Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the
Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban
Development, and for sundry independent agencies, com-
missions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year end-
ing September 30, 1998, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For the payment of compensation benefits to or on
behalf of veterans and a pilot program for disability ex-
aminations as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107, chapters
11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61); pension benefits to or
on behalf of veterans as authorized by law (38 U.S.C.
chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 92 Stat. 2508); and bur-
ial benefits, emergency and other officers’ retirement pay,
adjusted-service credits and certificates, payment of pre-
miums due on commercial life insurance policies guaran-
teed under the provisions of Article IV of the Soldiers’
and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended, and
for other benefits as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107,
1312, 1977, and 2106, chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61;
50 U.S.C. App. 540–548; 43 Stat. 122, 123; 45 Stat. 735;
76 Stat. 1198); $19,932,997,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $26,380,000
of the amount appropriated shall be reimbursed to ‘‘Gen-
eral operating expenses’’ and ‘‘Medical care’’ for necessary
expenses in implementing those provisions authorized in
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, and in
the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. chapters
51, 53, and 55), the funding source for which is specifi-
cally provided as the ‘‘Compensation and pensions’’ appro-
priation: Provided further, That such sums as may be
earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reim-
bursed to ‘‘Medical facilities revolving fund’’ to augment
the funding of individual medical facilities for nursing
home care provided to pensioners as authorized by the
Veterans’ Benefits Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. chapter 55).
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by 38
U.S.C. chapters 21, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 51, 53, 55,
and 61, $1,366,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended: Provided, That funds shall be available to pay any
court order, court award or any compromise settlement
arising from litigation involving the vocational training
program authorized by section 18 of Public Law 98–77,
as amended.
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES
For military and naval insurance, national service life
insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled vet-
erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as
authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 19; 70 Stat. 887; 72
Stat. 487, $51,360,000, to remain available until ex-
pended.
VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such
sums as may be necessary to carry out the program, as
authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, as amended: Pro-
vided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying
such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided fur-
ther, That during fiscal year 1998, within the resources
available, not to exceed $300,000 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, $160,437,000,
which may be transferred to and merged with the appro-
priation for ‘‘General operating expenses’’.
EDUCATION LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $1,000, as authorized
by 38 U.S.C. 3698, as amended: 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, as amended: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the prin-
cipal amount of direct loans not to exceed $3,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct loan program, $200,000; which may
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘General operating expenses’’.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $44,000, as authorized
by 38 U.S.C. chapter 31, as amended: 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, as amended: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the prin-
cipal amount of direct loans not to exceed $2,278,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to
carry out the direct loan program, $388,000, which may
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for
‘‘General operating expenses’’.
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the direct
loan program authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, sub-
chapter V, as amended, $515,000, which may be trans-
ferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General
operating expenses’’.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
MEDICAL CARE
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op-
eration of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facili-
ties; for furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and
outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs, including care and treat-
ment in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Depart-
ment; and furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and
equipment; funeral, burial, and other expenses incidental
thereto for beneficiaries receiving care in the Department;
administrative expenses in support of planning, design,
project management, real property acquisition and disposi-
tion, construction and renovation of any facility under the
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; oversight,
engineering and architectural activities not charged to
project cost; repairing, altering, improving or providing fa-
Florida for the provision of non-emergent inpatient health
care needs of veterans.
In addition, contingent on enactment of legislation
establishing the Medical Collections Fund, such sums as
may be derived pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 1729(g) shall be
deposited to such Fund and may be transferred to this
account, to remain available until expended for the pur-
poses of this account.
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of
medical and prosthetic research and development as au-
thorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 73, to remain available until
September 30, 1999, $267,000,000 (increased by
$25,000,000), plus reimbursements: Provided, That of the
funds made available under this heading, $20,000,000 (in-
creased by $5,000,000) shall be for medical research relat-
ing to Gulf War Illnesses afflicting Persian Gulf Veterans.
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS
OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary expenses in the administration of the
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction,
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad-
ministrative expenses in support of planning, design,
project management, architectural, engineering, real prop-
erty acquisition and disposition, construction and renova-
tion of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including site ac-
quisition; engineering and architectural activities not
charged to project cost; and research and development in
building construction technology; $60,160,000, plus reim-
bursements.
GENERAL POST FUND, NATIONAL HOMES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $7,000, as authorized
by Public Law 102–54, section 8, which shall be trans-
ferred from the ‘‘General post fund’’: 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, as amended: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the prin-
cipal amount of direct loans not to exceed $70,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out
the direct loan programs, $54,000, which shall be trans-
ferred from the ‘‘General post fund’’, as authorized by
Public Law 102–54, section 8.
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary operating expenses of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including
uniforms or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for
official reception and representation expenses; hire of pas-
senger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General
Services Administration for security guard services, and
the Department of Defense for the cost of overseas em-
ployee mail; $853,385,000: Provided, That funds under
this heading shall be available to administer the Service
Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act: Pro-
vided further, That funds under this heading shall be avail-
able for the conduct of medical examinations requested by
the Veterans Benefits Administration in connection with
claims for benefits under title 38, United States Code:
Provided further, That none of the funds made available
under this heading may be used for the relocation of the
loan guaranty divisions of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg, Florida to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Atlanta,
Georgia.
NATIONAL CEMETERY SYSTEM
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op-
eration of the National Cemetery System, not otherwise
provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor;
cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of
three passenger motor vehicles for use in cemeterial oper-
ations; and hire of passenger motor vehicles, $84,183,000.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector
General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978,
as amended, $31,013,000.
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS
For constructing, altering, extending and improving
any of the facilities 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, 8102,
8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, and 8122 of title 38, Unit-
ed States Code, including planning, architectural and en-
gineering services, maintenance or guarantee period serv-
ices costs associated with equipment guarantees provided
under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility
and storm drainage system construction costs, and site ac-
quisition, where the estimated cost of a project is
$4,000,000 or more or where funds for a project were
made available in a previous major project appropriation,
$159,600,000, to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That except for advance planning of projects funded
through the advance planning fund and the design of
projects funded through the design fund, none of these
funds shall be used for any project which has not been
considered and approved by the Congress in the budgetary
process: Provided further, That funds provided in this ap-
propriation for fiscal year 1998, for each approved project
shall be obligated (1) by the awarding of a construction
documents contract by September 30, 1998, and (2) by
the awarding of a construction contract by September 30,
1999: Provided further, That the Secretary shall promptly
report in writing to the Comptroller General and to the
Committees on Appropriations any approved major con-
struction project in which obligations are not incurred
within the time limitations established above; and the
Comptroller General shall review the report in accordance
with the procedures established by section 1015 of the Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974 (title X of Public Law
93–344): Provided further, That no funds from any other
account except the ‘‘Parking revolving fund’’, may be obli-
gated for constructing, altering, extending, or improving
a project which was approved in the budget process and
funded in this account until one year after substantial
completion and beneficial occupancy by the Department
of Veterans Affairs of the project or any part thereof with
respect to that part only.
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving
any of the facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including plan-
ning, architectural and engineering services, maintenance
or guarantee period services costs associated with equip-
ment 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, 8102,
8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, and 8122 of title 38, Unit-
ed States Code, where the estimated cost of a project is
less than $4,000,000; $176,500,000, to remain available
until expended, along with unobligated balances of pre-
vious ‘‘Construction, minor projects’’ appropriations which
are hereby made available for any project where the esti-
mated cost is less than $4,000,000: Provided, That funds
in this account shall be available 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 catas-
trophe, and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent
or to minimize further loss by such causes.
PARKING REVOLVING FUND
For the parking revolving fund as authorized by 38
U.S.C. 8109, income from fees collected, to remain avail-
able until expended, which shall be available for all author-
ized expenses except operations and maintenance costs,
which will be funded from ‘‘Medical care’’.
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 re-
model, modify or alter existing hospital, nursing home and
domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing care
to veterans as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 8131–8137,
$54,500,000, to remain available until expended.
GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERAN
CEMETERIES
For grants to aid States in establishing, expanding,
or improving State veteran cemeteries as authorized by 38
U.S.C. 2408, $10,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
SEC. 101. Any appropriation for fiscal year 1998 for
‘‘Compensation and pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’,
and ‘‘Veterans insurance and indemnities’’ may be trans-
ferred to any other of the mentioned appropriations.
SEC. 102. Appropriations available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1998 for salaries
and expenses shall be available for services authorized by
5 U.S.C. 3109.
SEC. 103. No appropriations in this Act for the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs (except the appropriations
for ‘‘Construction, major projects’’, ‘‘Construction, minor
projects’’, and the ‘‘Parking revolving fund’’) shall be
available for the purchase of any site for or toward the
construction of any new hospital or home.
SEC. 104. No appropriations in this Act for the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs shall be available for hos-
pitalization or examination of any persons (except bene-
ficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits
to veterans, and persons receiving such treatment under
5 U.S.C. 7901–7904 or 42 U.S.C. 5141–5204), unless re-
imbursement of cost is made to the ‘‘Medical care’’ ac-
count at such rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs.
SEC. 105. Appropriations available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1998 for ‘‘Com-
pensation 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 1997.
SEC. 106. Appropriations accounts available to the
Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1998 shall
be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding
prior year appropriations accounts resulting from title X
of the Competitive Equality Banking Act, Public Law
100–86, except that if such obligations are from trust
fund accounts they shall be payable from ‘‘Compensation
and pensions’’.
(b) If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines
that the total amount to be recovered for fiscal year 1998
for deposit to the Medical Collections Fund under the pro-
visions of the legislation establishing such Fund will be
less than the amount contained in the latest Congressional
Budget Office baseline estimate (computed under section
257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Con-
trol Act of 1985) for the amount of such recoveries for
that fiscal year by at least $25,000,000, the Secretary
shall promptly certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the
amount of the shortfall (as estimated by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs) that is in excess of $25,000,000. Upon
receipt of such a certification, the Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall, not later than 30 days after receiving the certifi-
cation, deposit in the Medical Collections Fund, from any
unobligated amounts in the Treasury, an amount equal
to the amount certified by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs.
(c) If a deposit is made under subsection (b) and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs subsequently determines
that the actual amount recovered for fiscal year 1998 for
deposit to the Medical Collections Fund—
(1) is greater than the amount estimated by the
Secretary that was used for purposes of the certifi-
cation by the Secretary under subsection (b), the