwide security review 

which will assess the physical security vulnerabilities of hospitals 

in order to help inform policy decisions which will ensure greater 

security. The Committee commends the VA for undertaking this review and encourages the Department to incorporate into this review how future plans will leverage integrated technologies and 

real time data analytics to adopt smart policing techniques being 

used more frequently by other Federal, State and local law enforcement. 

VA Dialysis.—The Committee requests the VA to obtain an independent and full evaluation of the four-site dialysis pilot program 

by September 30, 2015. In the interim, in an effort to improve efficiencies and save taxpayer funds, the VA should not create duplicate contract-provided dialysis capacity. An independent evaluation 

of the four-pilot program will give the Committee the opportunity 

to consider the findings and determine if such findings justify expanding VA-operated dialysis clinics. 

Office of Inspector General Findings.—The Committee is concerned with past investigations and findings by the Office of Inspector General at the Department’s healthcare facilities. In particular, past findings at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical 

Center [VAMC] in Jackson, Mississippi, were not appropriately resolved and have caused concern among patients and families regarding the quality of care and management provided at the facility, which is not acceptable. The Committee commends the Department for establishing new leadership at the Medical Center to 

make necessary changes, but urges the Department to continue to 

oversee the implementation of the corrective action plan at the 

Jackson VAMC. The Committee is hopeful that past issues will not 

perpetuate distrust among the veterans it serves and asks the Department to work diligently with VA centers across the country to 

resolve cases of delay, mismanagement and inappropriate activity 

in an expeditious manner. 

The Committee also directs the Secretary to develop a process 

subsequent to any investigations by the Office of Inspector General 

for reviewing progress on findings through collaboration with the 

Office of the Under Secretary for Health. Furthermore, the Committee directs the Secretary to provide the Committee with a report 

detailing this process within 180 days of enactment of this act. 

Prompt Payment Rule.—The Committee is concerned that fee and 

contract providers continue to be saddled with millions of dollars 
44 

of uncollected payments. The Committee expects the VA to adhere 

to the Prompt Payment Rule which states that the period available 

to an agency to make a timely payment without incurring an interest penalty begins on the date of receipt of a proper invoice. 

Healthcare Training and Medical Residencies Specific to Rural 

Healthcare.—The Committee believes that the Veterans Health Administration would benefit from increased partnerships with university medical institutions to promote healthcare training and 

medical residencies specific to rural healthcare. The Committee 

urges the Secretary to increase VA partnerships with university 

medical centers that serve rural and highly rural areas, in order 

to develop courses and programs to better train professionals to 

meet the healthcare needs of veterans living in rural and highly 

rural areas. In addition, the Secretary is urged to work with university medical centers in these areas to develop continuing education programs to instill increased professionalism and opportunities for continuing education among rural medical practitioners. 

Drug Diversion.—The Committee is concerned with ensuring veterans receive adequate, but not excessive medication. Therefore the 

Committee directs the Department to report on how the Department is using new technology platforms and services necessary to 

ensure the dispensation of medication to veterans in a safe and 

transparent way. The report should include, but should not be limited to, how the Department currently uses or can use a unified information portal administered by the VA which would collect and 

hold critical patient information. The assessment should include diversion classifications and aberrancy categories. The Committee directs the Department to provide this report to the Committees on 

Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, within 90 days of enactment of this act, including the feasibility of implementing a pilot 

program to test such technology. 

Major Medical Facility Leases.—The Committee notes that legislation is pending before the Senate that would authorize major 

medical facilities leases for a total of 27 VA community based outpatient clinics and other facilities. However, some of these projects 

have been awaiting authorization for several years due to technical 

congressional scorekeeping issues. A number of the pending clinics 

are to be located in underserved areas of the country, where veterans are forced to either travel long distances to access VA medical care or, in some cases, to forego treatment. To address the 

shortfall in VA medical care available in these and other areas, the 

Committee urges the VA to move quickly to activate all of the requested leases once they are authorized. 

As an interim measure, the Committee has included a provision 

in this act that would permit the transfer of funds from VA’s Medical Facilities account to the Medical Services account to be used 

to provide contract care services through existing authorities for 

veterans living in the catchment areas of the pending clinics until 

the clinics are activated. This provision is in no way intended to 

replace planned VA clinics with contract care service, but is provided to bridge the gap in services until the major medical facility 

leases are authorized and the clinics activated. To ensure that the 

VA does not interpret this provision as a blanket endorsement of 
45 

contract care, the language specifies the facilities for which the 

transfer authority is provided. 

MEDICAL SERVICES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $43,597,000,000 

Advance appropriations, 2015 .............................................................. 45,015,527,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 367,885,000 

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

Committee recommendation, 2015 ....................................................... 100,000,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2016 ................................... 47,603,202,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2016 .................................. 47,603,202,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2016 ............... 47,603,202,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Services account provides for medical services of enrolled eligible veterans and certain dependent beneficiaries in VA 

medical centers, VA outpatient clinics, contract hospitals, State 

homes, and outpatient programs on a fee basis. Hospital and outpatient care is also provided by the private sector for certain dependents and survivors of veterans under the civilian health and 

medical programs for the VA. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2014, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of $45,015,527,000 for fiscal year 2015. The recommendation for fiscal year 2015 includes an additional $100,000,000 instead of $367,885,000 requested by the Administration for the Medical Services account. As noted previously in the report, the justification accompanying the budget request provides few details regarding the data and assumptions that were modified in the updated actuarial model projection. Absent this data, the Committee 

cannot accurately assess the merits of an additional request. The 

Committee also notes that the Department routinely carries forward significant funds from one fiscal year to the next and directs 

that any funding carried forward from fiscal year 2014 be applied 

to unanticipated needs. In addition, the VA has the authority to retain co-payments and third-party collections, estimated to total 

$2,456,000,000 in fiscal year 2015. 

The Committee recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of $47,603,202,000 for medical services for fiscal year 2016. 

This is $2,587,675,000 above the level for fiscal year 2015 and 

equal to the fiscal year 2016 budget request. 

The fiscal year 2015 appropriation includes $7,177,600,000 for 

mental healthcare; $132,821,000 for suicide prevention; 

$4,204,500,000 to provide medical care to Afghanistan and Iraq 

war veterans; $237,544,000 for readjustment counseling services at 

Vet Centers; $2,577,000,000 for prosthetics; $403,200,000 in gender 

specific healthcare for women veterans; and $1,641,000,000 for specific homeless veterans programs. The Committee acknowledges 

the increase requested by the President for these selected programs, but will be closely monitoring each quarter to ensure that 

adequate funding is being allocated to VA hospitals to meet rising 

demand and to reduce wait times. 
46 

Office of Rural Health.—Currently, 3.2 million rural veterans are 

enrolled in the VA system. This represents 36 percent of the total 

enrolled veteran population based on the 2010 U.S. Census. Men 

and women veterans from geographically rural areas make up a 

disproportionate share of servicemembers and comprise approximately 31 percent of the enrolled Operation Enduring Freedom and 

Operation Iraqi Freedom [OEF/OIF] veterans; many of whom are 

returning to their rural communities. Through collaborations with 

other VA program offices, Federal partners, State partners, and 

rural communities, the Office of Rural Health [ORH] works to optimize the use of available and emerging technologies, establish new 

access points to care, and employ strategies to increase healthcare 

options for all rural veterans. In response to the unique needs of 

rural veterans, in fiscal year 2009 the Committee established the 

Rural Health Initiative with an initial investment of $250,000,000. 

The Committee notes that this funding has been incorporated into 

the VA’s base budget, and commends the VA for recognizing the 

needs of rural veterans. The Committee maintains its strong support for the Office of Rural Health and fully supports the 

$250,000,000 estimate for fiscal year 2015. 

Currently, ORH identifies and implements initiatives that support rural clinics and rural home-based primary care, address barriers to access and quality of healthcare delivery in rural areas, develop workforce recruitment and retention initiatives, and accelerate and expand telehealth. ORH also operates Rural Health Resource Centers and works with Federal and non-Federal community partners to share resources and expand access to care for rural 

veterans. To better understand future needs and what impacts veterans residing in rural and highly rural areas are having on the 

delivery of VHA’s healthcare, the Committee expects the VA to assess the growing population of rural and highly rural veterans and 

report back to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this act, on future year requirements for initiatives and programs administered 

by the ORH. The VA must be poised to account for this growing 

population of veterans and to implement new methods to close the 

gap in healthcare in these areas. 

As part of this report, VA shall provide the Committee with a 

summary of full time equivalent [FTE] personnel dedicated to ORH 

and a summary of ORH programs that align with VA Major Initiatives and Minor Initiatives in the fiscal year 2015 request, including any programs addressing the unique needs of homeless veterans, minority veterans, and female veterans who reside in rural 

America. Additionally, VA should include potential courses of action to amend the current reporting construct of the ORH. In particular, the VA should review the organizational construct of the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services whereby the Office of Rural Health Policy [ORHP] reports directly to the Secretary 

and the head of Health Resources and Services Administration 

[HRSA] and consider whether shifting ORH to report directly to 

the head of VHA is advisable. 

VA Recruitment and Retention.—The Committee recognizes that 

staffing recruitment and retention remain a problem for primary 

and specialty care across VHA’s system, and is particularly a prob-
47 

lem at many rural CBOCs. For example, the Committee notes the 

high number of vacant mental health provider positions across the 

VHA system. To help the Committee better understand current 

and potential recruitment and retention strategies, the Department 

is directed to provide to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

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

act, a report detailing steps VHA has taken to fill healthcare professional vacancies, especially in rural areas, and Health Professional Shortage Areas with the greatest need. The Committee notes 

that additional flexibilities or legislative authorities may be needed 

to address hard to fill vacancies throughout the Nation. For instance, it has been suggested that the Department requires authority to requisition Public Health Service commissioned personnel for 

extended periods of time. Therefore, the Committee also directs 

VHA to report on additional authorities that would allow VHA to 

more effectively recruit healthcare professionals, and to ensure existing and future VA facilities are adequately staffed. To the extent 

practicable, the report should compare private sector and VA compensation and benefits of primary care providers and develop potential courses of action to address competitive, disparate findings. 

Access to Care.—Hawaii and Alaska present unique challenges 

for VA in delivering timely healthcare. For instance, if VA does not 

provide a particular healthcare service within the VHA system, Hawaii and Alaska veterans are often directed to fly thousands of 

miles to a VA hospital within the continental United States, regardless of whether adequate healthcare may exist within the 

State through a local provider. The Committee remains concerned 

that the extensive travel requirements, coupled with lengthy delays 

scheduling this travel, create unusual hardships on Hawaii and 

Alaska veterans. VA has reported it is making progress in addressing these unique problems through the ‘‘Care Closer to Home Program.’’ The Committee encourages VA to continue these efforts and 

will continue to monitor its progress. Therefore, no later than February 1, 2015, (and subsequently thereafter with the submission of 

future budget requests) the Department is directed to provide to 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report on the number of Hawaii and Alaska veterans who were directed to travel to a VA facility in another State for medical care 

in fiscal year and calendar year 2014; the number of veterans who 

actually traveled to that facility during fiscal and calendar year 

2014; and the Department’s plans and goals for reducing the number of Hawaii and Alaska veterans directed to travel to another 

State for medical care in fiscal years 2015 and 2016. In addition, 

the report should describe the criteria used in determining whether 

to purchase medical care for a Hawaii or Alaska veteran within 

their respective States or require the veteran to travel to a VA facility in another State to receive that care; a description of the 

medical conditions for which these veterans were required to travel 

out of Hawaii and Alaska; and an explanation of why care was not 

purchased in State. The Committee is also concerned about the distances veterans have to travel within the State of Alaska to obtain 

VA care. In its report on the ‘‘Care Closer to Home Program,’’ the 

VA is requested to provide data on the number of Alaska veterans 

who have traveled by air within the State of Alaska during fiscal 
48 

year 2014 to obtain care at a VA facility, the communities from 

which they traveled, and the facility at which the care was provided. The Department is requested to assess whether this care 

could have been provided closer to home through partnerships with 

Community Health Centers, tribal health facilities, or other available community providers. 

Access to Care for New Hampshire Veterans.—New Hampshire is 

the only State that does not have a full service VHA hospital within the State, which presents a unique challenge for VA in delivering timely healthcare. For instance, if VA does not provide a particular healthcare service within the limited VHA system in New 

Hampshire, veterans are often directed to drive hundreds of miles 

to a VA hospital in another State, regardless of whether adequate 

healthcare may exist within New Hampshire through a local provider. The Committee remains concerned that the extensive travel 

requirements, coupled with lengthy delays scheduling this travel, 

create unusual hardships on New Hampshire veterans. The Committee therefore encourages VA to explore ways to provide in-State 

access to care for New Hampshire veterans, including care through 

local providers, and directs the Department to provide a report to 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on 

the number of New Hampshire veterans who were directed to travel to a VA facility in another State for medical care in fiscal and 

calendar year 2014; the number of veterans who actually traveled 

to that facility during fiscal and calendar year 2014; and the Department’s plans and goals for reducing the number of New Hampshire veterans directed to travel to another State for medical care 

in fiscal years 2015 and 2016. In addition, the report should describe the criteria used in determining whether to purchase medical care for a New Hampshire veteran within the State or require 

the veteran to travel to a VA facility in another State to receive 

that care; a description of the medical conditions for which these 

veterans were required to travel out of New Hampshire, and an explanation of why contract care was not provided in New Hampshire. This report shall be provided no later than February 1, 2015, 

and subsequently thereafter with the submission of future budget 

requests. 

Homeless Veterans.—Between 2010 and 2013, VA and its partners have reduced the estimated number of homeless veterans by 

24 percent. The 2013 ‘‘Point in Time Count’’ prepared by the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that there 

were 57,849 homeless veterans in the U.S. on a single night in January 2013. While significant progress has been made, more needs 

to be done. As such, the Committee supports the Department’s 

budget estimate of $1,641,000,000 for specific homeless veterans 

programs. The Committee notes that the Department has routinely 

had end-of-year unobligated balances in excess of $400,000,0000 in 

the Medical Services account and directs the VA to utilize these 

balances should additional funds be needed. 

In order to better identify the homeless population in rural and 

highly rural areas, the Committee directs the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of veterans in 

these areas who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This 

assessment shall also include any recommendations the Secretary 
49 

may have to improve the housing stability of these veterans, and 

to strengthen community partnerships in order to achieve these 

goals. The Secretary shall submit this assessment to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 

December 31, 2014. 

While the Committee commends the efforts and progress made 

on the VA’s goal of ‘‘Getting to Zero,’’ the Committee is increasingly 

concerned with the coordination and delivery of mental health and 

employment services to homeless veterans. The Committee directs 

the Department to ensure that veterans residing in facilities designated for homeless veterans be provided both adequate behavioral counseling and employment services in order to facilitate successful readjustment and reentry. 

Access Received Closer to Home [ARCH].—The Committee notes 

that the ARCH pilot program has been successful in benefitting 

rural and highly rural veterans in the States in which it operates. 

Current Veteran Integrated Service Network analysis demonstrates that more than 90 percent of veterans who received primary care services through the ARCH program were ‘‘completely 

satisfied’’ with the care, and cited significantly shortened travel 

times. According to the VA, however, recommendations with respect to the future of the program will not be issued until after the 

end of fiscal year 2014. The Committee is concerned that the 

Project ARCH pilot program expires at the end of 2014, and that 

programs intended to replace the types of healthcare and coverage 

provided by the ARCH program will not be fully implemented or 

mature enough to provide substitute care during fiscal year 2015. 

Project ARCH was specifically designed to close gaps in rural areas 

where VA often has no presence. Little information has been provided to Congress on how the Department will ensure that veterans currently served in the program will not see a lapse in care 

or be forced to travel long distances to receive care. The Committee 

strongly supports Project ARCH, but pending its reauthorization 

has included an Administrative Provision directing the Department 

to utilize existing authorities to continue this program at no less 

than $35,000,000 in fiscal year 2015. This level of funding will 

allow the VA to continue the program so that veterans depending 

on the services provided by Project ARCH do not experience any 

lapse in service until follow-on programs are proven adequate. In 

addition, it will provide for the expansion of the program to other 

rural and highly rural areas. 

National Centers for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.—The Committee remains very concerned with the number of veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]. Over the past 

several years, the Committee has provided funding for numerous 

mental health initiatives to increase healthcare services for those 

suffering from PTSD. Last year, the Committee included an additional $3,000,000 for the VA’s National Centers for Post-Traumatic 

Stress Disorder to support two new programs: a brain tissue bank 

to facilitate PTSD research, and a PTSD outreach program to provide consultation and training for VA clinicians and other groups 

on evidence-based PTSD treatment. This program would improve 

access to and quality of PTSD treatment for rural veterans that 

may not be near to or otherwise avail themselves of VA PTSD serv-
50 

ices under normal circumstances. The Committee strongly believes 

these programs will keep the National Centers for PTSD on the 

cutting edge and will promulgate research-informed therapies to 

veterans communities at a time of very great need. The Committee 

therefore recommends that the National Centers for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder be funded at no less than the fiscal year 

2014 level in order to continue this important work. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Study.—The Committee understands that new technologies using magnetic resonance therapy 

have successfully treated veterans with PTSD. Recent clinical trials 

and pilot studies have produced promising results in the evolution 

of treatment for PTSD. The Committee encourages the VA to report to the Committee about whether it uses magnetic resonance 

therapy to treat PTSD and if not, whether it would be appropriate 

to conduct a study on use of the technology. 

Vet Centers.—The Committee recognizes the critical role Vet Centers play in helping veterans readjust to civilian life. Established 

by Congress in 1979, Vet Centers provide a broad range of counseling, outreach and referral services to combat veterans and their 

families. In fiscal year 2015, the VA estimates that it will obligate 

$237,544,000 to support 300 Vet Centers and 80 mobile Vet Centers across the country. This is an increase of $16,245,000 over the 

current estimate for fiscal year 2014. While the Committee supports this increase, it remains concerned that in many cases the 

critical services provided through Vet Centers and mobile Vet Centers may not be readily accessible to all veterans. Moreover, the 

Committee understands that many centers are operating at full capacity and cannot meet emerging needs. As such, the Committee 

urges the VA to formulate a multiyear plan to expand the Vet Center program to include, but not be limited to, efforts to deploy additional mobile Vet Centers. 

Caregivers.—The Committee notes the robust usage of the post9/11 Caregiver Program, with its more than 14,000 approved applications, as well as the consistent reviews by caregiver families noting that the program’s stipend, respite care, formal training and 

support structure are critical components to its success. Given the 

demonstrated success of the program, the Committee encourages 

the VA to ensure that the caregiver coordinators at each VA medical center are fully resourced and, to the maximum extent possible, assigned designated caregiver duties as their chief responsibility. In addition, the Committee encourages the VA to examine 

expansion of the program beyond the post-9/11 population. Noting 

the conclusions of the recent RAND Military Caregivers Study indicating the significant hardship borne by those caring for military 

personnel prior to separation, the Committee encourages the Department to engage in a lessons-learned dialogue with the Department of Defense in order to share best practices. 

The Committee recognizes that many caregivers for severely 

wounded veterans are working dramatically reduced hours outside 

the home or have left the workforce completely, leading to financial 

hardship. This reduction in outside earnings results in difficulties 

meeting financial obligations, including student loan debt held by 

the caregiver. The Committee directs the VA to survey all caregivers currently in the program to identify the number possessing 
51 

outstanding student loan debt and develop a plan to monitor this 

issue. The Department is directed to report the survey findings to 

the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

within 120 days of enactment of this act. 

Mobile Surgical Units.—Over the past decade, the Department 

has undertaken an effort to modernize its medical facilities through 

new construction and renovation with special focus on outdated operating rooms. This capital improvement effort has been a crucial 

part of the effort to assure delivery of the highest quality medical 

care. Often when a VA surgical ward undergoes construction, the 

VA must find alternative ways to provide surgical services during 

the construction phase of the project. When other VA surgery-capable medical centers are too distant or lack capacity to manage surgical cases from the VA medical center under construction, the VA 

is forced to send surgical cases to non-VA medical providers at 

rates that may represent a significant additional expense. Based on 

the limited but positive experience of VA medical centers which 

have opted to lease mobile surgical units to cover these surgical 

cases, the Committee directs the Veterans Integrated Service Networks to perform an economic analysis to determine whether contracted medical care or the lease or purchase of mobile facilities offers the most cost-efficient approach to providing care while permanent facilities are under construction. 

The Committee encourages the Department to launch pilot 

projects in at least two VISNs that are planning renovation or construction projects with the intent of leasing or purchasing mobile 

surgical units through full and open competition. In preparing for 

such pilot projects, the VA should develop metrics for a cost-efficiency analysis designed to determine for each individual project 

whether this approach will achieve savings for the VA when compared to contracting with local medical providers for the same surgical services. 

Orthotics and Prosthetics Workforce.—The Committee is concerned about the sustainability of the orthotics and prosthetics 

workforce treating veterans, particularly given an aging workforce 

with imminent retirements as well as a lack of availability of advanced degree programs necessary to train new professionals. Reports indicate up to 20 percent of the field’s 7,100 clinicians nationwide are either past retirement age or within 5 years of retiring. 

The Committee recognizes the contributions made by the VHA’s 

Orthotic and Prosthetic Residency Program to provide rotation opportunities through the VA system but acknowledges this program 

alone is inadequate to ensure a sustainable workforce for the future, especially in light of the skill set necessary to provide the increasingly complex, state-of-the-art orthotics and prosthetics care 

for OEF/OIF veterans. The Committee directs the VHA to explore 

cost-effective opportunities to grow the workforce pipeline in order 

to ensure the future orthotic and prosthetic workforce required by 

the Nation’s new generation of veterans and report findings to the 

Committee within 180 days of enactment. 

In addition, the Committee encourages the Department to work 

with institutions of higher education to develop partnerships for 

the establishment or expansion of programs of advanced degrees in 

prosthetics and orthotics in order to improve and enhance the 
52 

availability of high quality prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans. Any plan should be done in consultation with institutions of 

higher education with accredited degree programs in prosthetics 

and orthotics as well as representatives of the prosthetic and 

orthotic field. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 

of this act, the Department is directed to report to the Committees 

on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on efforts made to 

establish a partnership between the Department and education institutions. 

Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas.— The Committee recognizes that Public Law 111–163, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, took a 

number of meaningful steps to enhance care for veterans, including 

authorization of a grant program that allows State veterans agencies and Veterans Service Organizations to provide better transportation options for rural veterans seeking care at a VA facility. The 

Committee notes, however, that some VA medical centers take an 

inordinate amount of time to process and approve the application 

of volunteer drivers. The Committee is concerned that such delays 

could lead to veterans that rely on such services, especially elderly 

veterans and those who reside in rural areas, to be forced to forgo 

healthcare services. In an effort to address hindrances to recruitment and to streamline the approval process, the Committee directs the Department to review VHA’s regulations concerning 

qualifications recruitment efforts for volunteer drivers. 

Patient Centered Medical Home Initiative.—The Committee supports the VA’s Patient Centered Medical Home initiative and urges 

the adoption and usage of metrics that will enable the VA to monitor outcomes and correct deficiencies. The Committee directs the 

VA to provide quarterly reports for the first year, and then annually thereafter, on post-acute and rehabilitation outcomes for patients with neurological conditions. 

Veteran Suicide.—The Committee remains concerned about the 

alarming prevalence of suicide among veterans. Therefore, the 

Committee directs the Veterans Health Administration to submit a 

report, not later than 180 days from the date of enactment of this 

act and each year thereafter, to the Committees on Appropriations 

of both Houses of Congress on the number of veterans enrolled in 

the VA system who commit suicide; the factors which contribute to 

the rate of suicide among veterans; the method used by veterans 

to commit suicide; efforts by mental health professionals and others 

to prevent suicide; and any pertinent recommendations for legislative changes which would assist in addressing this problem. Further, the Department is directed to provide a report to the Committee no later than 30 days after enactment of this act identifying 

a detailed expenditure plan for all suicide outreach programs. 

Home and Community Based Services [HCBS].—The Committee 

supports the Department’s efforts to broaden veterans options regarding long-term care support and services. As the average age of 

the veterans being served by the Department increases, providing 

alternative care options that deliver quality services and are cost 

efficient will ease the burden on, and the cost associated with, 

maintaining long term care facilities, in addition to providing veterans with increased flexibility regarding their care options. The 
53 

Committee notes the positive results of pilot programs such as the 

Veterans Independence Program, a Veterans-Directed, Home and 

Community Based Services grant program administered jointly by 

the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health 

and Human Services, and encourages enhanced cooperation with 

the Department of Health and Human Services to expand and grow 

these programs. Further, the Committee understands that the 

VHA Central Office has recently begun to take actions to expand 

non-institutional care across the VA system. The Department is directed to provide regular updates to the Committee on its efforts 

to rebalance institutional and home and community based care, including what metrics have been developed to track VISN implementation, as well as those VISNs which are meeting national targets and those which are not. 

Further, the Committee directs the Department to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than January 1, 2015, on the cost avoidance associated with the various non-institutional care programs. The report 

should include the demand for HCBS among the veteran population, the number of veterans currently being served, as well as 

the Department’s plans to expand the size and scope of HCBS. 

Given the success of current HCBS pilot programs, the Department 

should include an economic analysis of the cost-effectiveness of 

growing the existing pilot program, and the coordination efforts underway with the Department of Health and Human Services. Given 

that mandatory eligibility for certain types of care is associated 

with disability levels adjudicated by the Veterans Benefits Administration, this report should offer strategies for streamlining the 

claims process for veterans requiring long-term care. 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine.—The Committee recognizes the importance of integrating various methodologies into 

the treatment for veterans. Complementary and alternative medicine provide significant additional treatment options for those veterans requiring treatment who are not sufficiently responsive to 

medications. Additionally, the Committee recognizes that there 

could be significant cost savings through appropriate integration of 

complementary and alternative medicines. Within 180 days of enactment of this act, the Department is directed to report to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the 

courses of action being taken to integrate complementary and alternative medicine into treatment and care provided at VA medical facilities. The report should also include a description of what actions 

the Department has taken to work with the Director of the Office 

of Personnel Management to establish the necessary coding for VA 

to hire providers to deliver complementary and alternative medicine therapies. 

Community Based Outpatient Clinic Staffing.—The Community 

Based Outpatient Clinic [CBOC] at Wasilla, Alaska, serves a significant veteran population in the fastest growing region of Alaska. 

Since its opening, this clinic has been plagued by security issues 

and a series of stressful incidents including the suicide of a veteran 

in the clinic’s parking lot. The Committee understands that these 

issues coupled with a lack of staffing at the clinic to support a large 

caseload have resulted in staff attrition, including the recent res-
54 

ignation of the clinic’s only medical provider. While the Department of Veterans Affairs may be moving diligently to fill staff vacancies using all available incentives, the Committee directs the 

Department to provide to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress a report no later than February 1, 2015, 

on the staffing challenges it has faced at Wasilla from the inception 

of the clinic, the appropriate level of staffing in relation to patient 

loads, and the actions being taken to achieve the appropriate level 

of staffing. 

Assessment of Rural Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.—Last 

year, the Committee directed the VA to conduct a full assessment 

of all VA CBOCs in rural and highly rural areas, including an assessment of possible expansions and improvements needed to meet 

applicable medical and healthcare related legal requirements. The 

Department is currently undertaking this assessment and the 

Committee looks forward to receiving these results this summer. 

Mental Health Provider Training.—The Committee is aware that 

the VA has recently begun to explore options to support licensed 

professional mental health counselors [LPMHCs] and marriage and 

family therapists [MFTs] training programs and understands that 

the Department is planning to incorporate these options as part of 

VHA’s expansion of mental health training. The Committee supports the decision to implement a pilot program in the 2015 academic year and understands that VHA is currently consulting on 

accreditation regarding standards and requirements to develop 

pilot training programs. The Committee directs the Department to 

report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 90 days after the enactment of this act on 

progress in establishing this program and the determination of 

funding for trainees. The Committee also notes that VA has made 

progress in disseminating information about LPMHCs and MFTs 

with local VHA human resource staff, and encourages the VA to 

continue to provide educational information so that local VHA medical centers understand that LPMHCs and MFTs are eligible for 

employment by VA. 

Radiologic Technologist Accreditation.—The Committee notes 

that in 1995, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists 

[ARRT] recognized six regional accreditation agencies utilized by 

colleges and universities throughout the United States for accreditation. Of those six, the VA chose the Joint Review Committee on 

Education in Radiologic Technology [JRCERT] as the required accreditation in order to be hired by the VA. However, not all of our 

Nation’s college-based radiography programs are certified by 

JRCERT. The Committee believes the VA’s hiring policies may not 

have evolved with industry standards as the VA continues to mandate only JRCERT accreditation. Even though graduates of other 

accredited radiography programs take the same certification examination as graduates of JRCERT accredited programs, they are not 

eligible for VA employment. Non-JRCERT graduates pass the same 

national boards and complete clinical rotations just like JRCERT 

graduates. The Committee is concerned that non-JRCERT graduates cannot get a job at the VA when they graduate, despite the 

fact that they attended institutions accredited by a nationally rec-
55 

ognized organization, especially during a time of shortfalls in the 

VA’s health professionals workforce. 

Pharmacy Dispensing Process for Specialized Medicines.—The 

Committee urges the VA to consider a pilot program to study the 

use of specialized automated pharmacy workflow systems that 

manage the entire intravenous and oral liquid dose preparation 

and dispensing process within the VHA in order to promote intravenous and oral liquid dose preparation safety, reduce waste, and 

improve health system pharmacy productivity. The Committee believes that a pilot program focused on the specialized field of intravenous and oral dose preparation would improve staffing productivity and patient safety. 

Nursing Handbook.—The Committee understands that the VHA 

Nursing Handbook is currently under review. The Committee encourages the VHA to seek input from internal VA program offices 

and external professional stakeholders prior to possible regulatory 

action and submission to the Under Secretary for Health for final 

approval. The Committee believes all possible outreach efforts 

should be used to communicate the proposed changes, to gather 

public comment, and to collaborate with Congress, stakeholders, 

VA nursing staff, and external organizations. The Committee also 

requests that the VHA ensure that any changes to handbooks within the VHA do not conflict with other handbooks already in place 

within the VHA. 

Assisted Living Services for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.—The Committee urges the Secretary to utilize any existing 

authority the Department has to continue the pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury 

[TBI]. The extension of this program is critical to treating veterans 

with moderate to severe TBI and increasing scientific know-how in 

treating TBI. The Committee believes the program must have more 

time to demonstrate the effectiveness of its ability to treat and assist these veterans, especially given that the program did not officially launch until almost 3 years after it was authorized in 2008. 

Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Health Exchange.—The Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record [VLER] Health Exchange, allows 

VA providers to request and share certain parts of veteran health 

records with the Department of Defense and selected private 

healthcare providers in a secure electronic environment. The majority of veterans receive a portion of their medical care from nonVA healthcare providers. In order eliminate the need for veterans 

to carry health records between providers it is essential that VA 

have the ability to electronically share portions of a veterans health 

record. The VA has piloted this effort in several areas throughout 

the country. The Committee commends this effort and urges the 

VA to continue to expand this capability and to consider 

prioritizing expansion efforts by developing partnerships with State 

designated Regional Health Information Organizations. 

Nursing Quality Improvements.—The Committee maintains a 

longstanding commitment to ensuring that the Nation’s veterans 

receive high-quality care, especially in hospital-based settings. 

Studies have shown that when data are collected about quality of 

care and patient outcomes, health, and well-being can be improved. 

The VA has been active in making available quality measurements 
56 

on its ‘‘Hospital Compare’’ Web site and maintains a nursing-specific quality database for VA facilities. The Committee encourages 

the VA to consider expanding this nursing quality effort by participating in a national data quality measurement system that uses 

valid and reliable data from all types of inpatient facilities, not just 

those operated by the VA. The Committee understands that 54 VA 

hospitals already participate in such a system and encourages 

wider scale adoption of national quality measurement systems. 

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs.—The Committee strongly 

supports the VA’s efforts to implement antimicrobial stewardship 

programs at all its medical facilities. The Committee strongly recommends the VA develop consistent ways to collect and analyze 

data on antibiotic usage, healthcare outcomes (such as Clostridium 

difficile infections), and antimicrobial resistance trends in order to 

evaluate how well these programs are improving patient care and 

reducing inappropriate antibiotic use. The Committee also strongly 

encourages the VA to provide antibiotic usage and antimicrobial resistance data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

National Healthcare Safety Network. 

Open Air Burn Pits Registry.—The Committee is concerned over 

the pace of implementation of the Open Air Burn Pits Registry and 

urges the Secretary to expedite the implementation of the registry. 

The Committee notes that the Department of Veterans Affairs has 

fallen behind on the registry’s implementation and has not provided sufficient information regarding the nature of the delay. Furthermore, the Committee urges the Secretary to work with the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress regarding the VA’s plan to use the data from the burn pits registry to improve the diagnosis of illnesses related to exposure to open air burn 

pits, and to effectively treat and care for veterans suffering from 

illnesses related to exposure. 

Safety Needles for Diabetic Veterans.—The Committee is concerned that the Department of Veterans Affairs is not required to 

provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] 

compliant safety needles to long-term care facilities that provide 

care to veterans who are diabetic and insulin-dependent. However, 

long-term care facilities are required to follow OSHA rules regarding safety needles. The Committee believes that in cases where the 

Department provides needles to veterans who are diabetic and insulin-dependent and are being cared for at a nursing home facility 

that is not a VA facility, the safety needles should be in compliance 

with regulations promulgated by OSHA for use in providing care 

to such veterans. The Committee directs the Department to provide 

a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress no later than 60 days after enactment of this act detailing steps being taken to ensure that diabetic veterans who receive 

long-term care in facilities not operated by the VA receive OSHA 

compliant safety needles. 

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $5,983,000,000 

Advance appropriations, 2015 .............................................................. 5,879,700,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2016 ................................... 6,144,000,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2016 .................................. 6,144,000,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2016 ............... 6,144,000,000 
57 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Support and Compliance account provides funds for 

management, security, and administrative expenses within the VA 

healthcare system, in addition to providing costs associated with 

the operation of VA medical centers and clinics, VISN offices, and 

the VHA Central Office in Washington, DC. This appropriation also 

covers Chief of Staff and Facility Director operations, quality of 

care oversight, legal services, billing and coding activities, procurement, financial management, security, and human resource management. 

The President’s 2015 and 2016 submission for Medical Support 

and Compliance is based on an actuarial analysis founded on the 

current and projected veteran population, enrollment projections of 

demand, and case mix changes associated with current veteran patients. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2014, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of $5,879,700,000 for fiscal year 2015 for the Medical Support and Compliance account. The Committee recommendation includes an advance appropriation of $6,144,000,000 for Medical support and compliance for fiscal year 2016. 

Last year, the Committee provided explicit direction to VHA to 

include detailed budget explanations for several components within 

the Medical Support and Compliance account. While the budget 

justifications accompanying the fiscal year 2015 budget and 2016 

advance appropriation request did include more detail with respect 

to certain components and offices funded through the Medical Support and Compliance account, the Committee remains concerned 

about how these budget requests are developed and executed. For 

instance, the budget justification accompanying the fiscal year 2014 

budget estimated that VHA Central Office would expend 

$911,000,000 in fiscal year 2014. However, this year’s budget justification shows the current estimate for fiscal year 2014 to be 

$613,500,000. While the Committee notes that VHA’s Central Office plays an important role in management of a healthcare system 

the size of VA’s, it is concerning that year-to-year estimates can 

vary so drastically yet little information is provided as to the reason for this wide variance or how funds originally budgeted for 

these functions are being redirected. In order to provide greater 

oversight of budget development and execution, the Committee directs the Department to continue to refine the accompanying budget justifications and provide detailed budget build-outs for those 

functions that are not developed solely through an actuarial model. 

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $4,957,000,000 

Advance appropriations, 2015 .............................................................. 4,739,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... ........................... 

Committee recommendation, 2015 ....................................................... 125,000,000 

Budget estimate, advance appropriation, 2016 ................................... 4,915,000,000 

House allowance, advance appropriation, 2016 .................................. 4,915,000,000 

Committee recommendation, advance appropriation, 2016 ............... 4,915,000,000 
58 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Facilities account provides funds for the operation 

and maintenance of the VA healthcare system’s vast capital infrastructure. This appropriation provides for costs associated with 

utilities, engineering, capital planning, leases, laundry, 

groundskeeping, housekeeping, facility repair, and property disposition and acquisition. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

In fiscal year 2014, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of $4,739,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 for the Medical Facilities account. The Committee recommendation also includes an 

additional $125,000,000 for the Medical Facilities account for fiscal 

year 2015. The Committee remains very concerned about the backlog of maintenance needs at existing VHA hospitals and clinics and 

has included this additional funding to address this need. Additionally, the Committee recommendation includes an advance appropriation of $4,915,000,000 for Medical Facilities for fiscal year 

2016. This is $176,000,000 above the level for fiscal year 2015 and 

equal to the budget request. 

Leases.—The Committee notes that VA leases for outpatient clinics have been unacceptably delayed as a result of the Congressional 

Budget Office scoring them as capital leases versus operating 

leases as well as concerns regarding ‘‘opt out clauses’’ required by 

the Office of Management and Budget. As a result of the new treatment of these leases, the VA has had to postpone the opening of 

several new outpatient clinics. Further, current facility leases 

which are reaching their expiration dates may also be in jeopardy 

of being closed. The Committee is very concerned that these delays 

are having detrimental consequences on the delivery of healthcare 

to veterans across the country and could drive future policy decisions of how that care is to be delivered to veterans. The Committee understands that discussions among VA, the General Services Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the 

Congressional Budget Office continue. As such the Committee directs the Secretary to provide a revised timeline including an estimated completion date for every VA facility lease impacted by 

these new requirements. 

Assessment of Rural Community Based Outpatient Clinics.—The 

Committee recognizes that many VA rural community-based outpatient clinics [CBOCs] are in need of improvements, including improvements needed to address population changes, adherence with 

HIPPA privacy requirements, and the Americans with Disabilities 

Act requirements and regulations. The Committee directs the VA 

to conduct a full assessment of all VA CBOCs in rural and highly 

rural areas, including an assessment of possible expansions and 

improvements needed to meet applicable medical and healthcarerelated legal requirements. The VA is directed to report its findings 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

within 180 days of enactment of the act. 
59 

MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $585,664,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 588,922,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 588,922,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 588,922,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical and Prosthetic Research account provides funds for 

medical, rehabilitative, and health services research. Medical research supports basic and clinical studies that advance knowledge 

leading to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disabilities. Rehabilitation research focuses 

on rehabilitation engineering problems in the fields of prosthetics, 

orthotics, adaptive equipment for vehicles, sensory aids and related 

areas. Health services research focuses on improving the effectiveness and economy of the delivery of health services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $588,922,000 for Medical and Prosthetic Research. This is $3,258,000 above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee remains highly supportive of this program, and 

recognizes its importance both in improving healthcare services to 

veterans and recruiting and retaining high quality medical professionals in the Veterans Health Administration. 

Through the Department’s research and development program, 

the VA has implemented a comprehensive research agenda to develop new treatments and tools for clinicians to ease the physical 

and psychological pain of men and women returning from war 

zones, to improve access to VA healthcare services, and to accelerate discoveries and applications, especially for neurotrauma, sensory loss, amputation, polytrauma, and related prosthetic needs. 

The Committee encourages the VA to continue its research into developing novel approaches to restoring veterans with amputation, 

central nervous system injuries, loss of sight or hearing, or other 

physical and cognitive impairments to full and productive lives. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury.—The 

Committee is aware that the VA is conducting innovative research 

on neurological conditions, including the relationship between traumatic brain injury [TBI] and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

[PTSD]. Over the past several years, the Committee has provided 

funding for numerous mental health initiatives to increase 

healthcare services for those suffering from TBI and PTSD. Recent 

studies show that 1 of 6 veterans returning from war zones and 1 

of 4 stroke survivors have symptoms of PTSD. The Committee encourages the VA to include stroke survivors in its TBI and PTSD 

research. Including stroke victims in these initiatives could help establish a national standard of care for survivors of neurological disorders and injuries by improving the health and outcomes of this 

population. 

The Committee also encourages the VA to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic treatments for TBI involving the development 

of new drugs administered via intranasal application. In addition, 

the VA is encouraged to identify opportunities to initiate or expe-
60 

dite clinical trials or chronic toxicity studies needed to get these 

treatments into the field faster. Where appropriate, the VA should 

work with FDA and other Federal agencies to prepare accelerated 

treatment protocols. 

Prostate Cancer.—The Committee is aware that prostate cancer 

is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and recognizes the promising research activities being conducted through the 

VA’s research program. The Committee urges the VA to identify 

opportunities to collaborate and coordinate with the Department of 

Defense and the National Cancer Institute on ongoing prostate cancer research efforts to accelerate the progress in diagnosis and 

treatment of prostate cancer. 

VA/DOD Research Collaboration.—Military research is currently 

focused on improving and reducing costs for human battlefield support and care for injured warfighters. Many of these technologies 

already in use and under development may have cross application 

in the treatment of veterans. Particularly promising technologies 

are under development by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, although rarely collaboratively. The 

Committee encourages the Departments to collaborate, including 

with the Defense Centers of Excellence, on research activities that 

have the potential to reduce VA healthcare costs and improve patient care. 

Toxic Exposures.—The Committee encourages the VA to bolster 

efforts into research on the residual impact to veterans of Agent 

Orange and other toxic exposures such as oil well fires and burn 

pits. 

Million Veteran Program.—The Committee recognizes the growth 

of diabetes in the country and the burden it places on our Nation’s 

veterans. The VA Office of Research and Development is doing valuable work through the Million Veteran Program to enhance VA’s 

analytical activities in looking at the risk for complications of diseases, including diabetes. According to VA, there are currently 

192,000 participants in the program. The Committee urges VA to 

continue their efforts to reach the goal of 1 million participants as 

having a larger cohort of participants will speed up discovery and 

further efforts to promote veterans’ health. 

MEDICAL CARE COST RECOVERY COLLECTIONS

MEDICAL CARE COLLECTION FUND

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $2,485,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 2,456,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,456,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,456,000,000 

MEDICAL CARE COLLECTION FUND—REVENUES APPLIED

Appropriations, 2014 .............................................................................¥$2,485,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... ¥2,456,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... ¥2,456,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. ¥2,456,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Medical Care Collection Fund [MCCF] was established by 

the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33). In fiscal 
61 

year 2004, Public Law 108–199 allowed the Department of Veterans Affairs to deposit first-party and pharmacy co-payments; 

third-party insurance payments and enhanced-use collections; longterm care co-payments; Compensated Work Therapy Program collections; and Parking Program fees into the MCCF. The Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs has the authority to transfer funds from the 

MCCF to the Medical services account. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommendation includes the authority to retain 

co-payments and third-party collections, estimated to total 

$2,456,000,000 in fiscal year 2015. The Committee remains concerned that estimates of revenues collected through the Medical 

Care Collection Fund continue to be overly optimistic and urges the 

VA to provide a contingency plan to ensure the provision of 

healthcare does not suffer should there be a failure to meet billing 

and collection expectations. 

Third Party Billing.—The Committee remains concerned over potential discrepancies in the VA’s billing process and continues to 

hear from veterans regarding improper billing. Additionally, the 

Committee again this year notes the large amount of third party 

health billings that go uncollected each year. The Committee believes that procedures to provide for correct billing and prompt collection must improve at the VA. Therefore, the Committee directs 

the Department to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 180 days after 

the enactment of this act identifying the amount of third party 

health billings that were owed to the VA in fiscal year 2014 and 

the amount collected. Additionally, the report should include current efforts underway to increase VA’s efficiency, accuracy and collection process, as well as what management practices are in place 

to provide proper oversight of the billing process so as to eliminate 

unnecessary and duplicative functions. 

NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $250,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 256,800,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 256,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 256,800,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

The National Cemetery Administration [NCA] was established in 

accordance with Public Law 93–94, the National Cemeteries Act of 

1973. It has a four-fold mission: to provide for the interment in any 

national cemetery of the remains of eligible deceased 

servicemembers and discharged veterans, together with their 

spouses and certain dependents, and permanently maintain their 

graves; to provide headstones for, and to mark graves of, eligible 

persons in national, State, and private cemeteries; to administer 

the grant program for aid to States in establishing, expanding, or 

improving State veterans cemeteries; and to administer the Presidential Memorial Certificate Program. 
62 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $256,800,000 for the National Cemetery Administration. This is an increase of $6,800,000 above the 

fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee has included bill language to make available 

through September 30, 2016, up to $25,600,000 of the National 

Cemetery Administration appropriation. 

DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $7,894,130,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 8,116,894,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 8,103,603,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 8,232,894,000 

ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW

Departmental Administration provides for the administration of 

veterans benefits through the Veterans Benefits Administration 

[VBA], the executive direction of the Department, several top level 

supporting offices, the Board of Contract Appeals, and the Board 

of Veterans Appeals. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $8,232,894,000 for Departmental 

Administration. The amount is composed of $321,591,000 for General administration; $99,294,000 for the Board of Veterans Appeals; 

$2,524,254,000 for General operating expenses, veterans benefits 

administration; $3,913,344,000 for Information technology systems; 

$126,411,000 for the Office of the Inspector General; $561,800,000 

for Construction, major projects; $540,200,000 for Construction, 

minor projects; $100,000,000 for Grants for construction of State 

extended care facilities; and $46,000,000 for Grants for the construction of State veterans cemeteries. 

Independent Review of Veterans Benefits Administration.—Over 

the past year, the Department has implemented a number of initiatives specifically aimed at eliminating the claims backlog. Two of 

these initiatives, mandatory overtime and adjudicating the oldest 

claims first have been significant in lowering the number of claims 

in the backlog. However, these are temporary measures aimed at 

dealing with the problem today. While the Committee appreciates 

all of the efforts the Department has taken to reduce the backlog, 

these initiatives do not address potential systemic and business 

process changes that may need to be made to protect against a future backlog. The Committee believes that now is the time for VBA 

to be planning strategically to position itself for the future. Therefore, the Committee directs the Department to enter into a contract 

with the congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration [NAPA] to ensure that VA has the business processes 

in place to prevent the occurrence of a future backlog. The review 

shall be conducted in consultation with VA and its stakeholders 

and include the following: (1) an assessment of VA’s current 

progress in reducing the backlog and its preparation for future disability claims processing; (2) current business processes and management structures and specific changes that need to be made to 
63 

accommodate increasing claim complexity; (3) the identification of 

specific procedures that must transform as VBA migrates to an 

electronic, paperless environment; (4) an identification of future circumstances that would likely lead to another backlog; and (5) proposed mitigation strategies, including short-term, medium-term, 

and long-term, that VA should utilize to reduce the backlog while 

improving service to veterans and their families. The Academy 

shall submit a final report to the Committees on Appropriations of 

Both Houses of Congress no later than 1 year after the Department 

has contracted with the Academy. 

Appeals Process Strategic Plan.—The Committee directs the VA 

to refresh the Department of Veterans Affairs Strategic Plan to 

Transform the Appeal Process. The refreshed plan shall include 

how the Board of Veterans Appeals intends to improve the timeliness and accuracy of appellate decisions and contain an explanation of the projection model used by the Board in calculating future workload. In addition, the plan should include a staffing model 

that corresponds to the projection model to address future workload, and the feasibility and advisability of increasing the number 

of Members serving on the Board of Veterans Appeals. The plan 

should also provide descriptions, and objective metrics and performance results, of any ongoing or planned initiative designed to 

speed the processing of appeals and improve the accuracy of decisions. 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2014 1 ........................................................................... $327,591,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 321,591,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 306,876,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 321,591,000 

1 $88,294,000 included in this account in fiscal year 2014 for the Board of Veterans Appeals 

is reflected in the new Board of Veterans Appeals account for comparison purposes. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The General Administration account provides funding for the Office of the Secretary, six assistant secretaries, and three independent staff offices. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $321,591,000 for General Administration. This amount is $6,000,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The Committee has included bill language to make available 

through September 30, 2016, up to $12,141,000 for General Administration. The funding recommendation for each line office is provided in the table below. 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Department Fiscal year 2015 

budget request 

Committee recommendation 

Office of the Secretary ............................................................................................................ 10,032 10,032 
64 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Department Fiscal year 2015 

budget request 

Committee 

recommendation 

Office of General Counsel ....................................................................................................... 80,365 80,365 

Office of Management ............................................................................................................ 44,098 44,098 

Office of Human Resources and Administration .................................................................... 62,064 62,064 

Office of Policy and Planning ................................................................................................. 25,009 25,009 

Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness ................................................................. 17,901 17,901 

Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs ..................................................................... 22,279 22,279 

Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs .................................................................... 5,969 5,969 

Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction .................................................................. 53,874 53,874 

Total ........................................................................................................................... 321,591 321,591 

Franchise Fund.—The Franchise Fund was established in 1997 

as a pilot program and made permanent in fiscal year 2006 under 

Public Law 109–114. The Committee directs the Department to 

provide a report on the Franchise Fund’s business plan for fiscal 

year 2015. This plan should include a list of services, customers, 

overhead expenses, funds collected for services, and the unobligated 

balance from the previous fiscal year. The VA shall submit this report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 60 days following enactment of this act. 

Outreach to Separating Veterans.—The ability of the VA to connect with newly separated veterans is consistently identified by 

both the VA and Veterans Service Organizations as a critical challenge. As such, the Committee directs the Department to provide 

to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

no later than 180 days after enactment of this act, a report which 

includes the following: (1) a description of the VA’s strategy to use 

technology, including social media, to improve its outreach to new 

veterans; (2) the challenges the VA faces in determining where 

newly separated veterans live once they leave the military; and (3) 

how the VA can partner with Veterans Service Organizations, 

State governments departments of veterans affairs, and other nonprofit and community organizations interested in assisting veterans 

transition to civilian life to determine how best to successfully connect with new veterans. 

BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS

Appropriations, 2014 1 ........................................................................... $88,294,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 94,294,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 94,294,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 99,294,000 

1Funding for the Board of Veterans Appeals was provided within the General Administration 

account for fiscal year 2014, however, this funding is reflected here for comparison purposes. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

As set forth in section 7101(a) of title 38 United States Code, the 

Board of Veterans Appeals is responsible for making final decisions 

on claims for veterans benefits that are presented to the Board for 

appellate review. The vast majority of the Board’s workload derives 

from benefit claims initiated by the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Regional Offices. The appellate process has multiple steps, 

most of which occur at the local Regional Office level. If a veteran 
65 

is not satisfied with the Regional Office determination, he or she 

may appeal to the Board for a final agency decision. The Board adjudicates appeals covering all areas of veterans benefits, including: 

service connection; increased disability ratings; total disability ratings; pensions; insurance benefits; educational benefits; home loan 

guaranties; vocational rehabilitation; waivers of indebtedness; fee 

basis medical care; and dependency and indemnity compensation. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $99,294,000 for the Board of Veterans Appeals, which is $11,000,000 above fiscal year 2014 enacted 

level and $5,000,000 above the request. For fiscal year 2015, the 

Administration has proposed to fund the Board of Veterans Appeals in a new account, separate from the General Administration 

account. The Committee concurs with this recommendation. The 

Committee believes that differences in the mission and purpose of 

the Department’s executive offices and the activities and direct 

services to veterans provided by the Board of Veterans appeals justify providing funding in two separate accounts. Further separating 

the executive offices and the Board will provide the Congress with 

greater visibility of budgetary resources and oversight of expenditures for appellate activities. 

GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS

ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $2,465,490,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 2,494,254,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 2,524,254,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,524,254,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration account provides funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration to administer entitlement programs such as service-connected disability compensation, education benefits, and vocational 

rehabilitation services. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $2,524,254,000 for General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration, which is 

$58,764,000 above fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $30,000,000 

above the budget request. The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 2016, up to 

$124,700,000 for General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 

Administration. 

Claims Processing.—The recommendation includes an additional 

$30,000,000 for the General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 

Administration account. These additional resources are to be utilized to hire additional claims and support personnel at Regional 

Offices. The Committee believes that the effort to eliminate the 

backlog through a number of initiatives, including mandatory overtime, has highlighted the need for additional personnel at Regional 

Offices. The Committee recommendation also directs the VBA, 

working in conjunction with the Office of Policy and Planning, to 
66 

conduct a workforce analysis by Regional Office and to undertake 

a detailed review of VBA’s Resources Allocation Model. The analysis should be developed in the framework of a multi-year, strategic assessment that should include a plan for how to measure 

and incorporate the increasing number of claimed conditions and 

complexity of claims into the systematic approach VA utilizes to 

distribute resources to the Regional Offices. VA shall also report on 

how the National Work Queue will be integrated with the Resource 

Allocation Model. The Department is directed to provide this analysis to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than February 2, 2015. 

The Committee continues to believe that quality cannot be sacrificed in the pursuit of eliminating the claims backlog. As such, 

the Department must continue the efforts of the Quality Review 

Teams [QRT] in assessing the performance of claims processing operations and bridging the gap between local and national standards. It is critical that QRTs perform follow-up spot audits in Regional Offices that have undergone challenge training to ensure 

that quality standards are being met. Additionally, the VA must 

ensure that all training programs for claims processors are routinely followed up with testing and monitoring at regular intervals. 

In order to continue to provide better oversight of quality reviews 

and training, bill language is included requiring the Secretary to 

submit quarterly reports which are to include the number and results of QRT review audits conducted, corrective actions taken to 

address quality deficiencies, and training programs provided. The 

Committee will utilize this material to assess whether the VA’s 

quality control and training programs are adequate to ensure both 

timeliness and accuracy in the claims process. 

In addition to the quarterly reports, the Committee directs the 

Department to provide monthly reports to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on performance measures 

for each Regional Office, including the number of backlogged 

claims, the average number of days to complete a claim, the accuracy rate, and the origination date of the oldest claim in each Regional Office’s inventory. The report may be submitted electronically and in spreadsheet format. Each report is due no later than 

10 calendar days after the last calendar day of the previous month, 

and that report shall reflect the previous month’s data. The first 

report should be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of 

both Houses of Congress no later than 10 days after the first full 

month of enactment of this act and continue for the remainder of 

fiscal year 2015. 

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.—The Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs shall conduct an assessment of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment resource allocation model to determine the total number of staff needed across the Regional Offices. 

Further, the Secretary shall obtain information, including the time 

necessary to complete key tasks on the Regional Offices approaches 

to managing their caseloads in order to determine an appropriate 

counselor ratio and identify best practices no later than December 

31, 2014. 

Rehabilitation and Training for Veterans with Difficult Employment Circumstances.—The Committee encourages the VA to ex-
67 

pand its partnerships with non-profit employment and training organizations with experience in assisting veterans with difficult employment circumstances, such as prior substance abuse or criminal 

records, to find long-term employment. 

Military Sexual Trauma [MST].—The Committee notes the 

VBA’s training initiatives and procedural developments for PTSD 

claims related to MST and encourages the VA to continue to publicize benefits veterans may be entitled to as a result of MST. The 

Committee also notes that in recent Congressional testimony, the 

VBA recognized that some victims of sexual assault may not have 

the minimal circumstantial evidence of a stressor required in order 

to schedule a VA examination and to request that the examiner 

provide an opinion as to whether the stressor occurred. Within 120 

days of enactment of this act, the Committee directs the VBA to 

submit a report on the current standard of proof for service-connection under chapter 11 of title 38, U.S.C., for covered mental health 

conditions based on military sexual trauma. The VBA shall include 

in the report any recommendations it considers appropriate to improve the adjudication of claims for compensation based on MST, 

including recommendations for an appropriate standard of proof for 

such claims if the Secretary considers such recommendations advisable and recommendations for legislative action, if necessary, to 

carry out such improvement. 

Disability Progression.—The Committee encourages the Department to conduct a study that will analyze data regarding the statistical progression of disabilities over time based on the Department’s historical data of veteran disabilities. The study should consider statistics and information related to the progressive nature of 

a service-connected disability, in terms of increased impairment of 

earning capacity caused by the disability and whether this data 

could be utilized to faster adjudicate claims for increased compensation from lasting and intensifying injuries. The Department 

is directed to report back to the Committee on whether this type 

of analysis is feasible. 

eBenefits.—The Committee commends the VA and DOD with the 

development of the joint eBenefits Web site. The Web site is a central location for veterans, servicemembers and their families to research, find and access benefits and services to which they are entitled. The Committee believes this powerful tool could be better utilized to help inform servicemembers and veterans by sending an 

automatic email outlining the benefits of filing a Fully Developed 

Claim and transition assistance program curriculum to any 

servicemember who creates a username and password on eBenefits. 

Uniform Mail Processing.—The Committee directs the Department to develop a plan to execute a uniform mail processing and 

scanning system throughout the 56 ROs no later than 1 year from 

the date of enactment of this act. 

Individual Placement and Support Counselors.—The Committee 

recognizes that successful transition from active duty to civilian life 

for veterans suffering from mental health injuries often requires 

assistance with their efforts to find stable employment. The Committee believes integrating individual placement and support services would greatly benefit veterans with mental health needs, and 

complement the Department’s existing Vocational Rehabilitation 
68 

and Employment program. The Committee directs the Department 

to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

Houses of Congress detailing what efforts have been made to implement these types of services into existing vocational programs. 

Housing Management Training.—The Committee notes the positive return on investment to the taxpayers when veterans are 

trained for management positions in often troubled public and federally assisted housing communities. Veterans possess unique leadership and management skills that are particularly well-suited to 

this role. The Committee is aware that VA participated in a similar 

program during the 1990s. Consistent with government-wide efforts to streamline programs, the Committee urges the Department 

of Veterans Affairs to explore ways to coordinate with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of 

Labor to focus existing resources on a comprehensive program for 

training veterans in public and federally assisted housing management, maintenance management, occupancy management, financial 

management, and security and drug reduction management. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $3,703,344,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 3,903,344,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 3,873,768,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,913,344,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Information Technology [IT] appropriation, along with reimbursements, funds the costs of all IT staff salaries and expenses, 

the operations and maintenance of all existing information technology systems, and the development of new projects and programs 

designed to improve the delivery of service to veterans. This appropriation also funds the costs associated with the Office of Information and Technology, which oversees the functions highlighted 

above. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $3,913,344,000 for the Information 

Technology Systems account. This amount is $210,000,000 above 

the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $10,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee recommendation includes 

$1,039,000,000 for staff salaries and expenses, $2,343,217,000 for 

operation and maintenance of existing programs, and $531,127,000 

for program development, all according to the Department’s fiscal 

year 2015 budget submission. 

The Committee has appropriated the Information Technology 

Systems account as three subaccounts, with funding levels consistent with the Department’s budget submission. This funding 

structure enhances the Committee’s ability to ensure that funds 

are executed in a manner consistent with the Department’s budget 

submission. The Committee has provided sufficient flexibility within the subaccounts by way of authorized carryover amounts and reprogramming authority to give the Office of Information Technology as much flexibility as possible to accomplish its mission and 

goals, while ensuring proper accountability and oversight. The 
69 

Committee will continue to work with the Department to ensure 

that the IT projects currently underway, as well as the projects 

planned for the future, have the resources the VA needs to make 

them successful. 

The Committee has included bill language that restricts the obligation of development funds until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

or the Chief Information Officer submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a certification of the 

amounts, in parts or in full, that will be obligated and expended 

for each development project. Further, the Office of Information 

Technology is directed to provide an IT expenditure report, by 

project, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

Congress on a monthly basis. 

Transformation of Claims Processing.—The Committee supports 

the Department’s efforts to rapidly transform from an antiquated 

paper-based claims processing system to one that utilizes modern 

technology to process claims. To this end, the Committee has fully 

funded the request for continued development and deployment of 

increased functionality for the Veterans Benefits Management System [VBMS]. The Committee has increased the IT request by 

$10,000,000 for additional hardware upgrades at Regional Offices 

to ensure that increased VBMS functionality can be supported in 

the field. The Committee directs the Department to submit an expenditure plan for this funding within 60 days after enactment of 

this act. The Department is directed to provide quarterly updates 

to the Committee on the implementation of VBMS and to provide 

details of how this implementation has increased the efficiency and 

timeliness of the VBA claims process. 

The chart below reflects the Administration’s budget request for 

development projects and includes the Committee recommendation 

for each. This chart will serve as the Department’s approved list 

of development projects, and all requested changes are subject to 

the reprogramming guidelines as outlined in the accompanying act. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Project Fiscal year 2015 

budget request 

Committee 

recommendation 

Access to Healthcare ...................................................................................................... 9,686 9,686 

Healthcare Efficiency IT Development ............................................................................ 10,723 10,723 

Electronic Health Record [EHR] Interoperability and VLER Health ................................ 32,000 32,000 

VistA Evolution ................................................................................................................ 179,922 179,922 

New Models of Care ........................................................................................................ 30,551 30,551 

Veterans Benefits Management System [VBMS] ............................................................ 63,500 63,500 

Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record [VLER] ...................................................................... 18,600 18,600 

Veterans Relationship Management [VRM] .................................................................... 76,600 76,600 

Health Management Platform ......................................................................................... 5,746 5,746 

Other IT Systems Development ....................................................................................... 103,799 103,799 

Total Development ............................................................................................. 531,127 531,127 

Electronic Health Records.—On March 24, 2014, under the conditions placed on the Department in Public Law 113–76, the VA 

transmitted to the Committee the VistA Evolution Program plan 

which included a roadmap for interoperability with the Department 

of Defense’s planned acquisition of a new electronic health record. 
70 

Given the history of program changes to develop integrated/interoperable electronic health records between the two Departments, 

the Committee remains cautious about this plan and has included 

bill language limiting the obligation or expenditure of funds to 25 

percent for the development of the VistA Evolution program until 

certain conditions are met. One of these conditions mandates that 

the Department establish a detailed governance structure which 

establishes a single program manager/integrator who will have sole 

responsibility for ensuring that all projects funded under the VistA 

Evolution umbrella meet performance measures and timeline 

benchmarks and are compatible with DOD’s current and future 

electronic health record systems. The Committee believes that a 

clearly defined governance structure and a single point of accountability within the Department will provide program discipline and 

protect against continuous expansion of scope. 

In addition to the conditions and restriction contained in the bill, 

the Department is directed to provide quarterly briefings to the 

Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress regarding schedule, milestones, and obligations. The Committee understands that the VA is committed to developing VistA Evolution 

under the Project Management Accountability System [PMAS], 

which is focused on incremental development with deliverable milestones every 6 months. Therefore, the quarterly briefing should 

clearly define the 6 month PMAS delivery schedule so that the 

Committees can create a tracking mechanism to provide better 

oversight of whether the Department is delivering the functionality 

laid out in its VistA Evolution Program plan. 

Furthermore, the Interagency Program Office shall continue to 

provide the Committees briefings on a quarterly basis regarding 

standards development and how those standards are being incorporated by both VA and DOD. In an effort to ensure governmentwide accountability, the Committee also directs the VA in coordination with the DOD to provide the Federal Chief Information Officer 

of the United States with monthly updates on progress made by 

the two Departments to reach interoperability and modernize their 

respective electronic health records. 

Electronic Health Record Data Security.—As the VA continues its 

efforts to modernize the current electronic health record, the Committee notes that the future system should include robust data security measures. In order to ensure interoperability with the Department of Defense and to protect veterans electronic medical 

data, the Committee directs the Department to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 

days of enactment of this act, on the process VA and DOD will follow to establish security standards, incorporate security measures, 

and identify or develop relevant technology to secure data as the 

two Departments develop interoperability between current and future electronic health record systems. 

Information Technology Exchange Program.—The Committee is 

aware that the Department of Defense recently launched the Information Technology Exchange Program [ITEP] which allows for the 

temporary exchange of information technology personnel between 

DOD and the private sector. This program provides a unique opportunity for DOD and private sector organizations to share best prac-
71 

tices and gain a better understanding of each other’s information 

technology practices. The Committee encourages the VA to evaluate whether a similar program would benefit the Department’s information technology program and to report back to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later than 90 

days after enactment of this act on the advisability and feasibility 

of establishing such a program within the VA. The report should 

also include any legislative changes that must be made before such 

a program could be established. 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $121,411,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 121,411,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 122,411,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 126,411,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of Inspector General [OIG] was established by the Inspector General Act of 1978 and is responsible for the audit, investigation, and inspection of all Department of Veterans Affairs programs and operations. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $126,411,000 for the Office of Inspector General. This is $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $5,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee has included bill language to make available through September 30, 2016, up to $12,411,000 for the Office of the Inspector 

General. 

CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $342,130,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 561,800,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 561,800,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 561,800,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Construction, major projects account provides for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities 

(including parking projects) under the jurisdiction or for the use of 

the VA, including planning, architectural and engineering services, 

needs assessment, and site acquisition where the estimated cost of 

a project is more than the amount set forth in 38 U.S.C. 

8104(a)(3)(A). Proceeds realized from Enhanced Use Lease activities may be deposited into the Construction, major projects and 

Construction, minor projects accounts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $561,800,000 for 

the construction of major projects. This is $219,670,000 above the 

fiscal year 2014 enacted level and equal to the budget request. 

The following table reflects the President’s budget request for 

major construction projects and activities, and the corresponding 

Committee recommendations. 
72 

CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Location and description Fiscal year 2015 

budget request 

Committee 

recommendation 

Veterans Health Administration [VHA]: 

West Los Angeles, California—Seismic Corrections ............................................. 35,000 35,000 

Long Beach, California—Seismic Corrections, Mental Health and Community 

Living Center Replacements ............................................................................. 101,900 101,900 

Canandaigua, New York—Community Living Center, Outpatient Clinic and 

Domiciliary ......................................................................................................... 122,400 122,400 

San Diego, California—Spinal Cord Injury and Seismic Deficiency Correction ... 187,500 187,500 

Advance Planning Fund—Various Locations ........................................................ 69,000 69,000 

Major Construction Staff—Various Locations ....................................................... 24,000 24,000 

Claims Analysis—Various Locations ..................................................................... 2,000 2,000 

Hazardous Waste—Various Locations ................................................................... 6,000 6,000 

Total, VHA .......................................................................................................... 547,800 547,800 

National Cemetery Administration [NCA]: 

Advance Planning Fund ......................................................................................... 2,500 2,500 

NCA Land Acquisition Fund ................................................................................... 7,500 7,500 

Total, NCA .......................................................................................................... 10,000 10,000 

General Administration—Staff Offices, Advance Planning Fund .................................. 4,000 4,000 

Total Construction, Major Projects .................................................................... 561,800 561,800 

Collaborative VA/DOD Medical Facility Projects.—The Committee remains supportive of executing collaborative joint VA/DOD 

medical facility projects which are supported and approved by both 

agencies for implementation. The Committee notes, however, that 

none of the four major construction VHA projects proposed in the 

fiscal year 2015 budget submission include collaboration with DOD. 

In fact, the VA’s Strategic Capital Investment Plan [SCIP] submitted with the fiscal year 2015 budget request removes a collaborative VA/DOD medical facility planned for Wichita, Kansas. The 

current SCIP did not score or rank the project, removing it from 

consideration to attain resources in fiscal year 2015. As such, the 

Committee directs the VA to submit a report, no later than 180 

days after the enactment of this act, detailing the reasons this 

project was not scored and pulled from consideration in 2015. In 

addition, the report should provide an assessment of collaborative 

VA/DOD projects planned in the SCIP’s list of Future Years AboveThreshold Potential Projects to include an implementation timeline 

and cost estimate for each project. The Committee also encourages 

the VA to adopt and implement a 5-year construction plan similar 

to DOD’s annual submission of a Future Years Defense Program 

which details planned construction projects by location and funding 

amount for each of the next 5 fiscal years. 

VA Medical Center Construction.—The Committee is concerned 

about construction delays, contracting disputes, and cost overruns 

associated with VA’s major construction program. Currently, major 

medical center construction projects in Denver, Colorado, and Orlando, Florida, are embroiled in contracting disputes concerning design changes and delays in processing and paying change orders, 

which have led to cost overruns, unacceptable delays in completion 

of the facilities, and potential litigation. The Committee recognizes 
73 

that contracting disputes are a two-way street, and that medical 

advances can require reconfiguration of a hospital design at any 

stage of construction. However, the Committee remains concerned 

about VA’s management of these challenging major construction 

projects and urges the VA to explore an interagency agreement 

with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a construction 

design evaluation of currently troubled projects, and to implement 

any recommendations stemming from that evaluation on current 

and future construction projects. The Department is directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 days of enactment of this act on the feasibility of 

entering into such an agreement with the Corps of Engineers. 

The Committee also urges the VA to re-evaluate the way it processes change orders, and to develop and implement a management 

strategy to streamline and expedite the process. The Committee directs the Department to provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 days of enactment of this act describing the actions the Department has taken 

to improve its construction management processes. 

Alternative Financing.—The Committee recognizes the need for 

access to high quality veterans healthcare facilities, including in 

rural areas where access to facilities, including clinics and hospitals, is more limited. The Committee directs the Department of 

Veterans Affairs to work collaboratively with other executive 

branch agencies with substantial construction portfolios, private 

sector contractors, and other non-governmental experts, together 

with the appropriate congressional committees, to explore the feasibility of employing new funding mechanisms to meet the need for 

such facilities, including but not limited to private development 

lease-back arrangements, and to provide a report on their conclusions to the Committee no later than September 30, 2014. 

Facility Construction Prioritization.—The Committee is aware 

that the VA undertakes a complex process each year to prioritize 

all the facility projects that are eligible for funding. But the Committee is disturbed that the priorities assigned to particular 

projects have changed from 1 year to the next without explanation. 

The Committee requests that the Department prepare each year no 

later than 30 days after the release of the budget request a comprehensive report describing the process used to identify that year’s 

project priority listing, any changes in methodology or priority criteria, and the architectural design elements that must be in place 

before a project is considered ready for the priority list. 

CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $714,870,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 495,200,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 495,200,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 540,200,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Construction, Minor Projects account provides for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities 

(including parking) under the jurisdiction or for the use of the VA, 

including planning, assessment of needs, architectural and engi-
74 

neering services, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of 

a project is equal to or less than $10,000,000. Public Law 106–117, 

the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 1999, 

gave the VA the authority to make capital contributions from 

minor construction in enhanced-use leases. Proceeds realized from 

enhanced-use lease activities may be deposited into the Construction, major projects and Construction, minor projects accounts. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $540,200,000 for minor construction. This is $174,670,000 below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level 

and 45,000,000 above the budget request. The recommendation includes $424,000,000 for the Veterans 

Health Administration, $60,000,000 for the National Cemetery Administration, $11,200,000 for General Administration—Staff Offices, and $45,000,000 for the Veterans Benefits Administration. 

The Committee directs the Department to provide an expenditure 

plan within 30 days of enactment of this act for the amount appropriated for minor construction. 

The Committee is aware that capital improvement projects at VA 

medical centers may result in a hospital or clinic having to find alternatives for delivering care during the duration of the renovation 

or construction project. Depending on the alternative chosen, the 

total cost of the project could be affected. For example, the cost of 

fee care is not built into the cost of a renovation or construction 

project. Conversely, if the hospital chooses to provide a temporary 

solution on the hospital grounds, such as a mobile surgical unit, 

the costs are built into the renovation or construction project. Due 

to the limitation of $10,000,000 for minor construction projects, this 

may result in medical centers opting for fee care rather than providing a temporary solution at the hospital, regardless of whether 

the temporary solution is more cost effective. Therefore, if a business case or cost benefit analysis determines that providing a temporary hospital-based solution is more cost effective overall, the 

Secretary may exercise his authority to waive the policy that requires temporary solutions be built into the cost of the renovation 

or construction project. 

GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $85,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 80,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 80,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 100,000,000 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This account is used to provide grants to assist States in acquiring or constructing State home facilities for furnishing domiciliary 

or nursing home care to veterans, and to expand, remodel, or alter 

existing buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care to veterans in State homes. The grant may not exceed 

65 percent of the total cost of the project. Public Law 102–585 

granted permanent authority for this program, and Public Law 

106–117 provided greater specificity in directing VA to prescribe 

regulations for the number of beds for which grant assistance may 
75 

be furnished. This program has been a successful partnership between the States and the VA in meeting the long-term care needs 

of elderly veterans for decades. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $100,000,000 for grants for the construction of State extended care facilities. This is $20,000,000 

above the budget request. 

The Committee recognizes that Public Law 106–117 took an important step in directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to define regulations for the number of beds for which grants may be 

provided to States. The Committee notes that, although this legislation was signed into law 5 years ago, the regulations defining 

‘‘great, significant, or limited’’ unmet need have not been updated 

since implementation. The Committee is concerned that by not reforming these requirements, States with a small maximum number 

of State home, nursing home, and domiciliary beds will never rate 

high enough on the Secretary’s priority funding list to receive new 

construction grants. As such, the Committee directs the Department to conduct a review as required under 38 U.S.C. 8134 to examine the criteria for determining the formula for unmet need, taking into account those States with an overall maximum number of 

beds allowed of fewer than 999 and report to the Committee on the 

progress made in revising this rule no later than 90 days after enactment of this act. 

Additionally, the Committee is concerned that the process for 

identifying and prioritizing State veterans home construction does 

not make the best use of available resources to meet the current 

and future needs of the veteran population. In particular, efforts toward expanding capacity through new facilities are often subordinated to other projects, leaving a great unmet need for care. The 

Department’s various funding, environmental impact, and landtransfer timelines can be impossible for new facility projects to 

meet, even after being identified and prioritized by the program. 

Moreover, many State governments are still recovering from the 

economic downturn sparked by the financial crisis of 2008 and are 

unable to contribute the requisite 35 percent of total construction 

costs needed to obtain Federal matching funds. The Committee 

urges VA to review its process for selecting and awarding State extended care grants and to identify ways to make funding more 

flexible to assist States in the construction process. Further, the 

Committee requests a detailed report 60 days after the enactment 

of this act on alternative financing mechanisms to ensure that a 

sufficient number of State veterans homes are available to meet 

the needs of future patients. 

GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $46,000,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 45,000,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 45,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 46,000,000 
76 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Public Law 105–368 amended title 38 U.S.C. 2408 and established authority to provide aid to States for establishment, expansion, and improvement of State veterans cemeteries, which are operated and permanently maintained by the States. This statutory 

change increased the maximum Federal share from 50 percent to 

100 percent in order to fund construction costs and the initial 

equipment expenses when the cemetery is established. The States 

remain responsible for providing the land and for paying all costs 

related to the operation and maintenance of the State cemeteries, 

including the costs for subsequent equipment purchases. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $46,000,000 for grants for the construction of State veterans cemeteries. This is $1,000,000 above the 

budget request. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS AND RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

SEC. 201. The Committee includes a provision which outlines reprogramming authority and responsibilities for the Veterans Benefits Administration. 

SEC. 202. The Committee includes a provision which outlines reprogramming authority and responsibilities for the Veterans 

Health Administration. 

SEC. 203. The Committee includes a provision which outlines the 

use of funds appropriated for salaries and expenses. 

SEC. 204. The Committee includes a provision mandating that 

only construction funds may be used for land procurement. 

SEC. 205. The Committee includes a provision allowing for reimbursements to the Medical services account. 

SEC. 206. The Committee includes a provision allowing for payments of prior year obligations. 

SEC. 207. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

the use of fiscal year 2015 funds for prior year obligations. 

SEC. 208. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

payments from the National Service Life Insurance Fund. 

SEC. 209. The Committee includes a provision which outlines the 

use of funds from enhanced-use lease proceeds. 

SEC. 210. The Committee includes a provision which provides for 

funds for the Office of Resolution Management and the Office of 

Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication. 

SEC. 211. The Committee includes a provision which sets a limit 

on new leases without congressional approval. 

SEC. 212. The Committee includes a provision which requires disclosure of third-party reimbursement information. 

SEC. 213. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

the transfer of revenue derived from enhanced-use leases into the 

construction accounts. 

SEC. 214. The Committee includes a provision which outlines authorized uses for medical services funds. 
77 

SEC. 215. The Committee includes a provision which allows funds 

in the Medical Care Collection Fund to be transferred into the 

Medical Services and Medical Facilities accounts. 

SEC. 216. The Committee includes a provision which allows eligible veterans in the State of Alaska to obtain medical care services. 

SEC. 217. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

the transfer of funds into the construction accounts. 

SEC. 218. The Committee includes a provision which allows for 

outreach and marketing to enroll new veterans. 

SEC. 219. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit quarterly financial reports on 

the Veterans Health Administration. 

SEC. 220. The Committee includes a provision outlining transfer 

authority for the Information technology systems account. 

SEC. 221. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting any 

funds to be used to contract out any functions performed by more 

than 10 employees without a fair competition process. 

SEC. 222. The Committee includes a provision limiting the 

amount of nonrecurring maintenance funds that can be obligated 

during the last 2 months of the fiscal year. 

SEC. 223. The Committee includes a provision allowing for the 

transfer of funds from certain accounts to the Joint Department of 

Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, as authorized by Public Law 111–84. 

SEC. 224. The Committee includes a provision allowing for the 

transfer of funds from certain advance appropriation accounts to 

the Joint Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs 

Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, as authorized by Public Law 

111–84. 

SEC. 225. The Committee includes a provision allowing for the 

transfer of certain funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections 

Fund to the Joint Department of Defense/Department of Veterans 

Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, as authorized by 

Public Law 111–84. 

SEC. 226. The Committee includes a provision directing a minimum of $15,000,000 be transferred from Medical Services, Medical 

Support and Compliance, and Medical Facilities to the Department 

of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United 

States Code. 

SEC. 227. The Committee includes a provision rescinding funds 

from certain accounts and appropriating additional amounts with 

2-year authority. 

SEC. 228. The Committee includes a provision requiring notification of all bid savings for major construction projects. 

SEC. 229. The Committee includes a provision restricting scope 

increases for major construction projects above that specified in the 

original project justification. 

SEC. 230. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Department to submit reports relating to the Veterans Benefits Administration on claims processing at Regional Offices. 

SEC. 231. The Committee includes a provision limiting the funding from the Medical Services and Medical Support and Compli-
78 

ance accounts for the VistA Evolution and electronic health record 

interoperability projects. 

SEC. 232. The Committee includes a provision requiring VA to 

notify the Committee 15 days prior to any staff office relocations 

within VA of 25 or more FTE. 

SEC. 233. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Secretary to report to the Committee each quarter about any single 

national outreach and awareness marketing campaign exceeding 

$2,000,000. 

SEC. 234. The Committee includes a provision restricting funds 

from being used to close certain medical facilities in the absence of 

a national realignment strategy. 

SEC. 235. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting the Department from replacing the current system by which diabetes 

monitoring equipment and supplies are contracted. 

SEC. 236. The Committee includes a provision restricting performance bonuses for certain employees of the Veterans Health Administration. 

SEC. 237. The Committee includes a provision allowing certain 

amounts to be utilized for contract care in rural and highly rural 

areas. 

SEC. 238. The Committee includes a provision requiring the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit to 

Congress a report on the programs and activities of the Veterans 

Health Administration. 

SEC. 239. The Committee includes a provision regarding transfers between Medical Facilities and Medical Services accounts. 

SEC. 240. The Committee includes a provision allowing the Secretary greater authority in personnel matters relating to the Senior 

Executive Service. 
(79) 

TITLE III 

RELATED AGENCIES 

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The American Battle Monuments Commission [ABMC] is responsible for the following: the maintenance and construction of U.S. 

monuments and memorials commemorating the achievements in 

battle of our Armed Forces since April 1917 (the date of the United 

States entry into World War I); the erection of monuments and 

markers by U.S. citizens and organizations in foreign countries; 

and the design, construction, and maintenance of permanent military cemetery memorials in foreign countries. The Commission 

maintains 24 military memorial cemeteries and 31 monuments, 

memorials, and markers in 15 countries around the world, including three memorials on U.S. soil. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $63,200,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 70,100,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 75,000,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 73,285,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $73,285,000 for the Salaries and expenses account. This amount is $10,085,000 above the fiscal year 

2014 enacted level and $3,185,000 above the budget request. The 

Committee has provided additional funds to support ABMC’s maintenance program and for ongoing assessment of Clark Veterans 

Cemetery. 

National World War II Museum.—The Committee recognizes the 

contributions that the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, has made to informing and educating the public 

on the heroism and sacrifices of America’s World War II veterans, 

and encourages ABMC to collaborate with the Museum where feasible to honor our fallen heroes and to ensure that their stories are 

made available to the public through interpretative and interactive 

programs to the fullest extent possible. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $14,100,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 1,900,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 1,900,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,900,000 
80 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an estimated $1,900,000 for the Foreign currency fluctuation account. This amount is equal to the 

budget request. 

The Committee has again included language in the accompanying act, as proposed by the administration, that would allow 

funding for this account on a ‘‘such sums as necessary’’ basis. 

Funding the account in this manner allows the Commission to 

maintain cemeteries regardless of the volatility of foreign currency 

fluctuations. 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

OVERVIEW

The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was established by the Veterans’ Judicial Review Act of 1988. The Court 

is an independent judicial tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction to review decisions of the Board of Veterans Appeals. It has the authority to decide all relevant questions of law; interpret constitutional, 

statutory, and regulatory provisions; and determine the meaning or 

applicability of the terms of an action by the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs. It is authorized to compel action by the Secretary. It is authorized to hold unconstitutional or otherwise unlawful and set 

aside decisions, findings, conclusions, rules, and regulations issued 

or adopted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Board of Veterans Appeals, or the Chairman of the Board that are found to be 

arbitrary or capricious. The Court’s principal office location is 

Washington, DC; however, it is a national court, empowered to sit 

anywhere in the United States. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $35,408,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 31,386,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 31,386,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 34,390,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $34,390,000 for the U.S. Court of 

Appeals for Veterans Claims. This amount is $1,018,000 below the 

fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $3,004,000 above the budget request. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL

CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The Secretary of the Army is responsible for the administration, 

operation and maintenance of Arlington National Cemetery and 

the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. In addition to 

its principal function as a national cemetery, Arlington is the site 

of approximately 3,000 nonfuneral ceremonies each year and has 

approximately 4 million visitors annually. 
81 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $65,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 45,800,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 61,881,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 65,800,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $65,800,000 for Salaries and Expenses. This amount is equal to the fiscal year 2014 enacted level 

and $20,000,000 above the budget request. As it has for the past 

2 years, the Administration’s budget submission for the Department of Defense’s military construction programs contains an Administrative Provision that would allow the Secretary of the Army 

to transfer Army Operations and Maintenance [O&M] funds to Arlington National Cemetery [ANC]. Army O&M is funded in the Defense Appropriations bill, and therefore the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies has 

no jurisdiction over the account. The Committee believes that in 

order to provide proper oversight and accountability, ANC’s funding should be provided within the ANC account and not spread 

across multiple accounts and appropriations bills. Furthermore, the 

Committee is concerned about the requested provision’s transparency, and Congress’ corresponding ability to monitor and provide oversight of the use of Army O&M funds at ANC. For these 

reasons, the Committee provides an additional $20,000,000 within 

this account and does not provide the requested transfer from 

Army O&M funding. The Committee again urges the Administration to provide in future budget submissions the appropriate resources within the Cemeterial Expenses, Army, Salaries and Expenses account rather than seeking broad transfer authority from 

the Army’s Operation and Maintenance account. 

Arlington National Cemetery Expansion.—The Committee recognizes the unique opportunity to enhance the future burial capacity 

of Arlington National Cemetery [ANC] that the closure and relocation of certain current roadways would provide. The Committee believes that the modification of the Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard interchange, and the realignment of all associated utilities, 

would greatly increase capacity at ANC. The Committee believes 

that this work, which would be conducted by Arlington County, 

Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Transportation in concert 

with Arlington County’s realignment of Columbia Pike to South 

Joyce Street, benefits ANC by removing all existing barriers to contiguous expansion in the area of the former Navy Annex site. The 

Committee urges the Secretary of the Army to provide the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress with an amended Master Plan and Navy Annex Area Development Plan, as well 

as the final Memorandum of Understanding between the Army and 

Arlington County, detailing how any land conveyed to the Cemetery will be utilized for internments and other Cemetery needs. 
82 

ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

TRUST FUND

Appropriations, 2014 ............................................................................. $67,800,000 

Budget estimate, 2015 ........................................................................... 63,400,000 

House allowance .................................................................................... 63,400,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 63,400,000 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends authority to expend $63,400,000 

from the Armed Forces Retirement Home [AFRH] Trust Fund to 

operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, DC, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, 

Mississippi. 
(83) 

TITLE IV 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

SEC. 401. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

obligation of funds beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly 

so provided. 

SEC. 402. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

use of funds for programs, projects, or activities not in compliance 

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

SEC. 403. The Committee includes a provision that requires pay 

raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated. 

SEC. 404. The Committee includes a provision that prohibits the 

use of funds to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress. 

SEC. 405. The Committee includes a provision that encourages 

the expansion of E-commerce technologies and procedures. 

SEC. 406. The Committee includes a provision that specifies the 

congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications. 

SEC. 407. The Committee includes a provision that limits funds 

from being transferred from this appropriations measure to any instrumentality of the United States Government without authority 

from an appropriations act. 

SEC. 408. The Committee includes a provision regarding the posting of congressional reports on agency Web sites. 

SEC. 409. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting the use 

of funds to establish or maintain a computer network unless such 

network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography, except for law enforcement investigation, prosecution, or 

adjudication activities. 

SEC. 410. The Committee includes a provision limiting the construction of facilities for the purposes of housing individuals detained at Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

SEC. 411. The Committee includes a provision prohibiting the use 

of funds to pay for attendance of more than 50 employees at any 

single conference outside the United States. 

SEC. 412. The Committee includes a provision requiring agencies 

to report conference spending to the Inspectors General and prohibiting the use of funds made available in this act for travel and conference expenses not in compliance with Office of Management and 

Budget memorandum M–12–12 dated May 11, 2012. 
(84) 

PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY 

In fiscal year 2015, for purposes of the Balanced Budget and 

Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–177) or the 

Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation Act 

of 1987 (Public Law 100–119), the following information provides 

the definition of the term ‘‘program, project, and activity’’ for departments, agencies and programs under the jurisdiction of the 

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 

subcommittee. The term ‘‘program, project, and activity’’ shall include the most specific level of budget items identified in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, the House and Senate Committee reports, 

and the conference report and accompanying joint explanatory 

statement of managers of the committee of conference. 

If a sequestration order is necessary, in implementing the Presidential order, departments, and agencies shall apply any percentage reduction required for fiscal year 2014 pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 99–177 or Public Law 100–119 to all items 

specified in the justifications submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives in support 

of the fiscal year 2015 budget estimates, as amended, for such departments and agencies, as modified by congressional action, and 

in addition, for the Department of Defense, Military Construction, 

the definition shall include specific construction locations as identified in the explanatory notes. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI, OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports accompanying general appropriations bills identify each recommended 

amendment which proposes an item of appropriation which is not 

made to carry out the provisions of an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session. 

The Committee recommends funding for the following programs 

which currently lack authorization: 

Title I: Department of Defense 

Military Construction, Army 

Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps 

Military Construction, Air Force 

Military Construction, Defense-Wide 

Military Construction, Army National Guard 

Military Construction, Air National Guard 

Military Construction, Army Reserve 

Military Construction, Navy Reserve 

Military Construction, Air Force Reserve 
85 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program 

Family Housing Construction, Army 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army 

Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine 

Corps 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force 

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide 

Department of Defense, Family Housing Improvement Fund 

Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide 

Department of Defense Base Closure Account 

Title II: Department of Veterans Affairs 

Veterans Benefits Administration 

Veterans Health Administration 

National Cemetery Administration 

Departmental Administration 

Title III: Related Agencies 

American Battle Monuments Commission 

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

Cemeterial Expenses, Army 

Armed Forces Retirement Home 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on May 22, 2014, the 

Committee ordered favorably reported en bloc a bill (H.R. 4486) 

making appropriations for military construction, the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 

September 30, 2015, and for other purposes, with an amendment 

in the nature of a substitute and an original bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending 

September 30, 2015, and for other purposes, provided, that the bills 

be subject to amendment (or further amendment) and that the bills 

be consistent with the subcommittee allocations, by a recorded vote 

of 30–0, a quorum being present. The vote was as follows: 

Yeas Nays 

Chairwoman Mikulski 

Mr. Leahy 

Mr. Harkin 

Mrs. Murray 

Mrs. Feinstein 

Mr. Durbin 

Mr. Johnson 

Ms. Landrieu 

Mr. Reed 

Mr. Pryor 

Mr. Tester 

Mr. Udall 

Mrs. Shaheen 
86 

Mr. Merkley 

Mr. Begich 

Mr. Coons 

Mr. Shelby 

Mr. Cochran 

Mr. McConnell 

Mr. Alexander 

Ms. Collins 

Ms. Murkowski 

Mr. Graham 

Mr. Kirk 

Mr. Coats 

Mr. Blunt 

Mr. Moran 

Mr. Hoeven 

Mr. Johanns 

Mr. Boozman 

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 

Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports on 

a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute or part 

of any statute include ‘‘(a) the text of the statute or part thereof 

which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a comparative print of 

that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and 

of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by 

stricken-through type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions which 

would be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form 

recommended by the committee.’’ 

In compliance with this rule, changes in existing law proposed to 

be made by the bill are shown as follows: existing law to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets; new matter is printed in italic; and 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman. 

TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS 

CHAPTER 7—EMPLOYEES 

CHAPTER 7—EMPLOYEES 

Sec. 

701. Placement of employees in military installations. 

* * * * * * * 

[712. Repealed.] 

713. Senior Executive Service: removal based on performance. 

* * * * * * * 

[§ 712. Repealed. Pub. L. 107–103, title V, § 509(a)(1), Dec. 27, 

2001, 115 Stat. 997] 

§ 713. Senior Executive Service: removal based on performance 

(a) IN GENERAL.— 
87 

(1) Notwithstanding subchapter V of chapter 35 of title 5, 

subchapter V of chapter 75 of title 5, or any other provision of 

law, the Secretary may remove any individual who is an employee of the Department from a Senior Executive Service position (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5) if the Secretary determines the performance of the individual warrants such removal. 

(2) If the Secretary so removes such an individual, the Secretary may— 

(A) remove the individual from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5); or 

(B) appoint the individual to a General Schedule position at any grade of the General Schedule the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(b) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days after removing an individual from the Senior Executive Service under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

House of Representatives notice in writing of such removal and the 

reason for such removal. 

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL 

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 

308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93–344, AS AMENDED 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget authority Outlays 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Committee 

allocation 

Amount 

in bill 

Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee 

allocation for 2015: Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: 

Mandatory .................................................................... 86,821 86,821 86,519 1 86,519 

Discretionary ................................................................ 71,898 71,898 76,447 1 76,411 

Security ............................................................... 6,559 6,559 NA NA 

Nonsecurity ......................................................... 65,339 65,339 NA NA 

Projections of outlays associated with the recommendation: 

2015 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 2 92,604 

2016 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 4,856 

2017 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 3,361 

2018 ............................................................................. ...................... ...................... ...................... 1,800 

2019 and future years ................................................ ...................... ...................... ...................... 1,087 

Financial assistance to State and local governments for 

2015 ................................................................................. NA 160 NA ¥7 

1 Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

2 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

NA: Not applicable. 
88 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

ALASKA 

AIR FORCE: 

CLEAR AFS: 

EMERGENCY POWER PLANT FUEL STORAGE ............................................................................................ 11,500 11,500 11,500 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ALASKA ..................................................................................................................................... 11,500 11,500 11,500 ............................ ............................

ARIZONA 

NAVY: 

YUMA: 

AVIATION MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT COMPLEX ................................................................................... 16,608 16,608 16,608 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

LUKE AFB: 

F–35 AIRCRAFT MX HANGAR—SQDN #2 ................................................................................................. 11,200 11,200 11,200 ............................ ............................F–35 FLIGHTLINE FILLSTANDS .................................................................................................................. 15,600 15,600 15,600 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT HUACHUCA: 

JITC BUILDING 52120 RENOVATION .......................................................................................................... 1,871 1,871 1,871 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, ARIZONA ................................................................................................................................... 45,279 45,279 45,279 ............................ ............................

CALIFORNIA 

ARMY: 

CONCORD: 

ACCESS CONTROL POINT .......................................................................................................................... 9,900 9,900 9,900 ............................ ............................GENERAL PURPOSE MAINTENANCE SHOP ................................................................................................. 5,300 5,300 5,300 ............................ ............................

FORT IRWIN: 

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE HANGAR ...................................................................................................... 45,000 45,000 45,000 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

BRIDGEPORT: 

E–LMR COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS ......................................................................................................... 16,180 16,180 16,180 ............................ ............................
89 

SAN DIEGO: 

STEAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DECENTRALIZATION ................................................................................. 47,110 47,110 47,110 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CAMP PENDLETON: 

SOF COMM/ELEC MAINTENANCE FACILITY ................................................................................................ 11,841 11,841 11,841 ............................ ............................

CORONADO: 

SOF LOGISTICS SUPPORT UNIT 1 OPS FACILITY #1 ................................................................................. 41,740 41,740 41,740 ............................ ............................SOF SUPPORT ACTIVITY OPS FACILITY #2 ................................................................................................ 28,600 28,600 28,600 ............................ ............................

LEMOORE: 

REPLACE FUEL STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION FAC ....................................................................................... 52,500 52,500 52,500 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

FRESNO: 

ARMY RESERVE CENTER/AMSA ................................................................................................................ 22,000 22,000 22,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, CALIFORNIA .............................................................................................................................. 280,171 280,171 280,171 ............................ ............................

COLORADO 

ARMY: 

FORT CARSON: 

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE HANGAR ............................................................................................................ 60,000 60,000 60,000 ............................ ............................UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE HANGAR ...................................................................................................... 29,000 29,000 29,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

PETERSON AFB: 

DENTAL CLINIC REPLACEMENT ................................................................................................................. 15,200 15,200 15,200 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

FORT CARSON: 

TRAINING BUILDING ADDITION .................................................................................................................. 5,000 5,000 5,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, COLORADO ................................................................................................................................ 109,200 109,200 109,200 ............................ ............................

CONNECTICUT 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

BRADLEY IAP: 

CONSTRUCT C–130 FUEL CELL AND CORROSION CONTR ....................................................................... 16,306 16,306 16,306 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, CONNECTICUT ........................................................................................................................... 16,306 16,306 16,306 ............................ ............................
90 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

NAVY: 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: 

ELECTRONICS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY ........................................................................ 31,735 31,735 31,735 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ........................................................................................................... 31,735 31,735 31,735 ............................ ............................

FLORIDA 

NAVY: 

JACKSONVILLE: 

MH–60 PARKING APRON ........................................................................................................................... 8,583 8,583 8,583 ............................ ............................P–8A RUNWAY THRESHOLDS AND TAXIWAYS ........................................................................................... 21,652 21,652 21,652 ............................ ............................

MAYPORT: 

LCS OPERATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY ..................................................................................................... 20,520 20,520 20,520 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, FLORIDA .................................................................................................................................... 50,755 50,755 50,755 ............................ ............................

GEORGIA 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD: 

SOF COMPANY OPERATIONS FACILITY ...................................................................................................... 7,692 7,692 7,692 ............................ ............................

ROBINS AFB: 

REPLACE HYDRANT FUEL SYSTEM ............................................................................................................ 19,900 19,900 19,900 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

ROBINS AFB: 

AFRC CONSOLIDATED MISSION COMPLEX, PH I ....................................................................................... 27,700 27,700 27,700 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, GEORGIA ................................................................................................................................... 55,292 55,292 55,292 ............................ ............................
91 

HAWAII 

ARMY: 

FORT SHAFTER: 

COMMAND AND CONTROL FACILITY (SCIF) ............................................................................................... 96,000 83,000 96,000 ............................ ∂13,000 

NAVY: 

KANEOHE BAY: 

FACILITY MODIFICATIONS FOR VMU, MWSD, & CH–53E .......................................................................... 51,182 51,182 51,182 ............................ ............................ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ......................................................................................... 2,200 2,200 2,200 ............................ ............................

PEARL HARBOR: 

SUBMARINE MANEUVERING ROOM TRAINER FACILITY ............................................................................. 9,698 9,698 9,698 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM: 

REPLACE FUEL TANKS .............................................................................................................................. 3,000 3,000 3,000 ............................ ............................UPGRADE FIRE SUPRESSION & VENTILATION SYS ................................................................................... 49,900 49,900 49,900 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, HAWAII ...................................................................................................................................... 211,980 198,980 211,980 ............................ ∂13,000 

IOWA 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

DES MOINES MAP: 

REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT AND TARGETING GROUP .......................................................................... 8,993 8,993 8,993 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, IOWA ......................................................................................................................................... 8,993 8,993 8,993 ............................ ............................

KANSAS 

AIR FORCE: 

MCCONNELL AFB: 

KC–46A ADAL MOBILITY BAG STRG EXPANSION ...................................................................................... 2,300 2,300 2,300 ............................ ............................KC–46A ADAL REGIONAL MX TNG FACILITY ............................................................................................. 16,100 16,100 16,100 ............................ ............................KC–46A ALTER COMPOSITE MX SHOP ...................................................................................................... 4,100 4,100 4,100 ............................ ............................KC–46A ALTER TAXIWAY FOXTROT ........................................................................................................... 5,500 5,500 5,500 ............................ ............................KC–46A FUSELAGE TRAINER .................................................................................................................... 6,400 6,400 6,400 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, KANSAS ..................................................................................................................................... 34,400 34,400 34,400 ............................ ............................

KENTUCKY 

ARMY: 

FORT CAMPBELL: 

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE HANGAR ...................................................................................................... 23,000 23,000 23,000 ............................ ............................
92 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

BLUE GRASS ARMY DEPOT: 

AMMUNITION DEMILITARIZATION PH XV ................................................................................................... 38,715 38,715 38,715 ............................ ............................

FORT CAMPBELL: 

SOF SYSTEM INTEGRATION MAINTENANCE OFFICE FAC ........................................................................... 18,000 18,000 18,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, KENTUCKY ................................................................................................................................ 79,715 79,715 79,715 ............................ ............................

MAINE 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

AUGUSTA: 

NATIONAL GUARD RESERVE CENTER ........................................................................................................ 30,000 30,000 30,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MAINE ....................................................................................................................................... 30,000 30,000 30,000 ............................ ............................

MARYLAND 

NAVY: 

ANNAPOLIS: 

CENTER FOR CYBER SECURITY STUDIES BUILDING ................................................................................. 120,112 100,112 120,112 ............................ ∂20,000 

INDIAN HEAD: 

ADVANCED ENERGETICS RESEARCH LAB COMPLEX PH 2 ....................................................................... 15,346 15,346 15,346 ............................ ............................

PATUXENT RIVER: 

ATLANTIC TEST RANGE FACILITY .............................................................................................................. 9,860 9,860 9,860 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

FORT MEADE: 

CYBERCOM JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER, INCREMENT 2 .......................................................................... 166,000 166,000 166,000 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT MEADE: 

NSAW CAMPUS FEEDERS PHASE 1 ........................................................................................................... 54,207 54,207 54,207 ............................ ............................NSAW RECAPITALIZE BUILDING #1/SITE M INC 3 .................................................................................... 45,521 45,521 45,521 ............................ ............................
93 

JOINT BASE ANDREWS: 

CONSTRUCT HYDRANT FUEL SYSTEM ....................................................................................................... 18,300 18,300 18,300 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

HAVRE DE GRACE: 

NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER .................................................................................................... 12,400 12,400 12,400 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MARYLAND ................................................................................................................................ 441,746 421,746 441,746 ............................ ∂20,000 

MASSACHUSETTS 

AIR FORCE: 

HANSCOM AFB: 

DORMITORY (72 RM) ................................................................................................................................ 13,500 13,500 13,500 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MASSACHUSETTS ...................................................................................................................... 13,500 13,500 13,500 ............................ ............................

MICHIGAN 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

SELFRIDGE ANGB: 

REPLACE FUEL DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES ................................................................................................ 35,100 35,100 35,100 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

W. K. KELLOGG REGIONAL AIRPORT: 

RPA BEDDOWN .......................................................................................................................................... 6,000 6,000 6,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MICHIGAN ................................................................................................................................. 41,100 41,100 41,100 ............................ ............................

MISSISSIPPI 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

STENNIS: 

SOF APPLIED INSTRUCTION FACILITY ....................................................................................................... 10,323 10,323 10,323 ............................ ............................SOF LAND ACQUISITION WESTERN MANEUVER AREA ............................................................................... 17,224 17,224 17,224 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MISSISSIPPI .............................................................................................................................. 27,547 27,547 27,547 ............................ ............................

MONTANA 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

HELENA: 

NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER ADD/ALT ...................................................................................... 38,000 38,000 38,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, MONTANA .................................................................................................................................. 38,000 38,000 38,000 ............................ ............................
94 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

NEBRASKA 

AIR FORCE: 

OFFUTT AFB: 

USSTRATCOM REPLACEMENT FACILITY—INCR 4 ..................................................................................... 180,000 180,000 180,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEBRASKA ................................................................................................................................ 180,000 180,000 180,000 ............................ ............................

NEVADA 

NAVY: 

FALLON: 

AIR WING TRAINING FACILITY ................................................................................................................... 27,763 27,763 27,763 ............................ ............................FACILITY ALTERATION FOR F–35 TRAINING MISSION ............................................................................... 3,499 3,499 3,499 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

NELLIS AFB: 

F–22 FLIGHT SIMULATOR FACILITY ........................................................................................................... 14,000 14,000 14,000 ............................ ............................F–35 AIRCRAFT MX UNIT—4 BAY HANGAR ............................................................................................. 31,000 31,000 31,000 ............................ ............................F–35 WEAPONS SCHOOL FACILITY ........................................................................................................... 8,900 8,900 8,900 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FALLON: 

SOF TACTICAL GROUND MOB. VEHICLE MAINT FAC ................................................................................. 20,241 20,241 20,241 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEVADA .................................................................................................................................... 105,403 105,403 105,403 ............................ ............................

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

PEASE INTERNATIONAL TRADE PORT: 

KC–46A ADAL AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS & HYDRANT SYST .......................................................................... 7,100 7,100 7,100 ............................ ............................KC–46A ADAL FUEL CELL BUILDING 253 ................................................................................................. 16,800 16,800 16,800 ............................ ............................KC–46A ADAL MAINT HANGAR BUILDING 254 .......................................................................................... 18,002 18,002 18,002 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW HAMPSHIRE ...................................................................................................................... 41,902 41,902 41,902 ............................ ............................
95 

NEW JERSEY 

AIR FORCE: 

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST: 

FIRE STATION ............................................................................................................................................ 5,900 5,900 5,900 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST: 

ARMY RESERVE CENTER .......................................................................................................................... 26,000 26,000 26,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW JERSEY ............................................................................................................................. 31,900 31,900 31,900 ............................ ............................

NEW MEXICO 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CANNON AFB: 

SOF SQUADRON OPERATIONS FACILITY (STS) .......................................................................................... 23,333 23,333 23,333 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW MEXICO ............................................................................................................................ 23,333 23,333 23,333 ............................ ............................

NEW YORK 

ARMY: 

FORT DRUM: 

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE HANGAR ...................................................................................................... 27,000 27,000 27,000 ............................ ............................

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY: 

CADET BARRACKS, INCR 3 ....................................................................................................................... 58,000 58,000 58,000 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

MATTYDALE: 

ARMY RESERVE CENTER/AMSA ................................................................................................................ 23,000 23,000 23,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NEW YORK ................................................................................................................................ 108,000 108,000 108,000 ............................ ............................

NORTH CAROLINA 

NAVY: 

CHERRY POINT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION: 

WATER TREATMENT PLANT REPLACEMENT ............................................................................................... 41,588 41,588 41,588 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CAMP LEJEUNE: 

LEJEUNE HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION/RENOVATION ....................................................................................... 41,306 41,306 41,306 ............................ ............................SOF INTEL/OPS EXPANSION ...................................................................................................................... 11,442 11,442 11,442 ............................ ............................

FORT BRAGG: 

SOF BATTALION OPERATIONS FACILITY ..................................................................................................... 37,074 37,074 37,074 ............................ ............................SOF TACTICAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE FACILITY ................................................................................ 8,000 8,000 8,000 ............................ ............................
96 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

SOF TRAINING COMMAND BUILDING ......................................................................................................... 48,062 48,062 48,062 ............................ ............................

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB: 

REPLACE HYDRANT FUEL SYSTEM ............................................................................................................ 8,500 8,500 8,500 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB: 

KC–135 TANKER PARKING APRON EXPANSION ........................................................................................ 9,800 9,800 9,800 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NORTH CAROLINA ..................................................................................................................... 205,772 205,772 205,772 ............................ ............................

NORTH DAKOTA 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

VALLEY CITY: 

NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP ..................................................................................... 10,800 10,800 10,800 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, NORTH DAKOTA ........................................................................................................................ 10,800 10,800 10,800 ............................ ............................

OKLAHOMA 

AIR FORCE: 

TINKER AFB: 

KC–46A DEPOT MAINT COMPLEX SPT INFRASTR ..................................................................................... 48,000 48,000 48,000 ............................ ............................KC–46A TWO–BAY DEPOT MX HANGAR .................................................................................................... 63,000 63,000 63,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, OKLAHOMA ................................................................................................................................ 111,000 111,000 111,000 ............................ ............................

PENNSYLVANIA 

ARMY: 

LETTERKENNY ARMY DEPOT: 

REBUILD SHOP .......................................................................................................................................... 16,000 16,000 16,000 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

PHILADELPHIA: 

OHIO REPLACEMENT POWER & PROPULSION FACILITY ............................................................................ 23,985 23,985 23,985 ............................ ............................
97 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

WILLOW GROVE ARF: 

RPA OPERATIONS CENTER ........................................................................................................................ 5,662 5,662 5,662 ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE: 

PITTSBURGH: 

RESERVE TRAINING CENTER ..................................................................................................................... 17,650 17,650 17,650 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, PENNSYLVANIA ......................................................................................................................... 63,297 63,297 63,297 ............................ ............................

SOUTH CAROLINA 

ARMY: 

FORT JACKSON: 

TRAINEE BARRACKS COMPLEX 3, PH1 ..................................................................................................... 52,000 52,000 52,000 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

CHARLESTON: 

NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FACILITY ................................................................................ 35,716 35,716 35,716 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

BEAUFORT: 

REPLACE FUEL DISTIBUTION FACILITIES ................................................................................................... 40,600 40,600 40,600 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, SOUTH CAROLINA ..................................................................................................................... 128,316 128,316 128,316 ............................ ............................

SOUTH DAKOTA 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

ELLSWORTH AFB: 

CONSTRUCT HYDRANT SYSTEM ................................................................................................................ 8,000 8,000 8,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, SOUTH DAKOTA ......................................................................................................................... 8,000 8,000 8,000 ............................ ............................

TEXAS 

AIR FORCE: 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO: 

FIRE STATION ............................................................................................................................................ 5,800 5,800 5,800 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

FORT BLISS: 

HOSPITAL REPLACEMENT INCR 6 ............................................................................................................. 131,500 201,500 131,500 ............................ ¥70,000 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO: 

MEDICAL CLINIC REPLACEMENT ............................................................................................................... 38,300 38,300 38,300 ............................ ............................
98 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

FORT WORTH: 

EOD FACILITY ............................................................................................................................................ 3,700 3,700 3,700 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, TEXAS ....................................................................................................................................... 179,300 249,300 179,300 ............................ ¥70,000 

VERMONT 

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

NORTH HYDE PARK: 

NATIONAL GUARD VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP ..................................................................................... 4,400 4,400 4,400 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, VERMONT .................................................................................................................................. 4,400 4,400 4,400 ............................ ............................

VIRGINIA 

ARMY: 

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS: 

TACTICAL VEHICLE HARDSTAND ............................................................................................................... 7,700 7,700 7,700 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

DAHLGREN: 

MISSILE SUPPORT FACILITY ...................................................................................................................... 27,313 27,313 27,313 ............................ ............................

NORFOLK: 

EOD CONSOLIDATED OPS & LOGISTICS FACILITIES .................................................................................. 39,274 39,274 39,274 ............................ ............................

PORTSMOUTH: 

SUBMARINE MAINTENANCE FACILITY ........................................................................................................ 9,743 9,743 9,743 ............................ ............................

QUANTICO: 

AMMUNITION SUPPLY POINT EXPANSION .................................................................................................. 12,613 12,613 12,613 ............................ ............................

YORKTOWN: 

BACHELOR ENLISTED QUARTERS .............................................................................................................. 19,152 19,152 19,152 ............................ ............................FAST COMPANY TRAINING FACILITY .......................................................................................................... 7,836 7,836 7,836 ............................ ............................
99 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CRANEY ISLAND: 

REPLACE & ALTER FUEL DISTIBUTION FACILITIES ................................................................................... 36,500 36,500 36,500 ............................ ............................

DEF DISTRIBUTION DEPOT RICHMOND: 

REPLACE ACCESS CONTROL POINT .......................................................................................................... 5,700 5,700 5,700 ............................ ............................

FORT BELVOIR: 

PARKING LOT ............................................................................................................................................ 7,239 7,239 7,239 ............................ ............................

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS: 

HOPSITAL ADDITION/CUP REPLACEMENT .................................................................................................. 41,200 41,200 41,200 ............................ ............................

JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK—STORY: 

SOF HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTER ....................................................................................................... 11,200 ............................ 11,200 ............................ ∂11,200 SOF INDOOR DYNAMIC RANGE ................................................................................................................. 14,888 14,888 14,888 ............................ ............................SOF MOBILE COMM DET SUPPORT FACILITY ............................................................................................ 13,500 13,500 13,500 ............................ ............................

PENTAGON: 

REDUNDANT CHILLED WATER LOOP ......................................................................................................... 15,100 15,100 15,100 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

FORT LEE: 

TASS TRAINING CENTER ........................................................................................................................... 16,000 16,000 16,000 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, VIRGINIA ................................................................................................................................... 284,958 273,758 284,958 ............................ ∂11,200 

WASHINGTON 

NAVY: 

BREMERTON: 

INTEGRATED WATER TREATMENT SYST. DD 1, 2, & 5 ............................................................................. 16,401 16,401 16,401 ............................ ............................

KITSAP: 

EXPLOSIVES HANDLING WHARF #2 (INC) ................................................................................................. 83,778 83,778 83,778 ............................ ............................

PORT ANGELES: 

TPS PORT ANGELES FORWARD OPERATING LOCATION ............................................................................. 20,638 20,638 20,638 ............................ ............................

WHIDBEY ISLAND: 

P–8A AIRCRAFT APRON AND SUPPORTING FACILITIES ............................................................................. 24,390 24,390 24,390 ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE: 

WHIDBEY ISLAND: 

C–40 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE HANGAR .................................................................................................. 27,755 27,755 27,755 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, WASHINGTON ............................................................................................................................ 172,962 172,962 172,962 ............................ ............................
100 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

AUSTRALIA 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

GERALDTON: 

COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS GATEWAY GERALDTON ............................................................................. 9,600 9,600 9,600 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, AUSTRALIA ................................................................................................................................ 9,600 9,600 9,600 ............................ ............................

BAHRAIN ISLAND 

NAVY: 

SW ASIA: 

P–8A HANGAR ........................................................................................................................................... 27,826 27,826 27,826 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, BAHRAIN ISLAND ...................................................................................................................... 27,826 27,826 27,826 ............................ ............................

BELGIUM 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

BRUSSELS: 

BRUSSELS ELEMENTARY/HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT ........................................................................... 41,626 41,626 41,626 ............................ ............................NATO HEADQUARTERS FACILITY ............................................................................................................... 37,918 37,918 37,918 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, BELGIUM ................................................................................................................................... 79,544 79,544 79,544 ............................ ............................

CUBA 

ARMY: 

GUANTANAMO BAY: 

DINING FACILITY ....................................................................................................................................... 12,000 12,000 12,000 ............................ ............................HEALTH CLINIC ......................................................................................................................................... 11,800 11,800 11,800 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

GUANTANAMO BAY: 

REPLACE FUEL TANK ................................................................................................................................ 11,100 11,100 11,100 ............................ ............................
101 

W.T. SAMPSON E/M AND HS CONSOLID/REPLACEMENT ........................................................................... 65,190 65,190 65,190 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, CUBA ........................................................................................................................................ 100,090 100,090 100,090 ............................ ............................

DJIBOUTI 

NAVY: 

CAMP LEMONNIER: 

ENTRY CONTROL POINT ............................................................................................................................ 9,923 9,923 9,923 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, DJIBOUTI ................................................................................................................................... 9,923 9,923 9,923 ............................ ............................

GERMANY 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS: 

MEDICAL CENTER REPLACEMENT INCR 4 ................................................................................................ 259,695 189,695 159,695 ¥100,000 ¥30,000 

TOTAL, GERMANY ................................................................................................................................. 259,695 189,695 159,695 ¥100,000 ¥30,000 

GUAM 

NAVY: 

JOINT REGION MARIANAS: 

GSE SHOPS AT NORTH RAMP ................................................................................................................... 21,880 21,880 21,880 ............................ ............................MWSS FACILITIES AT NORTH RAMP .......................................................................................................... 28,771 28,771 28,771 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

JOINT REGION MARIANAS: 

GUAM STRIKE FUEL SYSTEMS MAINT.HANGAR INC 2 ............................................................................... 64,000 64,000 64,000 ............................ ............................PRTC—COMBAT COMM INFRASTR FACILITY ............................................................................................ 3,750 3,750 3,750 ............................ ............................PRTC—RED HORSE LOGISTICS FACILITY ................................................................................................. 3,150 3,150 3,150 ............................ ............................PRTC—SATELLITE FIRE STATION .............................................................................................................. 6,500 6,500 6,500 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, GUAM ........................................................................................................................................ 128,051 128,051 128,051 ............................ ............................

JAPAN 

ARMY: 

KADENA AB: 

MISSILE MAGAZINE ................................................................................................................................... 10,600 10,600 10,600 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

IWAKUNI: 

SECURITY MODS DPRI MC167–T (CVW–5 E2D EA–18G) ......................................................................... 6,415 6,415 6,415 ............................ ............................
102 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

KADENA AB: 

AIRCRAFT MAINT HANGAR ALTERATIONS AND SAP–F .............................................................................. 19,411 19,411 19,411 ............................ ............................

MCAS FUTENMA: 

HANGAR & RINSE FACILITY MODERNIZATIONS ......................................................................................... 4,639 4,639 4,639 ............................ ............................

OKINAWA: 

LHD PRACTICE SITE IMPROVEMENTS ....................................................................................................... 35,685 35,685 35,685 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

MISAWA AB: 

EDGREN HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION ....................................................................................................... 37,775 37,775 37,775 ............................ ............................

OKINAWA: 

KILLIN ELEMENTARY REPLACEMENT/RENOVATION .................................................................................... 71,481 71,481 71,481 ............................ ............................KUBASAKI HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT/RENOVATION ............................................................................. 99,420 99,420 99,420 ............................ ............................

SASEBO: 

E.J. KING HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT/RENOVATION .............................................................................. 37,681 37,681 37,681 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, JAPAN ....................................................................................................................................... 323,107 323,107 323,107 ............................ ............................

SPAIN 

NAVY: 

ROTA: 

SHIP BERTHING POWER UPGRADES ......................................................................................................... 20,233 20,233 20,233 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, SPAIN ........................................................................................................................................ 20,233 20,233 20,233 ............................ ............................

UNITED KINGDOM 

AIR FORCE: 

CROUGHTON RAF: 

JIAC CONSOLIDATION—PHASE 1 .............................................................................................................. 92,223 ............................ 92,223 ............................ ∂92,223 

TOTAL, UNITED KINGDOM ..................................................................................................................... 92,223 ............................ 92,223 ............................ ∂92,223 

NATO SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM .................................................................................................................... 199,700 199,700 199,700 ............................ ............................
103 

WORLDWIDE CLASSIFIED 

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CLASSIFIED LOCATION: 

SOF SKILLS TRAINING FACILITY ................................................................................................................ 53,073 53,073 53,073 ............................ ............................

TOTAL, WORLDWIDE CLASSIFIED .......................................................................................................... 53,073 53,073 53,073 ............................ ............................

WORLDWIDE UNSPECIFIED 

ARMY: 

HOST NATION SUPPORT ..................................................................................................................................... 33,000 33,000 33,000 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 25,000 25,000 25,000 ............................ ............................PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 18,127 18,127 18,127 ............................ ............................

NAVY: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 33,366 33,366 33,366 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 7,163 7,163 7,163 ............................ ............................F–35C FACILITY ADDITION AND MODIFICATION ................................................................................................. 16,594 16,594 16,594 ............................ ............................F–35C OPERATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY .......................................................................................................... 22,391 22,391 22,391 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 10,738 10,738 10,738 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 22,613 22,613 22,613 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE-WIDE: 

CONTINGENCY CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 9,000 ............................ 9,000 ............................ ∂9,000 ENERGY CONSERVATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM ............................................................................................. 150,000 150,000 150,000 ............................ ............................PLANNING AND DESIGN: 

DEFENSE–WIDE ......................................................................................................................................... 24,425 24,425 24,425 ............................ ............................DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY .............................................................................................. 745 745 745 ............................ ............................DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENT EDUCATION ............................................................................... 42,387 42,387 42,387 ............................ ............................MISSLE DEFENSE AGENCY ........................................................................................................................ 38,704 18,704 38,704 ............................ ∂20,000 NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY ................................................................................................................... 599 599 599 ............................ ............................SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND ............................................................................................................. 24,197 24,197 24,197 ............................ ............................WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICE ................................................................................................... 1,183 1,183 1,183 ............................ ............................ENERGY CONSERVATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM DESIGN ....................................................................... 10,000 10,000 10,000 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................... 142,240 122,240 142,240 ............................ ∂20,000 

UNSPECIFIED MINOR CONSTRUCTION: 

DEFENSE–WIDE ......................................................................................................................................... 2,700 2,700 2,700 ............................ ............................DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY ................................................................................................................... 5,932 5,932 5,932 ............................ ............................DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENT EDUCATION ............................................................................... 6,846 6,846 6,846 ............................ ............................MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY ....................................................................................................................... 2,000 2,000 2,000 ............................ ............................
104 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY ................................................................................................................... 2,994 2,994 2,994 ............................ ............................JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ............................................................................................................................ 8,581 8,581 8,581 ............................ ............................SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND ............................................................................................................. 10,334 10,334 10,334 ............................ ............................DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY ....................................................................................................................... 4,100 4,100 4,100 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, UNSPECIFIED MINOR CONSTRUCTION ................................................................................ 43,487 43,487 43,487 ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 17,600 17,600 17,600 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 13,720 13,720 13,720 ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 7,700 7,700 7,700 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 8,100 8,100 8,100 ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 8,337 8,337 8,337 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3,609 3,609 3,609 ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 2,123 2,123 2,123 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 4,000 4,000 4,000 ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE: 

PLANNING AND DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................... 6,892 6,892 6,892 ............................ ............................MINOR CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1,400 1,400 1,400 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, ARMY 

ILLINOIS: 

ROCK ISLAND: 

FAMILY HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION (33 units) .................................................................................. 19,500 19,500 19,500 ............................ ............................

KOREA: 

CAMP WALKER: 

FAMILIY HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION (90 units) ................................................................................. 57,800 57,800 57,800 ............................ ............................

PLANNING AND DESIGN .............................................................................................................................................. 1,309 1,309 1,309 ............................ ............................
105 

SUBTOTAL, CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................. 78,609 78,609 78,609 ............................ ............................

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

UTILITIES ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................................................... 82,686 82,686 82,686 ............................ ............................SERVICES ACCOUNT .......................................................................................................................................... 9,108 9,108 9,108 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 46,597 46,597 46,597 ............................ ............................MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT ................................................................................................................................ 700 700 700 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................... 14,136 14,136 14,136 ............................ ............................LEASING ............................................................................................................................................................. 112,504 112,504 112,504 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY ................................................................................................................... 65,245 65,245 65,245 ............................ ............................PRIVATIZATION SUPPORT COSTS ....................................................................................................................... 20,000 20,000 20,000 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 350,976 350,976 350,976 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS 

CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 15,940 15,940 15,940 ............................ ............................PLANNING AND DESIGN .............................................................................................................................................. 472 472 472 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, CONSTRUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 16,412 16,412 16,412 ............................ ............................

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

UTILITIES ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................................................... 71,092 71,092 71,092 ............................ ............................SERVICES ACCOUNT .......................................................................................................................................... 18,079 18,079 18,079 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 55,124 55,124 55,124 ............................ ............................MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT ................................................................................................................................ 366 366 366 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................... 17,881 17,881 17,881 ............................ ............................LEASING ............................................................................................................................................................. 65,999 65,999 65,999 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY ................................................................................................................... 97,612 97,612 97,612 ............................ ............................PRIVATIZATION SUPPORT COSTS ....................................................................................................................... 27,876 27,876 27,876 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 354,029 354,029 354,029 ............................ ............................

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

UTILITIES ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................................................... 42,322 42,322 42,322 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 47,834 47,834 47,834 ............................ ............................SERVICES ACCOUNT .......................................................................................................................................... 12,709 12,709 12,709 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................... 38,543 38,543 38,543 ............................ ............................MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT ................................................................................................................................ 1,993 1,993 1,993 ............................ ............................LEASING ............................................................................................................................................................. 43,651 43,651 43,651 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................................................................... 99,934 99,934 99,934 ............................ ............................PRIVATIZATION SUPPORT COSTS ....................................................................................................................... 40,761 40,761 40,761 ............................ ............................
106 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................. 327,747 327,747 327,747 ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, DEFENSE-WIDE 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY: 

UTILITIES ................................................................................................................................................... 659 659 659 ............................ ............................FURNISHING .............................................................................................................................................. 746 746 746 ............................ ............................LEASING .................................................................................................................................................... 11,179 11,179 11,179 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY .......................................................................................................... 2,128 2,128 2,128 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY: 

FURNISHINGS ............................................................................................................................................ 3,362 3,362 3,362 ............................ ............................LEASING .................................................................................................................................................... 42,083 42,083 42,083 ............................ ............................

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY: 

UTILITIES ................................................................................................................................................... 170 170 170 ............................ ............................FURNISHINGS ............................................................................................................................................ 20 20 20 ............................ ............................SERVICES .................................................................................................................................................. 31 31 31 ............................ ............................MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................................... 378 378 378 ............................ ............................MAINTENANCE OF REAL PROPERTY .......................................................................................................... 344 344 344 ............................ ............................

SUBTOTAL, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................... 61,100 61,100 61,100 ............................ ............................

DOD FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND .............................................................................................................. 1,662 1,662 1,662 ............................ ............................

BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE 

DOD BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................. 270,085 270,085 380,085 ∂110,000 ∂110,000 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION—FISCAL YEAR 2014 (SEC. 127) ...................................................................................... ............................ 125,000 ............................ ............................ ¥125,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION—FISCAL YEAR 2015 (SEC. 128) ...................................................................................... ............................ 245,000 ............................ ............................ ¥245,000 ARMY (SEC. 129) ........................................................................................................................................................ ............................ ¥79,577 ............................ ............................ ∂79,577 42 USC 3374 (SEC. 131) ........................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥100,000 ............................ ............................ ∂100,000 NATO SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (SEC. 130) ................................................................................................. ............................ ¥25,000 ............................ ............................ ∂25,000 
107 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY (SEC. 127) ............................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ 60,000 ∂60,000 ∂60,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (SEC. 128) ............................................................................... ............................ ............................ 40,000 ∂40,000 ∂40,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE (SEC. 129) ............................................................................................. ............................ ............................ 50,000 ∂50,000 ∂50,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY (SEC. 130) ............................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ 200,000 ∂200,000 ∂200,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE (SEC. 131) .................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ 100,000 ∂100,000 ∂100,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE (SEC. 132) .................................................................................... ............................ ............................ 15,000 ∂15,000 ∂15,000 RESCISSIONS (SEC. 133) ............................................................................................................................................ ............................ ............................ ¥423,447 ¥423,447 ¥423,447 RESCISSION (SEC. 134) .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ¥50,000 ¥50,000 ¥50,000 

TOTAL, ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS ........................................................................................................... ............................ 165,423 ¥8,447 ¥8,447 ¥173,870 

RECAP 

ARMY .......................................................................................................................................................................... 539,427 526,427 539,427 ............................ ∂13,000 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥79,577 ............................ ............................ ∂79,577 

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ......................................................................................................................................... 1,018,772 998,772 1,018,772 ............................ ∂20,000 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE .................................................................................................................................................................. 811,774 719,551 811,774 ............................ ∂92,223 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

DEFENSE–WIDE ........................................................................................................................................................... 2,061,890 2,021,690 1,961,890 ¥100,000 ¥59,800 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ............................................................................................................................................. 126,920 126,920 126,920 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

AIR NATIONAL GUARD ................................................................................................................................................. 94,663 94,663 94,663 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

ARMY RESERVE .......................................................................................................................................................... 103,946 103,946 103,946 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

NAVY RESERVE ........................................................................................................................................................... 51,528 51,528 51,528 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

AIR FORCE RESERVE .................................................................................................................................................. 49,492 49,492 49,492 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

NATO ........................................................................................................................................................................... 199,700 199,700 199,700 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥25,000 ............................ ............................ ∂25,000 

CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE–WIDE ................................................................................ 38,715 38,715 38,715 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

DOD FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND .............................................................................................................. 1,662 1,662 1,662 ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, ARMY ............................................................................................................................................. 429,585 429,585 429,585 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. (78,609 ) (78,609 ) (78,609 ) ............................ ............................
108 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LISTING BY LOCATION—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Installation and project Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Committee recommendation 

compared with (∂ or ¥) 

Budget 

estimate 

House 

allowance 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (350,976 ) (350,976 ) (350,976 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, NAVY AND MARINE CORP .............................................................................................................. 370,441 370,441 370,441 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. (16,412 ) (16,412 ) (16,412 ) ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (354,029 ) (354,029 ) (354,029 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, AIR FORCE ..................................................................................................................................... 327,747 327,747 327,747 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (327,747 ) (327,747 ) (327,747 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

FAMILY HOUSING, DEFENSE–WIDE ............................................................................................................................. 61,100 61,100 61,100 ............................ ............................

CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................................... (61,100 ) (61,100 ) (61,100 ) ............................ ............................

RESCISSION .............................................................................................................................................. ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

DOD BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................. 270,085 270,085 380,085 ∂110,000 ∂110,000 

RESCISSION ....................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

42 USC 3374 (SEC. 135) ........................................................................................................................................... ............................ ¥100,000 ............................ ............................ ∂100,000 ADMINSTRATIVE PROVISIONS ...................................................................................................................................... ............................ 165,423 465,000 ∂465,000 ∂299,577 

RESCISSIONS ..................................................................................................................................................... ............................ ............................ ¥473,447 ¥473,447 ¥473,447 

GRAND TOTAL ................................................................................................................................................ 6,557,447 6,557,447 6,559,000 ∂1,553 ∂1,553 
109 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2014 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2014 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Military construction, Army .................................................................................... 1,104,875 539,427 526,427 539,427 ¥565,448 .......................... ∂13,000 Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps ...................................................... 1,629,690 1,018,772 998,772 1,018,772 ¥610,918 .......................... ∂20,000 Military construction, Air Force .............................................................................. 1,052,796 811,774 719,551 811,774 ¥241,022 .......................... ∂92,223 Military construction, Defense-Wide ...................................................................... 3,445,423 2,061,890 2,021,690 1,961,890 ¥1,483,533 ¥100,000 ¥59,800 

Total, Active components ......................................................................... 7,232,784 4,431,863 4,266,440 4,331,863 ¥2,900,921 ¥100,000 ∂65,423 

Military construction, Army National Guard .......................................................... 314,740 126,920 126,920 126,920 ¥187,820 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Air National Guard .............................................................. 119,800 94,663 94,663 94,663 ¥25,137 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Army Reserve ...................................................................... 156,560 103,946 103,946 103,946 ¥52,614 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Navy Reserve ....................................................................... 29,000 51,528 51,528 51,528 ∂22,528 .......................... ..........................Military construction, Air Force Reserve ................................................................ 45,659 49,492 49,492 49,492 ∂3,833 .......................... ..........................

Total, Reserve components ....................................................................... 665,759 426,549 426,549 426,549 ¥239,210 .......................... ..........................Total, Military construction ....................................................................... 7,898,543 4,858,412 4,692,989 4,758,412 ¥3,140,131 ¥100,000 ∂65,423 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program ......................... 199,700 199,700 199,700 199,700 .......................... .......................... ..........................Family housing construction, Army ........................................................................ 27,408 78,609 78,609 78,609 ∂51,201 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Army ............................................... 512,871 350,976 350,976 350,976 ¥161,895 .......................... ..........................Family housing construction, Navy and Marine Corps .......................................... 73,407 16,412 16,412 16,412 ¥56,995 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps ................. 379,444 354,029 354,029 354,029 ¥25,415 .......................... ..........................Family housing construction, Air Force ................................................................. 76,360 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥76,360 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force ......................................... 388,598 327,747 327,747 327,747 ¥60,851 .......................... ..........................Family housing operation and maintenance, Defense-Wide ................................. 55,845 61,100 61,100 61,100 ∂5,255 .......................... ..........................Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund ................................. 1,780 1,662 1,662 1,662 ¥118 .......................... ..........................

Total, Family housing ............................................................................... 1,515,713 1,190,535 1,190,535 1,190,535 ¥325,178 .......................... ..........................
110 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2014 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2014 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Chemical demilitarization construction, Defense-Wide ......................................... 122,536 38,715 38,715 38,715 ¥83,821 .......................... ..........................Department of Defense Base Closure Account ...................................................... 451,357 270,085 270,085 380,085 ¥71,272 ∂110,000 ∂110,000 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 

Military Construction—fiscal year 2014 (Sec. 127) ............................................. .......................... .......................... 125,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥125,000 Military Construction—fiscal year 2015 (Sec. 128) ............................................. .......................... .......................... 245,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥245,000 Military Construction, Army (rescission) (Sec. 129) .............................................. ¥200,000 .......................... ¥79,577 .......................... ∂200,000 .......................... ∂79,577 Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps (rescission) .................................. ¥12,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂12,000 .......................... ..........................Military Construction, Air Force (rescission) .......................................................... ¥39,700 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂39,700 .......................... ..........................Military Construction, Defense-Wide (rescission) .................................................. ¥14,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂14,000 .......................... ..........................Military Construction, Air National Guard (rescission) .......................................... ¥14,200 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂14,200 .......................... ..........................42 USC 3374 (Sec. 131) (rescission) .................................................................... ¥99,949 .......................... ¥100,000 .......................... ∂99,949 .......................... ∂100,000 NATO Security Investment Program (rescission) (Sec. 130) ................................. .......................... .......................... ¥25,000 .......................... .......................... .......................... ∂25,000 Military construction, Army (Sec. 127) .................................................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... 60,000 ∂60,000 ∂60,000 ∂60,000 Military construction, Army National Guard (Sec. 128) ........................................ .......................... .......................... .......................... 40,000 ∂40,000 ∂40,000 ∂40,000 Military construction, Army Reserve (Sec. 129) .................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... 50,000 ∂50,000 ∂50,000 ∂50,000 Military construction, Navy (Sec. 130) .................................................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... 200,000 ∂200,000 ∂200,000 ∂200,000 Military construction, Air Force (Sec. 131) ............................................................ .......................... .......................... .......................... 100,000 ∂100,000 ∂100,000 ∂100,000 Military construction, Air Force Reserve (Sec. 132) .............................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... 15,000 ∂15,000 ∂15,000 ∂15,000 Rescissions (Secs. 133) ......................................................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥423,447 ¥423,447 ¥423,447 ¥423,447 Rescission (Secs. 134) ........................................................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ¥50,000 ¥50,000 ¥50,000 ¥50,000 

Total, Administrative Provisions ............................................................... ¥379,849 .......................... 165,423 ¥8,447 ∂371,402 ¥8,447 ¥173,870 

Appropriations .................................................................................. .......................... .......................... (370,000 ) (465,000 ) (∂465,000 ) (∂465,000 ) (∂95,000 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥379,849 ) .......................... (¥204,577 ) (¥473,447 ) (¥93,598 ) (¥473,447 ) (¥268,870 ) 

Total, title I, Department of Defense ....................................................... 9,808,000 6,557,447 6,557,447 6,559,000 ¥3,249,000 ∂1,553 ∂1,553 Appropriations ........................................................................................... (10,187,849 ) (6,557,447 ) (6,762,024 ) (7,032,447 ) (¥3,155,402 ) (∂475,000 ) (∂270,423 ) Rescissions ............................................................................................... (¥379,849 ) .......................... (¥204,577 ) (¥473,447 ) (¥93,598 ) (¥473,447 ) (¥268,870 ) 
111 

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

Veterans Benefits Administration 

Compensation and pensions .................................................................................. 71,476,104 78,687,709 78,687,709 78,687,709 ∂7,211,605 .......................... ..........................Readjustment benefits ........................................................................................... 13,135,898 14,761,862 14,761,862 14,761,862 ∂1,625,964 .......................... ..........................Veterans insurance and indemnities ..................................................................... 77,567 63,257 63,257 63,257 ¥14,310 .......................... ..........................Veterans housing benefit program fund: 

(Indefinite) ..................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................(Limitation on direct loans) .......................................................................... (500 ) (500 ) (500 ) (500 ) .......................... .......................... ..........................Administrative expenses ............................................................................... 158,430 160,881 160,881 160,881 ∂2,451 .......................... ..........................

Vocational rehabilitation loans program account ................................................. 5 10 10 10 ∂5 .......................... ..........................

(Limitation on direct loans) .......................................................................... (2,500 ) (2,877 ) (2,877 ) (2,877 ) (∂377 ) .......................... ..........................Administrative expenses ............................................................................... 354 361 361 361 ∂7 .......................... ..........................

Native American veteran housing loan program account ..................................... 1,109 1,130 1,130 1,130 ∂21 .......................... ..........................

Total, Veterans Benefits Administration .................................................. 84,849,467 93,675,210 93,675,210 93,675,210 ∂8,825,743 .......................... ..........................

Veterans Health Administration 

Medical services: 

Advance from prior year ............................................................................... (43,557,000 ) (45,015,527 ) (45,015,527 ) (45,015,527 ) (∂1,458,527 ) .......................... ..........................Current year request ..................................................................................... 40,000 367,885 .......................... 100,000 ∂60,000 ¥267,885 ∂100,000 Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2016 ..................................................... 45,015,527 47,603,202 47,603,202 47,603,202 ∂2,587,675 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 45,055,527 47,971,087 47,603,202 47,703,202 ∂2,647,675 ¥267,885 ∂100,000 

Medical support and compliance: 

Advance from prior year ............................................................................... (6,033,000 ) (5,879,700 ) (5,879,700 ) (5,879,700 ) (¥153,300 ) .......................... ..........................Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2016 ..................................................... 5,879,700 6,144,000 6,144,000 6,144,000 ∂264,300 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 5,879,700 6,144,000 6,144,000 6,144,000 ∂264,300 .......................... ..........................

Medical facilities: 

Advance from prior year ............................................................................... (4,872,000 ) (4,739,000 ) (4,739,000 ) (4,739,000 ) (¥133,000 ) .......................... ..........................Current year request ..................................................................................... 85,000 .......................... .......................... 125,000 ∂40,000 ∂125,000 ∂125,000 Advance appropriation, fiscal year 2016 ..................................................... 4,739,000 4,915,000 4,915,000 4,915,000 ∂176,000 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... 4,824,000 4,915,000 4,915,000 5,040,000 ∂216,000 ∂125,000 ∂125,000 

Medical and prosthetic research ........................................................................... 585,664 588,922 588,922 588,922 ∂3,258 .......................... ..........................
112 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2014 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2014 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Medical care cost recovery collections: 

Offsetting collections .................................................................................... ¥2,485,000 ¥2,456,000 ¥2,456,000 ¥2,456,000 ∂29,000 .......................... ..........................Appropriations (indefinite) ............................................................................ 2,485,000 2,456,000 2,456,000 2,456,000 ¥29,000 .......................... ..........................

Subtotal .................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................

DOD–VA Joint Medical Funds (by transfer) ........................................................... (254,257 ) (269,366 ) (252,366 ) (269,366 ) (∂15,109 ) .......................... (∂17,000 ) DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund (by transfer) ................................. (15,000 ) (15,000 ) (15,000 ) (15,000 ) .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Veterans Health Administration ..................................................... 56,344,891 59,619,009 59,251,124 59,476,124 ∂3,131,233 ¥142,885 ∂225,000 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (710,664 ) (956,807 ) (588,922 ) (813,922 ) (∂103,258 ) (¥142,885 ) (∂225,000 ) Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2016 ...................................... (55,634,227 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (∂3,027,975 ) .......................... ..........................

Advances from prior year appropriations ................................................. (54,462,000 ) (55,634,227 ) (55,634,227 ) (55,634,227 ) (∂1,172,227 ) .......................... ..........................

National Cemetery Administration 

National Cemetery Administration ......................................................................... 250,000 256,800 256,800 256,800 ∂6,800 .......................... ..........................

Departmental Administration 

General administration .......................................................................................... 327,591 321,591 306,876 321,591 ¥6,000 .......................... ∂14,715 Board of Veterans Appeals .................................................................................... 88,294 94,294 94,294 99,294 ∂11,000 ∂5,000 ∂5,000 General operating expenses, VBA .......................................................................... 2,465,490 2,494,254 2,524,254 2,524,254 ∂58,764 ∂30,000 ..........................Information technology systems ............................................................................ 3,703,344 3,903,344 3,873,768 3,913,344 ∂210,000 ∂10,000 ∂39,576 Office of Inspector General .................................................................................... 121,411 121,411 122,411 126,411 ∂5,000 ∂5,000 ∂4,000 Construction, major projects .................................................................................. 342,130 561,800 561,800 561,800 ∂219,670 .......................... ..........................Construction, minor projects .................................................................................. 714,870 495,200 495,200 540,200 ¥174,670 ∂45,000 ∂45,000 Grants for construction of State extended care facilities ..................................... 85,000 80,000 80,000 100,000 ∂15,000 ∂20,000 ∂20,000 Grants for the construction of veterans cemeteries ............................................. 46,000 45,000 45,000 46,000 .......................... ∂1,000 ∂1,000 

Total, Departmental Administration ......................................................... 7,894,130 8,116,894 8,103,603 8,232,894 ∂338,764 ∂116,000 ∂129,291 
113 

Administrative Provisions 

Prior Year rescissions (Sec. 233) .......................................................................... ¥182,000 .......................... ¥38,000 .......................... ∂182,000 .......................... ∂38,000 

Section 225 

Medical services ..................................................................................................... 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Rescission) ................................................................................................... ¥1,400,000 ¥1,400,000 ¥1,400,000 ¥1,400,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Medical support and compliance .......................................................................... 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Rescission) ................................................................................................... ¥150,000 ¥100,000 ¥100,000 ¥100,000 ∂50,000 .......................... ..........................

Medical facilities .................................................................................................... 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

(Rescission) ................................................................................................... ¥250,000 ¥250,000 ¥250,000 ¥250,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Administrative Provisions ............................................................... ¥232,000 .......................... ¥38,000 .......................... ∂232,000 .......................... ∂38,000 Total, title II .............................................................................................. 149,106,488 161,667,913 161,248,737 161,641,028 ∂12,534,540 ¥26,885 ∂392,291 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (95,454,261 ) (104,755,711 ) (104,374,535 ) (104,728,826 ) (∂9,274,565 ) (¥26,885 ) (∂354,291 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥1,982,000 ) (¥1,750,000 ) (¥1,788,000 ) (¥1,750,000 ) (∂232,000 ) .......................... (∂38,000 ) Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2016 ...................................... (55,634,227 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (∂3,027,975 ) .......................... ..........................

Advances from prior year appropriations ................................................. (54,462,000 ) (55,634,227 ) (55,634,227 ) (55,634,227 ) (∂1,172,227 ) .......................... ..........................(Limitation on direct loans) ..................................................................... (3,000 ) (3,377 ) (3,377 ) (3,377 ) (∂377 ) .......................... ..........................

TITLE III—RELATED AGENCIES 

American Battle Monuments Commission 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 63,200 70,100 75,000 73,285 ∂10,085 ∂3,185 ¥1,715 Foreign currency fluctuations account .................................................................. 14,100 1,900 1,900 1,900 ¥12,200 .......................... ..........................

Total, American Battle Monuments Commission ..................................... 77,300 72,000 76,900 75,185 ¥2,115 ∂3,185 ¥1,715 

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 35,408 31,386 31,386 34,390 ¥1,018 ∂3,004 ∂3,004 

Department of Defense—Civil 

Cemeterial Expenses, Army 

Salaries and expenses ........................................................................................... 65,800 45,800 61,881 65,800 .......................... ∂20,000 ∂3,919 

Armed Forces Retirement Home—Trust Fund 

Operation and maintenance .................................................................................. 66,800 62,400 62,400 62,400 ¥4,400 .......................... ..........................
114 

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL 

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015—Continued 

[In thousands of dollars] 

Item 2014 appropriation Budget estimate House allowance Committee recommendation 

Senate Committee recommendation compared 

with (∂ or ¥) 

2014 

appropriation Budget estimate House allowance 

Capital program ..................................................................................................... 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 .......................... .......................... ..........................

Total, Armed Forces Retirement Home ..................................................... 67,800 63,400 63,400 63,400 ¥4,400 .......................... ..........................Total, title III ............................................................................................. 246,308 212,586 233,567 238,775 ¥7,533 ∂26,189 ∂5,208 Grand total ............................................................................................... 159,160,796 168,437,946 168,039,751 168,438,803 ∂9,278,007 ∂857 ∂399,052 

Appropriations .................................................................................. (105,888,418 ) (111,525,744 ) (111,370,126 ) (112,000,048 ) (∂6,111,630 ) (∂474,304 ) (∂629,922 ) Rescissions ...................................................................................... (¥2,361,849 ) (¥1,750,000 ) (¥1,992,577 ) (¥2,223,447 ) (∂138,402 ) (¥473,447 ) (¥230,870 ) Advance appropriations, fiscal year 2015 ...................................... (55,634,227 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (58,662,202 ) (∂3,027,975 ) .......................... ..........................

Advances from prior year appropriations ................................................. (54,462,000 ) (55,634,227 ) (55,634,227 ) (55,634,227 ) (∂1,172,227 ) .......................... ..........................(By transfer) ............................................................................................. (269,257 ) (284,366 ) (267,366 ) (284,366 ) (∂15,109 ) .......................... (∂17,000 ) (Limitation on direct loans) ..................................................................... (3,000 ) (3,377 ) (3,377 ) (3,377 ) (∂377 ) .......................... ..........................

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