169 
SEC. 258. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act may be used to pay award or 
incentive fees for contractors whose performance has been 
judged to be below satisfactory, behind schedule, over budget, 
or has failed to meet the basic requirements of a contract, 
unless the Agency determines that any such deviations are 
due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope 
changes, or are not significant within the overall scope of 
the project and/or program and unless such awards or in-
centive fees are consistent with section 16.401(e)(2) of the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
SEC. 259. The Department is directed to maintain 
staffing levels to facilitate the Department’s own goals, in-
cluding that benefits claims are adjudicated according to 
the 125 day goal, and that healthcare appointments and 
service are provided in the timeframes required by statute 
and regulation. 
SEC. 260. The Department is directed to provide quar-
terly briefings to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress on the status of implementation of the 
provisions in Public Law 118–42 related to veterans in the 
Freely Associated States [FAS] in a way that is consistent 
with Congressional intent, including engagement with FAS 
governments, a projected timeline for veterans in the FAS
170 
to receive hospital care and medical services, and an esti-
mate of the cost of implementation. 
SEC. 261. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
this Act may be used in a manner that would— 
(1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to par-
ticipate in a medicinal marijuana program approved 
by a State; 
(2) deny any services from the Department to a 
veteran who is participating in such a program; or 
(3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health 
care provider of the Department to make appropriate 
recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps to com-
ply with such a program.
171 
TITLE III 
RELATED AGENCIES 
AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of 
the American Battle Monuments Commission, including the 
acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign countries; 
purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of national 
cemeteries and monuments outside of the United States and 
its territories and possessions; rent of office and garage 
space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one replace-
ment basis only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not 
to exceed $15,000 for official reception and representation 
expenses; and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign 
countries, when required by law of such countries, 
$108,281,000 to remain available until expended. 
FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT 
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of 
the American Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as 
may be necessary, to remain available until expended, for 
purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 36, United 
States Code.
172 
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 
CLAIMS 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses for the operation of the United 
States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized 
by sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, United States 
Code, $49,000,000, of which $3,000,000 shall be available 
until September 30, 2027: Provided, That $4,256,000 shall 
be available for the purpose of providing financial assist-
ance as described and in accordance with the process and 
reporting procedures set forth under this heading in Public 
Law 102–229. 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL 
CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, 
and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Sol-
diers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, including 
the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles for replace-
ment on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed $2,000 
for 
official 
reception 
and 
representation 
expenses, 
$118,780,450, of which not to exceed $15,000,000 shall re-
main available until September 30, 2028. In addition, such 
sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, repairs 
and replacement, to be derived from the ‘‘Lease of Depart-
173 
ment of Defense Real Property for Defense Agencies’’ ac-
count. 
ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME 
TRUST FUND 
For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retire-
ment Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Re-
tirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia, and the 
Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mississippi, to 
be paid from funds available in the Armed Forces Retire-
ment Home Trust Fund, $79,000,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2027, of which $2,072,000 shall remain 
available until expended for construction and renovation of 
the physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement 
Home—Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed 
Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mississippi: Provided, 
That of the amounts made available under this heading 
from funds available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home 
Trust Fund, $27,000,000 shall be paid from the general 
fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION 
SEC. 301. Amounts deposited into the special account 
established under 10 U.S.C. 7727 are appropriated and 
shall be available until expended to support activities at 
the Army National Military Cemeteries.