IB 

Union Calendar No. 379 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4974 

[Report No. 114–497] 

Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 

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

2017, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2016 

Mr. DENT, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following bill; 

which was committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

A BILL 

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

fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other 

purposes. 


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

3 That the following sums are appropriated, out of any 

4 money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for 

5 military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, 

6 and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 

7 30, 2017, and for other purposes, namely: 

8 TITLE I 

9 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

10 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

11 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip12 ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 

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

14 currently authorized by law, including personnel in the 

15 Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services nec16 essary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for con17 struction and operation of facilities in support of the func18 tions of the Commander in Chief, $503,459,000, to re19 main available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That, 

20 of this amount, not to exceed $98,159,000 shall be avail21 able for study, planning, design, architect and engineer 

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

23 unless the Secretary of the Army determines that addi24 tional obligations are necessary for such purposes and noVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 tifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

2 of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor. 

3 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

4 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip5 ment of temporary or permanent public works, naval in6 stallations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and 

7 Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including 

8 personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 

9 and other personal services necessary for the purposes of 

10 this appropriation, $1,021,580,000, to remain available 

11 until September 30, 2021: Provided, That, of this amount, 

12 not to exceed $88,230,000 shall be available for study, 

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

14 authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy deter15 mines that additional obligations are necessary for such 

16 purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations 

17 of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the 

18 reasons therefor. 

19 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

20 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip21 ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 

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

23 as currently authorized by law, $1,398,758,000, to remain 

24 available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That of this 

25 amount, not to exceed $143,582,000 shall be available for 


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1 study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv2 ices, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Air 

3 Force determines that additional obligations are necessary 

4 for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appro5 priations of both Houses of Congress of the determination 

6 and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That none of 

7 the funds made available under this heading shall be for 

8 construction of the Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex 

9 Consolidation, Phase 3, at Royal Air Force Croughton, 

10 United Kingdom, unless authorized in an Act authorizing 

11 appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military construc12 tion. 

13 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

14 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

15 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip16 ment of temporary or permanent public works, installa17 tions, facilities, and real property for activities and agen18 cies of the Department of Defense (other than the military 

19 departments), as currently authorized by law, 

20 $2,024,643,000, to remain available until September 30, 

21 2021: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation 

22 as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may 

23 be transferred to such appropriations of the Department 

24 of Defense available for military construction or family 

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


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

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

3 transferred: Provided further, That of the amount appro4 priated, not to exceed $201,422,000 shall be available for 

5 study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv6 ices, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense 

7 determines that additional obligations are necessary for 

8 such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropria9 tions of both Houses of Congress of the determination and 

10 the reasons therefor. 

11 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

12 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita13 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad14 ministration of the Army National Guard, and contribu15 tions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, 

16 United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza17 tion Acts, $232,930,000, to remain available until Sep18 tember 30, 2021: Provided, That, of the amount appro19 priated, not to exceed $8,729,000 shall be available for 

20 study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv21 ices, as authorized by law, unless the Director of the Army 

22 National Guard determines that additional obligations are 

23 necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees 

24 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the de25 termination and the reasons therefor. 


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1 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

2 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita3 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad4 ministration of the Air National Guard, and contributions 

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

6 States Code, and Military Construction Authorization 

7 Acts, $143,957,000, to remain available until September 

8 30, 2021: Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not 

9 to exceed $10,462,000 shall be available for study, plan10 ning, design, and architect and engineer services, as au11 thorized by law, unless the Director of the Air National 

12 Guard determines that additional obligations are nec13 essary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on 

14 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the deter15 mination and the reasons therefor. 

16 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

17 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita18 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad19 ministration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 

20 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Con21 struction Authorization Acts, $68,230,000, to remain 

22 available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That, of the 

23 amount appropriated, not to exceed $7,500,000 shall be 

24 available for study, planning, design, and architect and en25 gineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of 


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1 the Army Reserve determines that additional obligations 

2 are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Commit3 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the 

4 determination and the reasons therefor. 

5 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE

6 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita7 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad8 ministration of the reserve components of the Navy and 

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

10 United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza11 tion Acts, $38,597,000, to remain available until Sep12 tember 30, 2021: Provided, That, of the amount appro13 priated, not to exceed $3,783,000 shall be available for 

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

16 Navy determines that additional obligations are necessary 

17 for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appro18 priations of both Houses of Congress of the determination 

19 and the reasons therefor. 

20 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

21 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita22 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad23 ministration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by 

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

25 Construction Authorization Acts, $188,950,000, to remain 


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1 available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That, of the 

2 amount appropriated, not to exceed $4,500,000 shall be 

3 available for study, planning, design, and architect and en4 gineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of 

5 the Air Force Reserve determines that additional obliga6 tions are necessary for such purposes and notifies the 

7 Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

8 of the determination and the reasons therefor. 

9 NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

10 SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

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

12 Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Pro13 gram for the acquisition and construction of military fa14 cilities and installations (including international military 

15 headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective 

16 defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized 

17 by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Mili18 tary Construction Authorization Acts, $177,932,000, to 

19 remain available until expended. 

20 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

21 For expenses of family housing for the Army for con22 struction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, ex23 pansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 

24 $200,735,000, to remain available until September 30, 

25 2021. 


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1 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

2 ARMY

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

5 minor construction, principal and interest charges, and in6 surance premiums, as authorized by law, $325,995,000. 

7 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE

8 CORPS

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

12 authorized by law, $94,011,000, to remain available until 

13 September 30, 2021. 

14 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

15 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

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

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

20 law, $300,915,000. 

21 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

22 For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 

23 construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, 

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


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1 $61,352,000, to remain available until September 30, 

2 2021. 

3 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR

4 FORCE

5 For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 

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

8 and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, 

9 $274,429,000. 

10 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

11 DEFENSE-WIDE

12 For expenses of family housing for the activities and 

13 agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the 

14 military departments) for operation and maintenance, 

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

16 $59,157,000. 

17 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY HOUSING

18 IMPROVEMENT FUND

19 For the Department of Defense Family Housing Im20 provement Fund, $3,258,000, to remain available until ex21 pended, for family housing initiatives undertaken pursu22 ant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, pro23 viding alternative means of acquiring and improving mili24 tary family housing and supporting facilities. 


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1 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT

2 For deposit into the Department of Defense Base 

3 Closure Account, established by section 2906(a) of the De4 fense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 

5 U.S.C. 2687 note), $230,237,000, to remain available 

6 until expended. 

7 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

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

9 title shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a10 fixed-fee contract for construction, where cost estimates 

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

12 except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of 

13 the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons there14 for. 

15 SEC. 102. Funds made available in this title for con16 struction shall be available for hire of passenger motor ve17 hicles. 

18 SEC. 103. Funds made available in this title for con19 struction may be used for advances to the Federal High20 way Administration, Department of Transportation, for 

21 the construction of access roads as authorized by section 

22 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects author23 ized therein are certified as important to the national de24 fense by the Secretary of Defense. 


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

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

3 the United States for which specific appropriations have 

4 not been made. 

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

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

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

8 the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engi9 neering Command, except: (1) where there is a determina10 tion of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated 

11 by the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney 

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

13 $25,000; or (4) as otherwise determined by the Secretary 

14 of Defense to be in the public interest. 

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

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

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

18 except housing for which funds have been made available 

19 in annual Acts making appropriations for military con20 struction. 

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

22 title for minor construction may be used to transfer or 

23 relocate any activity from one base or installation to an24 other, without prior notification to the Committees on Ap25 propriations of both Houses of Congress. 


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

2 title may be used for the procurement of steel for any con3 struction project or activity for which American steel pro4 ducers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied 

5 the opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. 

6 SEC. 109. None of the funds available to the Depart7 ment of Defense for military construction or family hous8 ing during the current fiscal year may be used to pay real 

9 property taxes in any foreign nation. 

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

11 title may be used to initiate a new installation overseas 

12 without prior notification to the Committees on Appro13 priations of both Houses of Congress. 

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

15 title may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts 

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

17 projects to be accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlan18 tic Treaty Organization member country, or in countries 

19 bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are 

20 awarded to United States firms or United States firms 

21 in joint venture with host nation firms. 

22 SEC. 112. None of the funds made available in this 

23 title for military construction in the United States terri24 tories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein 

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


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1 used to award any contract estimated by the Government 

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

3 That this section shall not be applicable to contract 

4 awards for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid 

5 of a United States contractor exceeds the lowest respon6 sive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater 

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

8 not apply to contract awards for military construction on 

9 Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and re10 sponsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor. 

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

12 appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, in13 cluding the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and 

14 scope of any proposed military exercise involving United 

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

16 expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, 

17 are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 

18 SEC. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of 

19 Defense for construction in prior years shall be available 

20 for construction authorized for each such military depart21 ment by the authorizations enacted into law during the 

22 current session of Congress. 

23 SEC. 115. For military construction or family housing 

24 projects that are being completed with funds otherwise ex25 pired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may 


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1 be used to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspec2 tion, overhead, engineering and design on those projects 

3 and on subsequent claims, if any. 

4 SEC. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

5 law, any funds made available to a military department 

6 or defense agency for the construction of military projects 

7 may be obligated for a military construction project or 

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

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

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

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

12 obligated from funds available for military construction 

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

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

15 such project is increased pursuant to law. 

16 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

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

18 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic me19 dium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, 

20 United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations 

21 of both Houses of Congress, such additional amounts as 

22 may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be 

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

24 Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated 

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


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1 merged with and to be available for the same purposes 

2 and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated 

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

4 Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund 

5 from amounts appropriated for construction of military 

6 unaccompanied housing in ‘‘Military Construction’’ ac7 counts, to be merged with and to be available for the same 

8 purposes and for the same period of time as amounts ap9 propriated directly to the Fund: Provided, That appropria10 tions made available to the Funds shall be available to 

11 cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Con12 gressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan 

13 guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant 

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

15 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means 

16 of acquiring and improving military family housing, mili17 tary unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 

18 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

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

20 available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be 

21 transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure 

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

23 Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act 

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

25 with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 


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

2 be merged with and be available for the same purposes 

3 and for the same time period as the fund to which trans4 ferred. 

5 SEC. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

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

7 maintenance of family housing shall be the exclusive 

8 source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family 

9 housing units, including general or flag officer quarters: 

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

11 spent annually for the maintenance and repair of any gen12 eral or flag officer quarters without 30 days prior notifica13 tion, or 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic 

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

15 United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations 

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

17 notification shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded 

18 solely due to costs associated with environmental remedi19 ation that could not be reasonably anticipated at the time 

20 of the budget submission: Provided further, That the 

21 Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is to report an22 nually to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

23 Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance ex24 penditures for each individual general or flag officer quar25 ters for the prior fiscal year. 


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1 SEC. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Im2 provement Account established by subsection (h) of sec3 tion 2814 of title 10, United States Code, are appro4 priated and shall be available until expended for the pur5 poses specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until 

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

7 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

8 SEC. 121. During the 5-year period after appropria9 tions available in this Act to the Department of Defense 

10 for military construction and family housing operation and 

11 maintenance and construction have expired for obligation, 

12 upon a determination that such appropriations will not be 

13 necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making 

14 authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obliga15 tions incurred during the period of availability of such ap16 propriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations 

17 may be transferred into the appropriation ‘‘Foreign Cur18 rency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense’’, to be merged 

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

20 the same purposes as the appropriation to which trans21 ferred. 

22 SEC. 122. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), 

23 none of the funds made available in this Act may be used 

24 by the Secretary of the Army to relocate a unit in the 

25 Army that— 


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1 (1) performs a testing mission or function that 

2 is not performed by any other unit in the Army and 

3 is specifically stipulated in title 10, United States 

4 Code; and 

5 (2) is located at a military installation at which 

6 the total number of civilian employees of the Depart7 ment of the Army and Army contractor personnel 

8 employed exceeds 10 percent of the total number of 

9 members of the regular and reserve components of 

10 the Army assigned to the installation. 

11 (b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply if 

12 the Secretary of the Army certifies to the congressional 

13 defense committees that in proposing the relocation of the 

14 unit of the Army, the Secretary complied with Army Regu15 lation 5–10 relating to the policy, procedures, and respon16 sibilities for Army stationing actions. 

17 SEC. 123. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 

18 available in an account funded under the headings in this 

19 title may be transferred among projects and activities 

20 within the account in accordance with the reprogramming 

21 guidelines for military construction and family housing 

22 construction contained in Department of Defense Finan23 cial Management Regulation 7000.14–R, Volume 3, Chap24 ter 7, of March 2011, as in effect on the date of enactment 

25 of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 124. None of the funds made available in this 

2 title may be obligated or expended for planning and design 

3 and construction of projects at Arlington National Ceme4 tery. 

5 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

6 SEC. 125. Of the unobligated balances available for 

7 ‘‘Military Construction, Army’’, from prior appropriation 

8 Acts (other than appropriations designated by law as 

9 being for contingency operations directly related to the 

10 global war on terrorism or as an emergency requirement), 

11 $25,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

12 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

13 SEC. 126. Of the unobligated balances available for 

14 ‘‘Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps’’, from 

15 prior appropriation Acts (other than appropriations des16 ignated by law as being for contingency operations directly 

17 related to the global war on terrorism or as an emergency 

18 requirement), $51,848,000 are hereby rescinded. 

19 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

20 SEC. 127. Of the unobligated balances available for 

21 ‘‘Military Construction, Defense-Wide’’, from prior appro22 priation Acts (other than appropriations designated by law 

23 as being for contingency operations directly related to the 

24 global war on terrorism or as an emergency requirement), 

25 $37,377,000 are hereby rescinded. 


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1 SEC. 128. For an additional amount for ‘‘Military 

2 Construction, Army’’, $40,500,000, to remain available 

3 until September 30, 2021: Provided, That such funds may 

4 only be obligated to carry out construction projects, in pri5 ority order, identified in the Department of the Army’s 

6 Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2017 submitted 

7 by the Secretary of Defense to Congress: Provided further, 

8 That such funding is subject to authorization prior to obli9 gation and expenditure of funds: Provided further, That, 

10 not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, the 

11 Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on 

12 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure 

13 plan for funds provided under this section. 

14 SEC. 129. For an additional amount for ‘‘Military 

15 Construction, Navy and Marine Corps’’, $293,600,000, to 

16 remain available until September 30, 2021: Provided, 

17 That such funds may only be obligated to carry out con18 struction projects, in priority order, identified in the De19 partment of the Navy’s Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal 

20 Year 2017 submitted by the Secretary of Defense to Con21 gress: Provided further, That such funding is subject to 

22 authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds: 

23 Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after enact24 ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit 

25 to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 


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1 Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under 

2 this section. 

3 SEC. 130. For an additional amount for ‘‘Military 

4 Construction, Army National Guard’’, $67,500,000, to re5 main available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That 

6 such funds may only be obligated to carry out construction 

7 projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 

8 of the Army’s Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 

9 2017 submitted by the Secretary of Defense to Congress: 

10 Provided further, That such funding is subject to author11 ization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds: Pro12 vided further, That, not later than 30 days after enact13 ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit 

14 to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

15 Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under 

16 this section. 

17 SEC. 131. For an additional amount for ‘‘Military 

18 Construction, Army Reserve’’, $86,500,000, to remain 

19 available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That such 

20 funds may only be obligated to carry out construction 

21 projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 

22 of the Army’s Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 

23 2017 submitted by the Secretary of Defense to Congress: 

24 Provided further, That such funding is subject to author25 ization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds: ProVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 vided further, That, not later than 30 days after enact2 ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit 

3 to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

4 Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under 

5 this section. 

6 SEC. 132. For an additional amount for ‘‘Military 

7 Construction, Air Force’’, $26,000,000, to remain avail8 able until September 30, 2021: Provided, That such funds 

9 may only be obligated to carry out construction projects, 

10 in priority order, identified in the Department of the Air 

11 Force’s Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2017 sub12 mitted by the Secretary of Defense to Congress: Provided 

13 further, That such funding is subject to authorization 

14 prior to obligation and expenditure of funds: Provided fur15 ther, That not later than 30 days after enactment of this 

16 Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the 

17 Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

18 an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. 

19 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

20 SEC. 133. Of the unobligated balances made available 

21 in prior appropriation Acts for the fund established in sec22 tion 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropoli23 tan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) (other 

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1 rorism or as an emergency requirement), $25,000,000 are 

2 hereby rescinded. 

3 SEC. 134. For the purposes of this Act, the term 

4 ‘‘congressional defense committees’’ means the Commit5 tees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 

6 and the Senate, the Subcommittee on Military Construc7 tion and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropria8 tions of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Military 

9 Construction and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on 

10 Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 

11 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

12 SEC. 135. Of the unobligated balances available for 

13 ‘‘NATO Security Investment Program’’, from prior appro14 priations Acts (other than appropriations designated by 

15 law as being for contingency operations directly related to 

16 the global war on terrorism or as an emergency require17 ment), $30,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

18 SEC. 136. None of the funds made available by this 

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

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

21 Cuba. 


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1 TITLE II 

2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

3 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

4 COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

5 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

6 For the payment of compensation benefits to or on 

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

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

10 pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized 

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

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

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

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

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

21 $90,119,449,000, to remain available until expended and 

22 to become available on October 1, 2017: Provided, That 

23 not to exceed $17,224,000 of the amount made available 

24 for fiscal year 2018 under this heading shall be reim25 bursed to ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans BeneVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 fits Administration’’, and ‘‘Information Technology Sys2 tems’’ for necessary expenses in implementing the provi3 sions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States 

4 Code, the funding source for which is specifically provided 

5 as the ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’ appropriation: Pro6 vided further, That such sums as may be earned on an 

7 actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reimbursed to 

8 ‘‘Medical Care Collections Fund’’ to augment the funding 

9 of individual medical facilities for nursing home care pro10 vided to pensioners as authorized. 

11 READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

12 For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation 

13 benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chap14 ters 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 

15 61 of title 38, United States Code, $13,708,648,000, to 

16 remain available until expended and to become available 

17 on October 1, 2017: Provided, That expenses for rehabili18 tation program services and assistance which the Sec19 retary is authorized to provide under subsection (a) of sec20 tion 3104 of title 38, United States Code, other than 

21 under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that sub22 section, shall be charged to this account. 

23 VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

24 For military and naval insurance, national service life 

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1 erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as 

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

3 Code, $124,504,000, to remain available until expended, 

4 of which $107,899,000 shall become available on October 

5 1, 2017. 

6 VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND

7 For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such 

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

9 authorized by subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of 

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

11 including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as de12 fined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 

13 1974: Provided further, That, during fiscal year 2017, 

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

15 gross obligations for direct loans are authorized for spe16 cially adapted housing loans. 

17 In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 

18 the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $167,612,000. 

19 VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

20 For the cost of direct loans, $36,000, as authorized 

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

22 That such costs, including the cost of modifying such 

23 loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres24 sional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds 

25 made available under this heading are available to subVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 sidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 

2 loans not to exceed $2,517,000. 

3 In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 

4 carry out the direct loan program, $389,000, which may 

5 be paid to the appropriation for ‘‘General Operating Ex6 penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’. 

7 NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM

8 ACCOUNT

9 For administrative expenses to carry out the direct 

10 loan program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 

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

12 VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

13 MEDICAL SERVICES

14 For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized 

15 by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to 

16 beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 

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

18 States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not 

19 under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including 

20 medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, 

21 food services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare em22 ployees hired under title 38, United States Code, aid to 

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

24 United States Code, assistance and support services for 

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


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1 United States Code, loan repayments authorized by sec2 tion 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 

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

4 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), and hospital care and med5 ical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United 

6 States Code; $850,000,000, which shall be in addition to 

7 funds previously appropriated under this heading that be8 came available on October 1, 2016; and, in addition, 

9 $44,886,554,000, plus reimbursements, shall become 

10 available on October 1, 2017, and shall remain available 

11 until September 30, 2018: Provided, That, of the amount 

12 made available on October 1, 2017, under this heading, 

13 $1,400,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

14 2019: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other 

15 provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

16 establish a priority for the provision of medical treatment 

17 for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower 

18 income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, not19 withstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 

20 Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provi21 sion of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment 

22 priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That, not23 withstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 

24 Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescrip25 tion drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities 


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1 to enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions 

2 based on requirements established by the Secretary: Pro3 vided further, That the implementation of the program de4 scribed in the previous proviso shall incur no additional 

5 cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

6 MEDICAL COMMUNITY CARE

7 For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to 

8 individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United 

9 States Code, at non-Department facilities, 

10 $7,246,181,000, plus reimbursements, to be derived from 

11 amounts appropriated in title II of division J of Public 

12 Law 114–113 under the headings ‘‘Medical Services’’, 

13 ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, or ‘‘Medical Facili14 ties’’ which became available on October 1, 2016; and, in 

15 addition, $9,409,118,000 shall become available on Octo16 ber 1, 2017, and shall remain available until September 

17 30, 2018: Provided, That, of the amount made available 

18 on October 1, 2017, under this heading, $1,500,000,000 

19 shall remain available until September 30, 2019. 

20 MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE

21 For necessary expenses in the administration of the 

22 medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 

23 supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad24 ministrative expenses in support of capital policy activi25 ties; and administrative and legal expenses of the DepartVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 ment for collecting and recovering amounts owed the De2 partment as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, 

3 United States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recov4 ery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $6,654,480,000, plus 

5 reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 

6 2017, and shall remain available until September 30, 

7 2018: Provided, That, of the amount made available on 

8 October 1, 2017, under this heading, $100,000,000 shall 

9 remain available until September 30, 2019. 

10 MEDICAL FACILITIES

11 For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op12 eration of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, 

13 and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Ad14 ministration; for administrative expenses in support of 

15 planning, design, project management, real property ac16 quisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of 

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

18 Department; for oversight, engineering, and architectural 

19 activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, alter20 ing, improving, or providing facilities in the several hos21 pitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the Depart22 ment, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by 

23 the hire of temporary employees and purchase of mate24 rials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services, 

25 $5,434,880,000, plus reimbursements, shall become availVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 able on October 1, 2017, and shall remain available until 

2 September 30, 2018: Provided, That, of the amount made 

3 available on October 1, 2017, under this heading, 

4 $250,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

5 2019. 

6 MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

7 For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of 

8 medical and prosthetic research and development as au9 thorized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, 

10 $663,366,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain avail11 able until September 30, 2018. 

12 NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

13 For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Ad14 ministration for operations and maintenance, not other15 wise provided for, including uniforms or allowances there16 for; cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase 

17 of one passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial oper18 ations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alter19 ation or improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction 

20 of the National Cemetery Administration, $271,220,000, 

21 of which not to exceed $26,600,000 shall remain available 

22 until September 30, 2018. 


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1 DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

2 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

3 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

4 For necessary operating expenses of the Department 

5 of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including 

6 administrative expenses in support of Department-wide 

7 capital planning, management and policy activities, uni8 forms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for 

9 official reception and representation expenses; hire of pas10 senger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General 

11 Services Administration for security guard services, 

12 $336,659,000, of which not to exceed $10,000,000 shall 

13 remain available until September 30, 2018: Provided, 

14 That funds provided under this heading may be trans15 ferred to ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 

16 Administration’’. 

17 BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS

18 For necessary operating expenses of the Board of 

19 Veterans Appeals, $156,096,000, of which not to exceed 

20 $15,610,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

21 2018. 

22 GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS

23 ADMINISTRATION

24 For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans 

25 Benefits Administration, not otherwise provided for, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 cluding hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement 

2 of the General Services Administration for security guard 

3 services, and reimbursement of the Department of De4 fense for the cost of overseas employee mail, 

5 $2,826,160,000: Provided, That expenses for services and 

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

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

8 that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are nec9 essary to enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum ex10 tent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and 

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

12 independence in daily living, shall be charged to this ac13 count: Provided further, That, of the funds made available 

14 under this heading, not to exceed $141,000,000 shall re15 main available until September 30, 2018. 

16 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

17 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

18 For necessary expenses for information technology 

19 systems and telecommunications support, including devel20 opmental information systems and operational information 

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

22 asset acquisition of information technology systems, in23 cluding management and related contractual costs of said 

24 acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with 

25 operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United 


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1 States Code, $4,220,869,000, plus reimbursements: Pro2 vided, That $1,247,548,000 shall be for pay and associ3 ated costs, of which not to exceed $36,300,000 shall re4 main available until September 30, 2018: Provided further, 

5 That $2,502,052,000 shall be for operations and mainte6 nance, of which not to exceed $177,900,000 shall remain 

7 available until September 30, 2018: Provided further, That 

8 $471,269,000 shall be for information technology systems 

9 development, modernization, and enhancement, and shall 

10 remain available until September 30, 2018: Provided fur11 ther, That amounts made available for information tech12 nology systems development, modernization, and enhance13 ment may not be obligated or expended until the Secretary 

14 of Veterans Affairs or the Chief Information Officer of 

15 the Department of Veterans Affairs submits to the Com16 mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 

17 certification of the amounts, in parts or in full, to be obli18 gated and expended for each development project: Pro19 vided further, That amounts made available for salaries 

20 and expenses, operations and maintenance, and informa21 tion technology systems development, modernization, and 

22 enhancement may be transferred among the three sub23 accounts after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests 

24 from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 

25 of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an 


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1 approval is issued: Provided further, That amounts made 

2 available for the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ ac3 count for development, modernization, and enhancement 

4 may be transferred among projects or to newly defined 

5 projects: Provided further, That no project may be in6 creased or decreased by more than $1,000,000 of cost 

7 prior to submitting a request to the Committees on Appro8 priations of both Houses of Congress to make the transfer 

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

10 of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, That funds under 

11 this heading may be used by the Interagency Program Of12 fice through the Department of Veterans Affairs to define 

13 data standards, code sets, and value sets used to enable 

14 interoperability: Provided further, That of the amounts 

15 made available under this heading for operations and 

16 maintenance and information technology systems develop17 ment, modernization, and enhancement, not more than a 

18 total amount of $168,113,000 shall be available for VistA 

19 Evolution or any successor: Provided further, That none 

20 of the funds made available by the preceding proviso may 

21 be obligated or expended for such program or any suc22 cessor until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs: (1) certifies 

23 to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

24 Congress that the Department of Veterans Affairs has de25 ployed modernized electronic health record software supVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 porting clinicians of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

2 and the Department of Defense no later than December 

3 31, 2016, while ensuring continued support and compat4 ibility with the interoperability platform and full stand5 ards-based interoperability, as stipulated by the National 

6 Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2014 (Public 

7 Law 113–66); (2) submits to the Committees on Appro8 priations of both Houses of Congress the VistA Evolution 

9 Business Case and supporting documents regarding con10 tinuation of VistA Evolution or alternatives to VistA Evo11 lution, including an analysis of necessary or desired capa12 bilities, technical and security requirements, the plan for 

13 modernizing the platform framework, and all associated 

14 costs; and (3) submits to the Committees on Appropria15 tions of both Houses of Congress, and such Committees 

16 approve, the following: a report that describes a strategic 

17 plan for VistA Evolution, or any successor, and the associ18 ated implementation plan including metrics and timelines; 

19 a master schedule and lifecycle cost estimate for VistA 

20 Evolution or any successor; and an implementation plan 

21 for the transition from the Project Management Account22 ability System (PMAS) to the new project delivery frame23 work (the Veteran-focused Integration Process (VIP)) 

24 that includes the methodology by which projects will be 

25 tracked, progress measured, and deliverables evaluated: 


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1 Provided further, That the funds made available under this 

2 heading for information technology systems development, 

3 modernization, and enhancement, shall be for the projects, 

4 and in the amounts, specified under this heading in the 

5 report accompanying this Act. 

6 OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

7 For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector 

8 General, to include information technology, in carrying out 

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

10 U.S.C. App.), $160,106,000, of which not to exceed 

11 $14,800,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

12 2018. 

13 CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

14 For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 

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

16 jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 

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

18 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States 

19 Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning, ar20 chitectural and engineering services, construction manage21 ment services, maintenance or guarantee period services 

22 costs associated with equipment guarantees provided 

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

24 and storm drainage system construction costs, and site ac25 quisition, where the estimated cost of a project is more 


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

2 38, United States Code, or where funds for a project were 

3 made available in a previous major project appropriation, 

4 $528,110,000, of which $494,310,000 shall remain avail5 able until September 30, 2021, and of which $33,800,000 

6 shall remain available until expended: Provided, That ex7 cept for advance planning activities, including needs as8 sessments which may or may not lead to capital invest9 ments, and other capital asset management related activi10 ties, including portfolio development and management ac11 tivities, and investment strategy studies funded through 

12 the advance planning fund and the planning and design 

13 activities funded through the design fund, including needs 

14 assessments which may or may not lead to capital invest15 ments, and salaries and associated costs of the resident 

16 engineers who oversee those capital investments funded 

17 through this account and contracting officers who manage 

18 specific major construction projects, and funds provided 

19 for the purchase of land, security, and maintenance for 

20 the National Cemetery Administration through the land 

21 acquisition line item, none of the funds made available 

22 under this heading shall be used for any project which has 

23 not been approved by the Congress in the budgetary proc24 ess: Provided further, That funds made available under 

25 this heading for fiscal year 2017, for each approved 


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1 project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a con2 struction documents contract by September 30, 2017; and 

3 (2) by the awarding of a construction contract by Sep4 tember 30, 2018: Provided further, That the Secretary of 

5 Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit to the Committees 

6 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a written 

7 report on any approved major construction project for 

8 which obligations are not incurred within the time limita9 tions established above: Provided further, That, of the 

10 amount made available under this heading, $222,620,000 

11 for Veterans Health Administration major construction 

12 projects shall not be available until the Department of 

13 Veterans Affairs— 

14 (1) enters into an agreement with an appro15 priate non-Department of Veterans Affairs Federal 

16 entity to serve as the design and/or construction 

17 agent for any Veterans Health Administration major 

18 construction project with a Total Estimated Cost of 

19 $100,000,000 or above by providing full project 

20 management services, including management of the 

21 project design, acquisition, construction, and con22 tract changes, consistent with section 502 of Public 

23 Law 114–58; and 

24 (2) certifies in writing that such an agreement 

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1 sequent major construction project cost overruns 

2 and provides a copy of the agreement entered into 

3 and any required supplementary information to the 

4 Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

5 Congress. 

6 CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

7 For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 

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

9 jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 

10 Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs 

11 which may lead to capital investments, architectural and 

12 engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period 

13 services costs associated with equipment guarantees pro14 vided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite 

15 utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and 

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

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

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

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

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

21 United States Code, $372,069,000, to remain available 

22 until September 30, 2021, along with unobligated balances 

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

24 which are hereby made available for any project where the 

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


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1 in such section: Provided, That funds made available 

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

3 nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use 

4 of the Department which are necessary because of loss or 

5 damage caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; 

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

7 minimize further loss by such causes. 

8 GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE

9 FACILITIES

10 For grants to assist States to acquire or construct 

11 State nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to re12 model, modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, 

13 and domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing 

14 care to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 

15 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $80,000,000, to re16 main available until expended. 

17 GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES

18 For grants to assist States and tribal organizations 

19 in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans ceme20 teries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United 

21 States Code, $45,000,000, to remain available until ex22 pended. 


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1 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

2 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

3 SEC. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2017 for 

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

5 and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ may be trans6 ferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appro7 priations: Provided, That, before a transfer may take 

8 place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from 

9 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con10 gress the authority to make the transfer and such Com11 mittees issue an approval, or absent a response, a period 

12 of 30 days has elapsed. 

13 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

14 SEC. 202. Amounts made available for the Depart15 ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017, in this or 

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

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

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

19 among the accounts: Provided, That any transfers among 

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

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

22 or less of the total amount appropriated to the account 

23 in this or any other Act may take place subject to notifica24 tion from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Com25 mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of 


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

2 That any transfers among the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Med3 ical Community Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Support and Compli4 ance’’ accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the 

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

6 only after the Secretary requests from the Committees on 

7 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 

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

9 further, That any transfers to or from the ‘‘Medical Facili10 ties’’ account may take place only after the Secretary re11 quests from the Committees on Appropriations of both 

12 Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer 

13 and an approval is issued. 

14 SEC. 203. Appropriations available in this title for 

15 salaries and expenses shall be available for services au16 thorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; 

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

18 or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as author19 ized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United 

20 States Code. 

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

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

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

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

25 new hospital or home. 


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

2 available for hospitalization or examination of any persons 

3 (except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or ex4 amination under the laws providing such benefits to vet5 erans, and persons receiving such treatment under sec6 tions 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, 

7 or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

8 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reim9 bursement of the cost of such hospitalization or examina10 tion is made to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account at such 

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

12 SEC. 206. Appropriations available in this title for 

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

14 and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ shall be avail15 able for payment of prior year accrued obligations re16 quired to be recorded by law against the corresponding 

17 prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 

18 2016. 

19 SEC. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall 

20 be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding 

21 prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 

22 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States 

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

24 accounts they shall be payable only from ‘‘Compensation 

25 and Pensions’’. 


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1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

3 law, during fiscal year 2017, the Secretary of Veterans 

4 Affairs shall, from the National Service Life Insurance 

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

6 the Veterans’ Special Life Insurance Fund under section 

7 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United 

8 States Government Life Insurance Fund under section 

9 1955 of title 38, United States Code, reimburse the ‘‘Gen10 eral Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administra11 tion’’ and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ accounts for 

12 the cost of administration of the insurance programs fi13 nanced through those accounts: Provided, That reimburse14 ment shall be made only from the surplus earnings accu15 mulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 

16 2017 that are available for dividends in that program after 

17 claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves 

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

19 administration of such an insurance program exceeds the 

20 amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, 

21 reimbursement shall be made only to the extent of such 

22 surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Secretary 

23 shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 

24 2017 which is properly allocable to the provision of each 

25 such insurance program and to the provision of any total 


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1 disability income insurance included in that insurance pro2 gram. 

3 SEC. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use 

4 lease proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses in5 curred by that account during a prior fiscal year for pro6 viding enhanced-use lease services, may be obligated dur7 ing the fiscal year in which the proceeds are received. 

8 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

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

10 salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be 

11 available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Manage12 ment of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Of13 fice of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudica14 tion under section 319 of title 38, United States Code, 

15 for all services provided at rates which will recover actual 

16 costs but not to exceed $47,668,000 for the Office of Reso17 lution Management and $3,532,000 for the Office of Em18 ployment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication: Pro19 vided, That payments may be made in advance for services 

20 to be furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further, 

21 That amounts received shall be credited to the ‘‘General 

22 Administration’’ and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ 

23 accounts for use by the office that provided the service. 

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

25 Affairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home 


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1 care, or medical services provided to any person under 

2 chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-serv3 ice-connected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of 

4 such title, unless that person has disclosed to the Sec5 retary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary 

6 may require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement 

7 information for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Pro8 vided, That the Secretary may recover, in the same man9 ner as any other debt due the United States, the reason10 able charges for such care or services from any person who 

11 does not make such disclosure as required: Provided fur12 ther, That any amounts so recovered for care or services 

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

14 Secretary during the fiscal year in which amounts are re15 ceived. 

16 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

17 SEC. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

18 law, proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leas19 ing activities (including disposal) may be deposited into 

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

21 Minor Projects’’ accounts and be used for construction 

22 (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, 

23 and improvements of any medical facility under the juris24 diction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Af25 fairs. Such sums as realized are in addition to the amount 


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1 provided for in ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Con2 struction, Minor Projects’’. 

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

4 Services’’ are available— 

5 (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, sup6 plies, and equipment; and 

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

8 other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 

9 beneficiaries receiving care in the Department. 

10 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

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

12 Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 

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

14 ‘‘Medical Services’’ and ‘‘Medical Community Care’’ ac15 counts to remain available until expended for the purposes 

16 of these accounts. 

17 SEC. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

18 enter into agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organi19 zations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Com20 pact with the Indian Health Service, and Indian tribes and 

21 tribal organizations serving rural Alaska which have en22 tered into contracts with the Indian Health Service under 

23 the Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance 

24 Act, to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and 

25 dental care. The Secretary shall require participating vetVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 erans and facilities to comply with all appropriate rules 

2 and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The term 

3 ‘‘rural Alaska’’ shall mean those lands sited within the ex4 ternal boundaries of the Alaska Native regions specified 

5 in sections 7(a)(1)–(4) and (7)–(12) of the Alaska Native 

6 Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1606), and 

7 those lands within the Alaska Native regions specified in 

8 sections 7(a)(5) and 7(a)(6) of the Alaska Native Claims 

9 Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1606), which are 

10 not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchor11 age, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Kenai Penin12 sula Borough or the Matanuska Susitna Borough. 

13 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

14 SEC. 216. Such sums as may be deposited to the De15 partment of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursu16 ant to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may 

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

18 ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ accounts, to remain avail19 able until expended for the purposes of these accounts. 

20 SEC. 217. None of the funds made available in this 

21 title may be used to implement any policy prohibiting the 

22 Directors of the Veterans Integrated Services Networks 

23 from conducting outreach or marketing to enroll new vet24 erans within their respective Networks. 


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1 SEC. 218. Not later than 30 days after the end of 

2 each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

3 submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

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

5 Department of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: 

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

7 the direction contained in the explanatory statement de8 scribed in section 4 in the matter preceding division A of 

9 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, P. L. 114-113 

10 in title II of Division J of the consolidated Act in the para11 graph entitled ‘‘Quarterly Report’’, under the heading 

12 ‘‘General Administration’’. 

13 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

14 SEC. 219. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Med15 ical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Sup16 port and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Op17 erating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, 

18 ‘‘General Administration’’, and ‘‘National Cemetery Ad19 ministration’’ accounts for fiscal year 2017 may be trans20 ferred to or from the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ 

21 account: Provided, That such transfers may not result in 

22 a more than 10 percent aggregate increase in the total 

23 amount made available by this Act for the ‘‘Information 

24 Technology Systems’’ account: Provided further, That, be25 fore a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans 


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1 Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropria2 tions of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 

3 the transfer and an approval is issued. 

4 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

5 SEC. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the De6 partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017 for 

7 ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, 

8 ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’, and 

9 ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’, up to $274,731,000, 

10 plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint De11 partment of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 

12 Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by sec13 tion 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 

14 Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571) 

15 and may be used for operation of the facilities designated 

16 as combined Federal medical facilities as described by sec17 tion 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Author18 ization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 

19 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That additional funds may be 

20 transferred from accounts designated in this section to the 

21 Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Af22 fairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written 

23 notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the 

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1 gress: Provided further, That section 223 of title II of Di2 vision J of Public Law 114–113 is repealed. 

3 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

4 SEC. 221. Of the amounts appropriated to the De5 partment of Veterans Affairs which become available on 

6 October 1, 2017, for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Com7 munity Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and 

8 ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, up to $280,802,000, plus reimburse9 ments, may be transferred to the Joint Department of De10 fense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 

11 Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 

12 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

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

14 for operation of the facilities designated as combined Fed15 eral medical facilities as described by section 706 of the 

16 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 

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

18 Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from 

19 accounts designated in this section to the Joint Depart20 ment of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 

21 Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by 

22 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on 

23 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 


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1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 222. Such sums as may be deposited to the 

3 Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 

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

5 at facilities designated as combined Federal medical facili6 ties as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter 

7 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 

8 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be avail9 able: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of Defense10 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Dem11 onstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the Na12 tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

13 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for oper14 ations of the facilities designated as combined Federal 

15 medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Dun16 can Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

17 Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500). 

18 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

19 SEC. 223. Of the amounts available in this title for 

20 ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 

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

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

23 DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as au24 thorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States 


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

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

3 SEC. 224. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall no4 tify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

5 Congress of all bid savings in a major construction project 

6 that total at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the pro7 grammed amount of the project, whichever is less: Pro8 vided, That such notification shall occur within 14 days 

9 of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Pro10 vided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Commit11 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 

12 days prior to the obligation of such bid savings and shall 

13 describe the anticipated use of such savings. 

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

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

16 in excess of the scope specified for that project in the origi17 nal justification data provided to the Congress as part of 

18 the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Vet19 erans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on 

20 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

21 SEC. 226. Of the funds provided to the Department 

22 of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017 for ‘‘Medical Sup23 port and Compliance’’, a maximum of $40,000,000 may 

24 be obligated from the ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ 

25 account for the VistA Evolution and electronic health 


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1 record interoperability projects: Provided, That funds in 

2 addition to these amounts may be obligated for the VistA 

3 Evolution and electronic health record interoperability 

4 projects upon written notification by the Secretary of Vet5 erans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

6 Houses of Congress. 

7 SEC. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

8 provide written notification to the Committees on Appro9 priations of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to or10 ganizational changes which result in the transfer of 25 or 

11 more full-time equivalents from one organizational unit of 

12 the Department of Veterans Affairs to another. 

13 SEC. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

14 provide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appro15 priations of both Houses of Congress notification of any 

16 single national outreach and awareness marketing cam17 paign in which obligations exceed $2,000,000. 

18 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

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

20 determination that such action is necessary to address 

21 needs of the Veterans Health Administration, may trans22 fer to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account any discretionary 

23 appropriations made available for fiscal year 2017 in this 

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1 count) or any discretionary unobligated balances within 

2 the Department of Veterans Affairs, including those ap3 propriated for fiscal year 2017, that were provided in ad4 vance by appropriations Acts: Provided, That transfers 

5 shall be made only with the approval of the Office of Man6 agement and Budget: Provided further, That the transfer 

7 authority provided in this section is in addition to any 

8 other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, 

9 That no amounts may be transferred from amounts that 

10 were designated by Congress as an emergency requirement 

11 pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the 

12 Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 

13 1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer 

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

15 on emergent healthcare requirements, than those for 

16 which originally appropriated and in no case where the 

17 item for which funds are requested has been denied by 

18 Congress: Provided further, That, upon determination that 

19 all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation 

20 are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back 

21 to that appropriation and shall be available for the same 

22 purposes as originally appropriated: Provided further, 

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

24 Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on 


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1 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 

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

3 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

4 SEC. 230. Amounts made available for the Depart5 ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017, under the 

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

7 Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ accounts 

8 may be transferred between such accounts: Provided, That 

9 before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Vet10 erans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appro11 priations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 

12 make the transfer and receive approval from such Com13 mittees for such request. 

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

15 reprogram funds among major construction projects or 

16 programs if such instance of reprogramming will exceed 

17 $5,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by 

18 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con19 gress. 

20 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

21 SEC. 232. Of the unobligated balances available with22 in the ‘‘DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund’’, 

23 $30,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 


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1 (RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 233. Of the discretionary funds made available 

3 in Public Law 114-113 for the Department of Veterans 

4 Affairs for fiscal year 2017, $266,760,000 are rescinded 

5 from ‘‘Medical Services’’, $52,031,000 are rescinded from 

6 ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and $18,591,000 are 

7 rescinded from ‘‘Medical Facilities’’. 

8 SEC. 234. The amounts otherwise made available by 

9 this Act for the following accounts of the Department of 

10 Veterans Affairs are hereby reduced by the following 

11 amounts: 

12 (1) ‘‘Veterans Health Administration—Medical 

13 and Prosthetic Research’’, $4,004,000. 

14 (2) ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’, 

15 $1,464,000. 

16 (3) ‘‘Departmental Administration—General 

17 Administration’’, $1,250,000. 

18 (4) ‘‘Departmental Administration—Board of 

19 Veterans Appeals’’, $1,214,000. 

20 (5) ‘‘Departmental Administration—General 

21 Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administra22 tion’’, $24,849,000. 

23 (6) ‘‘Departmental Administration—Informa24 tion Technology Systems’’, $12,535,000. 


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1 (7) ‘‘Departmental Administration—Office of 

2 Inspector General’’, $1,302,000. 

3 SEC. 235. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall en4 sure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 

5 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code— 

6 (1) provides to individuals who contact the hot7 line immediate assistance from a trained profes8 sional; and 

9 (2) adheres to all requirements of the American 

10 Association of Suicidology. 

11 SEC. 236. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

12 treat a marriage and family therapist described in sub13 section (b) as qualified to serve as a marriage and family 

14 therapist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, regard15 less of any requirements established by the Commission 

16 on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Edu17 cation. 

18 (b) A marriage and family therapist described in this 

19 subsection is a therapist who meets each of the following 

20 criteria: 

21 (1) Has a masters or higher degree in marriage 

22 and family therapy, or a related field, from a region23 ally accredited program. 

24 (2) Is licensed as a marriage and family thera25 pist in a State (as defined in section 101(20) of title 


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1 38, United States Code) and possesses the highest 

2 level of licensure offered from the State. 

3 (3) Has passed the Association of Marital and 

4 Family Therapy Regulatory Board Examination in 

5 Marital and Family Therapy. 

6 SEC. 237. None of the funds made available by this 

7 Act may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 

8 pay a performance award under section 5384 of title 5, 

9 United States Code. 

10 SEC. 238. None of the funds made available by this 

11 Act may be used to end, suspend, or relocate hospital12 based services with respect to a health care facility of the 

13 Department of Veterans Affairs that is— 

14 (1) the subject of an environmental impact 

15 statement in accordance with the National Environ16 mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 

17 (2) designated as a National Historic Land18 mark by the National Park Service; and 

19 (3) located in a highly rural area. 

20 TITLE III 

21 RELATED AGENCIES 

22 AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

23 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

24 For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, 

25 of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including 


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1 the acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign coun2 tries; purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of 

3 national cemeteries and monuments outside of the United 

4 States and its territories and possessions; rent of office 

5 and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for6 one replacement basis only) and hire of passenger motor 

7 vehicles; not to exceed $7,500 for official reception and 

8 representation expenses; and insurance of official motor 

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

10 countries, $75,100,000, to remain available until ex11 pended. 

12 FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT

13 For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, 

14 of the American Battle Monuments Commission, such 

15 sums as may be necessary, to remain available until ex16 pended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 

17 36, United States Code. 

18 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS

19 CLAIMS

20 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

21 For necessary expenses for the operation of the 

22 United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as 

23 authorized by sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, 

24 United States Code, $30,945,000: Provided, That 

25 $2,500,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing 


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1 financial assistance as described, and in accordance with 

2 the process and reporting procedures set forth, under this 

3 heading in Public Law 102–229. 

4 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL

5 CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

6 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

7 For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, 

8 and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Sol9 diers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, including 

10 the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles for re11 placement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed 

12 $1,000 for official reception and representation expenses, 

13 $70,800,000, of which not to exceed $15,000,000 shall re14 main available until September 30, 2019. In addition, 

15 such sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, 

16 repairs and replacement, to be derived from the ‘‘Lease 

17 of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense 

18 Agencies’’ account. 

19 ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

20 TRUST FUND

21 For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retire22 ment Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces 

23 Retirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia, 

24 and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mis25 sissippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed 


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

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

3 for construction and renovation of the physical plants at 

4 the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, Dis5 trict of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement 

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

7 amounts made available under this heading from funds 

8 available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust 

9 Fund, $22,000,000 shall be paid from the general fund 

10 of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. 

11 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

12 SEC. 301. Funds appropriated in this Act under the 

13 heading ‘‘Department of Defense—Civil, Cemeterial Ex14 penses, Army’’, may be provided to Arlington County, Vir15 ginia, for the relocation of the federally owned water main 

16 at Arlington National Cemetery, making additional land 

17 available for ground burials. 

18 SEC. 302. Amounts deposited into the special account 

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

20 shall be available until expended to support activities at 

21 the Army National Military Cemeteries. 


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1 TITLE IV 

2 OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS 

3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

5 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

6 Army’’, $18,900,000, to remain available until September 

7 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States: Pro8 vided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 

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

12 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

13 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

14 Navy and Marine Corps’’, $59,809,000, to remain avail15 able until September 30, 2021, for projects outside of the 

16 United States: Provided, That such amount is designated 

17 by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/ 

18 Global War on Terrorism pursuant to section 

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

20 Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

21 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

22 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

23 Air Force’’ $88,291,000, to remain available until Sep24 tember 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States: 

25 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 


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1 for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter2 rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Bal3 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

5 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

6 Defense-Wide’’, $5,000,000, to remain available until Sep7 tember 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States: 

8 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 

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

12 TITLE V 

13 GENERAL PROVISIONS 

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

15 this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the 

16 current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. 

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

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

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

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

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

22 law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private 

23 property rights, or unfunded mandates. 

24 SEC. 503. All departments and agencies funded under 

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


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1 statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of 

2 ‘‘E-Commerce’’ technologies and procedures in the con3 duct of their business practices and public service activi4 ties. 

5 SEC. 504. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and no6 tifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the 

7 Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Af8 fairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appro9 priations of the House of Representatives and the Sub10 committee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, 

11 and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations 

12 of the Senate. 

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

14 Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or in15 strumentality of the United States Government except 

16 pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority pro17 vided in, this or any other appropriations Act. 

18 SEC. 506. None of the funds made available in this 

19 Act may be used for a project or program named for an 

20 individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident 

21 Commissioner of the United States House of Representa22 tives. 

23 SEC. 507. (a) Any agency receiving funds made avail24 able in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), 

25 post on the public Web site of that agency any report reVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:28 Apr 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.RH H4974

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1 quired to be submitted by the Congress in this or any 

2 other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agen3 cy that it shall serve the national interest. 

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

5 (1) the public posting of the report com6 promises national security; or 

7 (2) the report contains confidential or propri8 etary information. 

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

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

11 the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for 

12 no less than 45 days. 

13 SEC. 508. (a) None of the funds made available in 

14 this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer 

15 network unless such network blocks the viewing, 

16 downloading, and exchanging of pornography. 

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

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

19 enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out crimi20 nal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 

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

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

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

24 in contravention of sections 301–10.122 through 301– 

25 10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. 


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1 SEC. 510. None of the funds made available in this 

2 Act may be used to execute a contract for goods or serv3 ices, including construction services, where the contractor 

4 has not complied with Executive Order No. 12989. 

5 SEC. 511. None of the funds made available by this 

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

7 Department of Veterans Affairs to lease or purchase new 

8 light duty vehicles for any executive fleet, or for an agen9 cy’s fleet inventory, except in accordance with Presidential 

10 Memorandum—Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 

11 24, 2011. 

12 SEC. 512. (a) IN GENERAL.—None of the funds ap13 propriated or otherwise made available to the Department 

14 of Defense in this Act may be used to construct, renovate, 

15 or expand any facility in the United States, its territories, 

16 or possessions to house any individual detained at United 

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

18 purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or 

19 under the control of the Department of Defense. 

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

21 to any modification of facilities at United States Naval 

22 Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

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

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

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


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

2 member of the Armed Forces of the United States; 

3 and 

4 (2) is— 

5 (A) in the custody or under the effective 

6 control of the Department of Defense; or 

7 (B) otherwise under detention at United 

8 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

9 SEC. 513. Unobligated balances of amounts appro10 priated under title VI of the Departments of Labor, 

11 Health and Human Services, Education and Related 

12 Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division G of Public 

13 Law 113–235) and title IX of the Department of State, 

14 Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropria15 tions Act, 2015 (division J of Public Law 113–235) shall 

16 also be available for necessary expenses to prevent, pre17 pare for, and respond to Zika virus, domestically and 

18 internationally: Provided, That such amounts are des19 ignated by the Congress as an emergency requirement 

20 pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budg21 et and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, except that 

22 such amounts shall be available only if the President sub23 sequently so designates such amounts and transmits such 

24 designation to the Congress. 


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1 SPENDING REDUCTION ACCOUNT

2 SEC. 514. The amount by which the applicable alloca3 tion of new budget authority made by the Committee on 

4 Appropriations of the House of Representatives under sec5 tion 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ex6 ceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority is $0. 

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

8 and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations 

9 Act, 2017’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 379 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4974 

[Report No. 114–497] 

A BILL 

Making appropriations for military construction, 

2017, and for other purposes. agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 

APRIL 15, 2016 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


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