I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5526 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force 
on Medical Facility Improvements in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 4, 2008 
Mr. FORTUN˜O (for himself and Mr. SERRANO) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the 
Task Force on Medical Facility Improvements in Puerto 
Rico, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Residents of Puerto Rico have served with 
honor and distinction in the Armed Forces of the 
United States in every major war and conflict the 
Nation has fought since 1917. 
(2) Puerto Rico consistently ranks alongside the 
top five States in per capita military service. 
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(3) Numerous residents of Puerto Rico have 
won the Bronze Star with valor device, the Silver 
Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Dis-
tinguished Service Medal. 
(4) Four residents of Puerto Rico have received 
the Medal of Honor, the highest award given for 
valor on the battlefield. 
(5) 18,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in 
World War I. 
(6) 65,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in 
World War II, including 200 Puerto Rican women. 
(7) 61,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in 
the Korean War, during which the 65th Infantry 
Regiment, comprised mostly of Puerto Rican soldiers 
and known as the Borinqueneers, particularly distin-
guished itself for bravery. 
(8) 48,000 residents of Puerto Rico served in 
Vietnam, with 430 killed and over 3,000 wounded. 
(9) 2,600 residents of Puerto Rico were mobi-
lized for Operation Desert Shield and Operation 
Desert Storm. 
(10) 3,400 residents of Puerto Rico have 
served, and over 230 have been killed or wounded, 
in the Nation’s current war on terrorism, as part of 
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Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. 
(11) Residents of Puerto Rico have always 
proudly answered the call to defend this nation and 
to sacrifice for the cause of liberty, notwithstanding 
the fact that they cannot vote for their commander- 
in-chief. 
(12) In section 821 of the Veterans Benefits, 
Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 
2006 (Public Law 109–461; 120 Stat. 3448), Con-
gress expressed its sense that the need for medical 
facility improvements in San Juan, Puerto Rico was 
not being adequately addressed and directed the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to ‘‘take steps to explore 
all options for addressing that concern, including the 
option of a public/private partnership to construct 
and operate a facility that would replace the current 
Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in 
San Juan, Puerto Rico’’. 
(13) Congress directed the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs to submit a report to the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives ‘‘identifying and outlining the var-
ious options available to the Department’’ for retro-
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fitting and renovating or replacing the current Vet-
erans Affairs medical center in San Juan. 
(14) On June 26, 2007, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs submitted its ‘‘Report to Congress 
on Options for Medical Facility Improvements in 
San Juan, Puerto Rico’’, in which it identified and 
outlined four potential options available to the De-
partment for medical facility improvements in Puer-
to Rico and analyzed the medical, legal, and finan-
cial implications associated with each option. 
(15) In that report, the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs affirmed that medical facility improve-
ments in Puerto Rico would support the Depart-
ment’s strategic goals, including improving the qual-
ity of life for veterans with disabilities, ensuring a 
smooth transition for veterans from active military 
service to civilian life, and improving the health and 
socioeconomic well-being of veterans. 
(16) In that report, the Department also stated 
that upgrades to the existing medical facility in San 
Juan were ‘‘necessary to ensure the long-term safety 
of patients and staff’’. 
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SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON MEDICAL FACILITY IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PUERTO RICO. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish a task force to be known 
as the Task Force on Medical Facility Improvements in 
Puerto Rico (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Task Force’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Task 
Force shall be appointed by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and shall include— 
(A) appropriate employees of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs; 
(B) appropriate representatives of vet-
erans’ organizations based in Puerto Rico; and 
(C) appropriate representatives of the gov-
ernment of Puerto Rico. 
(2) NUMBER; TERMS OF SERVICE; PAY AND AL-
LOWANCES.—The Secretary shall determine the 
number, terms of service, and pay and allowances of 
members of the Task Force appointed by the Sec-
retary. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Task Force shall— 
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(1) consider options to renovate or replace the 
Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Puerto 
Rico, including— 
(A) the four options outlined in the report 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs entitled 
‘‘Report to Congress on Options for Medical 
Facility Improvements in San Juan, Puerto 
Rico’’ submitted pursuant to section 821 of the 
Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Informa-
tion Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 
461; 120 Stat. 3448); and 
(B) any option not specifically discussed in 
such report that the Task Force determines is 
appropriate for consideration, especially any 
such option involving a public-private partner-
ship to renovate or replace the hospital; and 
(2) make recommendations to the Secretary 
with respect to which of the options considered 
under paragraph (1) should be implemented. 
(d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—Upon the request of 
the Task Force, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
enter into a contract with an appropriate entity to assist 
the Task Force in carrying out its responsibilities under 
this section. 
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(e) STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS AND CONCERNS.—In 
carrying out the responsibilities under this section, the 
Task Force shall ensure that the full range of stakeholder 
interests and concerns are considered. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Not later than 
180 days after the date on which the Task Force is 
established under subsection (a), the Task Force 
shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a 
report containing the findings and recommendations 
of the Task Force under subsection (c). 
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 
days after receiving the report under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
Congress such report together with any rec-
ommendations of the Secretary. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Task Force shall terminate 
30 days after the Secretary submits the report under sub-
section (f)(2). 
Æ 
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