sedes other rules only to the extent that it is incon-
sistent with such rules; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 
in the same manner, and to the same extent as in 
the case of any other rule of that House. 
SEC. 108. OTHER MATTERS. 
(a) ONLINE PUBLICATION OF COMMUNICATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 24 hours 
after the transmission or receipt of any communica-
tion under this title that is transmitted or received 
by a party specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall publish such communica-
tion online. 
(2) PARTIES SPECIFIED.—The parties specified 
under this paragraph are the following: 
(A) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(B) The Commission. 
(C) The President. 
(b) CONTINUATION
OF EXISTING CONSTRUCTION 
PROJECTS AND PLANNING.—During activities that the 
Commission, President, or Congress carry out under this 
title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not stop, sole-
ly because of such activities— 
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(1) a construction or leasing project of the Vet-
erans Health Administration; 
(2) long-term planning regarding infrastructure 
and assets of the Veterans Health Administration; 
or 
(3) budgetary processes for the Veterans 
Health Administration. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR FUTURE ASSET RE-
VIEWS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may, after 
consulting with veterans service organizations, include in 
budget submissions the Secretary submits after the termi-
nation of the Commission recommendations for future 
such commissions or other capital asset realignment and 
management processes. 
SEC. 109. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) The term ‘‘Account’’ means the Department 
of Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review 
Account established by section 106(a). 
(2) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Com-
mission established by section 102. 
(3) The term ‘‘date of approval’’, with respect 
to a modernization or realignment of a facility of the 
Veterans Health Administration, means the date on 
which the authority of Congress to disapprove a rec-
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ommendation of modernization or realignment, as 
the case may be, of such facility under this title ex-
pires. 
(4) The term ‘‘facility of the Veterans Health 
Administration’’— 
(A) means any land, building, structure, or 
infrastructure (including any medical center, 
nursing home, domiciliary facility, outpatient 
clinic, center that provides readjustment coun-
seling, or leased facility) that is— 
(i) under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs; 
(ii) under the control of the Veterans 
Health Administration; and 
(iii) not under the control of the Gen-
eral Services Administration; or 
(B) with respect to a colocated facility of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, includes 
any land, building, or structure— 
(i) under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs; 
(ii) under the control of another ad-
ministration of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs; and 
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(iii) not under the control of the Gen-
eral Services Administration. 
(5) The term ‘‘infrastructure’’ means improve-
ments to land other than buildings or structures. 
(6) The term ‘‘modernization’’ includes— 
(A) any action, including closure, required 
to align the form and function of a facility of 
the Veterans Health Administration to the pro-
vision of modern day health care, including util-
ities and environmental control systems; 
(B) the construction, purchase, lease, or 
sharing of a facility of the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration; and 
(C) realignments, disposals, exchanges, col-
laborations between the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs and other Federal entities, and 
strategic collaborations between the Depart-
ment and non-Federal entities, including tribal 
organizations. 
(7) The term ‘‘realignment’’, with respect to a 
facility of the Veterans Health Administration, in-
cludes— 
(A) any action that changes the numbers 
of or relocates services, functions, and per-
sonnel positions; 
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(B) disposals or exchanges between the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and other Fed-
eral entities, including the Department of De-
fense; and 
(C) strategic collaborations between the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and non-Fed-
eral entities, including tribal organizations. 
(8) The term ‘‘redevelopment authority’’, in the 
case of a facility of the Veterans Health Administra-
tion closed or modernized under this title, means 
any entity (including an entity established by a 
State or local government) recognized by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs as the entity responsible 
for developing the redevelopment plan with respect 
to the facility or for directing the implementation of 
such plan. 
(9) The term ‘‘redevelopment plan’’ in the case 
of a facility of the Veterans Health Administration 
to be closed or realigned under this title, means a 
plan that— 
(A) is agreed to by the local redevelopment 
authority with respect to the facility; and 
(B) provides for the reuse or redevelop-
ment of the real property and personal property 
of the facility that is available for such reuse 
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and redevelopment as a result of the closure or 
realignment of the facility. 
(10) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs. 
(11) The term ‘‘tribal organization’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3765 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
TITLE 
II—IMPROVEMENTS 
TO 
CONSTRUCTION 
MANAGE-
MENT AND LEASES 
SEC. 201. MODIFICATION OF THRESHOLDS FOR MAJOR 
MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND MAJOR 
MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Paragraph (3) of section 8104(a) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) In this subsection: 
‘‘(A)(i) The term ‘major medical facility project’ 
means— 
‘‘(I) a project for the construction, alter-
ation, or acquisition of a medical facility involv-
ing 
a 
total 
expenditure 
of 
more 
than 
$20,000,000; or 
‘‘(II) the construction, alteration, or acqui-
sition of a shared medical facility (as defined in 
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section 8111B(d) of this title) for which the es-
timated share of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for the costs of such construction, alter-
ation, or acquisition exceeds $20,000,000. 
‘‘(ii) Such term does not include— 
‘‘(I) an acquisition by exchange; 
‘‘(II) nonrecurring maintenance projects of 
the Department; or 
‘‘(III) the construction, alteration, or ac-
quisition of a shared medical facility for which 
the estimated share of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs for the costs of such construction, 
alteration, or acquisition does not exceed 
$20,000,000. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘major medical facility lease’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) a lease for space for use as a new 
medical facility at an average annual rent that 
is equal to or exceeds the amount specified in 
subsection (a)(2) of section 3307 of title 40; or 
‘‘(ii) a lease for space for use as a shared 
medical facility (as defined in section 8111B(d) 
of this title) for which the estimated share of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 
costs of such lease is equal to or exceeds the 
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amount specified in subsection (a)(2) of section 
3307 of title 40.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to major medical facil-
ity projects and major medical facility leases authorized 
by law on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 202. SUBMISSION OF PROSPECTUSES OF PROPOSED 
MINOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS. 
Section 8104(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by strik-
ing ‘‘a major medical facility project (as defined in sub-
section (a)(3)(A))’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘a major 
medical facility project (as defined in subsection 
(a)(3)(A)), a medical facility project that would be a major 
medical facility project but for the total expenditure (or, 
with respect to a shared medical facility, the estimated 
share of the Department of Veterans Affairs) being an 
amount that is more than $10,000,000 and less than 
$20,000,000,’’. 
SEC. 203. IMPROVEMENT TO TRAINING OF CONSTRUCTION 
PERSONNEL. 
Subsection (g) of section 8103 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g)(1)(A) Not later than September 30 of the fiscal 
year following the fiscal year during which this subsection 
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is enacted, the Secretary shall implement the covered 
training curriculum and the covered certification program. 
‘‘(B) In designing and implementing the covered 
training curriculum and the covered certification program 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use as models 
existing training curricula and certification programs that 
have been established under chapter 87 of title 10, United 
States Code, as determined relevant by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may develop the training cur-
riculum under paragraph (1)(A) in a manner that provides 
such training in any combination of— 
‘‘(A) training provided in person; 
‘‘(B) training provided over an internet website; 
or 
‘‘(C) training provided by another department 
or agency of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may develop the certification pro-
gram under paragraph (1)(A) in a manner that uses— 
‘‘(A) one level of certification; or 
‘‘(B) more than one level of certification, as de-
termined appropriate by the Secretary with respect 
to the level of certification for different grades of the 
General Schedule. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary may enter into a contract with 
an appropriate entity to provide the covered training cur-
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riculum and the covered certification program under para-
graph (1)(A). 
‘‘(5)(A) Not later than September 30 of the second 
fiscal year following the fiscal year during which this Act 
is enacted, the Secretary shall ensure that the majority 
of employees subject to the covered certification program 
achieve the certification or the appropriate level of certifi-
cation pursuant to paragraph (3), as the case may be. 
‘‘(B) After carrying out subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary shall ensure that each employee subject to the cov-
ered certification program achieves the certification or the 
appropriate level of certification pursuant to paragraph 
(3), as the case may be, as quickly as practicable. 
‘‘(6) In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) The term ‘covered certification program’ 
means, with respect to employees of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs who are members of occupational 
series relating to construction or facilities manage-
ment, or employees of the Department who award or 
administer contracts for major construction, minor 
construction, or nonrecurring maintenance, including 
as contract specialists or contracting officers’ rep-
resentatives, a program to certify knowledge and 
skills relating to construction or facilities manage-
ment and to ensure that such employees maintain 
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adequate expertise relating to industry standards 
and best practices for the acquisition of design and 
construction services. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘covered training curriculum’ 
means, with respect to employees specified in sub-
paragraph (A), a training curriculum relating to 
construction or facilities management.’’. 
SEC. 204. AUTHORITY TO PLAN, DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, OR 
LEASE SHARED MEDICAL FACILITIES. 
(a) AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 8111A the following new section: 
‘‘§ 8111B. Authority to plan, design, construct or lease 
a medical facility shared with other de-
partments or agencies 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—Subject to sections 8103 and 
8104 of this title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
enter into agreements with the heads of other departments 
or agencies of the Federal Government for the planning, 
designing, constructing, or leasing of medical facilities to 
be shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and that 
department or agency to improve the access to, and qual-
ity and cost effectiveness of, the health care provided by 
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the Veterans Health Administration and that department 
or agency. 
‘‘(b) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS FROM DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—(1) With respect to a shared 
medical facility construction project for which the esti-
mated costs to the Department of Veterans Affairs do not 
exceed the amount specified in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of 
this title, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer 
to the partner agency amounts appropriated in the Con-
struction, Minor Projects account of the Department for 
use for the planning, design, or construction of the shared 
medical facility. 
‘‘(2) With respect to a shared medical facility con-
struction project for which the estimated costs to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs exceed the amount specified 
in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of this title, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs may transfer to the partner agency amounts 
appropriated in the Construction, Major Projects account 
of the Department for use for the planning, design, or con-
struction of the shared medical facility. 
‘‘(3) With respect to a shared medical facility lease 
project for which the estimated costs of the lease to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs do not exceed the amount 
specified in section 8104(a)(3)(B) of this title, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs may transfer to the partner 
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agency amounts appropriated in the applicable medical ap-
propriation account of the Department for such lease. 
‘‘(c) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS TO DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.—(1) With respect to a shared med-
ical facility construction project for which the estimated 
costs to the Department of Veterans Affairs do not exceed 
the amount specified in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of this title, 
any amounts transferred by the partner agency to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs may be deposited in the Con-
struction, Minor Projects account of the Department for 
use for the planning, design, or construction of the shared 
medical facility. Amounts so deposited shall be merged 
with and available for the same purposes, and for the same 
period, as such account. 
‘‘(2) With respect to a shared medical facility con-
struction project for which the estimated costs to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs exceed the amount specified 
in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of this title, any amounts trans-
ferred by the partner agency to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs may be deposited in the Construction, Major 
Projects account of the Department for use for the plan-
ning, design, or construction of the shared medical facility. 
Amounts so deposited shall be merged with and available 
for the same purposes, and for the same period, as such 
account. 
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‘‘(3) With respect to a shared medical facility lease 
project, any amounts transferred by the partner agency 
to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may be deposited in 
the applicable medical appropriation account of the De-
partment for such lease. Amounts so deposited shall be 
available without fiscal year limitation. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘partner agency’ means a depart-
ment or agency of the Federal Government that has 
entered into an agreement with the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) The term ‘shared medical facility’ means a 
medical facility shared by the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs and a partner agency pursuant to an 
agreement entered into under subsection (a). 
‘‘(3) The term ‘shared medical facility construc-
tion project’ means the planning, designing, or con-
structing of a shared medical facility pursuant to an 
agreement entered into under subsection (a). 
‘‘(4) The term ‘shared medical facility lease 
project’ means the leasing of a shared medical facil-
ity pursuant to an agreement entered into under 
subsection (a).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
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by inserting after the item relating to section 8111A 
the following new item: 
‘‘8111B. Authority to plan, design, construct, or lease a medical facility shared 
with other departments or agencies.’’. 
(b) DEFINITION OF MEDICAL FACILITY.—Paragraph 
(3) of section 8101 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘medical facility’ means any facility or 
part thereof which is, or will be, under the jurisdiction 
of the Secretary, including with respect to a shared med-
ical facility (as defined in section 8111B(d) of this title), 
for the provision of health-care services (including hos-
pital, outpatient clinic, extended care services, nursing 
home, or domiciliary care or medical services), including 
any necessary building and auxiliary structure, garage, 
parking facility, mechanical equipment, trackage facilities 
leading thereto, abutting sidewalks, accommodations for 
attending personnel, and recreation facilities associated 
therewith.’’. 
SEC. 205. ENHANCED USE LEASE AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8162(a)(2) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘only’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, or if the lease will enhance 
the use of the property,’’ after ‘‘housing’’. 
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(b) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to enhanced-use leases 
entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 301. EXCEPTION ON LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BO-
NUSES 
FOR 
RECRUITMENT, 
RELOCATION, 
AND RETENTION. 
Section 705(a) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 
U.S.C. 703 note) is amended, in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘other than recruitment, relo-
cation, or retention incentives,’’ after ‘‘title 38, United 
States Code,’’. 
SEC. 302. APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS. 
(a) VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated, and is appropriated, to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, out of any funds in the Treas-
ury not otherwise appropriated, $2,100,000,000 to be de-
posited in the Veterans Choice Fund under section 802 
of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
(b) MINOR CONSTRUCTION
AND NONRECURRING 
MAINTENANCE.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated, and is appropriated, to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, out of any funds in the Treas-
ury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000,000 for 
‘‘Medical Facilities’’ for minor construction and non-
recurring maintenance projects, to be prioritized ac-
cording to their rankings in the strategic capital in-
vestment planning process. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days be-
fore obligating amounts appropriated under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall notify the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate and the Committees on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate of the medical facilities and specifics of the 
projects for which such amounts shall be obligated. 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—The amounts ap-
propriated under subsections (a) and (b)(1) shall be avail-
able for obligation or expenditure without fiscal year limi-
tation. 
Æ 
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