I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5286 
To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 19, 2016 
Mr. MILLER of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee 
on Armed Services, 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 make certain improvements in the laws administered by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘VA Construction and Lease Authorization, Health, and 
Benefits Enhancement Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. 
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TITLE I—HEALTH CARE MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Non-Department Care 
Sec. 101. Veterans Care Agreements. 
Sec. 102. Payment of health care providers. 
Subtitle B—Patient Advocacy 
Sec. 111. Community meetings on improving care furnished by Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 112. Improvement of awareness of Patient Advocacy Program and patient 
bill of rights of Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 113. Comptroller General report on Patient Advocacy Program of Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Subtitle C—Complementary and Integrative Health 
Sec. 121. Pilot program on integration of complementary alternative medicines 
and related issues for veterans and family members of vet-
erans. 
Subtitle D—Fitness of Health Care Providers 
Sec. 131. Additional requirements for hiring of health care providers by De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 132. Provision of information on health care providers of Department of 
Veterans Affairs to State Medical Boards. 
Sec. 133. Report on compliance by Department of Veterans Affairs with re-
views of health care providers leaving the Department or trans-
ferring to other facilities. 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
Sec. 141. Audit of Veterans Health Administration programs of Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
TITLE II—CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES MATTERS 
Sec. 201. Authorization of certain major medical facility projects of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. 202. Submission of information. 
Sec. 203. Authorization of major medical facility leases. 
Sec. 204. Authorization of sale of Pershing Hall. 
Sec. 205. Authority to enter into certain leases at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs West Los Angeles Campus. 
TITLE III—MATTERS RELATING TO TOXIC EXPOSURE 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. National center for research on the diagnosis and treatment of health 
conditions of the descendants of individuals exposed to toxic 
substances during service in the Armed Forces that are related 
to such service. 
Sec. 303. Advisory Board. 
Sec. 304. Declassification review by Department of Defense of certain incidents 
of exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic sub-
stances. 
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Sec. 305. National outreach campaign on potential long-term health effects of 
exposure to toxic substances by members of the Armed Forces 
and their descendants. 
TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 
Sec. 401. Special compensation for loss or loss of use of creative organs. 
Sec. 402. Information technology system to assess and improve the family care-
giver program; authority to expand program. 
Sec. 403. Extension of cost-of-living adjustments for disability compensation. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. 
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 
TITLE I—HEALTH CARE 
MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Non-Department Care 
SEC. 101. VETERANS CARE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 is 
amended by inserting after section 1703 the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 1703A. Veterans Care Agreements with certain 
health care providers 
‘‘(a) VETERANS CARE AGREEMENTS.—(1) In addi-
tion to furnishing hospital care, medical services, or ex-
tended care under this chapter at facilities of the Depart-
ment or under contracts or sharing agreements entered 
into pursuant to provisions of law other than this section, 
the Secretary may furnish such care and services to eligi-
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ble veterans through the use of agreements entered into 
under this section by the Secretary with eligible providers. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may enter into Veterans Care 
Agreements under this section with eligible providers to 
furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care 
to veterans whom the Secretary determines that fur-
nishing such care and services at facilities of the Depart-
ment or under contracts or sharing agreements under pro-
visions of law other than this section is impracticable or 
inadvisable because of the medical condition of the vet-
eran, the travel involved, or the nature of the care or serv-
ices required, or a combination of such factors. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may enter into Veterans Care 
Agreements under this section with eligible providers if the 
Secretary determines that the hospital care or medical 
services to be furnished under the agreement is not avail-
able to be furnished by a non-Department health care pro-
vider under a contract or sharing agreement entered into 
pursuant to provisions of law other than this section. 
‘‘(b) VETERAN ELIGIBILITY.—Eligibility of a veteran 
for care and services under this section shall be deter-
mined as if such care or services were furnished in a facil-
ity of the Department, and provisions of this title applica-
ble to veterans receiving such care and services in a facility 
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of the Department shall apply to veterans receiving care 
and services under this section. 
‘‘(c) PROVIDER ELIGIBILITY.—Subject to the certifi-
cation process pursuant to subsection (d)(1), a provider 
of hospital care, medical services, or extended care is eligi-
ble to enter into a Veterans Care Agreement under this 
section if the Secretary determines that the provider meets 
each of the following criteria: 
‘‘(1) The gross annual revenue of the provider 
in the year preceding the year in which the provider 
enters into the Veterans Care Agreement does not 
exceed $11,000,000 (as adjusted in a manner simi-
lar to amounts adjusted pursuant to section 5312 of 
this title) or, with respect to a provider that is a 
nursing care facility (skilled nursing facility), 
$27,500,000 (as so adjusted). 
‘‘(2) The provider does not otherwise provide 
such care or services to patients pursuant to a con-
tract entered into with a department or agency of 
the Federal Government. 
‘‘(3) The provider is— 
‘‘(A) a provider of services that has en-
rolled and entered into a provider agreement 
under section 1866(a) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)); 
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‘‘(B) a physician or supplier that has en-
rolled and entered into a participation agree-
ment under section 1842(h) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395u(h)); 
‘‘(C) a provider of items and services re-
ceiving payment under a State plan under title 
XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or 
a waiver of such a plan; 
‘‘(D) an Aging and Disability Resource 
Center, an area agency on aging, or a State 
agency (as defined in section 102 of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)); or 
‘‘(E) a center for independent living (as 
defined in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a)). 
‘‘(4) Any additional criteria determined appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) PROVIDER CERTIFICATION.—(1) The Secretary 
shall establish a process for the certification of eligible 
providers to enter into Veterans Care Agreements under 
this section that shall, at a minimum, set forth the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Procedures for the submission of applica-
tions for certification and deadlines for actions taken 
by the Secretary with respect to such applications. 
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an excluded source on the list maintained in the Sys-
tem for Award Management, or successor system, if 
the Secretary determines that such exclusion is ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(2) To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall es-
tablish the procedures under paragraph (1) in a manner 
that takes into account any certification process adminis-
tered by another department or agency of the Federal 
Government that an eligible provider has completed by 
reason of being a provider described in any of subpara-
graphs (A) through (E) of subsection (c)(3). 
‘‘(e) TERMS OF AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Secretary 
shall ensure that each Veterans Care Agreement include 
provisions requiring the eligible provider to do the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) To accept payment for care and services 
furnished under this section in accordance with 
paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) To accept payment under subparagraph 
(A) as payment in full for care and services fur-
nished under this section and to not seek any pay-
ment for such care and services from the recipient 
of such care. 
‘‘(C) To furnish under this section only the care 
and services authorized by the Department under 
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this section unless the eligible provider receives prior 
written consent from the Department to furnish care 
and services outside the scope of such authorization. 
‘‘(D) To bill the Department for care and serv-
ices furnished under this section in accordance with 
a methodology established by the Secretary for pur-
poses of this section. 
‘‘(E) Not to seek to recover or collect from a 
health-plan contract or third party (as those terms 
are defined in section 1729 of this title) for any care 
or services for which payment is made by the De-
partment under this section. 
‘‘(F) To provide medical records for veterans 
furnished care and services under this section to the 
Department in a timeframe and format specified by 
the Secretary for purposes of this section, except the 
Secretary may not require that any payment by the 
Secretary to the eligible provider be contingent on 
such provision of medical records. 
‘‘(G) To meet other such terms and conditions, 
including quality of care assurance standards, as the 
Secretary may specify for purposes of this section. 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) 
through (G), rates negotiated for care and services fur-
nished under a Veterans Care Agreement shall not be 
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more than the rates paid by the United States to a pro-
vider of services (as defined in section 1861(u) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(u))) or a supplier (as 
defined in section 1861(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(d))) under the Medicare program under title XVIII 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) for 
the same care or services. 
‘‘(B) With respect to the furnishing of care or serv-
ices under this section to an eligible veteran who resides 
in a highly rural area (as defined under the rural-urban 
commuting area codes developed by the Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may negotiate a rate 
that is more than the rate paid by the United States as 
described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(C) With respect to furnishing care or services 
under a Veterans Care Agreement in Alaska, the Alaska 
Fee Schedule of the Department of Veterans Affairs will 
be followed, except for when another payment agreement, 
including a contract or provider agreement, is in place. 
‘‘(D) With respect to furnishing care or services 
under a Veterans Care Agreement in a State with an All- 
Payer Model Agreement under the Social Security Act 
that became effective on or after January 1, 2014, the 
Medicare payment rates under clause (i) shall be cal-
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culated based on the payment rates under such agreement, 
or any such successor agreement. 
‘‘(E) With respect to furnishing care or services 
under a Veterans Care Agreement in a region in which 
the Secretary determines that adjusting the rate paid by 
the United States as described in subparagraph (A) is ap-
propriate, the Secretary may negotiate such an adjusted 
rate. 
‘‘(F) With respect to furnishing care or services 
under a Veterans Care Agreement in a location or in a 
situation in which an exception to the rates paid by the 
United States under the Medicare program under title 
XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) 
for the same care or services applies, the Secretary shall 
follow such exception. 
‘‘(G) With respect to furnishing care or services 
under a Veterans Care Agreement for care or services not 
covered under the Medicare program under title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.), the Sec-
retary shall establish a schedule of fees for such care or 
services. 
‘‘(f) EXCLUSION
OF
CERTAIN
FEDERAL
CON-
TRACTING PROVISIONS.—(1) Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary may enter into a Veterans 
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Care Agreement using procedures other than competitive 
procedures. 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and 
unless otherwise provided in this section, an eligible pro-
vider that enters into a Veterans Care Agreement under 
this section is not subject to, in the carrying out of the 
agreement, any provision of law that providers of services 
and suppliers under the original Medicare fee-for-service 
program under parts A and B of title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) or the Medicaid pro-
gram under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) 
are not subject to. 
‘‘(B) In addition to the provisions of laws covered by 
subparagraph (A), an eligible provider shall be subject to 
the following provisions of law: 
‘‘(i) Any applicable law regarding integrity, eth-
ics, or fraud, or that subject a person to civil or 
criminal penalties. 
‘‘(ii) Section 431 of title 18. 
‘‘(iii) Section 1352 of title 31, except for the fil-
ing requirements under subsection (b) of such sec-
tion. 
‘‘(iv) Section 4705 or 4712 of title 41, and any 
other applicable law regarding the protection of 
whistleblowers. 
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‘‘(v) Section 4706(d) of title 41. 
‘‘(vi) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
(42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) to the same extent as 
such title applies with respect to the eligible provider 
in providing care or services through an agreement 
or arrangement other than under a Veterans Care 
Agreement. 
‘‘(C) An eligible provider that receives a payment 
from the Federal Government pursuant to a Veterans 
Care Agreement shall not be treated as a Federal con-
tractor or subcontractor by the Office of Federal Contract 
Compliance Programs of the Department of Labor based 
on the work performed or actions taken by such eligible 
provider that resulted in the receipt of such payments. 
‘‘(g) TERMINATION OF A VETERANS CARE AGREE-
MENT.—(1) An eligible provider may terminate a Veterans 
Care Agreement with the Secretary under this section at 
such time and upon such notice to the Secretary as the 
Secretary may specify for purposes of this section. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may terminate a Veterans Care 
Agreement with an eligible provider under this section at 
such time and upon such notice to the eligible provider 
as the Secretary may specify for the purposes of this sec-
tion, if the Secretary— 
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‘‘(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committees on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘eligible provider’ means a pro-
vider of hospital care, medical services, or extended 
care that the Secretary determines is eligible to 
enter into Veterans Care Agreements under sub-
section (c). 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Veterans Care Agreement’ 
means an agreement entered into by the Secretary 
with an eligible provider under subsection (a)(1).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1703 the following new 
item: 
‘‘1703A. Veterans Care Agreements with certain health care providers.’’. 
SEC. 102. PAYMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 is amended by insert-
ing after section 1703A, as added by section 101, the fol-
lowing new section: 
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‘‘§ 1703B. Payment of health care providers 
‘‘(a) PROMPT PAYMENT.—If, in making payments to 
non-Department health care providers under contracts or 
sharing agreements entered into pursuant to this chapter 
or any other provision of law, the Secretary is required 
to pay any fees or penalties by reason of not fully com-
plying with chapter 39 of title 31 (commonly referred to 
as the ‘Prompt Payment Act’), such fees or penalties shall 
be derived from the Medical Services account of the De-
partment. 
‘‘(b) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—On a quarterly basis 
during fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report, with 
respect to the quarter covered by the report, identifying 
each fee or penalty paid by the Secretary for not fully com-
plying with chapter 39 of title 31 as described in sub-
section (a) and including an explanation of the reason the 
Secretary did not fully comply with such chapter 39.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1703A, as added by sec-
tion 101, the following new item: 
‘‘1703B. Payment of health care providers.’’. 
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Subtitle B—Patient Advocacy 
SEC. 111. COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON IMPROVING CARE 
FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS. 
(a) COMMUNITY MEETINGS.— 
(1) MEDICAL
CENTERS.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
not less frequently than once every 90 days there-
after, the Secretary shall ensure that each medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs hosts 
a community meeting open to the public on improv-
ing health care furnished by the Secretary. 
(2) COMMUNITY
BASED
OUTPATIENT
CLIN-
ICS.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall ensure that 
each community based outpatient clinic of the De-
partment hosts a community meeting open to the 
public on improving health care furnished by the 
Secretary. 
(b) ATTENDANCE BY DIRECTOR OF VETERANS INTE-
GRATED SERVICE NETWORK OR DESIGNEE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each community meeting 
hosted by a medical facility or community based out-
patient clinic under subsection (a) shall be attended 
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by the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service 
Network in which the medical facility or community 
based outpatient clinic, as the case may be, is lo-
cated. Subject to paragraph (2), the Director may 
delegate such attendance only to an employee who 
works in the Office of the Director. 
(2) ATTENDANCE BY DIRECTOR.—Each Direc-
tor of a Veterans Integrated Service Network shall 
personally attend not less than one community meet-
ing under subsection (a) hosted by each medical fa-
cility located in the Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work each year. 
(c) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall notify the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, and 
each Member of Congress (as defined in section 104) who 
represents the area in which the medical facility is located 
of a community meeting under subsection (a) by not later 
than 10 days before such community meeting occurs. 
SEC. 112. IMPROVEMENT OF AWARENESS OF PATIENT AD-
VOCACY PROGRAM AND PATIENT BILL OF 
RIGHTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, 
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in as many prominent locations as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate to be seen by the largest percentage of 
patients and family members of patients at each medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs— 
(1) display the purposes of the Patient Advo-
cacy Program of the Department and the contact in-
formation for the patient advocate at such medical 
facility; and 
(2) display the rights and responsibilities of— 
(A) patients and family members and pa-
tients at such medical facility; and 
(B) with respect to community living cen-
ters and other residential facilities of the De-
partment, residents and family members of resi-
dents at such medical facility. 
SEC. 113. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON PATIENT 
ADVOCACY PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the Patient Advocacy Program of the Department of 
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Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Pro-
gram’’). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the Program, including— 
(A) the purpose of the Program; 
(B) the activities carried out under the 
Program; and 
(C) the sufficiency of the Program in 
achieving the purpose of the Program. 
(2) An assessment of the sufficiency of staffing 
of employees of the Department responsible for car-
rying out the Program. 
(3) An assessment of the sufficiency of the 
training of such employees. 
(4) An assessment of— 
(A) the awareness of the Program among 
veterans and family members of veterans; and 
(B) the use of the Program by veterans 
and family members of veterans. 
(5) Such recommendations and proposals for 
improving or modifying the Program as the Comp-
troller General considers appropriate. 
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(6) Such other information with respect to the 
Program as the Comptroller General considers ap-
propriate. 
Subtitle C—Complementary and 
Integrative Health 
SEC. 121. PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEGRATION OF COM-
PLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES AND 
RELATED ISSUES FOR VETERANS AND FAM-
ILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a pilot 
program to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
using wellness-based programs (as defined by the 
Secretary) to complement the provision of pain man-
agement and related health care services, including 
mental health care services, to veterans. 
(2) MATTERS ADDRESSED.—In carrying out the 
pilot program, the Secretary shall assess the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Means of improving coordination be-
tween Federal, State, local, and community pro-
viders of health care in the provision of pain 
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management and related health care services to 
veterans. 
(B) Means of enhancing outreach, and co-
ordination of outreach, by and among providers 
of health care referred to in subparagraph (A) 
on the pain management and related health 
care services available to veterans. 
(C) Means of using wellness-based pro-
grams of providers of health care referred to in 
subparagraph (A) as complements to the provi-
sion by the Department of pain management 
and related health care services to veterans. 
(D) Whether wellness-based programs de-
scribed in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) are effective in enhancing the qual-
ity of life and well-being of veterans; 
(ii) are effective in increasing the ad-
herence of veterans to the primary pain 
management and related health care serv-
ices provided such veterans by the Depart-
ment; 
(iii) have an effect on the sense of 
well-being of veterans who receive primary 
pain management and related health care 
services from the Department; and 
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(iv) are effective in encouraging vet-
erans receiving health care from the De-
partment to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. 
(b) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
pilot program under subsection (a)(1) for a period of three 
years. 
(c) LOCATIONS.— 
(1) FACILITIES.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the pilot program under subsection (a)(1) at facili-
ties of the Department providing pain management 
and related health care services, including mental 
health care services, to veterans. In selecting such 
facilities to carry out the pilot program, the Sec-
retary shall select not fewer than 15 medical centers 
of the Department, of which not fewer than two 
shall be polytrauma rehabilitation centers of the De-
partment. 
(2) MEDICAL
CENTERS
WITH
PRESCRIPTION 
RATES
OF
OPIOIDS
THAT
CONFLICT
WITH
CARE 
STANDARDS.—In selecting the medical centers under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to 
medical centers of the Department at which there is 
a prescription rate of opioids that conflicts with or 
is otherwise inconsistent with the standards of ap-
propriate and safe care. 
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(d) PROVISION OF SERVICES.—Under the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall provide 
covered services to covered veterans by integrating com-
plementary and alternative medicines and integrative 
health services with other services provided by the Depart-
ment at the medical centers selected under subsection (c). 
(e) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of the pilot 
program under subsection (a)(1), a covered veteran is any 
veteran who— 
(1) has a mental health condition diagnosed by 
a clinician of the Department; 
(2) experiences chronic pain; 
(3) has a chronic condition being treated by a 
clinician of the Department; or 
(4) is not described in paragraph (1), (2), or 
(3) and requests to participate in the pilot program 
or is referred by a clinician of the Department who 
is treating the veteran. 
(f) COVERED SERVICES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of the pilot 
program, covered services are services consisting of 
complementary and integrative health services as se-
lected by the Secretary. 
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(2) ADMINISTRATION
OF
SERVICES.—Covered 
services shall be administered under the pilot pro-
gram as follows: 
(A) Covered services shall be administered 
by professionals or other instructors with ap-
propriate training and expertise in complemen-
tary and integrative health services who are em-
ployees of the Department or with whom the 
Department enters into an agreement to pro-
vide such services. 
(B) Covered services shall be included as 
part of the Patient Aligned Care Teams initia-
tive of the Office of Patient Care Services, Pri-
mary Care Program Office, in coordination with 
the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cul-
tural Transformation. 
(C) Covered services shall be made avail-
able to— 
(i) covered veterans who have received 
conventional treatments from the Depart-
ment for the conditions for which the cov-
ered veteran seeks complementary and in-
tegrative health services under the pilot 
program; and 
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(ii) covered veterans who have not re-
ceived conventional treatments from the 
Department for such conditions. 
(g) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 months 
after the date on which the Secretary commences the 
pilot program under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
pilot program. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) The findings and conclusions of the 
Secretary with respect to the pilot program 
under subsection (a)(1), including with respect 
to— 
(i) the use and efficacy of the com-
plementary and integrative health services 
established under the pilot program; 
(ii) the outreach conducted by the 
Secretary to inform veterans and commu-
nity organizations about the pilot program; 
and 
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(iii) an assessment of the benefit of 
the pilot program to covered veterans in 
mental health diagnoses, pain manage-
ment, and treatment of chronic illness. 
(B) Identification of any unresolved bar-
riers that impede the ability of the Secretary to 
incorporate 
complementary 
and 
integrative 
health services with other health care services 
provided by the Department. 
(C) Such recommendations for the continu-
ation or expansion of the pilot program as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
(h) COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘complementary and 
integrative health’’ shall have the meaning given that term 
by the National Institutes of Health. 
Subtitle D—Fitness of Health Care 
Providers 
SEC. 131. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRING OF 
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BY DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
As part of the hiring process for each health care pro-
vider considered for a position at the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs after the date of the enactment of the Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall require from the 
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medical board of each State in which the health care pro-
vider has a medical license— 
(1) information on any violation of the require-
ments of the medical license of the health care pro-
vider during the 20-year period preceding the con-
sideration of the health care provider by the Depart-
ment; and 
(2) information on whether the health care pro-
vider has entered into any settlement agreement for 
the disciplinary charge relating to the practice of 
medicine by the health care provider. 
SEC. 132. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON HEALTH CARE 
PROVIDERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS TO STATE MEDICAL BOARDS. 
Notwithstanding section 552a of title 5, United 
States Code, with respect to each health care provider of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs who has violated a 
requirement of the medical license of the health care pro-
vider, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to 
the medical board of each State in which the health care 
provider is licensed detailed information with respect to 
such violation, regardless of whether such board has for-
mally requested such information. 
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SEC. 133. REPORT ON COMPLIANCE BY DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
WITH 
REVIEWS 
OF 
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS LEAVING THE DE-
PARTMENT OR TRANSFERRING TO OTHER 
FACILITIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives a report on the compliance by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs with the policy of the De-
partment— 
(1) to conduct a review of each health care pro-
vider of the Department who transfers to another 
medical facility of the Department, retires, or is ter-
minated to determine whether there are any con-
cerns, complaints, or allegations of violations relat-
ing to the medical practice of the health care pro-
vider; and 
(2) to take appropriate action with respect to 
any such concern, complaint, or allegation. 
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Subtitle E—Other Matters 
SEC. 141. AUDIT OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 
PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS. 
(a) AUDIT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
seek to enter into a contract with a nongovernmental enti-
ty under which the entity shall conduct audits of the pro-
grams of the Veterans Health Administration of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to identify ways to improve 
the furnishing of benefits and health care administered by 
the Veterans Health Administration to veterans and fami-
lies of veterans. 
(b) AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out each 
audit under subsection (a), the entity shall perform the 
following: 
(1) Five-year risk assessments to identify the 
functions, staff organizations, and staff offices of the 
Veterans Health Administration that would lead to-
wards the greatest improvement in furnishing of 
benefits and health care to veterans and families of 
veterans. 
(2) Development of plans that are informed by 
the risk assessment under paragraph (1) to conduct 
audits of the functions, staff organizations, and staff 
offices identified under paragraph (1). 
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(3) Conduct audits in accordance with the plans 
developed pursuant to paragraph (2). 
(c) REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which each audit is completed under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
a report that includes— 
(1) a summary of the audit; 
(2) the findings of the entity that conducted the 
audit with respect to the audit; and 
(3) such recommendations as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate for legislative or administrative 
action to improve the furnishing of benefits and 
health care to veterans and families of veterans. 
TITLE II—CONSTRUCTION AND 
FACILITIES MATTERS 
SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN MAJOR MEDICAL 
FACILITY PROJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs may carry out the following major medical facility 
projects, with each project to be carried out in an amount 
not to exceed the amount specified for that project: 
(1) Seismic corrections to buildings, including 
retrofitting and replacement of high-risk buildings, 
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in San Francisco, California, in an amount not to 
exceed $175,880,000. 
(2) Seismic corrections to facilities, including 
facilities to support homeless veterans, at the med-
ical center in West Los Angeles, California, in an 
amount not to exceed $100,250,000. 
(3) Seismic corrections to the mental health 
and community living center in Long Beach, Cali-
fornia, in an amount not to exceed $282,100,000. 
(4) Construction of an outpatient clinic, admin-
istrative space, cemetery, and columbarium in Ala-
meda, California, in an amount not to exceed 
$83,782,000. 
(5) Realignment of medical facilities in Liver-
more, California, in an amount not to exceed 
$188,650,000. 
(6) Construction of a replacement community 
living center in Perry Point, Maryland, in an 
amount not to exceed $92,700,000. 
(7) Seismic corrections and other renovations to 
several buildings and construction of a specialty care 
building in American Lake, Washington, in an 
amount not to exceed $13,830,000. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR CON-
STRUCTION.—There is authorized to be appropriated to 
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the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 or 
the year in which funds are appropriated for the Construc-
tion, Major Projects, account, $937,192,000 for the 
projects authorized in subsection (a). 
(c) LIMITATION.—The projects authorized in sub-
section (a) may only be carried out using— 
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2016 pur-
suant to the authorization of appropriations in sub-
section (b); 
(2) funds available for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 
that remain available for obligation; 
(3) funds available for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 that 
remain available for obligation; 
(4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for fiscal year 2016 for a category of activ-
ity not specific to a project; 
(5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 for 
a category of activity not specific to a project; and 
(6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 for 
a category of activity not specific to a project. 
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SEC. 202. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, for each project authorized in section 
2(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate the following information: 
(1) A line item accounting of expenditures re-
lating to construction management carried out by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for such project. 
(2) The future amounts that are budgeted to be 
obligated for construction management carried out 
by the Department for such project. 
(3) A justification for the expenditures de-
scribed in paragraph (1) and the future amounts de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
(4) Any agreement entered into by the Sec-
retary regarding the Army Corps of Engineers pro-
viding services relating to such project, including re-
imbursement agreements and the costs to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for such services. 
SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
LEASES. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
following major medical facility leases at the locations 
specified, and in an amount for each lease not to exceed 
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the amount shown for such location (not including any es-
timated cancellation costs): 
(1) For an outpatient clinic, Ann Arbor, Michi-
gan, an amount not to exceed $17,093,000. 
(2) For an outpatient mental health clinic, Bir-
mingham, Alabama, an amount not to exceed 
$6,971,000. 
(3) For an outpatient specialty clinic, Bir-
mingham, Alabama, an amount not to exceed 
$10,479,000. 
(4) For research space, Boston, Massachusetts, 
an amount not to exceed $5,497,000. 
(5) For research space, Charleston, South 
Carolina, an amount not to exceed $6,581,000. 
(6) For an outpatient clinic, Daytona Beach, 
Florida, an amount not to exceed $12,664,000. 
(7) For Chief Business Office Purchased Care 
office space, Denver, Colorado, an amount not to ex-
ceed $17,215,000. 
(8) For an outpatient clinic, Gainesville, Flor-
ida, an amount not to exceed $4,686,000. 
(9) For an outpatient clinic, Hampton Roads, 
Virginia, an amount not to exceed $18,124,000. 
(10) For research space Mission Bay, Cali-
fornia, an amount not to exceed $23,454,000. 
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(11) For an outpatient clinic, Missoula, Mon-
tana, an amount not to exceed $7,130,000. 
(12) For an outpatient clinic, Northern Colo-
rado, 
Colorado, 
an 
amount 
not 
to 
exceed 
$8,776,000. 
(13) For an outpatient clinic, Ocala, Florida, 
an amount not to exceed $5,279,000. 
(14) For an outpatient clinic, Oxnard, Cali-
fornia, an amount not to exceed $6,297,000. 
(15) For an outpatient clinic, Pike County, 
Georgia, an amount not to exceed $5,757,000. 
(16) For an outpatient clinic, Portland, Maine, 
an amount not to exceed $6,846,000. 
(17) For an outpatient clinic, Raleigh, North 
Carolina, an amount not to exceed $21,607,000. 
(18) For an outpatient clinic, Santa Rosa, Cali-
fornia, an amount not to exceed $6,498,000. 
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF SALE OF PERSHING HALL. 
Section 403 of the Veterans’ Benefits Programs Im-
provement Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–86; 38 U.S.C. 
2400 note) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF SALE.—(1) The Secretary 
may sell for fair market value Pershing Hall and transfer 
and convey to the purchaser all right, title, and interest 
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of the United States in or to such property. The Secretary 
shall determine fair market value based on an independent 
assessment conducted by another department or agency 
of the Federal Government or a nongovernmental entity. 
The Secretary may only accept money as consideration for 
such sale. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary sells Pershing Hall pursuant to 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall return to the entity 
from which the United States acquired Pershing Hall pur-
suant to the Act of June 28, 1935 (Chapter 323; 49 Stat. 
426), any personal property (including memorabilia re-
garding General Pershing and the American Expedi-
tionary Forces in France during World War I) in the pos-
session of the Department of Veterans Affairs as of the 
date of the enactment of this subsection that was located 
in Pershing Hall (or otherwise associated with Pershing 
Hall) on the date of such acquisition. 
‘‘(3) The funds received by the Secretary pursuant 
to the sale of Pershing Hall under paragraph (1) shall 
be deposited in the ‘Construction, Major Projects’ account 
of the Department and be made available, without fiscal 
year limitation, for the purposes of such account. 
‘‘(4)(A) Effective on the day after the date of the sale 
of Pershing Hall authorized under paragraph (1), the au-
thority of the Secretary to carry out subsections (a), (b), 
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(c), and (e) shall terminate except for purposes of carrying 
out paragraph (2) of this subsection. 
‘‘(B) Effective on the date that is one year after the 
date of the sale of Pershing Hall authorized under para-
graph (1), the Pershing Hall Revolving Fund shall be 
abolished and the corpus of the fund, including accrued 
interest, shall be deposited in the ‘Construction, Major 
Projects’ account of the Department and be made avail-
able, without fiscal year limitation, for the purposes of 
such account.’’. 
SEC. 205. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN LEASES AT 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
WEST LOS ANGELES CAMPUS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may carry out leases described in subsection (b) at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Cam-
pus in Los Angeles, California (hereinafter in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Campus’’). 
(b) LEASES DESCRIBED.—Leases described in this 
subsection are the following: 
(1) Any enhanced-use lease of real property 
under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United 
States Code, for purposes of providing supportive 
housing, as that term is defined in section 8161(3) 
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of such title, that principally benefit veterans and 
their families. 
(2) Any lease of real property for a term not to 
exceed 50 years to a third party to provide services 
that principally benefit veterans and their families 
and that are limited to one or more of the following 
purposes: 
(A) The promotion of health and wellness, 
including nutrition and spiritual wellness. 
(B) Education. 
(C) Vocational training, skills building, or 
other training related to employment. 
(D) Peer activities, socialization, or phys-
ical recreation. 
(E) Assistance with legal issues and Fed-
eral benefits. 
(F) Volunteerism. 
(G) Family support services, including 
child care. 
(H) Transportation. 
(I) Services in support of one or more of 
the purposes specified in subparagraphs (A) 
through (H). 
(3) A lease of real property for a term not to 
exceed 10 years to The Regents of the University of 
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California, a corporation organized under the laws of 
the State of California, on behalf of its University of 
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus (herein-
after in this section referred to as ‘‘The Regents’’), 
if— 
(A) the lease is consistent with the master 
plan described in subsection (g); 
(B) the provision of services to veterans is 
the predominant focus of the activities of The 
Regents at the Campus during the term of the 
lease; 
(C) The Regents expressly agrees to pro-
vide, during the term of the lease and to an ex-
tent and in a manner that the Secretary con-
siders appropriate, additional services and sup-
port (for which The Regents is not compensated 
by the Secretary or through an existing medical 
affiliation agreement) that— 
(i) principally benefit veterans and 
their families, including veterans that are 
severely disabled, women, aging, or home-
less; and 
(ii) may consist of activities relating 
to the medical, clinical, therapeutic, die-
tary, rehabilitative, legal, mental, spiritual, 
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physical, recreational, research, and coun-
seling needs of veterans and their families 
or any of the purposes specified in any of 
subparagraphs (A) through (I) of para-
graph (1); and 
(D) The Regents maintains records docu-
menting the value of the additional services and 
support that The Regents provides pursuant to 
subparagraph (C) for the duration of the lease 
and makes such records available to the Sec-
retary. 
(c) LIMITATION ON LAND-SHARING AGREEMENTS.— 
The Secretary may not carry out any land-sharing agree-
ment pursuant to section 8153 of title 38, United States 
Code, at the Campus unless such agreement— 
(1) provides additional health care resources to 
the Campus; and 
(2) benefits veterans and their families other 
than from the generation of revenue for the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
(d) REVENUES FROM LEASES AT THE CAMPUS.— 
Any funds received by the Secretary under a lease de-
scribed in subsection (b) shall be credited to the applicable 
Department medical facilities account and shall be avail-
able, without fiscal year limitation and without further ap-
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propriation, exclusively for the renovation and mainte-
nance of the land and facilities at the Campus. 
(e) EASEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law (other than Federal laws relating to 
environmental and historic preservation), pursuant 
to section 8124 of title 38, United States Code, the 
Secretary may grant easements or rights-of-way on, 
above, or under lands at the Campus to— 
(A) any local or regional public transpor-
tation authority to access, construct, use, oper-
ate, maintain, repair, or reconstruct public 
mass transit facilities, including, fixed guideway 
facilities and transportation centers; and 
(B) the State of California, County of Los 
Angeles, City of Los Angeles, or any agency or 
political subdivision thereof, or any public util-
ity company (including any company providing 
electricity, gas, water, sewage, or telecommuni-
cation services to the public) for the purpose of 
providing such public utilities. 
(2) IMPROVEMENTS.—Any improvements pro-
posed pursuant to an easement or right-of-way au-
thorized under paragraph (1) shall be subject to 
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such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
(3) TERMINATION.—Any easement or right-of- 
way authorized under paragraph (1) shall be termi-
nated upon the abandonment or nonuse of the ease-
ment or right-of-way and all right, title, and interest 
in the land covered by the easement or right-of-way 
shall revert to the United States. 
(f) PROHIBITION ON SALE OF PROPERTY.—Notwith-
standing section 8164 of title 38, United States Code, the 
Secretary may not sell or otherwise convey to a third party 
fee simple title to any real property or improvements to 
real property made at the Campus. 
(g) CONSISTENCY WITH MASTER PLAN.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that each lease carried out under this 
section is consistent with the draft master plan approved 
by the Secretary on January 28, 2016, or successor mas-
ter plans. 
(h) COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN LAWS.— 
(1) LAWS
RELATING
TO
LEASES
AND
LAND 
USE.—If the Inspector General of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs determines, as part of an audit re-
port or evaluation conducted by the Inspector Gen-
eral, that the Department is not in compliance with 
all Federal laws relating to leases and land use at 
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the Campus, or that significant mismanagement has 
occurred with respect to leases or land use at the 
Campus, the Secretary may not enter into any lease 
or land-sharing agreement at the Campus, or renew 
any such lease or land-sharing agreement that is not 
in compliance with such laws, until the Secretary 
certifies to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the House of Representatives, and each Member of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives who 
represents the area in which the Campus is located 
that all recommendations included in the audit re-
port or evaluation have been implemented. 
(2) COMPLIANCE
OF
PARTICULAR
LEASES.— 
Except as otherwise expressly provided by this sec-
tion, no lease may be entered into or renewed under 
this section unless the lease complies with chapter 
33 of title 41, United States Code, and all Federal 
laws relating to environmental and historic preserva-
tion. 
(i) VETERANS AND COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT AND EN-
GAGEMENT BOARD.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall establish a Veterans and Community 
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Oversight and Engagement Board (in this sub-
section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’) for the Campus 
to coordinate locally with the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs to— 
(A) identify the goals of the community 
and veteran partnership; 
(B) provide advice and recommendations 
to the Secretary to improve services and out-
comes for veterans, members of the Armed 
Forces, and the families of such veterans and 
members; and 
(C) provide advice and recommendations 
on the implementation of the draft master plan 
approved by the Secretary on January 28, 
2016, and on the creation and implementation 
of any successor master plans. 
(2) MEMBERS.—The Board shall be comprised 
of a number of members that the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate, of which not less than 50 percent 
shall be veterans. The nonveteran members shall be 
family members of veterans, veteran advocates, serv-
ice providers, real estate professionals familiar with 
housing development projects, or other stakeholders. 
(3) COMMUNITY INPUT.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Board shall— 
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(A) provide the community opportunities to 
collaborate and communicate with the Board, 
including by conducting public forums on the 
Campus; and 
(B) focus on local issues regarding the De-
partment that are identified by the community, 
including with respect to health care, benefits, 
and memorial services at the Campus and im-
plementation of the draft master plan and any 
subsequent plans. 
(j) NOTIFICATION AND REPORTS.— 
(1) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—With re-
spect to each lease or land-sharing agreement in-
tended to be entered into or renewed at the Campus, 
the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, and 
each Member of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives who represents the area in which the 
Campus is located of the intent of the Secretary to 
enter into or renew the lease or land-sharing agree-
ment not later than 45 days before entering into or 
renewing the lease or land-sharing agreement. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not 
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less frequently than annually thereafter, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the House of Representatives, and each 
Member of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives who represents the area in which the Campus 
is located an annual report evaluating all leases and 
land-sharing agreements carried out at the Campus, 
including— 
(A) an evaluation of the management of 
the revenue generated by the leases; and 
(B) the records described in subsection 
(b)(3)(D). 
(3) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than each of 
two years and five years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and as determined nec-
essary by the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs thereafter, the Inspec-
tor General shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent-
atives, and each Member of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives who represents the 
area in which the Campus is located a report on 
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all leases carried out at the Campus and the 
management by the Department of the use of 
land at the Campus, including an assessment of 
the efforts of the Department to implement the 
master plan described in subsection (g) with re-
spect to the Campus. 
(B) CONSIDERATION
OF
ANNUAL
RE-
PORT.—In preparing each report required by 
subparagraph (A), the Inspector General shall 
take into account the most recent report sub-
mitted to Congress by the Secretary under 
paragraph (2). 
(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as a limitation on the authority 
of the Secretary to enter into other agreements regarding 
the Campus that are authorized by law and not incon-
sistent with this section. 
(l) PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT VETERANS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES DEFINED.—In this section the term ‘‘prin-
cipally benefit veterans and their families’’, with respect 
to services provided by a person or entity under a lease 
of property or land-sharing agreement— 
(1) means services— 
(A) provided exclusively to veterans and 
their families; or 
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(B) that are designed for the particular 
needs of veterans and their families, as opposed 
to the general public, and any benefit of those 
services to the general public is ancillary to the 
intended benefit to veterans and their families; 
and 
(2) excludes services in which the only benefit 
to veterans and their families is the generation of 
revenue for the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(m) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) PROHIBITION
ON
DISPOSAL
OF
PROP-
ERTY.—Section 224(a) of the Military Construction 
and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appro-
priations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–161; 121 Stat. 
2272) is amended by striking ‘‘The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as author-
ized under the VA Construction and Lease Author-
ization, Health, and Benefits Enhancement Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs’’. 
(2) ENHANCED-USE LEASES.—Section 8162(c) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘, other than an enhanced- 
use lease under the VA Construction and Lease Au-
thorization, Health, and Benefits Enhancement 
Act,’’ before ‘‘shall be considered’’. 
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TITLE III—MATTERS RELATING 
TO TOXIC EXPOSURE 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ARMED FORCE.—The term ‘‘Armed Force’’ 
means the United States Army, Navy, Marine 
Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the re-
serve components thereof. 
(2) DESCENDANT.—The term ‘‘descendant’’ 
means, with respect to an individual, the biological 
child or grandchild of that individual. 
(3) EXPOSED.—The term ‘‘exposed’’ means, 
with respect to a toxic substance, that an individual 
came into contact with that toxic substance in a 
manner that could be hazardous to the health of 
that individual, that may include if that toxic sub-
stance was inhaled, ingested, or touched the skin or 
eyes. 
(4) EXPOSURE.—The term ‘‘exposure’’ means, 
with respect to a toxic substance, an event during 
which an individual was exposed to that toxic sub-
stance. 
(5) TOXIC SUBSTANCE.—The term ‘‘toxic sub-
stance’’ means any substance determined by the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
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to be harmful to the environment or hazardous to 
the health of an individual if inhaled or ingested by 
or absorbed through the skin of that individual. 
(6) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 302. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON THE DIAG-
NOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEALTH CONDI-
TIONS OF THE DESCENDANTS OF INDIVID-
UALS EXPOSED TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES DUR-
ING SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES THAT 
ARE RELATED TO SUCH SERVICE. 
(a) NATIONAL CENTER.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this title, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with 
the Advisory Board established under section 303, 
select a medical center of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs to serve as the national center for re-
search on the diagnosis and treatment of health con-
ditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic 
substances while serving as members of the Armed 
Forces that are related to such exposure (in this 
title referred to as the ‘‘National Center’’). 
(2) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The National Center 
shall be selected under paragraph (1) from 
among medical centers of the Department with 
expertise described in subparagraph (B), or 
that are affiliated with research medical centers 
or teaching hospitals with such expertise, that 
seek to be selected under this section. 
(B) EXPERTISE DESCRIBED.—The exper-
tise described in this subparagraph is— 
(i) expertise in diagnosing and treat-
ing functional and structural birth defects; 
or 
(ii) expertise in caring for individuals 
exposed to toxic substances and diagnosing 
and treating any health conditions result-
ing from such exposure. 
(C) PREFERENCE.—Preference for selec-
tion under paragraph (1) shall be given to med-
ical centers of the Department with expertise 
described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
(B), or that are affiliated with research medical 
centers or teaching hospitals with such exper-
tise. 
(b) RESEARCH.— 
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(ii) such individual is afflicted with a 
health condition that is related to the exposure 
of such individual to such toxic substance. 
(3) USE OF RECORDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of De-
fense or the head of a Federal agency shall 
make available to the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs for review records held by the Department 
of Defense, an Armed Force, or that Federal 
agency, as appropriate, that might assist the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs in making the de-
terminations required by paragraph (2). 
(B) MECHANISM.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense or 
the head of the appropriate Federal agency 
shall jointly establish a mechanism for the 
availability and review of records by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs under subparagraph 
(A). 
(c) SOCIAL WORKERS.—The National Center shall 
employ not less than one licensed clinical social worker to 
coordinate access of individuals to appropriate Federal, 
State, and local social and health care programs and to 
handle case management. 
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(d) REIMBURSEMENT FOR NECESSARY TRAVEL AND 
ROOM AND BOARD.—The National Center shall reimburse 
any individual participating in a study pursuant to sub-
section (b), and any parent, guardian, spouse, or sibling 
who accompanies such individual, for the reasonable cost 
of— 
(1) travel to the National Center for participa-
tion in such study; and 
(2) room and board during the period in which 
such individual is participating in such study at the 
National Center. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not less frequently 
than annually, the National Center shall submit 
to Congress and the Advisory Board established 
under section 4 a report on the functions of the 
National Center during the year preceding the 
submittal of the report that includes a sum-
mary of the research efforts of the National 
Center that have been completed during such 
year and that are ongoing as of the date of the 
submittal of the report. 
(B) UPON REQUEST.—Upon the request of 
any organization exempt from taxation under 
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section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, the National Center shall submit 
a copy of a report submitted under subpara-
graph (A) to such organization. 
(2) 
QUARTERLY
REPORT
TO
ADVISORY 
BOARD.—Not less frequently than quarterly, the Na-
tional Center shall submit to the Advisory Board a 
report on the functions of the National Center dur-
ing the quarter preceding the submittal of the report 
that includes the following: 
(A) A summary of the research efforts of 
the National Center during such quarter. 
(B) A description of any determinations 
made by the National Center pursuant to such 
research efforts regarding whether health condi-
tions of descendants of individuals exposed to 
toxic substances while serving as members of 
the Armed Forces are related to that exposure. 
SEC. 303. ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish an advisory board (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Board’’) to oversee 
and assess the National Center established under section 
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302 and to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with 
respect to the work of the National Center. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this title, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Direc-
tor of the National Institute of Environmental 
Health Sciences, and other heads of Federal agen-
cies as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines 
appropriate— 
(A) shall select not less than 13 voting 
members of the Advisory Board, of whom— 
(i) not less than three shall be mem-
bers of organizations exempt from taxation 
under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986; 
(ii) not less than one shall be— 
(I) a descendant of an individual 
who was exposed to toxic substances 
while serving as a member of the 
Armed Forces and the descendant has 
manifested a structural or functional 
birth defect or a health condition that 
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is related to the exposure of such indi-
vidual to such toxic substance; or 
(II) a parent or child of that de-
scendant; 
(iii) not less than six shall be health 
professionals, scientists, or academics who 
are not employees of the Federal Govern-
ment and have expertise in— 
(I) birth defects; 
(II) developmental disabilities; 
(III) epigenetics; 
(IV) public health; 
(V) the science of environmental 
exposure or environmental exposure 
assessment; 
(VI) the science of toxic sub-
stances; or 
(VII) medical and research eth-
ics; and 
(iv) additional members may be se-
lected from among social workers and ad-
vocates for veterans or members of the 
Armed Forces who are not employees of 
the Federal Government; and 
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(B) may select nonvoting members from 
among individuals described in clause (iii) or 
(iv) of subparagraph (A) who are employees of 
the Federal Government. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall select 
a Chairperson from among the members of the Advi-
sory Board. 
(3) TERMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the 
Advisory Board shall serve a term of two or 
three years as determined by the Secretary. 
(B) REAPPOINTMENT.—At the end of the 
term of a member of the Advisory Board, the 
Secretary may reselect the member for another 
term, except that no member may serve more 
than four consecutive terms. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall— 
(1) oversee and assess the work of the National 
Center; 
(2) not less frequently than quarterly, meet 
with the director or another representative of the 
National Center on the work conducted at the Na-
tional Center, including the research efforts of the 
National Center; 
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(3) review the annual report submitted by the 
National Center to Congress and the Advisory Board 
under section 302(e)(1); and 
(4) advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
on— 
(A) issues related to the research con-
ducted at the National Center; 
(B) health conditions of descendants of in-
dividuals exposed to toxic substances while serv-
ing as members of the Armed Forces that are 
related to the exposure of such individual to 
such toxic substance; 
(C) health care services that are needed by 
the descendants of individuals exposed to toxic 
substances while serving as members of the 
Armed Forces for health conditions that are re-
lated to the exposure of such individual to such 
toxic substance; and 
(D) any determinations or recommenda-
tions that the Advisory Board may have with 
respect to the feasibility and advisability of the 
Department providing health care services de-
scribed in subparagraph (C) to descendants de-
scribed in such subparagraph, including a de-
scription of changes to existing policy. 
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(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the establishment of the Advisory Board under 
subsection (a), and not less frequently than once 
each year thereafter, the Advisory Board shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives, and the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs a report on the recommendations of 
the Advisory Board. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include recommendations for ad-
ministrative or legislative action, including rec-
ommendations for further research by the National 
Center, with respect to each health condition of a 
descendant of an individual exposed to a toxic sub-
stance while serving as a member of the Armed 
Forces for which the National Center has made one 
of the following determinations in conducting re-
search under section 302(b): 
(A) The health condition is related to the 
exposure of such individual to such toxic sub-
stance. 
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(B) It is unclear whether the health condi-
tion is related to the exposure of such individual 
to such toxic substance. 
(C) The health condition is not related to 
the exposure of such individual to such toxic 
substance. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Board shall meet at 
the call of the Chair, but not less frequently than quar-
terly. 
(f) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 
Board shall serve without compensation. 
(g) EXPENSES.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall determine the appropriate expenses of the Advisory 
Board. 
(h) PERSONNEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson may, with-
out regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
appoint an executive director of the Advisory Board, 
who shall be a civilian employee of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and such other personnel as 
may be necessary to enable the Advisory Board to 
perform its duties. 
(2) APPROVAL.—The appointment of an execu-
tive director under paragraph (1) shall be subject to 
approval by the Advisory Board. 
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(3) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson may fix 
the compensation of the executive director and other 
personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
United States Code, except that the rate of pay for 
the executive director and other personnel may not 
exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
SEC. 304. DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW BY DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE OF CERTAIN INCIDENTS OF EXPO-
SURE OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Secretary of Defense shall con-
duct a declassification review to determine what informa-
tion may be made publicly available relating to any known 
incident in which not less than 100 members of the Armed 
Forces were exposed to a toxic substance that resulted in 
at least one case of a disability that a specialist in the 
field of occupational medicine has determined to be 
credibly associated with that toxic substance. 
(b) RELEASE OF DECLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—To 
the extent practicable, and subject to subsection (c) and 
consistent with national security, the Secretary of Defense 
shall make publicly available information declassified fol-
lowing the review required by subsection (a). 
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(c) LIMITATION.—Information made publicly avail-
able pursuant to subsection (b) shall be limited to informa-
tion necessary for an individual who was potentially ex-
posed to a toxic substance to determine the following: 
(1) Whether that individual was exposed to that 
toxic substance. 
(2) The potential severity of the exposure of 
that individual to that toxic substance. 
(3) Any potential health conditions that may 
have resulted from exposure to that toxic substance. 
SEC. 305. NATIONAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGN ON POTENTIAL 
LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE 
TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES BY MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and the Secretary of Defense, conduct 
a national outreach and education campaign directed to-
ward members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their 
family members to communicate the following informa-
tion: 
(1) Information on— 
(A) incidents of exposure of members of 
the Armed Forces to toxic substances; 
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(B) health conditions resulting from such 
exposure; and 
(C) the potential long-term effects of such 
exposure on the individuals exposed to those 
substances and the descendants of those indi-
viduals. 
(2) Information on the National Center estab-
lished under section 302 for individuals eligible to 
participate in studies conducted at the National 
Center. 
(b) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—In car-
rying out this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall design and implement the national outreach and edu-
cation campaign conducted under subsection (a), includ-
ing— 
(1) by distributing printed materials containing 
the information described in subsection (a) to vet-
erans; 
(2) by publishing such information on an Inter-
net website of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
that is available to the public; 
(3) by presenting such information in person at 
facilities that serve a large number of veterans or 
members of the Armed Forces; and 
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(4) by educating employees of all medical facili-
ties of the Department with respect to such informa-
tion and providing such employees with printed ma-
terials containing such information. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall assist the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
implementing the national outreach and education cam-
paign conducted under subsection (a)— 
(1) by making the information described in sub-
section (a) available to all members of the Armed 
Forces and their families; 
(2) by notifying all members of the Armed 
Forces of such information; and 
(3) by publishing such information on an Inter-
net website of the Department of Defense that is 
available to the public. 
(d) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERV-
ICES.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
assist the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in implementing 
the national outreach and education campaign conducted 
under subsection (a)— 
(1) by making the information described in sub-
section (a) available to members of the health care 
profession; 
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(2) by notifying such members of such informa-
tion; and 
(3) by publishing such information on an Inter-
net website of the Department of Health and 
Human Services that is available to the public. 
TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 401. SPECIAL COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OR LOSS OF 
USE OF CREATIVE ORGANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1114 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(u)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall 
pay to a covered veteran two lump-sum special compensa-
tion payments each in the amount of $10,000. The second 
such payment may not occur less than one year after the 
date of the first such payment. 
‘‘(2) Special compensation paid to a covered veteran 
under paragraph (1) is in addition to disability compensa-
tion paid to the veteran pursuant to subsection (k), except 
that in any month in which the veteran receives a payment 
of such special compensation, the veteran may not also 
receive such disability compensation pursuant to sub-
section (k). 
‘‘(3) A covered veteran shall submit to the Secretary 
a separate, specific application for each payment of special 
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compensation paid under paragraph (1) in such form and 
in such manner as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the term ‘covered veteran’ 
means a veteran who— 
‘‘(A) is paid disability compensation pursuant 
to subsection (k) for— 
‘‘(i) the anatomical loss of one or more cre-
ative organs; or 
‘‘(ii) the permanent or static loss of use of 
one or more creative organs; and 
‘‘(B) is eligible for payments under the trau-
matic servicemembers’ group life insurance program 
under section 1980A of this title, or would be eligi-
ble for such payments but for the service of the vet-
eran occurring before the enactment of such section, 
for qualifying losses relating to an injury described 
in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A).’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Subsection (u) of section 1114 of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
shall apply with respect to a veteran who receives disability 
compensation on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
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fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report on special compensation paid under subsection (u) 
of section 1114 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a). Such report shall include the following: 
(1) The number of veterans who applied for 
such special compensation. 
(2) The number of veterans whom the Sec-
retary has paid such special compensation. 
(3) A list, by frequency, of the service-con-
nected disabilities for which such special compensa-
tion was paid. 
SEC. 402. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM TO ASSESS 
AND IMPROVE THE FAMILY CAREGIVER PRO-
GRAM; AUTHORITY TO EXPAND PROGRAM. 
(a) IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall implement an information technology 
system that fully supports the Program and allows 
for data assessment and comprehensive monitoring 
of the Program. 
(2) ELEMENTS OF SYSTEM.—The information 
technology system required to be implemented under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The ability to easily retrieve data (at 
the medical center and at aggregate levels) that 
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will allow all aspects of the Program and the 
workload trends for the Program to be assessed 
and comprehensively monitored. 
(B) The ability or capacity to manage data 
to accommodate any degree of expansion of the 
Program. 
(C) The ability to integrate the system 
with other relevant information technology sys-
tems of the Veterans Health Administration. 
(3) NOTIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTATION.—Not 
later than the date on which the Secretary com-
mences implementation of the system under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall notify the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives of the date of such implementation. 
(b) ONGOING MONITORING OF AND MODIFICATIONS 
TO PROGRAM.— 
(1) MONITORING.—The Secretary shall use the 
system implemented under subsection (a) to monitor 
and assess the workload of the Program, including 
monitoring and assessment of data on— 
(A) the status of applications, appeals, and 
home visits in connection with the Program; 
and 
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