H. R. 4818—481
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical
and prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter
73 of title 38, United States Code, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2006, $405,593,000, plus reimbursements.
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary operating expenses of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including administrative
expenses in support of department-wide capital planning, manage-
ment and policy activities, uniforms or allowances therefor; not
to exceed $25,000 for official reception and representation expenses;
hire of passenger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General
Services Administration for security guard services, and the Depart-
ment of Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail,
$1,324,753,000: Provided, That expenses for services and assistance
authorized under 38 U.S.C. 3104(a)(1), (2), (5), and (11) that the
Secretary determines are necessary to enable entitled veterans:
(1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and
to obtain and maintain suitable employment; or (2) to achieve
maximum independence in daily living, shall be charged to this
account: Provided further, That the Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion shall be funded at not less than $1,027,193,000: Provided
further, That of the funds made available under this heading,
not to exceed $66,000,000 shall be available for obligation until
September 30, 2006: Provided further, That from the funds made
available under this heading, the Veterans Benefits Administration
may purchase up to two passenger motor vehicles for use in oper-
ations of that Administration in Manila, Philippines.
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION
For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Administra-
tion for operations and maintenance, not otherwise provided for,
including uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as
authorized by law; purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for
use in cemeterial operations; and hire of passenger motor vehicles,
$148,925,000: Provided, That of the funds made available under
this heading, not to exceed $7,400,000 shall be available until
September 30, 2006.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in
carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978,
as amended, $69,711,000, to remain available until September 30,
2006.
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS
For constructing, altering, extending and improving any of the
facilities including parking projects 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, United States Code, including
H. R. 4818—482
planning, architectural and engineering services, maintenance or
guarantee period services costs associated with equipment guaran-
tees provided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite
utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and site
acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is more than
the amount set forth in 38 U.S.C. 8104(a)(3)(A) or where funds
for a project were made available in a previous major project appro-
priation, $458,800,000, to remain available until expended, of which
$370,709,000 shall be for Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced
Services (CARES) activities; and of which $8,091,000 shall be to
make reimbursements as provided in 41 U.S.C. 612 for claims
paid for contract disputes: Provided, That except for advance plan-
ning activities, including needs assessments which may or may
not lead to capital investments, and other capital asset management
related activities, such as portfolio development and management
activities, and investment strategy studies funded through the
advance planning fund and the planning and design activities
funded through the design fund and CARES funds, including needs
assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments,
none of the funds appropriated under this heading shall be used
for any project which has not been approved by the Congress
in the budgetary process: Provided further, That funds provided
in this appropriation for fiscal year 2005, for each approved project
(except those for CARES activities referenced above) shall be obli-
gated: (1) by the awarding of a construction documents contract
by September 30, 2005; and (2) by the awarding of a construction
contract by September 30, 2006: Provided further, That the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly report in writing to the
Committees on Appropriations any approved major construction
project in which obligations are not incurred within the time limita-
tions established above.
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of
the facilities including parking projects under the jurisdiction or
for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including plan-
ning and assessments of needs which may lead to capital invest-
ments, architectural and engineering services, maintenance or guar-
antee period services costs associated with equipment 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, 8122, and 8162 of title 38,
United States Code, where the estimated cost of a project is equal
to or less than the amount set forth in 38 U.S.C. 8104(a)(3)(A),
$230,779,000, to remain available until expended, along with unobli-
gated balances of previous ‘‘Construction, minor projects’’ appropria-
tions which are hereby made available for any project where the
estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth in
38 U.S.C. 8104(a)(3)(A), of which $182,100,000 shall be for Capital
Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) activities: Pro-
vided, That from amounts appropriated under this heading, addi-
tional amounts may be used for CARES activities upon notification
of and approval by the Committees on Appropriations: Provided
further, 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