I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1534
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring authorities
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to authorize medical construction
projects for that Department for fiscal year 1996, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 2, 1995
Mr. HUTCHINSON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain
expiring authorities of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, to authorize medical construction projects for that
Department for fiscal year 1996, 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. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES OF DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) OUTPATIENT SERVICES FOR PERSIAN GULF VET-
ERANS
EXPOSED
TO
TOXIC
SUBSTANCES.—Section
1712(a)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by striking out ‘‘December 31, 1995’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘December 31, 1997’’.
(b) CONTRACT AUTHORITY FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG
ABUSE CARE.—(1) Subsection (e) of section 1720A of
such title is amended by striking out ‘‘December 31,
1995’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘December 31, 1997’’.
(2) Subsection (f) of such section is amended by
striking out ‘‘October 1, 1997’’ and inserting in lieu there-
of ‘‘March 31, 1998’’.
(c) NURSING HOME CARE ALTERNATIVES.—(1) Sec-
tion 1720C(a) of such title is amended by striking out
‘‘September 30, 1995’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘De-
cember 31, 1996’’.
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to Congress a report, not later than March 31, 1996, on
the medical efficacy and cost effectiveness, and disadvan-
tages and advantages, associated with the use by the Sec-
retary of noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home
care.
(d) REAL PROPERTY FOR USE BY HOMELESS VET-
ERANS.—(1) Section 3735(c) of such title is amended by
striking out ‘‘December 31, 1995’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘December 31, 1997’’.
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to Congress a report, not later than March 31, 1997, on
the operation of the program under section 3735 of such
title relating to housing assistance for homeless veterans.
The report shall include the number of veterans served
by the program and the costs of the program and any sav-
ings generated to the Government under the program.
(e) HEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM.—(1) Section
7618 of such title is amended by striking out ‘‘December
31, 1995’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘December 31,
1997’’.
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to Congress a report, not later than March 31, 1997, on
the operation of the health scholarships program under
subchapter 2 of chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code.
The report shall include the number and types of scholar-
ships awarded and the effect of the program on retention
of employees by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(f) ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY.—
Section 8169 is amended by striking out ‘‘December 31,
1995’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘December 31, 1997’’.
(g) COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL CARE
FOR
HOMELESS CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL VETERANS.—
Section 115(d) of the Veterans’ Benefits and Services Act
of 1988 (Public Law 100–322; 38 U.S.C. 1712 note) is
amended by striking out ‘‘September 30, 1995’’ and in-
serting in lieu thereof ‘‘December 31, 1997’’.
(h) COMPENSATED WORK THERAPY AND THERA-
PEUTIC TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.—Section 7
of Public Law 102–54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note) is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking out ‘‘During
fiscal years 1991 through 1995, the Secretary’’ and
inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘The Secretary’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(m) SUNSET.—The authority for the demonstration
program under this section expires on December 31,
1997.’’.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VET-
ERANS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
(a) REPEAL.—Section 1732 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended—
(1) by striking out subsection (b);
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (b) and striking out ‘‘or grant’’ both places
it appears in that subsection; and
(3) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (c) and striking out ‘‘and to make grants’’
in that subsection.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—(1) The heading of
such section is amended by striking out ‘‘and grants’’.
(2) The item relating to such section in the table of
sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is
amended by striking out ‘‘and grants’’.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL CONSTRUC-
TION PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996.
(a) PROJECT AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may carry out the major medical facility
projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and may
carry out the major medical facility leases for that Depart-
ment, for which funds are requested in the budget of the
President for fiscal year 1996 and for which authorization
is required under section 8104(a)(2) of title 38, United
States Code.
(b) FUNDING AUTHORIZATION.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs for fiscal year 1996—
(1) $224,800,000 for the major medical facility
projects authorized in subsection (a); and
(2) $2,790,000 for the major medical facility
leases authorized in subsection (a).
(c) LIMITATIONS.—The projects authorized in sub-
section (a) may only be carried out using—
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 1996 pur-
suant to the authorization of appropriations in sub-
section (b);
(2) funds appropriated to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for Construction, Major Projects,
for any fiscal year that remain available for obliga-
tion; and
(3) funds appropriated to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for Construction, Major Projects,
for any fiscal year for a category of activity not spe-
cific to a project.
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