II 

Calendar No. 557 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3325 

[Report No. 111–286] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the waiver of the 

collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 6, 2010 

Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mr. GRASSLEY, and Mr. TESTER) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Veterans’ Affairs 

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 

Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of August 5, 2010, by 

Mr. AKAKA, with an amendment and an amendment to the title 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 

waiver of the collection of copayments for telehealth and 

telemedicine visits of veterans, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF COPAY2 MENTS FOR TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDI3 CINE VISITS OF VETERANS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 of 

5 title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

6 section 1722A the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copay8 ments for telehealth and telemedicine 

9 visits of veterans 

10 ‘‘The Secretary may waive the imposition or collec11 tion of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits 

12 of veterans under the laws administered by the Sec13 retary.’’. 

14 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

15 at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended 

16 by inserting after the item relating to section 1722A the 

17 following new item: 

‘‘1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans.’’. 

18 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

19 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vet20 erans Telehealth and Other Care Improvements Act of 

21 2010’’. 

22 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

23 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 


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TITLE I—QUALITY OF CARE AND ACCESS MATTERS 

Sec. 101. Waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits 

of veterans. 

Sec. 102. Program of outreach to veterans. 

Sec. 103. Annual report on low volume procedures involving use of radioactive 

isotopes at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. 

Sec. 104. Use of radioactive isotopes at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. 

Sec. 105. Requirements relating to contracts for the provision of medical services. 

Sec. 106. Conversion of multifamily transitional housing loan program to loan 

issuance program. 

Sec. 107. Report on establishment of a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or 

Polytrauma Network Site of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

in the northern Rockies or Dakotas. 

Sec. 108. One-stop Internet website for information on benefits, resources, services, 

and opportunities for veterans and their families and caregivers. 

TITLE II—CONSTRUCTION AND NAMING MATTERS 

Sec. 201. Authorization for fiscal year 2011 major medical facility construction 

project previously appropriated but not authorized. 

Sec. 202. Additional authorization for a 2007 major medical facility construction 

project previously authorized. 

Sec. 203. Authorization of fiscal year 2011 major medical facility leases. 

Sec. 204. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 205. Report on use of energy efficient technologies and best practices in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. 

Sec. 206. Designation of George H. O’Brien, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs 

Medical Center. 

Sec. 207. Requirement that bid savings on major medical facility projects of Department of Veterans Affairs be used for other major medical facility construction projects of the Department. 

1 TITLE I—QUALITY OF CARE AND 

2 ACCESS MATTERS 

3 SEC. 101. WAIVER OF COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR 

4 TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE VISITS OF 

5 VETERANS. 

6 (a) WAIVER.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 

8 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by insert9 ing after section 1722A the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘§ 1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copay2 ments for telehealth and telemedicine vis3 its of veterans 

4 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall waive the im5 position or collection of copayments for telehealth and tele6 medicine visits of veterans under the laws administered by 

7 the Secretary. 

8 ‘‘(b) SUNSET.—The requirement under subsection (a) 

9 shall expire on the date that is 5 years after the date of 

10 the enactment of this section.’’. 

11 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec12 tions at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is 

13 amended by inserting after the item relating to sec14 tion 1722A the following new item: 

‘‘1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans.’’. 

15 (b) REPORT.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than five years after 

17 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

18 Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on 

19 the waiver of copayments under section 1722B of such 

20 title, as added by subsection (a). 

21 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para22 graph (1) shall include the following: 

23 (A) An assessment of whether waivers de24 scribed in paragraph (1) have resulted in inVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:26 Sep 02, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S3325.RS S3325

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1 creased utilization of telehealth and telemedicine 

2 visits of veterans under the laws administered by 

3 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

4 (B) A description of the expenses or cost5 savings, as the case may be, realized by the De6 partment of Veterans Affairs as a result of such 

7 waivers. 

8 SEC. 102. PROGRAM OF OUTREACH TO VETERANS. 

9 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans 

10 Affairs shall establish a program of outreach to veterans 

11 for the purpose described in subsection (b). 

12 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose described in this sub13 section is to increase the following: 

14 (1) The access and use by veterans of Federal, 

15 State, and local programs providing compensation 

16 and other benefits for service in the Armed Forces. 

17 (2) Awareness of such programs by veterans and 

18 their eligibility for such programs. 

19 (c) DURATION.—The program required by subsection 

20 (a) shall be carried out during the five-year period begin21 ning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

22 (d) AGREEMENTS TO CARRY OUT PROJECTS AND AC23 TIVITIES.— 

24 (1) AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE

25 AGENCIES.—In carrying out the program required by 


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1 subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

2 enter into agreements with other Federal and State 

3 agencies to carry out projects under the jurisdiction 

4 of such agencies to further the purpose described in 

5 subsection (b). 

6 (2) AGREEMENTS WITH APPLICABLE AUTHORI7 TIES AND COMMISSIONS.—In carrying out the pro8 gram required by subsection (a), the Secretary may 

9 enter into agreements with applicable authorities and 

10 commissions to provide technical assistance, award 

11 grants, enter into contracts, or otherwise provide 

12 amounts to persons or entities for projects and activi13 ties that— 

14 (A) increase outreach to, awareness by, and 

15 use by veterans of programs described in sub16 section (b)(1); 

17 (B) provide incentives for State and local 

18 governments and veterans service organizations 

19 to assist veterans in utilizing facilities and re20 sources available to veterans through the Depart21 ment of Veterans Affairs; 

22 (C) provide incentives for State and local 

23 governments and veterans service organizations 

24 to assist veterans in utilizing resources available 


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1 through government and veterans service organi2 zations for veterans; 

3 (D) educate communities and State and 

4 local governments about the employment rights 

5 of veterans, including the employment and reem6 ployment of members of the uniformed services 

7 under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code; 

8 (E) provide technical assistance to busi9 nesses owned by veterans; and 

10 (F) encourage and assist nonprofit organi11 zations, businesses, and institutions of higher 

12 education to carry out programs of assistance de13 signed for veterans. 

14 (3) APPLICABLE AUTHORITIES AND COMMIS15 SIONS.—For purposes of the program required by sub16 section (a), the applicable authorities and commis17 sions are the following: 

18 (A) The Appalachian Regional Commission, 

19 established under section 14301(a) of title 40, 

20 United States Code. 

21 (B) The Delta Regional Authority, estab22 lished under section 382B(a) of the Consolidated 

23 Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 

24 2009aa-1(a)). 


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1 (C) The Denali Commission, established 

2 under section 303 of the Denali Commission Act 

3 of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note). 

4 (D) The Northern Great Plains Regional 

5 Authority, established under section 383B(a) of 

6 the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 

7 Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb-1(a)). 

8 (E) The Southeast Crescent Regional Com9 mission, the Southwest Border Regional Com10 mission, and the Northern Border Regional Com11 mission established under section 15301(a) of 

12 title 40, United States Code. 

13 (F) Entities described in subparagraph (G) 

14 that serve Native Americans, Alaska Natives, or 

15 native Hawaiians (as such terms are defined in 

16 section 3765 of title 38, United States Code). 

17 (G) Commissions and development boards 

18 that are— 

19 (i) not chartered by the Federal Gov20 ernment; 

21 (ii) selected by the Secretary for pur22 poses of the program; and 

23 (iii) located in areas that present ex24 traordinary challenges to veterans, as deterVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:26 Sep 02, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S3325.RS S3325

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1 mined by the Secretary, including the fol2 lowing: 

3 (I) Areas in severe economic dis4 tress. 

5 (II) Areas with underdeveloped 

6 infrastructure. 

7 (III) Areas with unusual geo8 graphic characteristics, such as separa9 tion from the mainland. 

10 (e) INFORMATION, ADVICE, AND TECHNICAL ASSIST11 ANCE.—In carrying out the program required by subsection 

12 (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide, or con13 tract with public or private organizations to provide, infor14 mation, advice, and technical assistance to nonprofit orga15 nizations that provide services to communities in order to 

16 increase the number of veterans receiving such services. 

17 (f) COORDINATION WITH PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED

18 PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANI19 ZATIONS AND LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES

20 FOR OUTREACH.—The Secretary may carry out the pro21 gram required by subsection (a) in coordination with the 

22 pilot program required by section 506(a) of the Caregivers 

23 and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public 

24 Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1160; 38 U.S.C. 523 note). 


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1 (g) REPORT ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES OF DEPART2 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than four years 

4 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec5 retary shall submit to Congress a comprehensive re6 port on the activities of the Department of Veterans 

7 Affairs regarding outreach to veterans. 

8 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para9 graph (1) shall include the following: 

10 (A) A description of all of the activities of 

11 the Department regarding outreach to veterans 

12 carried out since the date of the enactment of 

13 this Act, including the activities of the Depart14 ment carried out under the program required by 

15 subsection (a). 

16 (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 

17 activities described in subparagraph (A). 

18 (h) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In 

19 this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means 

20 any organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans 

21 Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 

22 of title 38, United States Code. 

23 (i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 

24 authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program re25 quired by subsection (a)— 


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1 (1) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

2 (2) $35,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 

3 2012 through 2016. 

4 SEC. 103. ANNUAL REPORT ON LOW VOLUME PROCEDURES 

5 INVOLVING USE OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES 

6 AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

7 MEDICAL FACILITIES. 

8 (a) ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 270 

9 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annu10 ally thereafter through 2013, the Secretary of Veterans Af11 fairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

12 the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

13 House of Representatives a report on the low volume proce14 dures involving the use of radioactive isotopes carried out 

15 at each medical facility of the Department of Veterans Af16 fairs in the year for which such report is submitted. 

17 (b) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted to Congress 

18 under subsection (a) shall include the following: 

19 (1) The evaluation and the findings of the Sec20 retary with respect to the low volume procedures in21 volving the use of radioactive isotopes carried out at 

22 each medical facility of the Department. 

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1 cedures involving the use of radioactive isotopes in fa2 cility level quality assurance plans. 

3 (c) LOW VOLUME PROCEDURES.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of the report re5 quired by this section, the Secretary shall define the 

6 term ‘‘low volume procedure’’ in accordance with this 

7 subsection. 

8 (2) THRESHOLD.—In defining the term ‘‘low vol9 ume procedure’’, the Secretary shall establish a 

10 threshold for each type of procedure involving radio11 active isotopes carried out at a medical facility of the 

12 Department whereby if the number of procedures of a 

13 type carried out at a medical facility is less than the 

14 threshold, the type of procedure is considered low vol15 ume at that facility. 

16 SEC. 104. USE OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES AT DEPARTMENT 

17 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOSPITALS. 

18 (a) TRAINING REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans 

19 Affairs shall ensure that all employees, including employees 

20 employed under a contract entered into with a non-govern21 ment entity, who handle or perform procedures utilizing ra22 dioactive isotopes at a Department of Veterans Affairs hos23 pital receive appropriate training on what constitutes a 

24 medical event, as defined in regulations prescribed by the 


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1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and when and to whom 

2 a medical event should be reported. 

3 (b) FAILURE TO PROVIDE TRAINING.—If the Secretary 

4 determines that a Department hospital has failed to provide 

5 the training required by subsection (a) to an employee de6 scribed in that subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that 

7 radioactive isotopes are not used by that employee at that 

8 hospital until such training is provided to that employee. 

9 SEC. 105. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CONTRACTS FOR 

10 THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 

12 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec13 tion 1703 the following new section: 

14 ‘‘§ 1703A. Oversight of medical services provided by 

15 contractors 

16 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure 

17 that the quality assessment program of the Department in18 cludes appropriate oversight of medical services provided 

19 pursuant to a contract entered into by the Secretary with 

20 a non-government entity. 

21 ‘‘(2) Oversight of a medical service required by para22 graph (1) shall include, as appropriate to the service, the 

23 following: 

24 ‘‘(A) Periodic peer reviews of such service. 


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1 ‘‘(B) Periodic written evaluations of the over2 sight provided by the supervisor or manager of the in3 dividual providing the service. 

4 ‘‘(C) Such other evaluations as the Secretary de5 termines are appropriate. 

6 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure that sufficient data is 

7 collected and analyzed by an employee of the Department 

8 in order to evaluate the quality of medical services provided 

9 pursuant to a contract entered into by the Secretary with 

10 a non-government entity. 

11 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO EXTENSION OF

12 CERTAIN CONTRACTS.—Before any contracting officer of 

13 the Department may extend or renew any contract entered 

14 into by the Secretary with a non-government entity for the 

15 provision of medical services, the contracting officer shall 

16 review and take into consideration the results of the evalua17 tions carried out under subsection (a).’’. 

18 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

19 the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by in20 serting after the item relating to section 1703 the following 

21 new item: 

‘‘1703A. Oversight of medical services provided by contractors.’’. 

22 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) of section 

23 1703A of such title, as added by subsection (a), shall take 

24 effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and subsection 


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1 (b) of such section shall take effect on the date that is 270 

2 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

3 SEC. 106. CONVERSION OF MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL 

4 HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM TO LOAN 

5 ISSUANCE PROGRAM. 

6 (a) AUTHORITY TO ISSUE LOANS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2051 of title 38, 

8 United States Code, is amended— 

9 (A) in subsection (a)— 

10 (i) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘(1) The’’; and 

12 (ii) by adding at the end the following 

13 new paragraph: 

14 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, utilizing funds available in 

15 the Multifamily Transitional Housing Loan Program Re16 volving Fund under section 2055 of this title, issue not more 

17 than five loans that meet the requirements of this sub18 chapter.’’; 

19 (B) in subsection (b)— 

20 (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 

21 ‘‘under subsection (a)’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘under subsection (a)(1)’’; 

23 (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 

24 ‘‘under subsection (a)’’ and inserting 

25 ‘‘under subsection (a)(1)’’; and 


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1 (iii) in paragraph (3), by inserting 

2 ‘‘or issued’’ after ‘‘guaranteed’’; 

3 (C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or 

4 issued’’ after ‘‘guaranteed’’; and 

5 (D) in subsection (g), by inserting ‘‘or 

6 issued’’ after ‘‘guaranteed’’. 

7 (2) AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE APPROVAL AU8 THORITY.—Subsection (c) of such section, as amended 

9 by paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, is amended— 

10 (A) by striking ‘‘A loan’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 

11 A loan’’; and 

12 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

13 paragraphs: 

14 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may delegate approval under para15 graph (1) to a State or local government entity. 

16 ‘‘(3) Approval activity of a State or local government 

17 entity under paragraph (2) shall be subject to the super18 vision of the Secretary.’’. 

19 (3) NO LIMITATION ON SIZE OF MULTIFAMILY

20 TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECTS.—Such section is 

21 further amended by adding at the end the following 

22 new subsection: 

23 ‘‘(h) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to 

24 provide for a minimum or maximum size of a multifamily 


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1 transitional housing project that may be financed with a 

2 loan under this subchapter.’’. 

3 (4) SUNSET OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE LOAN

4 GUARANTEES.—Such section is further amended by 

5 adding at the end the following new subsection: 

6 ‘‘(i) The Secretary may not guarantee under sub7 section (a)(1) any loan that is closed after the date of the 

8 enactment of this subsection. The termination by this sub9 section of the authority to guarantee loans under this sub10 section shall not affect the validity of any loan guaranteed 

11 under this subchapter before the date of the enactment of 

12 this subsection and is in force on that date.’’. 

13 (5) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

14 (A) Section 2052(d) of such title is amended 

15 by inserting ‘‘or issue’’ after ‘‘whether to guar16 antee’’. 

17 (B) Section 2053(a) of such title is amended 

18 by inserting ‘‘or issued’’ after ‘‘is guaranteed’’. 

19 (C) Section 2054(a) of such title is amend20 ed— 

21 (i) in the first sentence, by inserting 

22 ‘‘or issued’’ after ‘‘guaranteed’’; and 

23 (ii) in the last sentence, by inserting 

24 ‘‘or loan’’ after ‘‘guarantee’’. 

25 (6) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 


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1 (A) The heading of subchapter VI of chapter 

2 20 of such title is amended by striking ‘‘LOAN 

3 GUARANTEE FOR’’. 

4 (B) The table of sections at the beginning of 

5 such chapter is amended by striking the item re6 lating to subchapter VI and inserting the fol7 lowing new item: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING’’. 

8 (b) MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOAN PRO9 GRAM REVOLVING FUND.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VI of chapter 20 

11 of such title is amended by adding at the end the fol12 lowing new section: 

13 ‘‘§ 2055. Multifamily Transitional Housing Loan Pro14 gram Revolving Fund 

15 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

16 Treasury of the United States a revolving fund known as 

17 the ‘Department of Veterans Affairs Multifamily Transi18 tional Housing Loan Program Revolving Fund’ (in this 

19 section referred to as the ‘Fund’). 

20 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—There shall be deposited in the Fund 

21 the following, which shall constitute the assets of the Fund: 

22 ‘‘(1) Amounts paid into the Fund under any 

23 provision of law or regulation established by the Sec24 retary imposing fees on persons or entities issued a 

25 loan under this subchapter. 


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1 ‘‘(2) All other amounts received by the Secretary 

2 incident to operations relating to the issuance of loans 

3 under this subchapter, including— 

4 ‘‘(A) collections of principal and interest on 

5 loans issued by the Secretary under this sub6 chapter; 

7 ‘‘(B) proceeds from the sale, rental, use, or 

8 other disposition of property acquired under this 

9 subchapter; and 

10 ‘‘(C) penalties collected pursuant to this 

11 subchapter. 

12 ‘‘(3) Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 

13 available before the date of the enactment of this sec14 tion for purposes of activities under this subchapter, 

15 including amounts appropriated for such purposes 

16 under title I of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

17 and Housing and Urban Development, and Inde18 pendent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (Public 

19 Law 106–74; 113 Stat. 1049). 

20 ‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—The Fund shall be available to 

21 the Secretary, without fiscal year limitation, for all oper22 ations relating to the issuance of loans under this sub23 chapter, consistent with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 

24 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).’’. 


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1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec2 tions at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is 

3 amended by inserting after the item relating to sec4 tion 2054 the following new item: 

‘‘2055. Multifamily Transitional Housing Loan Program Revolving Fund.’’. 

5 (c) CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE

6 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF LOANS.—Subsection (a)(6) of 

7 section 2052 of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘includ8 ing with respect to forbearance, deferral, and loan forgive9 ness,’’ after ‘‘determines are reasonable,’’. 

10 (d) CLARIFICATION OF TYPES OF SPACES THAT MAY

11 BE INCLUDED IN COVERED MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL

12 HOUSING PROJECTS.—Subsection (c)(1) of such section 

13 2052 is amended by striking ‘‘or job training programs’’ 

14 and inserting ‘‘job training programs, other types of resi15 dential units, or other uses that the Secretary considers nec16 essary for the sustainability of the project’’. 

17 (e) LOAN DEFAULTS.—Section 2053 of such title is 

18 amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

19 ‘‘(c) The Secretary may impose such penalties or re20 quire such collateral as the Secretary considers necessary— 

21 ‘‘(1) to discourage default on a loan issued under 

22 this subchapter; or 

23 ‘‘(2) to mitigate harm to the Department from 

24 default on a loan issued under this subchapter. 


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1 ‘‘(d) The Secretary shall administer any property com2 ing under the jurisdiction of the Secretary by reason of de3 fault on a loan issued or guaranteed under this subchapter 

4 in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary 

5 for that purpose. Such administration of property may in6 clude selling, renting, or otherwise disposing of property as 

7 the Secretary considers appropriate.’’. 

8 (f) PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF VETERANS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VI of chapter 20 

10 of such title, as amended by subsection (b), is further 

11 amended by adding at the end the following new sec12 tion: 

13 ‘‘§ 2056. Preferential treatment of veterans 

14 ‘‘No provision of Federal or State law may prohibit 

15 a multifamily transitional housing project described in sec16 tion 2052(b) of this title from offering preferential treat17 ment to veterans.’’. 

18 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec19 tions at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by 

20 subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the 

21 end the following new item: 

‘‘2056. Preferential treatment of veterans.’’. 

22 (g) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 2052 of such 

23 title is amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘counsel2 ling’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘coun3 seling’’; and 

4 (2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ‘‘, as as5 sessed under section 107 of Public Law 102–405’’. 

6 SEC. 107. REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLYTRAUMA 

7 REHABILITATION CENTER OR POLYTRAUMA 

8 NETWORK SITE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

9 VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE NORTHERN 

10 ROCKIES OR DAKOTAS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

13 Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the feasibility 

14 and advisability of establishing a Polytrauma Rehabilita15 tion Center or Polytrauma Network Site for the Department 

16 of Veterans Affairs in the northern Rockies or the Dakotas. 

17 One of the locations evaluated as a potential location for 

18 the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Net19 work Site, as the case may be, shall be the Fort Harrison 

20 Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Lewis and Clark 

21 County, Montana. 

22 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The report required by sub23 section (a) shall include the following: 

24 (1) An assessment of the adequacy of existing 

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1 ern Rockies and the Dakotas to address matters that 

2 are otherwise addressed by Polytrauma Rehabilitation 

3 Centers and Polytrauma Network Sites. 

4 (2) A comparative assessment of the effectiveness 

5 of rehabilitation programs for individuals with trau6 matic brain injuries in urban areas with the effective7 ness of such programs for individuals with traumatic 

8 brain injuries in rural and frontier communities. 

9 (3) An assessment whether the low cost of living 

10 in the northern Rockies and the Dakotas could reduce 

11 the financial stress faced by veterans receiving care 

12 for traumatic brain injury and their families and 

13 thereby improve the effectiveness of such care. 

14 (4) An assessment whether therapies that can 

15 prevent or remediate the development of secondary 

16 neurologic conditions related to traumatic brain in17 jury can be interrupted by stress caused by living in 

18 an urban area. 

19 (c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with 

20 appropriate State and local government agencies in the 

21 northern Rockies and the Dakotas in preparing the report 

22 required subsection (a). 


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1 SEC. 108. ONE-STOP INTERNET WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION 

2 ON BENEFITS, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND 

3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR 

4 FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS. 

5 (a) ONE-STOP INTERNET WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION

6 ON BENEFITS, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND OPPORTUNI7 TIES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CARE8 GIVERS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Af10 fairs may establish and maintain an interactive 

11 Internet website that provides information on the ben12 efits, resources, services, and opportunities described 

13 in subsection (b). The Secretary may enter into a 

14 contract with an appropriate Federal or private sec15 tor entity for purposes of establishing or maintaining 

16 the website. 

17 (2) NATURE OF WEBSITE.—The website shall— 

18 (A) serve to consolidate, expand on, and im19 prove information and links from other existing 

20 Internet websites relating to the benefits, re21 sources, services, and opportunities described in 

22 subsection (b), and may include such other infor23 mation and links on such benefits, resources, 

24 services, and opportunities as the Secretary con25 siders appropriate; and 


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1 (B) integrate dynamic Internet features and 

2 virtual interface tools to provide veterans a per3 sonalized, interactive, and user-centered Internet 

4 experience and increase interoperability and fa5 cilitate collaborative information sharing. 

6 (3) UTILIZATION OF EXISTING WEBSITE IN ES7 TABLISHMENT.—In establishing the website, the Sec8 retary may utilize an existing Internet website, such 

9 as the National Resource Directory for wounded vet10 erans, as the basis for the website, in order to avoid 

11 unnecessary duplication of effort. 

12 (4) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Veterans 

13 Affairs shall carry out activities under this subsection 

14 in consultation with the following: 

15 (A) The Secretary of Defense. 

16 (B) The Secretary of Labor. 

17 (C) The Secretary of Education. 

18 (D) The Commissioner of Internal Revenue. 

19 (E) The Commissioner of Social Security. 

20 (F) The Administrator of the Small Busi21 ness Administration. 

22 (G) Any other Federal officials that the Sec23 retary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate 

24 for purposes of this section. 


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1 (H) Appropriate advisory committees on 

2 veterans matters. 

3 (I) Other representatives, individuals, and 

4 organizations specified in section 6302(c) of title 

5 38, United States Code. 

6 (b) BENEFITS, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND OPPORTU7 NITIES.—The benefits, resources, services, and opportunities 

8 described in this subsection are benefits, resources, services, 

9 and opportunities as follows: 

10 (1) Veterans benefits provided by or through the 

11 Department of Veterans Affairs. 

12 (2) Veterans benefits provided by or through the 

13 Department of Labor, including employment and re14 employment benefits. 

15 (3) Tax benefits. 

16 (4) Social security benefits. 

17 (5) Veterans benefits provided by or through the 

18 Small Business Administration. 

19 (6) Resources, services, and opportunities such 

20 as— 

21 (A) resources for families, caregivers, edu22 cational professionals, mental health profes23 sionals, and other professionals that provide for 

24 veterans; 


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1 (B) resources on child care, home care, 

2 stress management, mental health care, and vet3 erans service organizations (including website 

4 links to organization locators and claims assist5 ance); and 

6 (C) information and links on State and 

7 local resources, discounts available to veterans, 

8 volunteer opportunities available to veterans, 

9 and community events. 

10 (7) Assistance in applying for and receiving ben11 efits and resources under paragraphs (1) through (6). 

12 (8) Resources on peer-to-peer discussions, work13 shops, and other interactive services for veterans and 

14 their families and caregivers. 

15 (9) Information on ride-sharing for appoint16 ments. 

17 (10) Memorial notices. 

18 (11) Such other benefits, resources, services, op19 portunities, and assistance as the Secretary considers 

20 appropriate for purposes of the website. 

21 (c) INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON WEBSITE IN BIEN22 NIAL REPORTS RELATING TO OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.— 

23 (1) BIENNIAL PLAN.—The Secretary of Veterans 

24 Affairs shall include in each biennial plan on out25 reach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 


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1 under section 6302 of title 38, United States Code, the 

2 plans of the Department for the period covered by 

3 such report for improving and enhancing the Internet 

4 website required by this section to better provide in5 formation on the benefits, resources, services, and op6 portunities described in subsection (b) and to other7 wise enhance the website as a source for information 

8 on such benefits, resources, services, and opportuni9 ties. 

10 (2) BIENNIAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall in11 clude in each biennial report on outreach activities of 

12 the Department under section 6308 of title 38, United 

13 States Code, a description of the manner in which the 

14 Internet website required by this section contributed 

15 to the outreach activities of the Secretary, including 

16 outreach activities under chapter 63 of such title. 

17 TITLE II—CONSTRUCTION AND 

18 NAMING MATTERS 

19 SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 MAJOR 

20 MEDICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 

21 PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED BUT NOT AU22 THORIZED. 

23 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a 

24 major medical facility project in fiscal year 2011 for the 

25 construction of a new medical facility in New Orleans, LouVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:26 Sep 02, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S3325.RS S3325

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1 isiana, with the project to be carried out in an amount not 

2 to exceed $995,000,000. 

3 SEC. 202. ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR A 2007 MAJOR 

4 MEDICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 

5 PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED. 

6 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a 

7 major medical facility project in fiscal year 2011 to make 

8 seismic corrections for Buildings 7 and 126 at the Depart9 ment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach, 

10 California, with the project to be carried out in an amount 

11 not to exceed $129,545,000. 

12 SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2011 MAJOR 

13 MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES. 

14 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 

15 following fiscal year 2011 major medical facility leases at 

16 the locations specified, in an amount not to exceed the 

17 amount shown for each such location: 

18 (1) Billings, Montana, Community Based Out19 patient Clinic, in an amount not to exceed 

20 $7,149,000. 

21 (2) Boston, Massachusetts, Outpatient Clinic, in 

22 an amount not to exceed $3,316,000. 

23 (3) San Diego, California, Community Based 

24 Outpatient Clinic, in an amount not to exceed 

25 $21,495,000. 


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1 (4) San Francisco, California, Research Lab, in 

2 an amount not to exceed $10,055,000. 

3 (5) San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mental Health Fa4 cility, in an amount not to exceed $5,323,000. 

5 SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

6 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MAJOR

7 MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS.—There is authorized to be 

8 appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 

9 year 2011 or the year in which funds are appropriated for 

10 the Construction, Major Projects, account $1,124,545,000 

11 for the projects authorized in sections 201 and 202. 

12 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MAJOR

13 MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES.—There is authorized to be ap14 propriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 

15 year 2011 or the year in which funds are appropriated for 

16 the Medical Facilities account $47,338,000 for the leases au17 thorized in section 203. 

18 (c) LIMITATION.—The major medical facility projects 

19 authorized in sections 201 and 202 may only be carried 

20 out using— 

21 (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2011 pur22 suant to the authorization of appropriations in sub23 section (a) of this section; 


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1 (2) funds available for Construction, Major 

2 Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2011 that 

3 remain available for obligation; 

4 (3) funds available for Construction, Major 

5 Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2011 that 

6 remain available for obligation; 

7 (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 

8 Projects, for fiscal year 2011 for a category of activity 

9 not specific to a project; 

10 (5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 

11 Projects, for a fiscal year before 2011 for a category 

12 of activity not specific to a project; and 

13 (6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 

14 Projects, for a fiscal year after 2011 for a category of 

15 activity not specific to a project. 

16 SEC. 205. REPORT ON USE OF ENERGY EFFICIENT TECH17 NOLOGIES AND BEST PRACTICES IN DEPART18 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FA19 CILITIES. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

22 Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the use of en23 ergy efficient technologies and best practices in Department 

24 of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. 


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1 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) 

2 shall include the following: 

3 (1) A description of the energy efficient tech4 nologies and best practices used by the Department to 

5 make Department medical facilities more energy effi6 cient. 

7 (2) An assessment of the energy efficiency of the 

8 following features of Department medical facilities: 

9 (A) Heating, ventilation, and air condi10 tioning systems. 

11 (B) Lighting. 

12 (C) Elevators. 

13 (D) Water heating. 

14 (E) Information technology and electronics. 

15 (F) Such other features as the Secretary 

16 considers energy intensive. 

17 (3) The status of the compliance of Department 

18 medical facilities with provisions of law that are ap19 plicable to the energy efficiency of such facilities, as 

20 determined by the Secretary. 

21 (4) A description of the activities carried out by 

22 the Office of Construction and Facilities Management 

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1 ized efficiency guidelines are being implemented in all 

2 Department medical facilities. 

3 (c) COLLABORATION.—In preparing the report re4 quired by subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate 

5 with private sector experts and industry leaders in the en6 ergy efficiency of medical facilities, including the following: 

7 (1) The American Society of Heating, Refrigera8 tion, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. 

9 (2) The Illuminating Engineering Society of 

10 North America. 

11 (3) The American Institute of Architects. 

12 SEC. 206. DESIGNATION OF GEORGE H. O’BRIEN, JR., DE13 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 

14 CENTER. 

15 (a) DESIGNATION.—The Department of Veterans Af16 fairs medical center located in Big Spring, Texas, shall be 

17 known and designated as the ‘‘George H. O’Brien, Jr., De18 partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’’. 

19 (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, regu20 lation, document, paper, or other record of the United 

21 States to the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center 

22 referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference 

23 to the ‘‘George H. O’Brien, Jr., Department of Veterans Af24 fairs Medical Center’’. 


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1 SEC. 207. REQUIREMENT THAT BID SAVINGS ON MAJOR 

2 MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS OF DEPART3 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BE USED FOR 

4 OTHER MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY CON5 STRUCTION PROJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT. 

6 Section 8104(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 

7 amended— 

8 (1) by striking ‘‘In any case’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 

9 Except as provided in paragraph (2), in any case’’; 

10 and 

11 (2) by adding at the end the following new para12 graph: 

13 ‘‘(2) In any fiscal year, unobligated amounts in the 

14 Construction, Major Projects account that are a direct re15 sult of bid savings from a major medical facility project 

16 may only be obligated for other major medical facility 

17 projects authorized for that fiscal year or a previous fiscal 

18 year.’’. 


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Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to improve the 

quality of health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, to increase access to health care and benefits provided by the Department, to authorize major medical facility construction projects of the Department, and 

for other purposes.’’. 


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Calendar No. 557 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3325 

[Report No. 111–286] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorfor other purposes. telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans, and ize the waiver of the collection of copayments for 

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 

Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the 

title 


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