```

[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2496 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.2496

                     One Hundred Fourteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
           the sixth day of January, two thousand and fifteen

                                 An Act

 
    To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing 
 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to 
     make certain improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
           Accountability Act of 2014, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Construction Authorization and 
Choice Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out 
the replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center in Denver, Colorado, in fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to 
exceed $900,000,000.
    (b) Limitation on Obligation of Funds.--Notwithstanding section 
8104(c) of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, 
funds may not be obligated or expended for the project described in 
subsection (a) in an amount that would cause the total amount obligated 
for that project to exceed the amount specified in the law for that 
project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such specified 
amount).
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR EXPANDED AVAILABILITY 
OF HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE USE OF 
AGREEMENTS WITH NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ENTITIES.
    (a) In General.--Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, 
and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 
note) is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``(as calculated based on 
    distance traveled)'' after ``40 miles''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking subclause (II), and 
    inserting the following new subclause (II):

                    ``(II) faces an unusual or excessive burden in 
                traveling to such a medical facility of the Department 
                based on--

                        ``(aa) geographical challenges;
                        ``(bb) environmental factors, such as roads 
                    that are not accessible to the general public, 
                    traffic, or hazardous weather;
                        ``(cc) a medical condition that impacts the 
                    ability to travel; or
                        ``(dd) other factors, as determined by the 
                    Secretary.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with 
respect to care or services provided on or after such date.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
```