I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3020
To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical center for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
at a site to be selected pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal medical 
center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that would best serve the 
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries 
in Puerto Rico. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 5, 2003
Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA´ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical 
center for the Department of Veterans Affairs in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at a site to be selected 
pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal 
medical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
that would best serve the needs of both veterans and 
Department of Defense medical beneficiaries in Puerto 
Rico.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
PROJECT, 
COMMONWEALTH 
OF 
PUERTO 
RICO. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a 
major medical facility project for the construction of a new 
(replacement) medical center in the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, in an amount not to exceed $450,000,000. 
The project shall be carried out at the site selected pursu-
ant to section 3. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 
2004 for the Construction, Major Projects, account 
$450,000,000 for the project authorized in section 1. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The project authorized in section 
1 may only be carried out using—
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2004 pur-
suant to the authorization of appropriations in sub-
section (a); 
(2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2004 
that remain available for obligation; and 
(3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for fiscal year 2004 for a category of activ-
ity not specific to a project.
SECTION 3. STUDY OF SITE FOR NEW MEDICAL CENTER IN 
COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a joint study of 
the locations in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico speci-
fied in subsection (b) to determine which of those two loca-
tions would be the preferable site for a new Federal med-
ical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to serve 
the needs of both veterans and Department of Defense 
medical beneficiaries in Puerto Rico. 
(b) SPECIFICATION OF SITES.—The sites to be stud-
ied under subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico. 
(2) Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. 
(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—The two Secretaries 
shall jointly submit to Congress a report setting forth the 
results of the study, including the recommendation of the 
Secretaries for the site for a new Federal medical center 
in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The report shall be 
submitted not later than six months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
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