I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5480 

To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from obligating or expending 

funds for alternative energy generation projects unless specifically authorized by law, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 

Mr. WEBER of Texas (for himself and Mr. SCHWEIKERT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from obligating 

or expending funds for alternative energy generation 

projects unless specifically authorized by law, and for 

other purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Empowering Our Veterans Act of 2014’’. 

6 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The primary responsibility of the Depart2 ment of Veterans Affairs is to provide the best pos3 sible medical care to wounded veterans. 

4 (2) Since 2009, the Department has expended 

5 at least $420,000,000 on solar and wind renewable 

6 energy projects at facilities of the Department. 

7 (3) The wind power generation projects at fa8 cilities of the Department have been full of costly 

9 delays and expensive overages, thereby wasting mil10 lions of taxpayers’ dollars and distracting the De11 partment from accomplishing its primary responsi12 bility. 

13 (4) The current disability claims backlog and 

14 appointment wait times are an unacceptable national 

15 disgrace. 

16 (5) The Department should use all required re17 sources to ensure that all qualified veterans receive 

18 the best medical care available. 

19 SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE EN20 ERGY GENERATION PROJECTS OF DEPART21 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

22 (a) APPROVAL REQUIRED.—No funds may be appro23 priated for any fiscal year, and the Secretary of Veterans 

24 Affairs may not obligate or expend funds, for any alterVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 Sep 23, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5480.IH H5480

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1 native energy generation project unless funds for that 

2 project have been specifically authorized by law. 

3 (b) TRANSFER.—The Secretary shall transfer all un4 obligated funds appropriated to the Secretary before the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act for an alternative energy 

6 generation project to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account of 

7 the Department to provide medical care to veterans in the 

8 health care system established under section 1705(a) of 

9 title 38, United States Code. 

10 (c) ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GENERATION PROJECT

11 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘alternative energy 

12 generation project’’ means a project carried out under the 

13 administration of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 

14 produce electrical or thermal energy if the primary energy 

15 source for the project is not oil, natural gas, coal, or nu16 clear power. 

Æ 


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