only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such 
rules; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as re-
lating 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 communication 
under this title that is transmitted or received by a 
party specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall publish such communication 
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, solely 
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 con-
sulting 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 man-
agement 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 Commis-
sion 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 expires. 
(4) The term ‘‘facility of the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration’’— 
(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 Veterans 
Affairs; and 
(iii) not under the control of the Gen-
eral Services Administration. 
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(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 provision 
of modern day health care, including utilities 
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 Veterans 
Affairs and other Federal entities, and strategic 
collaborations between the Department and non- 
Federal entities, including tribal organizations. 
(7) The term ‘‘realignment’’, with respect to a fa-
cility of the Veterans Health Administration, in-
cludes— 
(A) any action that changes the numbers of 
or relocates services, functions, and personnel po-
sitions; 
(B) disposals or exchanges between the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs and other Federal 
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entities, including the Department of Defense; 
and 
(C) strategic collaborations between the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs and non-Federal 
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 Secretary of Vet-
erans 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 redevelopment 
of the real property and personal property of the 
facility that is available for such reuse and rede-
velopment as a result of the closure or realign-
ment of the facility. 
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(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 fol-
lows: 
‘‘(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 
section 8111B(d) of this title) for which the esti-
mated share of the Department of Veterans Af-
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fairs 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 acqui-
sition of a shared medical facility for which the 
estimated share of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for the costs of such construction, alter-
ation, 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 med-
ical facility at an average annual rent that is 
equal to or exceeds the amount specified in sub-
section (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 amount spec-
ified in subsection (a)(2) of section 3307 of title 
40.’’. 
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(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 De-
partment 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 
is enacted, the Secretary shall implement the covered train-
ing curriculum and the covered certification program. 
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‘‘(B) In designing and implementing the covered 
training curriculum and the covered certification program 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use as models ex-
isting 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-
riculum and the covered certification program under para-
graph (1)(A). 
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‘‘(5)(A) Not later than September 30 of the second fis-
cal year following the fiscal year during which this Act is 
enacted, the Secretary shall ensure that the majority of em-
ployees subject to the covered certification program achieve 
the certification or the appropriate level of certification 
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 covered 
certification program achieves the certification or the ap-
propriate 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 management and 
to ensure that such employees maintain adequate ex-
pertise relating to industry standards and best prac-
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tices 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, de-
signing, constructing, or leasing of medical facilities to be 
shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and that de-
partment or agency to improve the access to, and quality 
and cost effectiveness of, the health care provided by the Vet-
erans Health Administration and that department or agen-
cy. 
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‘‘(b) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS FROM DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.—(1) With respect to a shared medical 
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, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may transfer to the partner 
agency amounts appropriated in the Construction, 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 construc-
tion project for which the estimated costs to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs 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 Construction, Major Projects account of the Depart-
ment for use for the planning, design, or construction 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 De-
partment of Veterans Affairs do not exceed the amount spec-
ified in section 8104(a)(3)(B) of this title, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may transfer to the partner agency 
amounts appropriated in the applicable medical appropria-
tion account of the Department for such lease. 
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‘‘(c) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS TO DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.—(1) With respect to a shared medical 
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 Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs may be deposited in the Construction, 
Minor Projects account of the Department for use for the 
planning, design, or construction of the shared medical fa-
cility. Amounts so deposited shall be merged with and avail-
able for the same purposes, and for the same period, as such 
account. 
‘‘(2) With respect to a shared medical facility construc-
tion project for which the estimated costs to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs exceed the amount specified in section 
8104(a)(3)(A) of this title, any amounts transferred 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 planning, design, or con-
struction of the shared medical facility. Amounts so depos-
ited shall be merged with and available for the same pur-
poses, and for the same period, as such account. 
‘‘(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 
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applicable medical appropriation account of the Depart-
ment 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 Veterans 
Affairs and a partner agency pursuant to an agree-
ment 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 facility 
pursuant to an agreement entered into under sub-
section (a).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 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.’’. 
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(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 medical 
facility (as defined in section 8111B(d) of this title), for 
the provision of health-care services (including hospital, 
outpatient clinic, extended care services, nursing home, or 
domiciliary care or medical services), including any nec-
essary building and auxiliary structure, garage, parking fa-
cility, 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’’. 
(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. 
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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 Ac-
countability 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, relocation, or re-
tention 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 Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, $2,100,000,000 to be deposited 
in the Veterans Choice Fund under section 802 of the Vet-
erans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Pub-
lic Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
(b) MINOR CONSTRUCTION AND NONRECURRING MAIN-
TENANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be ap-
propriated, and is appropriated, to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, out of any funds in the Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, $500,000,000 for ‘‘Med-
ical Facilities’’ for minor construction and non-
recurring maintenance projects, to be prioritized ac-
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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 Senate 
of the medical facilities and specifics of the projects 
for which such amounts shall be obligated. 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—The amounts appro-
priated under subsections (a) and (b)(1) shall be available 
for obligation or expenditure without fiscal year limitation. 
SEC. 303. ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH CARE FURNISHED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT TO VETERANS WHO LIVE 
IN THE TERRITORIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report re-
garding health care furnished by the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs to veterans who live in the territories. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) shall 
include assessments of the following: 
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(1) The ability of the Department to furnish to 
veterans who live in the territories the following: 
(A) Hospital care. 
(B) Medical services. 
(C) Mental health services. 
(D) Geriatric services. 
(2) The feasibility of establishing a medical facil-
ity of the Department in any territory that does not 
contain such a facility. 
(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘terri-
tories’’ means Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American 
Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. 
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