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[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2029 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

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                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                     November 10, 2015.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
2029) entitled ``An Act making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other 
purposes.'', do pass with the following

                               AMENDMENT:

            Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
      following:

That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                      Military Construction, Army

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 
temporary or permanent public works, military installations, 
facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by 
law, including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other 
personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and 
for construction and operation of facilities in support of the 
functions of the Commander in Chief, $663,245,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2020:  Provided, That, of this amount, not to 
exceed $109,245,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, 
architect and engineer services, and host nation support, as authorized 
by law, unless the Secretary of the Army determines that additional 
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and 
the reasons therefor.

              Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 
temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, facilities, 
and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps as currently authorized 
by law, including personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 
and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this 
appropriation, $1,619,699,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2020:  Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $91,649,000 shall 
be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer 
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy 
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.

                    Military Construction, Air Force

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 
temporary or permanent public works, military installations, 
facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized 
by law, $1,389,185,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:  
Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $89,164,000 shall be 
available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer 
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Air Force 
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.

                  Military Construction, Defense-Wide

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of 
temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and 
real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense 
(other than the military departments), as currently authorized by law, 
$2,290,767,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:  
Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation as may be determined 
by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such appropriations 
of the Department of Defense available for military construction or 
family housing as the Secretary may designate, to be merged with and to 
be available for the same purposes, and for the same time period, as 
the appropriation or fund to which transferred:  Provided further, 
That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed $160,404,000 shall be 
available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer 
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense 
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.

               Military Construction, Army National Guard

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 
Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by 
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction 
Authorization Acts, $197,237,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2020:  Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
$20,337,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the 
Director of the Army National Guard determines that additional 
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and 
the reasons therefor.

               Military Construction, Air National Guard

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air 
National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 
1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction 
Authorization Acts, $138,738,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2020:  Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
$5,104,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the 
Director of the Air National Guard determines that additional 
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and 
the reasons therefor.

                  Military Construction, Army Reserve

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 
Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States 
Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $113,595,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2020:  Provided, That, of the 
amount appropriated, not to exceed $9,318,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as 
authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve determines that 
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the 
determination and the reasons therefor.

                  Military Construction, Navy Reserve

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the 
reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by 
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction 
Authorization Acts, $36,078,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2020:  Provided, That, of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
$2,208,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and 
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the 
Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations are 
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the 
reasons therefor.

                Military Construction, Air Force Reserve

    For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and 
conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air 
Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States 
Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $65,021,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2020:  Provided, That, of the 
amount appropriated, not to exceed $13,400,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as 
authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force Reserve determines 
that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and 
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of 
the determination and the reasons therefor.

                   North Atlantic Treaty Organization

                      Security Investment Program

    For the United States share of the cost of the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for the acquisition and 
construction of military facilities and installations (including 
international military headquarters) and for related expenses for the 
collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by 
section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction 
Authorization Acts, $120,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                   Family Housing Construction, Army

    For expenses of family housing for the Army for construction, 
including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and 
alteration, as authorized by law, $99,695,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2020.

             Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army

    For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation and 
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, 
principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized 
by law, $393,511,000.

           Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

    For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for 
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, 
extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $16,541,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2020.

    Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps

    For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for 
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor 
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, 
as authorized by law, $353,036,000.

                 Family Housing Construction, Air Force

    For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for construction, 
including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and 
alteration, as authorized by law, $160,498,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2020.

          Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

    For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for operation and 
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, 
principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized 
by law, $331,232,000.

         Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide

    For expenses of family housing for the activities and agencies of 
the Department of Defense (other than the military departments) for 
operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor construction, as 
authorized by law, $58,668,000.

               Department of Defense Base Closure Account

    For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 
1990, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), $251,334,000, to remain 
available until expended.

                       Administrative Provisions

    Sec. 101.  None of the funds made available in this title shall be 
expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for 
construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed 
within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval 
in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons 
therefor.
    Sec. 102.  Funds made available in this title for construction 
shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehicles.
    Sec. 103.  Funds made available in this title for construction may 
be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department 
of Transportation, for the construction of access roads as authorized 
by section 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects 
authorized therein are certified as important to the national defense 
by the Secretary of Defense.
    Sec. 104.  None of the funds made available in this title may be 
used to begin construction of new bases in the United States for which 
specific appropriations have not been made.
    Sec. 105.  None of the funds made available in this title shall be 
used for purchase of land or land easements in excess of 100 percent of 
the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command, except: (1) where there is a 
determination of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by 
the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General; (3) where 
the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4) as otherwise 
determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public interest.
    Sec. 106.  None of the funds made available in this title shall be 
used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site preparation; or (3) 
install utilities for any family housing, except housing for which 
funds have been made available in annual Acts making appropriations for 
military construction.
    Sec. 107.  None of the funds made available in this title for minor 
construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one 
base or installation to another, without prior notification to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 108.  None of the funds made available in this title may be 
used for the procurement of steel for any construction project or 
activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and 
manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such 
steel procurement.
    Sec. 109.  None of the funds available to the Department of Defense 
for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal 
year may be used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation.
    Sec. 110.  None of the funds made available in this title may be 
used to initiate a new installation overseas without prior notification 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 111.  None of the funds made available in this title may be 
obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated by the 
Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in Japan, 
in any North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country, or in 
countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded 
to United States firms or United States firms in joint venture with 
host nation firms.
    Sec. 112.  None of the funds made available in this title for 
military construction in the United States territories and possessions 
in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the 
Arabian Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated by the 
Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor:  Provided, 
That this section shall not be applicable to contract awards for which 
the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a United States contractor 
exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign 
contractor by greater than 20 percent:  Provided further, That this 
section shall not apply to contract awards for military construction on 
Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid is 
submitted by a Marshallese contractor.
    Sec. 113.  The Secretary of Defense shall inform the appropriate 
committees of both Houses of Congress, including the Committees on 
Appropriations, of plans and scope of any proposed military exercise 
involving United States personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if 
amounts expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, are 
anticipated to exceed $100,000.
    Sec. 114.  Not more than 20 percent of the funds made available in 
this title which are limited for obligation during the current fiscal 
year shall be obligated during the last 2 months of the fiscal year.
    Sec. 115.  Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for 
construction in prior years shall be available for construction 
authorized for each such military department by the authorizations 
enacted into law during the current session of Congress.
    Sec. 116.  For military construction or family housing projects 
that are being completed with funds otherwise expired or lapsed for 
obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used to pay the cost of 
associated supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design on 
those projects and on subsequent claims, if any.
    Sec. 117.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds 
made available to a military department or defense agency for the 
construction of military projects may be obligated for a military 
construction project or contract, or for any portion of such a project 
or contract, at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after 
the fiscal year for which funds for such project were made available, 
if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from funds 
available for military construction projects; and (2) do not exceed the 
amount appropriated for such project, plus any amount by which the cost 
of such project is increased pursuant to law.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 118.  Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a 
notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480 
and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, such additional amounts as 
may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to: 
(1) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund from 
amounts appropriated for construction in ``Family Housing'' accounts, 
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the 
same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund; or 
(2) the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing 
Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction of military 
unaccompanied housing in ``Military Construction'' accounts, to be 
merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the same 
period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund:  Provided, 
That appropriations made available to the Funds shall be available to 
cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan guarantees issued by the 
Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV of 
chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative 
means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military 
unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 119.  In addition to any other transfer authority available to 
the Department of Defense, amounts may be transferred from the accounts 
established by sections 2906(a)(1) and 2906A(a)(1) of the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), to the fund 
established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and 
Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for 
expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred 
under 42 U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall be merged 
with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time 
period as the fund to which transferred.
    Sec. 120.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made 
available in this title for operation and maintenance of family housing 
shall be the exclusive source of funds for repair and maintenance of 
all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters:  
Provided, That not more than $35,000 per unit may be spent annually for 
the maintenance and repair of any general or flag officer quarters 
without 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a notification 
provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of 
title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress, except that an after-the-fact notification 
shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded solely due to costs 
associated with environmental remediation that could not be reasonably 
anticipated at the time of the budget submission:  Provided further,  
That the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is to report annually 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress all 
operation and maintenance expenditures for each individual general or 
flag officer quarters for the prior fiscal year.
    Sec. 121.  Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account 
established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of title 10, United 
States Code, are appropriated and shall be available until expended for 
the purposes specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until 
transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 122.  During the 5-year period after appropriations available 
in this Act to the Department of Defense for military construction and 
family housing operation and maintenance and construction have expired 
for obligation, upon a determination that such appropriations will not 
be necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making 
authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obligations incurred 
during the period of availability of such appropriations, unobligated 
balances of such appropriations may be transferred into the 
appropriation ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'', 
to be merged with and to be available for the same time period and for 
the same purposes as the appropriation to which transferred.
    Sec. 123.  Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in an 
account funded under the headings in this title may be transferred 
among projects and activities within the account in accordance with the 
reprogramming guidelines for military construction and family housing 
construction contained in Department of Defense Financial Management 
Regulation 7000.14-R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, of February 2009, as in 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
    Sec. 124.  None of the funds made available in this title may be 
obligated or expended for planning and design and construction of 
projects at Arlington National Cemetery.
    Sec. 125.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Army'', $34,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020:  
Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 
of the Army's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 submitted to 
Congress:  Provided further, That such funding is subject to 
authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out 
construction:  Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure 
plan for funds provided under this section.
    Sec. 126.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Navy and Marine Corps'', $34,320,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2020:  Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to 
carry out construction projects, in priority order, identified in the 
Department of the Navy's Unfunded Priority List for fiscal year 2016:  
Provided further, That such funding is subject to authorization prior 
to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out construction:  
Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds 
provided under this section.
    Sec. 127.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Army National Guard'', $51,300,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2020:  Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 
of the Army's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 submitted to 
Congress:  Provided further, That such funding is subject to 
authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out 
construction:  Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure 
plan for funds provided under this section.
    Sec. 128.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Army Reserve'', $34,200,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2020:  Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 
of the Army's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 submitted to 
Congress:  Provided further, That such funding is subject to 
authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out 
construction:  Provided further, That, not later than 30 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure 
plan for funds provided under this section.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 129.  Of the unobligated balances available from prior 
Appropriations Acts (other than appropriations that were designated by 
the Congress as an emergency requirement or as being for Overseas 
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to a concurrent 
resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985) the following funds are hereby rescinded from the 
following accounts and programs in the specified amounts:
    ``Military Construction, Army'', $45,000,000;
    ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $46,400,000; and
    ``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', $80,500,000.

                         (rescission of funds)

    Sec. 130.  Of the unobligated balances made available in prior 
appropriations Acts for the fund established in section 1013(d) of the 
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 3374), $65,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
    Sec. 131.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the 
funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act 
may be used to consolidate or relocate any element of a United States 
Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron 
Engineer (RED HORSE) outside of the United States until the Secretary 
of the Air Force (1) completes an analysis and comparison of the cost 
and infrastructure investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED 
HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within the United 
States; (2) provides to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress (``the Committees'') a report detailing the findings of the 
cost analysis; and (3) certifies in writing to the Committees that the 
preferred site for the consolidation or relocation yields the greatest 
savings for the Air Force:  Provided, That the term ``United States'' 
in this section does not include any territory or possession of the 
United States.
    Sec. 132.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Air Force'', $21,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020: 
 Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 
of the Air Force's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 
submitted to Congress:  Provided further, That such funding is subject 
to authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry 
out construction:  Provided further, That not later than 30 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an 
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
    Sec. 133.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Air National Guard'', $6,100,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2020:  Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 
of the Air Force's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 
submitted to Congress:  Provided further, That such funding is subject 
to authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry 
out construction:  Provided further, That not later than 30 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an 
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
    Sec. 134.  For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, 
Air Force Reserve'', $10,400,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2020:  Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out 
construction projects, in priority order, identified in the Department 
of the Air Force's Unfunded Priority List for Fiscal Year 2016 
submitted to Congress:  Provided further, That such funding is subject 
to authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry 
out construction:  Provided further, That not later than 30 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an 
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.

                                TITLE II

                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                    Veterans Benefits Administration

                       compensation and pensions

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of 
veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as authorized 
by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, 
United States Code; pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as 
authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United 
States Code; and burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program 
for Survivors, emergency and other officers' retirement pay, adjusted-
service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due on commercial 
life insurance policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV of 
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et seq.) and 
for other benefits as authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, 
and chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code, 
$166,271,436,000, to remain available until expended, of which 
$87,146,761,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016:  Provided, 
That not to exceed $15,562,000 of the amount appropriated for fiscal 
year 2016 and $16,021,000 of the amount made available for fiscal year 
2017 under this heading shall be reimbursed to ``General Operating 
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', and ``Information 
Technology Systems'' for necessary expenses in implementing the 
provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States Code, 
the funding source for which is specifically provided as the 
``Compensation and Pensions'' appropriation:  Provided further, That 
such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall 
be reimbursed to ``Medical Care Collections Fund'' to augment the 
funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home care provided 
to pensioners as authorized.

                         readjustment benefits

    For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits to or 
on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 
36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code, 
$32,088,826,000, to remain available until expended, of which 
$16,743,904,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016:  Provided, 
That expenses for rehabilitation program services and assistance which 
the Secretary is authorized to provide under subsection (a) of section 
3104 of title 38, United States Code, other than under paragraphs (1), 
(2), (5), and (11) of that subsection, shall be charged to this 
account.

                   veterans insurance and indemnities

    For military and naval insurance, national service life insurance, 
servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans insurance, and 
veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by chapters 19 and 21, 
title 38, United States Code, $169,080,000, to remain available until 
expended, of which $91,920,000 shall become available on October 1, 
2016.

                 veterans housing benefit program fund

    For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by subchapters I 
through III of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code:  Provided, 
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be 
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:  
Provided further, That, during fiscal year 2016, within the resources 
available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans 
are authorized for specially adapted housing loans.
    In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct 
and guaranteed loan programs, $164,558,000.

            vocational rehabilitation loans program account

    For the cost of direct loans, $31,000, as authorized by chapter 31 
of title 38, United States Code:  Provided, That such costs, including 
the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:  Provided further, That funds 
made available under this heading are available to subsidize gross 
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed 
$2,952,381.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the 
direct loan program, $367,000, which may be paid to the appropriation 
for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''.

          native american veteran housing loan program account

    For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan program 
authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States 
Code, $1,134,000.

                     Veterans Health Administration

                            medical services

    For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by law, 
inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in section 
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and treatment 
in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and 
including medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food 
services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees hired under 
title 38, United States Code, aid to State homes as authorized by 
section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, assistance and support 
services for caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38, 
United States Code, loan repayments authorized by section 604 of the 
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 
111-163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), and hospital care and 
medical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States 
Code; $3,104,197,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously 
appropriated under this heading that become available on October 1, 
2015; and, in addition, $51,673,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall 
become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available until 
September 30, 2017:  Provided, That, of the amount made available on 
October 1, 2016, under this heading, $1,400,000,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2018:  Provided further, That, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a priority for the provision of medical 
treatment for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower 
income, or have special needs:  Provided further, That, notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
give priority funding for the provision of basic medical benefits to 
veterans in enrollment priority groups 1 through 6:  Provided further, 
That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs 
from Veterans Health Administration facilities to enrolled veterans 
with privately written prescriptions based on requirements established 
by the Secretary:  Provided further, That the implementation of the 
program described in the previous proviso shall incur no additional 
cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs:  Provided further, That, of 
the amount made available on October 1, 2016, under this heading, not 
less than $900,000,000 shall be available for highly effective 
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) clinical treatments including clinical 
treatments with modern medications that have significantly higher cure 
rates than older medications, are easier to prescribe, and have fewer 
and milder side effects:  Provided further, That the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall ensure that amounts appropriated to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for medical supplies and equipment are 
allocated to ensure the provision of gender appropriate prosthetics.

                     medical support and compliance

    For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical, 
hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research 
activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in support of 
capital policy activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the 
Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as 
authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the 
Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), 
$6,524,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become available on October 
1, 2016, and shall remain available until September 30, 2017:  
Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2016, under 
this heading, $100,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2018.

                           medical facilities

    For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of 
hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other necessary 
facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for administrative 
expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real 
property acquisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of 
any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; 
for oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not charged to 
project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, or providing 
facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of 
the Department, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by 
the hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases 
of facilities; and for laundry services, $5,074,000,000, plus 
reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2016, and shall 
remain available until September 30, 2017:  Provided, That, of the 
amount made available on October 1, 2016, under this heading, 
$250,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2018.

                    medical and prosthetic research

    For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical and 
prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter 73 of 
title 38, United States Code, $621,813,000, plus reimbursements, shall 
remain available until September 30, 2017:  Provided, That such sums 
are allocated to ensure the provision of gender appropriate prosthetics 
and to conduct research related to toxic exposure.

                    National Cemetery Administration

    For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Administration for 
operations and maintenance, not otherwise provided for, including 
uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as authorized by 
law; purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial 
operations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or 
improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the National 
Cemetery Administration, $266,220,000, of which not to exceed 
$26,600,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017.

                      Departmental Administration

                         general administration

                     (including transfer of funds)

    For necessary operating expenses of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including administrative expenses 
in support of Department-Wide capital planning, management and policy 
activities, uniforms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for 
official reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger motor 
vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services Administration for 
security guard services, $311,591,000, of which not to exceed 
$10,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017:  Provided, 
That funds provided under this heading may be transferred to ``General 
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''.

                       board of veterans appeals

    For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans Appeals, 
$107,884,000, of which not to exceed $10,788,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2017.

      general operating expenses, veterans benefits administration

    For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of passenger 
motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General Services Administration 
for security guard services, and reimbursement of the Department of 
Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, $2,697,734,000:  
Provided, That expenses for services and assistance authorized under 
paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 3104(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines 
are necessary to enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum extent 
feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable 
employment; or (2) to achieve maximum independence in daily living, 
shall be charged to this account:  Provided further, That, of the funds 
made available under this heading, not to exceed $160,000,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2017.

                     information technology systems

    For necessary expenses for information technology systems and 
telecommunications support, including developmental information systems 
and operational information systems; for pay and associated costs; and 
for the capital asset acquisition of information technology systems, 
including management and related contractual costs of said 
acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with operations 
authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
$4,106,363,000, plus reimbursements:  Provided, That $1,115,757,000 
shall be for pay and associated costs, of which not to exceed 
$34,800,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017:  Provided 
further, That $2,512,863,000 shall be for operations and maintenance, 
of which not to exceed $175,000,000 shall remain available until 
September 30, 2017:  Provided further, That $477,743,000 shall be for 
information technology systems development, modernization, and 
enhancement, and shall remain available until September 30, 2017:  
Provided further, That amounts made available for information 
technology systems development, modernization, and enhancement may not 
be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the 
Chief Information Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs submits 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 
certification of the amounts, in parts or in full, to be obligated and 
expended for each development project:  Provided further, That amounts 
made available for salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, 
and information technology systems development, modernization, and 
enhancement may be transferred among the three subaccounts after the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the 
transfer and an approval is issued:  Provided further, That amounts 
made available for the ``Information Technology Systems'' account for 
development, modernization, and enhancement may be transferred among 
projects or to newly defined projects:  Provided further, That no 
project may be increased or decreased by more than $1,000,000 of cost 
prior to submitting a request to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress to make the transfer and an approval is issued, 
or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed:  Provided 
further, That funds under this heading may be used by the Interagency 
Program Office through the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a 
standard data reference terminology model:  Provided further, That, of 
the funds made available for information technology systems 
development, modernization, and enhancement for VistA Evolution, not 
more than 25 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress, and such Committees approve, a report that 
describes: (1) the status of and changes to the VistA Evolution program 
plan dated March 24, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the ``Plan''), 
the VistA 4 product roadmap dated February 26, 2015 (``Roadmap''), and 
the VistA 4 Incremental Life Cycle Cost Estimate, dated October 26, 
2014; (2) any changes to the scope or functionality of projects within 
the VistA Evolution program as established in the Plan; (3) actual 
program costs incurred to date; (4) progress in meeting the schedule 
milestones that have been established in the Plan; (5) a Project 
Management Accountability System (PMAS) Dashboard Progress report that 
identifies each VistA Evolution project being tracked through PMAS, 
what functionality it is intended to provide, and what evaluation 
scores it has received throughout development; (6) the definition being 
used for interoperability between the electronic health record systems 
of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
the metrics to measure the extent of interoperability, the milestones 
and timeline associated with achieving interoperability, and the 
baseline measurements associated with interoperability; (7) progress 
toward developing and implementing all components and levels of 
interoperability, including semantic interoperability; (8) the change 
management tools in place to facilitate the implementation of VistA 
Evolution and interoperability; and (9) any changes to the governance 
structure for the VistA Evolution program and its chain of 
decisionmaking authority:  Provided further, That the funds made 
available under this heading for information technology systems 
development, modernization, and enhancement, shall be for the projects, 
and in the amounts, specified under this heading in the report 
accompanying this Act.

                      office of inspector general

    For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, to 
include information technology, in carrying out the provisions of the 
Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), $126,766,000, of which 
$12,676,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017.

                      construction, major projects

    For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the 
facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction or for 
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the 
purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 
38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning, 
architectural and engineering services, construction management 
services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated 
with equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of 
claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction 
costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is 
more than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, 
United States Code, or where funds for a project were made available in 
a previous major project appropriation, $1,027,064,000, of which 
$967,064,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020, and of 
which $60,000,000 shall remain available until expended:  Provided, 
That except for advance planning activities, including needs 
assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other 
capital asset management related activities, including portfolio 
development and management activities, and investment strategy studies 
funded through the advance planning fund and the planning and design 
activities funded through the design fund, including needs assessments 
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and salaries and 
associated costs of the resident engineers who oversee those capital 
investments funded through this account, and funds provided for the 
purchase of land for the National Cemetery Administration through the 
land acquisition line item, none of the funds made available under this 
heading shall be used for any project which has not been approved by 
the Congress in the budgetary process:  Provided further, That funds 
made available under this heading for fiscal year 2016, for each 
approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a 
construction documents contract by September 30, 2016; and (2) by the 
awarding of a construction contract by September 30, 2017:  Provided 
further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 
written report on any approved major construction project for which 
obligations are not incurred within the time limitations established 
above:  Provided further, That, of the amount made available on October 
1, 2016, under this heading, $490,700,000 for Veterans Health 
Administration major construction projects shall not be available until 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
            (1) Enters into an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of 
        Engineers, to serve as the design and construction agent for 
        Veterans Health Administration projects with a Total Estimated 
        Cost of $250,000,000 or above.
            (2) That such an agreement will designate the U.S. Army 
        Corps of Engineers as the design and construction agent to 
        serve as--
                    (A) the overall construction project manager, with 
                a dedicated project delivery team including engineers, 
                medical facility designers, and professional project 
                managers;
                    (B) the facility design manager, with a dedicated 
                design manager and technical support;
                    (C) the design agent, with standardized and 
                rigorous facility designs;
                    (D) the architect/engineer designer; and
                    (E) the overall construction agent, with a 
                dedicated construction and technical team during pre-
                construction, construction, and commissioning phases.
            (3) Certifies in writing that such an agreement is in 
        effect and will prevent subsequent major construction project 
        cost overruns, provides a copy of the agreement entered into 
        (and any required supplementary information) to the Committees 
        on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, and a period of 
        60 days has elapsed.

                      construction, minor projects

    For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the 
facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction or for 
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including planning and 
assessments of needs which may lead to capital investments, 
architectural and engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period 
services costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under the 
project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm 
drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, or for any of 
the purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of 
title 38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, where the 
estimated cost of a project is equal to or less than the amount set 
forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, 
$378,080,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, along with 
unobligated balances of previous ``Construction, Minor Projects'' 
appropriations which are hereby made available for any project where 
the estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth in 
such section:  Provided, That funds made available under this heading 
shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department which are necessary 
because of loss or damage caused by any natural disaster or 
catastrophe; and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to 
minimize further loss by such causes.

       grants for construction of state extended care facilities

    For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State nursing 
home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel, modify, or alter 
existing hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary facilities in State 
homes, for furnishing care to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 
through 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $100,000,000, to remain 
available until expended.

             grants for construction of veterans cemeteries

    For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in 
establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as authorized 
by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, $46,000,000, to remain 
available until expended.

                       Administrative Provisions

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 201.  Any appropriation for fiscal year 2016 for 
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and 
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' may be transferred as necessary 
to any other of the mentioned appropriations:  Provided, That, before a 
transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress the authority to make the transfer and such Committees issue 
an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 202.  Amounts made available for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for fiscal year 2016, in this Act or any other Act, under the 
``Medical Services'', ``Medical support and compliance'', and ``Medical 
Facilities'' accounts may be transferred among the accounts:  Provided, 
That any transfers between the ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical 
Support and Compliance'' accounts of 1 percent or less of the total 
amount appropriated to the account in this or any other Act may take 
place subject to notification from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the 
amount and purpose of the transfer:  Provided further, That any 
transfers between the ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical Support and 
Compliance'' accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the 
cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may take place only after the 
Secretary requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is 
issued:  Provided further, That any transfers to or from the ``Medical 
Facilities'' account may take place only after the Secretary requests 
from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the 
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
    Sec. 203.  Appropriations available in this title for salaries and 
expenses shall be available for services authorized by section 3109 of 
title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of 
a facility or land or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as 
authorized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    Sec. 204.  No appropriations in this title (except the 
appropriations for ``Construction, Major Projects'', and 
``Construction, Minor Projects'') shall be available for the purchase 
of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home.
    Sec. 205.  No appropriations in this title shall be available for 
hospitalization or examination of any persons (except beneficiaries 
entitled to such hospitalization or examination under the laws 
providing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving such 
treatment under sections 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States 
Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of the 
cost of such hospitalization or examination is made to the ``Medical 
Services'' account at such rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs.
    Sec. 206.  Appropriations available in this title for 
``Compensation and pensions'', ``Readjustment benefits'', and 
``Veterans insurance and indemnities'' shall be available for payment 
of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded by law 
against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter 
of fiscal year 2015.
    Sec. 207.  Appropriations available in this title shall be 
available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior year 
appropriations accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 3334, and 
3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, except that if such 
obligations are from trust fund accounts they shall be payable only 
from ``Compensation and Pensions''.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 208.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 
fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from the 
National Service Life Insurance Fund under section 1920 of title 38, 
United States Code, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund under 
section 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United States 
Government Life Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United 
States Code, reimburse the ``General operating expenses, Veterans 
Benefits Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems'' 
accounts for the cost of administration of the insurance programs 
financed through those accounts:  Provided, That reimbursement shall be 
made only from the surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance 
program during fiscal year 2016 that are available for dividends in 
that program after claims have been paid and actuarially determined 
reserves have been set aside:  Provided further, That, if the cost of 
administration of such an insurance program exceeds the amount of 
surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement shall be 
made only to the extent of such surplus earnings:  Provided further, 
That the Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for 
fiscal year 2016 which is properly allocable to the provision of each 
such insurance program and to the provision of any total disability 
income insurance included in that insurance program.
    Sec. 209.  Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds to 
reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account during a 
prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services, may be 
obligated during the fiscal year in which the proceeds are received.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 210.  Funds available in this title or funds for salaries and 
other administrative expenses shall also be available to reimburse the 
Office of Resolution Management of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication 
under section 319 of title 38, United States Code, for all services 
provided at rates which will recover actual costs but not to exceed 
$43,700,000 for the Office of Resolution Management and $3,400,000 for 
the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication:  
Provided, That payments may be made in advance for services to be 
furnished based on estimated costs:  Provided further, That amounts 
received shall be credited to the ``General Administration'' and 
``Information Technology Systems'' accounts for use by the office that 
provided the service.

                          (transfer of funds)

    Sec. 211.  Of the amounts made available to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for the Office of Rural Health 
under the heading ``Medical Services'', including any advance 
appropriation for fiscal year 2016 provided in prior appropriation 
Acts, up to $20,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with funds 
appropriated under the heading ``Grants for Construction of State 
Extended Care Facilities''.
    Sec. 212.  No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be 
available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services 
provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in section 
1729(a)(2) of such title, unless that person has disclosed to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may 
require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement information for 
purposes of section 1729 of such title:  Provided, That the Secretary 
may recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the United 
States, the reasonable charges for such care or services from any 
person who does not make such disclosure as required:  Provided 
further, That any amounts so recovered for care or services provided in 
a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal 
year in which amounts are received.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 213.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceeds or 
revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activities (including 
disposal) may be deposited into the ``Construction, Major Projects'' 
and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts and be used for 
construction (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, 
and improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for 
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums as realized 
are in addition to the amount provided for in ``Construction, Major 
Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects''.
    Sec. 214.  Amounts made available under ``Medical Services'' are 
available--
            (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and 
        equipment; and
            (2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other 
        expenses incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries 
        receiving care in the Department.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 215.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical Care 
Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States 
Code, may be transferred to ``Medical Services'', to remain available 
until expended for the purposes of that account:  Provided, That, for 
fiscal year 2016, up to $27,000,000 deposited in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund shall be transferred to 
``Information Technology Systems'', to remain available until expended, 
for development of the Medical Care Collections Fund electronic data 
exchange provider and payer system.
    Sec. 216.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 
agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party 
to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service, and 
Indian tribes and tribal organizations serving rural Alaska which have 
entered into contracts with the Indian Health Service under the Indian 
Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act, to provide 
healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care. The Secretary 
shall require participating veterans and facilities to comply with all 
appropriate rules and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The 
term ``rural Alaska'' shall mean those lands sited within the external 
boundaries of the Alaska Native regions specified in sections 7(a)(1)-
(4) and (7)-(12) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1606), and those lands within the Alaska Native regions 
specified in sections 7(a)(5) and 7(a)(6) of the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1606), which are not within the 
boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage, the Fairbanks North Star 
Borough, the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the Matanuska Susitna Borough.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 217.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 of title 
38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Construction, Major 
Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts, to remain 
available until expended for the purposes of these accounts.
    Sec. 218.  None of the funds made available in this title may be 
used to implement any policy prohibiting the Directors of the Veterans 
Integrated Services Networks from conducting outreach or marketing to 
enroll new veterans within their respective Networks.
    Sec. 219.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly 
report on the financial status of the Veterans Health Administration.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 220.  Amounts made available under the ``Medical Services'', 
``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``General 
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', ``General 
Administration'', and ``National Cemetery Administration'' accounts for 
fiscal year 2016 may be transferred to or from the ``Information 
Technology Systems'' account:  Provided, That, before a transfer may 
take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 
to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
    Sec. 221.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act or any other Act for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs may be used in a manner that is inconsistent with: (1) section 
842 of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the 
Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-115; 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) 
section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code.
    Sec. 222.  Of the amounts made available to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016, in this Act or any other Act, 
under the ``Medical Facilities'' account for nonrecurring maintenance, 
not more than 20 percent of the funds made available shall be obligated 
during the last 2 months of that fiscal year:  Provided, That the 
Secretary may waive this requirement after providing written notice to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 223.  Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for ``Medical Services'', 
``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', 
``Construction, Minor Projects'', and ``Information Technology 
Systems'', up to $266,303,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred 
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 
111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of the facilities 
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by 
section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500):  Provided, That 
additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this 
section to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans 
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress:  Provided further, That 
section 223 of Title II of Division I of Public Law 113-235 is 
repealed.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 224.  Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2016, for 
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical 
Facilities'', up to $265,675,000, plus reimbursements, may be 
transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans 
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 
(Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of 
the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as 
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 
4500):  Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from 
accounts designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense-
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon 
written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                     (including transfer of funds)

    Sec. 225.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical Care 
Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States 
Code, for healthcare provided at facilities designated as combined 
Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan 
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public 
Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for transfer 
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 
111-84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for operations of the facilities 
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by 
section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500).

                          (transfer of funds)

    Sec. 226.  Of the amounts available in this title for ``Medical 
Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical 
Facilities'', a minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD-
VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d) 
of title 38, United States Code, to remain available until expended, 
for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States 
Code.

                    (including rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 227. (a) Of the funds appropriated in division I of Public Law 
113-235, the following amounts which become available on October 1, 
2015, are hereby rescinded from the following accounts in the amounts 
specified:
            (1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services'', 
        $1,400,000,000.
            (2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Support and 
        Compliance'', $150,000,000.
            (3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Facilities'', 
        $250,000,000.
    (b) In addition to amounts provided elsewhere in this Act, an 
additional amount is appropriated to the following accounts in the 
amounts specified to remain available until September 30, 2017:
            (1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services'', 
        $1,400,000,000.
            (2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Support and 
        Compliance'', $100,000,000.
            (3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Facilities'', 
        $250,000,000.
    Sec. 228.  The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of all bid savings in major construction projects that total 
at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of the 
project, whichever is less:  Provided, That such notification shall 
occur within 14 days of a contract identifying the programmed amount:  
Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to the 
obligation of such bid savings and shall describe the anticipated use 
of such savings.
    Sec. 229.  The scope of work for a project included in 
``Construction, Major Projects'' may not be increased above the scope 
specified for that project in the original justification data provided 
to the Congress as part of the request for appropriations.
    Sec. 230.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly 
report that contains the following information from each Veterans 
Benefits Administration Regional Office: (1) the average time to 
complete a disability compensation claim; (2) the number of claims 
pending more than 125 days; (3) error rates; (4) the number of claims 
personnel; (5) any corrective action taken within the quarter to 
address poor performance; (6) training programs undertaken; and (7) the 
number and results of Quality Review Team audits:  Provided, That each 
quarterly report shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the end 
of the respective quarter.
    Sec. 231.  Of the funds provided to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for fiscal year 2016 for ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical 
Support and Compliance'', a maximum of $5,000,000 may be obligated from 
the ``Medical Services'' account and a maximum of $154,596,000 may be 
obligated from the ``Medical Support and Compliance'' account for the 
VistA Evolution and electronic health record interoperability projects: 
 Provided, That funds in addition to these amounts may be obligated for 
the VistA Evolution and electronic health record interoperability 
projects upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 232.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide written 
notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes which result in the 
transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalents from one organizational 
unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs to another.
    Sec. 233.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide on a 
quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress notification of any single national outreach and awareness 
marketing campaign in which obligations exceed $2,000,000.
    Sec. 234.  Not more than $4,400,000 of the funds provided in this 
Act under the heading ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental 
Administration--General Administration'' may be used for the Office of 
Congressional and Legislative Affairs.
    Sec. 235.  None of the funds available to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may be used to replace the 
current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Networks select 
and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 236.  Of the discretionary funds made available in title II of 
division I of Public Law 113-235 for the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for fiscal year 2016, $198,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical 
Services'', $42,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical Support and 
Compliance'', and $15,000,000 are rescinded from ``Medical 
Facilities''.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 237. (a) There is hereby rescinded an aggregate amount of 
$55,000,000 from the total budget authority provided for fiscal year 
2016 for discretionary accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
in--
            (1) this Act; or
            (2) any advance appropriation for fiscal year 2016 in prior 
        appropriation Acts.
    (b) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress a report specifying the account and amount 
of each rescission not later than 30 days following enactment of this 
Act.

                         (rescission of funds)

    Sec. 238.  Of the unobligated balances available within the ``DOD-
VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund'', $50,000,000 are hereby 
rescinded.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 239.  Of the discretionary funds made available in title II of 
division I of Public Law 113-235 for the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for fiscal year 2015, $1,052,000 are rescinded from ``General 
Administration'', and $5,000,000 are rescinded from ``Construction, 
Minor Projects''.

                         (rescissions of funds)

    Sec. 240. (a) There is hereby rescinded an aggregate amount of 
$90,293,000 from prior year unobligated balances available within 
discretionary accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
    (b) No funds may be rescinded from amounts provided under the 
following headings:
            (1) ``Medical Services'';
            (2) ``Medical and Prosthetic Research'';
            (3) ``National Cemetery Administration'';
            (4) ``Board of Veterans Appeals'';
            (5) ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
        Administration'';
            (6) ``Office of Inspector General'';
            (7) ``Grants for Construction of State Extended Care 
        Facilities''; and
            (8) ``Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries''.
    (c) No amounts may be rescinded from amounts that were designated 
by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985, as amended.
    (d) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress a report specifying the account and amount 
of each rescission not later than 30 days following enactment of this 
Act.
    Sec. 241.  Section 2302(a)(2)(A)(viii) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``or under title 38'' after ``of this 
title''.
    Sec. 242.  The Department of Veterans Affairs is authorized to 
administer financial assistance grants and enter into cooperative 
agreements with organizations, utilizing a competitive selection 
process, to train and employ homeless and at-risk veterans in natural 
resource conservation management.
    Sec. 243.  Section 312 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c)(1) Whenever the Inspector General, in carrying out the duties 
and responsibilities established under the Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), issues a work product that makes a recommendation 
or otherwise suggests corrective action, the Inspector General shall--
                    ``(A) submit the work product to--
                            ``(i) the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                        the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                        Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on 
                        Appropriations of the Senate;
                            ``(iii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                        the Committee on Oversight and Government 
                        Reform, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the House of Representatives;
                            ``(iv) if the work product was initiated 
                        upon request by an individual or entity other 
                        than the Inspector General, that individual or 
                        entity; and
                            ``(v) any Member of Congress upon request; 
                        and
                    ``(B) the Inspector General shall submit all final 
                work products to--
                            ``(i) if the work product was initiated 
                        upon request by an individual or entity other 
                        than the Inspector General, that individual or 
                        entity; and
                            ``(ii) any Member of Congress upon request; 
                        and
                    ``(C) not later than 3 days after the work product 
                is submitted in final form to the Secretary, post the 
                work product on the Internet website of the Inspector 
                General.
            ``(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
        authorize the public disclosure of information that is 
        specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision 
        of law.''.
    Sec. 244.  None of the funds provided in this Act may be used to 
pay the salary of any individual who (a) was the Executive Director of 
the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction, and (b) who 
retired from Federal service in the midst of an investigation, 
initiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, into delays and cost 
overruns associated with the design and construction of the new medical 
center in Aurora, Colorado.
    Sec. 245.  Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Services'' 
account for fiscal year 2016 in this Act of any other Act, not less 
than $10,000,000 shall be used to hire additional caregiver support 
coordinators to support the programs of assistance and support for 
caregivers of veterans under section 1720G of title 38, United States 
Code.
    Sec. 246.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used 
in a manner that would--
            (1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to participate 
        in a State-approved medicinal marijuana program;
            (2) deny any services from the Department to a veteran who 
        is participating in such a program; or
            (3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health care 
        provider of the Department to make appropriate recommendations, 
        fill out forms, or take steps to comply with such a program.
    Sec. 247.  The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct random, periodic audits of medical facilities of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Integrated Service Networks to 
assess whether such facilities and Networks are complying with all 
standards imposed by law or by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with 
respect to the timely access of veterans to hospital care, medical 
services, and other health care from the Department.
    Sec. 248.  None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this title may be used to transfer any amount from the 
Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other account in the 
Treasury of the United States.
    Sec. 249.  None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
available by title II may be used to carry out the Home Marketing 
Incentive Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs or to carry out 
the Appraisal Value Offer Program of the Department with respect to an 
employee of the Department in a senior executive position (as defined 
in section 713(g) of title 38, United States Code).
    Sec. 250. (a) Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the congressional veterans committees a report 
evaluating the implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 
section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note).
    (b) The report required by subsection (a) shall include, with 
respect to the implementation of such section 101, an evaluation of the 
following:
            (1) The effect of such implementation on the reduction in 
        the use of purchased care by the Department, including delays 
        or denials of care and interruptions in courses and continuity 
        of care.
            (2) The ability of health care providers to meet the demand 
        for primary, specialty, and behavioral health care under such 
        section 101 that cannot reasonably be provided in medical 
        facilities of the Department.
            (3) The efforts of the Department to recruit health care 
        providers to provide health care under such section 101.
            (4) The accuracy of the information provided to veterans 
        through call centers regarding the receipt of health care under 
        such section 101.
            (5) The timeliness of referrals of veterans by the 
        Department to health care providers under such section 101.
            (6) Unique issues and difficulties in the implementation of 
        section 101 with respect to veterans residing in rural areas, 
        the States of Alaska and Hawaii and states lacking a full 
        service VA Hospital.
            (7) With respect to rural areas: (A) an identification of 
        the average wait times for veterans in rural areas to receive 
        health care under such section 101, measured from when the 
        veteran first calls the Department or contracted call center to 
        request an appointment; (B) an assessment of utilization rates 
        for health care provided under such section 101 in rural areas; 
        (C) an assessment of the accessibility of veterans in rural 
        areas to primary and specialty care at medical centers of the 
        Department and from non-Department health care providers under 
        such section 101; (D) an assessment of the status of any pilot 
        programs created by the Department to provide care under such 
        section 101; (E) an identification of the number of health care 
        providers providing health care under such section 101 to 
        veterans in rural areas, broken out by primary care providers, 
        specialty and subspecialty providers, and behavioral health 
        providers in each Veterans Integrated Service Network.
            (8) Recommendations for such improvements to the provision 
        of health care under such section 101 as the Comptroller 
        General considers appropriate.
    (c) In this section, the term ``congressional veterans committees'' 
means the Veterans Affairs Committees of the United States Senate and 
the House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies of the Committees 
on Appropriations of the United States Senate and the House of 
Representatives.
    Sec. 251.  Not later than February 1, 2016, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report that supplements the report required under 
section 4002(c) of the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care 
Choice Improvement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-41) and that contains 
the following:
            (1) A description of the changes in access, if any, of 
        veterans in Alaska to purchased care from the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs that have resulted from implementation of 
        section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability 
        Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146), including denials of care and 
        interruptions in the course and continuity of care.
            (2) An assessment of the performance of the Department in 
        providing health care under such section 101 in Alaska, 
        including--
                    (A) the performance of call center service provided 
                to veterans;
                    (B) the accuracy of call center information 
                provided to veterans and health care providers;
                    (C) whether health care providers are agreeing to 
                provide health care under such section 101 in each of 
                the major communities in Alaska;
                    (D) gaps in the availability of health care 
                providers, disaggregated by primary, specialty, 
                subspecialty, and behavioral health care;
                    (E) impediments to the provision of health care 
                under such section 101; and
                    (F) plans to mitigate those impediments.
            (3) An assessment of the status of health care provider 
        vacancies at the VA Alaska Healthcare System as of the date of 
        submittal of the report under this section, including 
        impediments to filling those vacancies and plans to mitigate 
        those impediments.
            (4) A description of the manner in which the Department 
        plans to serve the primary, specialty, and behavioral health 
        care needs of veterans in Alaska if the plan and 
        recommendations set forth in the report submitted under such 
        section 4002(c) are implemented, including a description of 
        specific strategies to be employed by the Department to address 
        gaps in the provision of health care to veterans and the supply 
        and demand of health care providers for veterans, including the 
        roles of tribal health providers and community providers in 
        addressing those gaps.
    Sec. 252.  None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this title may be used--
            (1) to carry out the memorandum of the Veterans Benefits 
        Administration known as ``Fast Letter 13-10'', issued on May 
        20, 2013; or
            (2) to create or maintain any patient record-keeping system 
        other than those currently approved by the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington, District of 
        Columbia.
    Sec. 253. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to Congress a report on the recruitment and retention of 
health care providers by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) The report required by subsection (a) shall include the 
following:
            (1) An identification of the ratio of veterans to health 
        care providers of the Department, disaggregated by State.
            (2) An analysis of the workload of primary and specialty 
        care providers of the Department, disaggregated by State.
            (3) An assessment of initiatives carried out by the 
        Veterans Health Administration to recruit and retain health 
        care providers of the Department.
            (4) An assessment of the extent to which the Veterans 
        Health Administration oversees health care providers of the 
        Department.
            (5) Such recommendations for improving the recruitment and 
        retention of health care providers of the Department as the 
        Comptroller General considers appropriate.
    Sec. 254. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report on the implementation by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs of section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) in 
rural areas.
    (b) The report required by subsection (a) shall include the 
following:
            (1) An identification of average wait times for veterans in 
        rural areas to receive health care under such section 101, 
        measured from when the veteran first calls the Department to 
        schedule an appointment.
            (2) An assessment of utilization rates for health care 
        provided under such section 101 in rural areas.
            (3) An assessment of the accessibility of veterans in rural 
        areas to primary and specialty care at medical centers of the 
        Department and from non-Department health care providers under 
        such section 101.
            (4) An identification of the number of health care 
        providers providing health care under such section 101 in each 
        Veterans Integrated Service Network.
            (5) An assessment of the status of any pilot programs 
        created by the Department to provide care under such section 
        101 in rural areas.
    Sec. 255.  Report on Use of Social Security Numbers by Department 
of Veterans Affairs. (a) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the use of social security numbers by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and the plans of the Secretary to discontinue the unnecessary 
use.
    (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) A list of documents and records of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs that contain social security numbers.
            (2) A list of all government and non-government entities 
        and the numbers of their employees that have access to the 
        social security numbers of veterans that are stored by the 
        Department.
            (3) A description of how the Department, other governmental 
        entities, and persons use social security numbers they obtain 
        from the Department, including a description of any information 
        sharing arrangements that the Secretary may have with the heads 
        of other governmental entities.
            (4) The number of data breaches of Department of Veterans 
        Affairs information systems that involved social security 
        numbers that occurred during the five-year period ending on the 
        date of the enactment of this Act that the Secretary discovered 
        or that were reported to the Secretary, a description and 
        status of the investigations conducted by the Secretary 
        regarding such breaches, and a description of the plans of the 
        Secretary to remediate such breaches.
            (5) The plans of the Secretary, including a timeline, to 
        discontinue the unnecessary use by the Department of social 
        security numbers.
    (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
    Sec. 256. (a) Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes, with 
respect to the South Texas Veterans Health Care System of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, the following:
            (1) A description of the nature and scope of any 
        foreseeable increase in wait times for medical appointments.
            (2) An assessment of whether a shortage of health care 
        providers is the primary cause of any such increase in wait 
        times.
            (3) An identification of any other causes of any such 
        increase in wait times.
            (4) A description of any action taken by the Department to 
        correct any such increase in wait times.
            (5) An assessment of any issues relating to access to care.
            (6) A plan for how the Secretary will remedy any such 
        increase in wait times, including a detailed description of 
        steps to be taken and a timeline for completion.
    (b) In this section, the term ``appropriate committees of 
Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
    Sec. 257. (a) Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, enter into a contract with 
an independent third party described in subsection (b) to carry out a 
study on the impact of participation in combat during service in the 
Armed Forces on suicides and other mental health issues among members 
of the Armed Forces and veterans.
    (b) An independent third party described in this subsection is an 
independent third party that has appropriate credentials to access 
information in the possession of the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs that is necessary to carry out the study 
required under subsection (a).
    Sec. 258. (a) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available 
by this title under the heading ``medical and prosthetic research'' 
under the heading ``Veterans Health Administration'' is hereby 
increased by $8,922,462.
    (b) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this 
title for fiscal year 2016 under the heading ``medical services'' under 
the heading ``Veterans Health Administration'' is hereby reduced by 
$8,922,462.
    Sec. 259.  Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
by this title for ``medical services'', not more than $5,000,000 shall 
be available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
program to assess the feasibility and advisability of awarding grants 
to veterans service agencies, veterans service organizations, and 
nongovernmental organizations to provide furniture, household items, 
and other assistance to formerly homeless veterans who are moving into 
permanent housing to facilitate the settlement of such veterans in such 
housing.
    Sec. 260.  Department of Veterans Affairs Action Plan To Improve 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Education. (a) In General.--Not later 
than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and publish an action plan 
for improving the services and assistance provided under chapter 31 of 
title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Elements.--The plan required by subsection (a) shall include 
each of the following:
            (1) A comprehensive analysis of, and recommendations and a 
        proposed implementation plan for remedying workload management 
        challenges at regional offices of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, including steps to reduce counselor caseloads of 
        veterans participating in a rehabilitation program under such 
        chapter, particularly for counselors who are assisting veterans 
        with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder 
        and counselors with educational and vocational counseling 
        workloads.
            (2) A comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the 
        disproportionately low percentage of veterans with service-
        connected disabilities who served in the Armed Forces after 
        September 11, 2001, who opt to participate in a rehabilitation 
        program under such chapter relative to the percentage of such 
        veterans who use their entitlement to educational assistance 
        under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, including an 
        analysis of barriers to timely enrollment in rehabilitation 
        programs under chapter 31 of such title and of any barriers to 
        a veteran enrolling in the program of that veteran's choice.
            (3) Recommendations and a proposed implementation plan for 
        encouraging more veterans with service-connected disabilities 
        who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, to 
        participate in rehabilitation programs under chapter 31 of such 
        title.
            (4) A national staff training program for vocational 
        rehabilitation counselors of the Department that includes the 
        provision of--
                    (A) training to assist counselors in understanding 
                the very profound disorientation experienced by 
                veterans with service-connected disabilities whose 
                lives and life-plans have been upended and out of their 
                control because of such disabilities;
                    (B) training to assist counselors in working in 
                partnership with veterans on individual rehabilitation 
                plans; and
                    (C) training on post-traumatic stress disorder and 
                other mental health conditions and on moderate to 
                severe traumatic brain injury that is designed to 
                improve the ability of such counselors to assist 
                veterans with these conditions, including by providing 
                information on the broad spectrum of such conditions 
                and the effect of such conditions on an individual's 
                abilities and functional limitations.

                               TITLE III

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                  American Battle Monuments Commission

                         salaries and expenses

    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American 
Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition of land or 
interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and repair of uniforms 
for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments outside of the 
United States and its territories and possessions; rent of office and 
garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one replacement 
basis only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $7,500 
for official reception and representation expenses; and insurance of 
official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when required by law of 
such countries, $75,100,000, to remain available until expended.

                 foreign currency fluctuations account

    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American 
Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be necessary, to remain 
available until expended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of 
title 36, United States Code.

           United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

                         salaries and expenses

    For necessary expenses for the operation of the United States Court 
of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by sections 7251 through 
7298 of title 38, United States Code, $32,141,000:  Provided, That 
$2,500,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing financial 
assistance as described, and in accordance with the process and 
reporting procedures set forth, under this heading in Public Law 102-
229.

                      Department of Defense--Civil

                       Cemeterial Expenses, Army

                         salaries and expenses

    For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and improvement 
of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National 
Cemetery, including the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles 
for replacement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed $1,000 
for official reception and representation expenses, $70,800,000, of 
which not to exceed $28,000,000 shall remain available until September 
30, 2018. In addition, such sums as may be necessary for parking 
maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from the ``Lease of 
Department of Defense Real Property for Defense Agencies'' account.

                      Armed Forces Retirement Home

                               trust fund

    For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home to 
operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington, 
District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport, 
Mississippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed Forces 
Retirement Home Trust Fund, $64,300,000, of which $1,000,000 shall 
remain available until expended for construction and renovation of the 
physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington, 
District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport, 
Mississippi.

                       Administrative Provisions

    Sec. 301.  Funds appropriated in this Act under the heading 
``Department of Defense--Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army'', may be 
provided to Arlington County, Virginia, for the relocation of the 
federally owned water main at Arlington National Cemetery, making 
additional land available for ground burials.
    Sec. 302.  Amounts deposited during the current fiscal year to the 
special account established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are appropriated and 
shall be available until expended to support activities at the Army 
National Military Cemeteries.
    Sec. 303.  For an additional amount for ``Department of Defense--
Civil Cemeterial Expenses, Army'' in this title, $30,000,000:  
Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds 
may be transferred to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of 
Transportation, for construction of access roads adjacent to Arlington 
National Cemetery to support land acquisition for the expansion of the 
cemetery.

                                TITLE IV

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Sec. 401.  No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall 
remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless 
expressly so provided herein.
    Sec. 402.  None of the funds made available in this Act may be used 
for any program, project, or activity, when it is made known to the 
Federal entity or official to which the funds are made available that 
the program, project, or activity is not in compliance with any Federal 
law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property 
rights, or unfunded mandates.
    Sec. 403.  Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016 for 
pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be absorbed within the 
levels appropriated in this Act.
    Sec. 404.  No part of any funds appropriated in this Act shall be 
used by an agency of the executive branch, other than for normal and 
recognized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or 
propaganda purposes, and for the preparation, distribution, or use of 
any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, radio, television, or film 
presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before 
Congress, except in presentation to Congress itself.
    Sec. 405.  All departments and agencies funded under this Act are 
encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory authorities and 
funding, to expand their use of ``E-Commerce'' technologies and 
procedures in the conduct of their business practices and public 
service activities.
    Sec. 406.  Unless stated otherwise, all reports and notifications 
required by this Act shall be submitted to the Subcommittee on Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related 
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
    Sec. 407.  None of the funds made available in this Act may be 
transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United 
States Government except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer 
authority provided in, this or any other appropriations Act.
    Sec. 408. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this 
Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public Web 
site of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress 
in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the 
agency that it shall serve the national interest.
    (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
            (1) the public posting of the report compromises national 
        security; or
            (2) the report contains confidential or proprietary 
        information.
    (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only 
after such report has been made available to the requesting Committee 
or Committees of Congress for no less than 45 days.
    Sec. 409. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be 
used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network 
blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
    (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds 
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement 
agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations, 
prosecution, or adjudication activities.
    Sec. 410. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated or 
otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in this Act may 
be used to construct, renovate, or expand any facility in the United 
States, its territories, or possessions to house any individual 
detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the 
purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the 
control of the Department of Defense.
    (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any 
modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo 
Bay, Cuba.
    (c) An individual described in this subsection is any individual 
who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United States Naval Station, 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who--
            (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of 
        the Armed Forces of the United States; and
            (2) is--
                    (A) in the custody or under the effective control 
                of the Department of Defense; or
                    (B) otherwise under detention at United States 
                Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
     This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction, Veterans 
Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
114th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H.R. 2029

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENT
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