Houses of Congress a report on the financial status of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: 
Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include 
the direction contained in the paragraph entitled ‘‘Quar-
terly reporting’’, under the heading ‘‘General Administra-
tion’’ in the joint explanatory statement accompanying 
Public Law 114–223. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 218. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Med-
ical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Sup-
port and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Op-
erating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, 
‘‘Board of Veterans Appeals’’, ‘‘General Administration’’, 
and ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’ accounts for fis-
cal year 2024 may be transferred to or from the ‘‘Informa-
tion Technology Systems’’ account: Provided, That such 
transfers may not result in a more than 10 percent aggre-
gate increase in the total amount made available by this 
Act for the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ account: 
Provided further, That, before a transfer may take place, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
the authority to make the transfer and an approval is 
issued. 
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(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2024 for 
‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 
Support and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Con-
struction, Minor Projects’’, and ‘‘Information Technology 
Systems’’, up to $430,532,000, plus reimbursements, may 
be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstra-
tion Fund, established by section 1704 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 
111–84; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used for operation 
of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical 
facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hun-
ter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, 
That additional funds may be transferred from accounts 
designated in this section to the Joint Department of De-
fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 
Demonstration Fund upon written notification by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, 
That section 220 of title II of division J of Public Law 
117–328 is repealed. 
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(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs which become available on 
October 1, 2024, for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Com-
munity Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and 
‘‘Medical Facilities’’, up to $456,547,000, plus reimburse-
ments, may be transferred to the Joint Department of De-
fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 
Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 
(Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used 
for operation of the facilities designated as combined Fed-
eral medical facilities as described by section 706 of the 
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): 
Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from 
accounts designated in this section to the Joint Depart-
ment of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Med-
ical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notifica-
tion by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 221. Such sums as may be deposited into the 
Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 
of title 38, United States Code, for healthcare provided 
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at facilities designated as combined Federal medical facili-
ties as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 
(Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be avail-
able: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of De-
fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 
Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 
(Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571); and (2) for oper-
ations of the facilities designated as combined Federal 
medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Dun-
can Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Pro-
vided, That, notwithstanding section 1704(b)(3) of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 
(Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2573), amounts trans-
ferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department 
of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund 
shall remain available until expended. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 222. Of the amounts available in this title for 
‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 
Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, a 
minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the 
DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as au-
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thorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States 
Code, to remain available until expended, for any purpose 
authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 223. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall no-
tify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
Congress of all bid savings in a major construction project 
that total at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the pro-
grammed amount of the project, whichever is less: Pro-
vided, That such notification shall occur within 14 days 
of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Pro-
vided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 
days prior to the obligation of such bid savings and shall 
describe the anticipated use of such savings. 
SEC. 224. None of the funds made available for 
‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ may be used for a project 
in excess of the scope specified for that project in the origi-
nal justification data provided to the Congress as part of 
the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 225. Not later than 30 days after the end of 
each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress a quarterly report containing perform-
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ance measures and data from each Veterans Benefits Ad-
ministration Regional Office: Provided, That, at a min-
imum, the report shall include the direction contained in 
the section entitled ‘‘Disability claims backlog’’, under the 
heading ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
Administration’’ in the joint explanatory statement accom-
panying Public Law 114–223: Provided further, That the 
report shall also include information on the number of ap-
peals pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration as 
well as the Board of Veterans Appeals on a quarterly 
basis. 
SEC. 226. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
provide written notification to the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to or-
ganizational changes which result in the transfer of 25 or 
more full-time equivalents from one organizational unit of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to another. 
SEC. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
provide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress notification of any 
single national outreach and awareness marketing cam-
paign in which obligations exceed $1,000,000. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon 
determination that such action is necessary to address 
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needs of the Veterans Health Administration, may trans-
fer to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account any discretionary 
appropriations made available for fiscal year 2024 in this 
title (except appropriations made to the ‘‘General Oper-
ating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ ac-
count) or any discretionary unobligated balances within 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, including those ap-
propriated for fiscal year 2024, that were provided in ad-
vance by appropriations Acts: Provided, That transfers 
shall be made only with the approval of the Office of Man-
agement and Budget: Provided further, That the transfer 
authority provided in this section is in addition to any 
other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, 
That no amounts may be transferred from amounts that 
were designated by Congress as an emergency requirement 
pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer 
may not be used unless for higher priority items, based 
on emergent healthcare requirements, than those for 
which originally appropriated and in no case where the 
item for which funds are requested has been denied by 
Congress: Provided further, That, upon determination that 
all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation 
are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back 
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to that appropriation and shall be available for the same 
purposes as originally appropriated: Provided further, 
That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 
to make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 229. Amounts made available for the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2024, under the 
‘‘Board of Veterans Appeals’’ and the ‘‘General Operating 
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ accounts 
may be transferred between such accounts: Provided, That 
before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 
make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 
SEC. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 
reprogram funds among major construction projects or 
programs if such instance of reprogramming will exceed 
$7,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con-
gress. 
SEC. 231. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 
1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code— 
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(1) provides to individuals who contact the hot-
line immediate assistance from a trained profes-
sional; and 
(2) adheres to all requirements of the American 
Association of Suicidology. 
(b)(1) None of the funds made available by this Act 
may be used to enforce or otherwise carry out any Execu-
tive action that prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil 
service position, or establishing a new civil service position, 
at the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to 
such a position relating to the hotline specified in sub-
section (a). 
(2) In this subsection— 
(A) the term ‘‘civil service’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United 
States Code; and 
(B) the term ‘‘Executive action’’ includes— 
(i) 
any 
Executive 
order, 
Presidential 
memorandum, or other action by the President; 
and 
(ii) any agency policy, order, or other di-
rective. 
(c)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall con-
duct a study on the effectiveness of the hotline specified 
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in subsection (a) during the 5-year period beginning on 
January 1, 2016, based on an analysis of national suicide 
data and data collected from such hotline. 
(2) At a minimum, the study required by paragraph 
(1) shall— 
(A) determine the number of veterans who con-
tact the hotline specified in subsection (a) and who 
receive follow up services from the hotline or mental 
health services from the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs thereafter; 
(B) determine the number of veterans who con-
tact the hotline who are not referred to, or do not 
continue receiving, mental health care who commit 
suicide; and 
(C) determine the number of veterans described 
in subparagraph (A) who commit or attempt suicide. 
SEC. 232. Effective during the period beginning on 
October 1, 2018, and ending on January 1, 2025, none 
of the funds made available to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs by this or any other Act may be obligated or ex-
pended in contravention of the ‘‘Veterans Health Adminis-
tration Clinical Preventive Services Guidance Statement 
on the Veterans Health Administration’s Screening for 
Breast Cancer Guidance’’ published on May 10, 2017, as 
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issued by the Veterans Health Administration National 
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 
SEC. 233. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the amounts appropriated or otherwise made avail-
able to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ‘‘Med-
ical Services’’ account may be used to provide— 
(1) fertility counseling and treatment using as-
sisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran 
or the spouse of a covered veteran; or 
(2) adoption reimbursement to a covered vet-
eran. 
(b) In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘service-connected’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a vet-
eran, as such term is defined in section 101 of title 
38, United States Code, who has a service-connected 
disability that results in the inability of the veteran 
to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 
(3) The term ‘‘assisted reproductive tech-
nology’’ means benefits relating to reproductive as-
sistance provided to a member of the Armed Forces 
who incurs a serious injury or illness on active duty 
pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 10, United 
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States Code, as described in the memorandum on 
the subject of ‘‘Policy for Assisted Reproductive 
Services for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/ 
Injured (Category II or III) Active Duty Service 
Members’’ issued by the Assistant Secretary of De-
fense for Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and the 
guidance issued to implement such policy, including 
any limitations on the amount of such benefits avail-
able to such a member except that— 
(A) the time periods regarding embryo 
cryopreservation and storage set forth in part 
III(G) and in part IV(H) of such memorandum 
shall not apply; and 
(B) 
such 
term 
includes 
embryo 
cryopreservation and storage without limitation 
on the duration of such cryopreservation and 
storage. 
(4) The term ‘‘adoption reimbursement’’ means 
reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for 
an adoption that is finalized after the date of the en-
actment of this Act under the same terms as apply 
under the adoption reimbursement program of the 
Department of Defense, as authorized in Depart-
ment of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the 
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reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in 
such instruction. 
(c) Amounts made available for the purposes speci-
fied in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the 
requirements for funds contained in section 508 of division 
H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public 
Law 115–141). 
SEC. 234. None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available by this Act or any other Act for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner 
that is inconsistent with: (1) section 842 of the Transpor-
tation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the 
Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–115; 
119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 235. Section 842 of Public Law 109–115 shall 
not apply to conversion of an activity or function of the 
Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Ad-
ministration, or National Cemetery Administration to con-
tractor performance by a business concern that is at least 
51 percent owned by one or more Indian Tribes as defined 
in section 5304(e) of title 25, United States Code, or one 
or more Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined in sec-
tion 637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. 
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SEC. 236. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall dis-
continue using Social Security account numbers to identify 
individuals in all information systems of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs as follows: 
(1) For all veterans submitting to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs new claims for benefits under 
laws administered by the Secretary, not later than 
September 30, 2024. 
(2) For all individuals not described in para-
graph (1), not later than March 23, 2026. 
(b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use a So-
cial Security account number to identify an individual in 
an information system of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs if and only if the use of such number is required 
to obtain information the Secretary requires from an in-
formation system that is not under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary. 
(c) The matter in subsections (a) and (b) shall super-
sede section 238 of division F of Public Law 116–94. 
SEC. 237. For funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2024 and 2025 
for ‘‘Medical Services’’, section 239 of division A of Public 
Law 114–223 shall apply. 
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SEC. 238. None of the funds appropriated in this or 
prior appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs may be used to trans-
fer any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Com-
pensation Fund to any other account within the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 239. Of the funds provided to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2024 and fiscal 
year 2025 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, funds may be used in 
each year to carry out and expand the child care program 
authorized by section 205 of Public Law 111–163, not-
withstanding subsection (e) of such section. 
SEC. 240. None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available in this title may be used by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement re-
lated to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual 
that would restrict in any way the individual from speak-
ing to members of Congress or their staff on any topic 
not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal law 
or required by Executive order to be kept secret in the 
interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign af-
fairs. 
SEC. 241. For funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2024 and 2025, 
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section 258 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall 
apply. 
SEC. 242. (a) None of the funds appropriated or oth-
erwise made available by this Act may be used to deny 
an Inspector General funded under this Act timely access 
to any records, documents, or other materials available to 
the department or agency over which that Inspector Gen-
eral has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act 
of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), or to prevent or impede the ac-
cess of the Inspector General to such records, documents, 
or other materials, under any provision of law, except a 
provision of law that expressly refers to such Inspector 
General and expressly limits the right of access. 
(b) A department or agency covered by this section 
shall provide its Inspector General access to all records, 
documents, and other materials in a timely manner. 
(c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance 
with statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the in-
formation provided by the establishment over which that 
Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector 
General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(d) Each Inspector General covered by this section 
shall report to the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives within 5 calendar days of any failure 
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by any department or agency covered by this section to 
comply with this requirement. 
SEC. 243. None of the funds made available in this 
Act may be used in a manner that would increase wait 
times for veterans who seek care at medical facilities of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 244. None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available by this Act to the Veterans Health 
Administration may be used in fiscal year 2024 to convert 
any program which received specific purpose funds in fis-
cal year 2023 to a general purpose funded program unless 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits written notifica-
tion of any such proposal to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days prior 
to any such action and an approval is issued by the Com-
mittees. 
SEC. 245. For funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2024 and 2025, 
section 248 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall 
apply. 
SEC. 246. (a) None of the funds appropriated or oth-
erwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct 
research commencing on or after October 1, 2019, that 
uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the 
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Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such research spe-
cifically and in writing pursuant to subsection (b). 
(b)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve 
the conduct of research commencing on or after October 
1, 2019, using canines, felines, or non-human primates if 
the Secretary determines that— 
(A) the scientific objectives of the research can 
only be met by using such canines, felines, or non- 
human primates; 
(B) such scientific objectives are directly related 
to an illness or injury that is combat-related; and 
(C) the research is consistent with the revised 
Department of Veterans Affairs canine research pol-
icy document dated December 15, 2017, including 
any subsequent revisions to such document. 
(2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority 
under this subsection. 
(c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursu-
ant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the 
commencement of such research, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report describing— 
(1) the nature of the research to be conducted 
using canines, felines, or non-human primates; 
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(4) the protocols in place to ensure the neces-
sity, safety, and efficacy of such research. 
(e) The Department shall implement a plan under 
which the Secretary will eliminate or reduce the research 
conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates 
by not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of 
Public Law 116–94. 
SEC. 247. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in 
this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time 
employment equivalents within any program of rehabilita-
tion conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States 
Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time em-
ployment equivalent. 
(b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted 
under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, includ-
ing— 
(1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio 
for each such program; and 
(2) recommendations for such action as the 
Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran- 
to-staff ratio for each such program. 
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SEC. 248. Amounts made available for the ‘‘Veterans 
Health Administration, Medical Community Care’’ ac-
count in this or any other Act for fiscal years 2024 and 
2025 may be used for expenses that would otherwise be 
payable from the Veterans Choice Fund established by 
section 802 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Account-
ability Act, as amended (38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
SEC. 249. Obligations and expenditures applicable to 
the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account in fiscal years 2017 
through 2019 for aid to state homes (as authorized by 
section 1741 of title 38, United States Code) shall remain 
in the ‘‘Medical Community Care’’ account for such fiscal 
years. 
SEC. 250. Of the amounts made available for the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2024, in this 
or any other Act, under the ‘‘Veterans Health Administra-
tion—Medical Services’’, ‘‘Veterans Health Administra-
tion—Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Veterans Health Ad-
ministration—Medical Support and Compliance’’, and 
‘‘Veterans Health Administration—Medical Facilities’’ ac-
counts, $1,279,096,000 shall be made available for gen-
der-specific care and programmatic efforts to deliver care 
for women veterans. 
SEC. 251. Notwithstanding any other law, by no later 
than September 30, 2023, the Secretary shall commence 
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construction of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic 
in Bakersfield, California in accordance with Lease 
No.36C10F20L0008. 
SEC. 252. None of the funds made available in this 
Act shall be expended for monthly payments under Lease 
No. VA10112R0032, including section 11 of the lease, 
that exceed $223,166.67 unless required for maintenance 
and repairs or improvements related to the form, fit, or 
function of the facility that directly enhances the safety 
of veterans or improves healthcare services. 
SEC. 253. Not later than 30 days after the end of 
each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress a quarterly report on the status of 
the ‘‘Veterans Medical Care and Health Fund’’, estab-
lished to execute section 8002 of the American Rescue 
Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2): Provided, That, 
at a minimum, the report shall include an update on obli-
gations by program, project or activity and a plan for ex-
pending the remaining funds: Provided further, That the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit notification of 
any plans to reallocate funds from the current apportion-
ment categories of ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Medical Commu-
nity Care’’, or ‘‘Medical and Prosthetic Research’’, includ-
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ing the amount and purpose of each reallocation to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
and such Committees issue an approval, or absent a re-
sponse, a period of 30 days has elapsed. 
SEC. 254. Any amounts transferred to the Secretary 
and administered by a corporation referred to in section 
7364(b) of title 38, United States Code, between October 
1, 2017 and September 30, 2018 for purposes of carrying 
out an order placed with the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs pursuant to section 1535 of title 31, United States 
Code, that are available for obligation pursuant to section 
7364(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, are to remain 
available for the liquidation of valid obligations incurred 
by such corporation during the period of performance of 
such order, provided that the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs determines that such amounts need to remain avail-
able for such liquidation. 
SEC. 255. Unobligated balances available under the 
headings ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construc-
tion, Minor Projects’’ may be obligated by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs for a facility pursuant to section 
2(e)(1) of the Communities Helping Invest through Prop-
erty and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 
(Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note), as amended, 
to provide additional funds or to fund an escalation clause 
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under such section of such Act: Provided, That before such 
unobligated balances are obligated pursuant to this sec-
tion, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con-
gress the authority to obligate such unobligated balances 
and such Committees issue an approval, or absent a re-
sponse, a period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, 
That the request to obligate such unobligated balances 
must provide Congress notice that the entity described in 
section 2(a)(2) of Public Law 114–294, as amended, has 
exhausted available cost containment approaches as set 
forth in the agreement under section 2(c) of such Public 
Law. 
SEC. 256. Of the unobligated balances available to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs from prior appropria-
tions Acts, the following funds are hereby rescinded from 
the following accounts in the amounts specified: 
‘‘Veterans 
Health 
Administration—Medical 
Services’’, $4,933,113,000; 
‘‘Veterans 
Health 
Administration—Medical 
Community Care’’, $1,909,069,000; and 
‘‘Veterans Health Administration—Medical Fa-
cilities’’, $250,515,000. 
SEC. 257. Not later than 30 days after the date the 
funds become available, the Secretary shall submit to the 
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