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Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided 
under this section. 
SEC. 126. For an additional amount for ‘‘Military 
Construction, Navy and Marine Corps’’, $89,400,000, to re-
main available until September 30, 2021: Provided, That, 
such funds may only be obligated to carry out construction 
projects identified by the Department of the Navy in its 
June 8, 2016, unfunded priority list submission to the Com-
mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress de-
tailing unfunded reprogramming and emergency construc-
tion requirements: Provided further, That, not later than 
30 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Navy, or his or her designee, shall submit to the Committees 
an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. 
(RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 127. Of the unobligated balances available to the 
Department of Defense from prior appropriation Acts, the 
following funds are hereby rescinded from the following ac-
counts in the amounts specified: 
‘‘Military Construction, Army’’, $29,602,000; 
‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’, $51,460,000; 
‘‘Military 
Construction, 
Defense-Wide’’, 
$171,600,000, of which $30,000,000 are to be derived 
from amounts made available for Missile Defense 
Agency planning and design; and 
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‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security 
Investment Program’’, $30,000,000: 
Provided, That no amounts may be rescinded from amounts 
that were designated by the Congress for Overseas Contin-
gency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or as an emer-
gency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on 
the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985, as amended. 
(RESCISSION OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 128. Of the unobligated balances made available 
in prior appropriation Acts for the fund established in sec-
tion 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan 
Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) (other than ap-
propriations designated by law as being for contingency op-
erations directly related to the global war on terrorism or 
as an emergency requirement), $25,000,000 are hereby re-
scinded. 
SEC. 129. For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘con-
gressional defense committees’’ means the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate, the Subcommittee on Military Construction and 
Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate, and the Subcommittee on Military Construction 
and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives. 
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SEC. 130. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used to carry out the closure or realignment 
of the United States Naval Station, Guanta´namo Bay, 
Cuba. 
SEC. 131. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
by this or any other Act may be used to consolidate or relo-
cate any element of a United States Air Force Rapid Engi-
neer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron En-
gineer (RED HORSE) outside of the United States until 
the Secretary of the Air Force (1) completes an analysis 
and comparison of the cost and infrastructure investment 
required to consolidate or relocate a RED HORSE squad-
ron outside of the United States versus within the United 
States; (2) provides to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress (‘‘the Committees’’) a report de-
tailing the findings of the cost analysis; and (3) certifies 
in writing to the Committees that the preferred site for the 
consolidation or relocation yields the greatest savings for 
the Air Force: Provided, That the term ‘‘United States’’ in 
this section does not include any territory or possession of 
the United States. 
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TITLE II 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For the payment of compensation benefits to or on be-
half of veterans and a pilot program for disability examina-
tions as authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 
51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; pension 
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 
15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; and 
burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program for 
Survivors, emergency and other officers’ retirement pay, ad-
justed-service credits and certificates, payment of premiums 
due on commercial life insurance policies guaranteed under 
the provisions of title IV of the Servicemembers Civil Relief 
Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et seq.) and for other benefits as 
authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, and 
chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States 
Code, $90,119,449,000, to remain available until expended 
and to become available on October 1, 2017: Provided, That 
not to exceed $17,224,000 of the amount made available for 
fiscal year 2018 under this heading shall be reimbursed to 
‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Adminis-
tration’’, and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ for nec-
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essary expenses in implementing the provisions of chapters 
51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States Code, the funding 
source for which is specifically provided as the ‘‘Compensa-
tion and Pensions’’ appropriation: Provided further, That 
such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying pa-
tient basis, shall be reimbursed to ‘‘Medical Care Collections 
Fund’’ to augment the funding of individual medical facili-
ties for nursing home care provided to pensioners as author-
ized. 
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS 
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation 
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 
21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of 
title 38, United States Code, $13,708,648,000, to remain 
available until expended and to become available on October 
1, 2017: Provided, That expenses for rehabilitation program 
services and assistance which the Secretary is authorized 
to provide under subsection (a) of section 3104 of title 38, 
United States Code, other than under paragraphs (1), (2), 
(5), and (11) of that subsection, shall be charged to this 
account. 
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES 
For military and naval insurance, national service life 
insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled vet-
erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as 
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authorized by chapters 19 and 21, title 38, United States 
Code, $124,504,000, to remain available until expended, of 
which $107,899,000 shall become available on October 1, 
2017. 
VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND 
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized 
by subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of title 38, 
United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including 
the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in sec-
tion 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided 
further, That, during fiscal year 2017, within the resources 
available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for 
direct loans are authorized for specially adapted housing 
loans. 
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 
the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $198,856,000. 
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT 
For the cost of direct loans, $36,000, as authorized by 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That 
such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall 
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds made available 
under this heading are available to subsidize gross obliga-
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tions for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed 
$2,517,000. 
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct loan program, $389,000, which may 
be paid to the appropriation for ‘‘General Operating Ex-
penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’. 
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM 
ACCOUNT 
For administrative expenses to carry out the direct 
loan program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of 
title 38, United States Code, $1,163,000. 
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS 
ADMINISTRATION 
For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Bene-
fits Administration, not otherwise provided for, including 
hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement of the Gen-
eral Services Administration for security guard services, 
and reimbursement of the Department of Defense for the 
cost of overseas employee mail, $2,856,160,000: Provided, 
That expenses for services and assistance authorized under 
paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 3104(a) of title 
38, United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs 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) 
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to achieve maximum independence in daily living, shall be 
charged to this account: Provided further, That, of the funds 
made available under this heading, not to exceed 5 percent 
shall remain available until September 30, 2018. 
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 
MEDICAL SERVICES 
For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized 
by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to 
beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and vet-
erans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
Code, including care and treatment in facilities not under 
the jurisdiction of the Department, and including medical 
supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food serv-
ices, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees 
hired under title 38, United States Code, aid to State homes 
as authorized by section 1741 of title 38, United States 
Code, assistance and support services for caregivers as au-
thorized by section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, 
loan repayments authorized by section 604 of the Caregivers 
and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public 
Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), and 
hospital care and medical services authorized by section 
1787 of title 38, United States Code; $1,078,993,000, which 
shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under 
this heading that become available on October 1, 2016; and, 
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in addition, $44,886,554,000, plus reimbursements, shall 
become available on October 1, 2017, and shall remain 
available until September 30, 2018: Provided, That, of the 
amount made available on October 1, 2017, under this 
heading, $1,400,000,000 shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2019: Provided further, That, notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish a priority for the provision of medical treat-
ment for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, 
lower income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provi-
sion of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment pri-
ority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That, notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription 
drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities to en-
rolled veterans with privately written prescriptions based 
on requirements established by the Secretary: Provided fur-
ther, That the implementation of the program described in 
the previous proviso shall incur no additional cost to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient 
amounts appropriated under this heading for medical sup-
plies and equipment are available for the acquisition of 
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prosthetics designed specifically for female veterans: Pro-
vided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
provide access to therapeutic listening devices to veterans 
struggling with mental health related problems, substance 
abuse, or traumatic brain injury. 
MEDICAL COMMUNITY CARE 
For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to 
individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, at non-Department facilities, $7,246,181,000, 
plus reimbursements, of which $2,000,000,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2020; and, in addition, 
$9,409,118,000 shall become available on October 1, 2017, 
and shall remain available until September 30, 2018: Pro-
vided, That of the amount made available on October 1, 
2017, $1,500,000,000 shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2021. 
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE 
For necessary expenses in the administration of the 
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad-
ministrative expenses in support of capital policy activities; 
and administrative and legal expenses of the Department 
for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department 
as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 
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U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $6,654,480,000, plus reimbursements, 
shall become available on October 1, 2017, and shall remain 
available until September 30, 2018: Provided, That, of the 
amount made available on October 1, 2017, under this 
heading, $100,000,000 shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2019. 
MEDICAL FACILITIES 
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and oper-
ation of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, 
and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Admin-
istration; for administrative expenses in support of plan-
ning, design, project management, real property acquisition 
and disposition, construction, and renovation of any facil-
ity under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; 
for oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not 
charged to project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, 
or providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes 
under the jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise pro-
vided for, either by contract or by the hire of temporary 
employees and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; 
and for laundry services; $247,668,000, which shall be in 
addition to funds previously appropriated under this head-
ing that become available on October 1, 2016; and, in addi-
tion, $5,434,880,000, plus reimbursements, shall become 
available on October 1, 2017, and shall remain available 
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until September 30, 2018: Provided, That, of the amount 
made available on October 1, 2017, under this heading, 
$250,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2019. 
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH 
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of 
medical and prosthetic research and development as author-
ized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, 
$675,366,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain available 
until September 30, 2018: Provided, That the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appro-
priated under this heading are available for prosthetic re-
search specifically for female veterans, and for toxic expo-
sure research. 
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION 
For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Ad-
ministration 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; 
hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or 
improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the Na-
tional Cemetery Administration, $286,193,000, of which 
not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2018. 
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DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION 
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For necessary operating expenses of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including ad-
ministrative expenses in support of Department-wide cap-
ital planning, management and policy activities, uniforms, 
or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official re-
ception and representation expenses; hire of passenger 
motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services 
Administration for security guard services, $345,391,000, 
of which not to exceed 5 percent shall remain available until 
September 30, 2018: Provided, That funds provided under 
this heading may be transferred to ‘‘General Operating Ex-
penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’. 
BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS 
For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Vet-
erans Appeals, $156,096,000, of which not to exceed 10 per-
cent shall remain available until September 30, 2018. 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For necessary expenses for information technology sys-
tems and telecommunications support, including develop-
mental information systems and operational information 
systems; for pay and associated costs; and for the capital 
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asset acquisition of information technology systems, includ-
ing management and related contractual costs of said ac-
quisitions, including contractual costs associated with oper-
ations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, $4,278,259,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That 
$1,272,548,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of 
which not to exceed $37,100,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2018: Provided further, That 
$2,534,442,000 shall be for operations and maintenance, of 
which not to exceed $180,200,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2018: Provided further, That 
$471,269,000 shall be for information technology systems 
development, modernization, and enhancement, and shall 
remain available until September 30, 2018: Provided fur-
ther, That amounts made available for information tech-
nology systems development, modernization, and enhance-
ment may not be obligated or expended until the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs or the Chief Information Officer of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs submits to the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a certifi-
cation of the amounts, in parts or in full, to be obligated 
and expended for each development project: Provided fur-
ther, That amounts made available for salaries and ex-
penses, operations and maintenance, and information tech-
nology systems development, modernization, and enhance-
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ment may be transferred among the three subaccounts after 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests from the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the au-
thority to make the transfer and an approval is issued: Pro-
vided further, That amounts made available for the ‘‘Infor-
mation Technology Systems’’ account for development, mod-
ernization, and enhancement may be transferred among 
projects or to newly defined projects: Provided further, That 
no project may be increased or decreased by more than 
$1,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to the Com-
mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to 
make the transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a 
response, a period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, 
That funds under this heading may be used by the Inter-
agency Program Office through the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to define data standards, code sets, and value sets 
used to enable interoperability: Provided further, That of 
the funds made available for information technology sys-
tems development, modernization, and enhancement for 
VistA Evolution or any successor program, not more than 
25 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs: 
(1) submits to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress the VistA Evolution Busi-
ness Case and supporting documents regarding con-
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tinuation of VistA Evolution or alternatives to VistA 
Evolution, including an analysis of necessary or de-
sired capabilities, technical and security require-
ments, the plan for modernizing the platform frame-
work, and all associated costs; 
(2) submits to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress, and such Committees ap-
prove, the following: a report that describes a strategic 
plan for VistA Evolution, or any successor program, 
and the associated implementation plan including 
metrics and timelines; a master schedule and lifecycle 
cost estimate for VistA Evolution or any successor; 
and an implementation plan for the transition from 
the Project Management Accountability System to a 
new project delivery framework, the Veteran-focused 
Integration Process, that includes the methodology by 
which projects will be tracked, progress measured, and 
deliverables evaluated; 
(3) submits to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress a report outlining the stra-
tegic plan to reach interoperability with private sec-
tor healthcare providers, the timeline for reaching 
‘‘meaningful use’’ as defined by the Office of National 
Coordinator for Health Information Technology for 
each data domain covered under the VistA Evolution 
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program, and the extent to which the Department of 
Veterans Affairs leverages the State Health Informa-
tion Exchanges to share health data with private sec-
tor providers; 
(4) submits to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress, and such Committees ap-
prove, the following: a report that describes the extent 
to which VistA Evolution, or any successor program, 
maximizes the use of commercially available software 
used by DoD and the private sector, requires an open 
architecture that leverages best practices and rapidly 
adapts to technologies produced by the private sector, 
enhances full interoperability between the VA and 
DoD and between VA and the private sector, and en-
sures the security of personally identifiable informa-
tion of veterans and beneficiaries; and 
(5) certifies in writing to the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress that the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs has met the require-
ments contained in the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act of Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66) 
which require that electronic health record systems of 
the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs have reached interoperability, com-
ply with national standards and architectural re-
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quirements identified by the DoD/VA Interagency 
Program Office in collaboration with the Office of Na-
tional Coordinator for Health Information Tech-
nology: 
Provided further, That the funds made available under this 
heading for information technology systems development, 
modernization, and enhancement, shall be for the projects, 
and in the amounts, specified under this heading in the 
joint explanatory statement accompanying this Act. 
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector Gen-
eral, to include information technology, in carrying out the 
provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App.), $160,106,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall 
remain available until September 30, 2018. 
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 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, 
not otherwise provided for, including planning, architec-
tural and engineering services, construction management 
services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs as-
sociated with equipment guarantees provided under the 
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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 section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United 
States Code, or where funds for a project were made avail-
able 
in 
a 
previous 
major 
project 
appropriation, 
$528,110,000, of which $478,110,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2021, and of which $50,000,000 shall 
remain available until expended: Provided, That except for 
advance planning activities, including needs assessments 
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and 
other capital asset management related activities, including 
portfolio development and management activities, and in-
vestment strategy studies funded through the advance plan-
ning fund and the planning and design activities funded 
through the design fund, including needs assessments which 
may or may not lead to capital investments, and salaries 
and associated costs of the resident engineers who oversee 
those capital investments funded through this account and 
contracting officers who manage specific major construction 
projects, and funds provided for the purchase, security, and 
maintenance of land for the National Cemetery Administra-
tion through the land acquisition line item, none of the 
funds made available under this heading shall be used for 
any project that has not been notified to Congress through 
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the budgetary process or that has not been approved by the 
Congress through statute, joint resolution, or in the explan-
atory statement accompanying such Act and presented to 
the President at the time of enrollment: Provided further, 
That funds made available under this heading for fiscal 
year 2017, for each approved project shall be obligated: (1) 
by the awarding of a construction documents contract by 
September 30, 2017; and (2) by the awarding of a construc-
tion contract by September 30, 2018: Provided further, That 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con-
gress a written report on any approved major construction 
project for which obligations are not incurred within the 
time limitations established above: Provided further, That, 
of the amount made available under this heading, 
$222,620,000 for Veterans Health Administration major 
construction projects shall not be available until the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs— 
(1) enters into an agreement with an appro-
priate non-Department of Veterans Affairs Federal 
entity to serve as the design and/or construction agent 
for any Veterans Health Administration major con-
struction project with a Total Estimated Cost of 
$100,000,000 or above by providing full project man-
agement services, including management of the project 
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design, 
acquisition, 
construction, 
and 
contract 
changes, consistent with section 502 of Public Law 
114–58; and 
(2) certifies in writing that such an agreement 
is executed and intended to minimize or prevent sub-
sequent major construction project cost overruns and 
provides a copy of the agreement entered into and 
any required supplementary information to the Com-
mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
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 planning and assessments of needs which 
may lead to capital investments, architectural and engi-
neering services, maintenance or guarantee 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 acquisi-
tion, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 
2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, 
not otherwise provided for, where the estimated cost of a 
project is equal to or less than the amount set forth in sec-
tion 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, 
$372,069,000, to remain available until September 30, 
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2021, along with unobligated balances of previous ‘‘Con-
struction, Minor Projects’’ appropriations which are hereby 
made available for any project where the estimated cost is 
equal to or less than the amount set forth in such section: 
Provided, That funds made available under this heading 
shall be 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 or damage caused by 
any natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2) temporary 
measures necessary to prevent or to minimize further loss 
by such causes. 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE 
FACILITIES 
For grants to assist States to acquire or construct 
State nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to re-
model, modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, and 
domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing care 
to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 8137 of 
title 38, United States Code, $90,000,000, to remain avail-
able until expended. 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES 
For grants to assist States and tribal organizations 
in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans ceme-
teries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United 
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States Code, $45,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2017 for 
‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 
and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ may be trans-
ferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appro-
priations: Provided, 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 such Committees 
issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days 
has elapsed. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 202. Amounts made available for the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017, in this or any other 
Act, under the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community 
Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical 
Facilities’’ accounts may be transferred among the ac-
counts: Provided, That any transfers among the ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Sup-
port and Compliance’’ accounts of 1 percent or less of the 
total amount appropriated to the account in this or any 
other Act may take place subject to notification from the 
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Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress of the amount and 
purpose of the transfer: Provided further, That any trans-
fers among the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community 
Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ accounts 
in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the cumulative 1 percent 
for the fiscal year, may take place only after the Secretary 
requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and 
an approval is issued: Provided further, That any transfers 
to or from the ‘‘Medical Facilities’’ account may take place 
only after the Secretary requests from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 
make the transfer and an approval is issued. 
SEC. 203. Appropriations available in this title for sal-
aries and expenses shall be available for services authorized 
by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of pas-
senger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land or both; 
and uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized by sec-
tions 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the 
appropriations for ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’, and 
‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’) shall be available for the 
purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any 
new hospital or home. 
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SEC. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be 
available for hospitalization or examination of any persons 
(except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or ex-
amination under the laws providing such benefits to vet-
erans, and persons receiving such treatment under sections 
7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, or the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement 
of the cost of such hospitalization or examination is made 
to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account at such rates as may be 
fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 206. Appropriations available in this title for 
‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 
and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ shall be avail-
able for payment of prior year accrued obligations required 
to be recorded by law against the corresponding prior year 
accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 2016. 
SEC. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall 
be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding 
prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 
3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, 
except that if such obligations are from trust fund accounts 
they shall be payable only from ‘‘Compensation and Pen-
sions’’. 
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(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
during fiscal year 2017, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall, from the National Service Life Insurance Fund under 
section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, the Veterans’ 
Special Life Insurance Fund under section 1923 of title 38, 
United States Code, and the United States Government Life 
Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United 
States Code, reimburse the ‘‘General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration’’ and ‘‘Information Tech-
nology Systems’’ accounts for the cost of administration of 
the insurance programs financed through those accounts: 
Provided, That reimbursement shall be made only from the 
surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance pro-
gram during fiscal year 2017 that are available for divi-
dends in that program after claims have been paid and ac-
tuarially determined reserves have been set aside: Provided 
further, That if the cost of administration of such an insur-
ance program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accu-
mulated in that program, reimbursement shall be made 
only to the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided fur-
ther, That the Secretary shall determine the cost of adminis-
tration for fiscal year 2017 which is properly allocable to 
the provision of each such insurance program and to the 
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provision of any total disability income insurance included 
in that insurance program. 
SEC. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease 
proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by 
that account during a prior fiscal year for providing en-
hanced-use lease services, may be obligated during the fiscal 
year in which the proceeds are received. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for 
salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be 
available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Em-
ployment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication under 
section 319 of title 38, United States Code, for all services 
provided at rates which will recover actual costs but not 
to exceed $47,668,000 for the Office of Resolution Manage-
ment and $3,932,000 for the Office of Employment Dis-
crimination Complaint Adjudication: Provided, That pay-
ments may be made in advance for services to be furnished 
based on estimated costs: Provided further, That amounts 
received shall be credited to the ‘‘General Administration’’ 
and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ accounts for use by 
the office that provided the service. 
SEC. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, 
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or medical services provided to any person under chapter 
17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-service-con-
nected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of such 
title, unless that person has disclosed to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may require, 
current, accurate third-party reimbursement information 
for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That 
the Secretary may recover, in the same manner as any other 
debt due the United States, the reasonable charges for such 
care or services from any person who does not make such 
disclosure as required: Provided further, That any amounts 
so recovered for care or services provided in a prior fiscal 
year may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal 
year in which amounts are received. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing ac-
tivities (including disposal) may be deposited into the 
‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, Minor 
Projects’’ accounts and be used for construction (including 
site acquisition and disposition), alterations, and improve-
ments of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for 
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums 
as realized are in addition to the amount provided for in 
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‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, Minor 
Projects’’. 
SEC. 213. Amounts made available under ‘‘Medical 
Services’’ are available— 
(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, sup-
plies, and equipment; and 
(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and 
other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 
beneficiaries receiving care in the Department. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 214. Such sums as may be deposited to the Med-
ical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of 
title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the 
‘‘Medical Services’’ and ‘‘Medical Community Care’’ ac-
counts to remain available until expended for the purposes 
of these accounts. 
SEC. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter 
into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in 
the State of Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organiza-
tions which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact 
with the Indian Health Service, to provide healthcare, in-
cluding behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in 
rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require participating vet-
erans and facilities to comply with all appropriate rules 
and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The term 
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‘‘rural Alaska’’ shall mean those lands which are not within 
the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the 
Fairbanks North Star Borough. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 216. Such sums as may be deposited to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant 
to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may be 
transferred to the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Con-
struction, Minor Projects’’ accounts, to remain available 
until expended for the purposes of these accounts. 
(RESCISSION OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 217. Of the amounts appropriated in title II of 
division J of Public Law 114–113 under the heading ‘‘Med-
ical Services’’ which become available on October 1, 2016, 
$7,246,181,000 are hereby rescinded. 
SEC. 218. 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 Con-
gress 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 ‘‘Quarterly reporting’’, 
under the heading ‘‘General Administration’’ in the joint 
explanatory statement accompanying this Act. 
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(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 219. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Oper-
ating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, ‘‘Gen-
eral Administration’’, and ‘‘National Cemetery Adminis-
tration’’ accounts for fiscal year 2017 may be transferred 
to or from the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ account: 
Provided, That such transfers may not result in a more 
than 10 percent aggregate 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 re-
quest from the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and 
an approval is issued. 
SEC. 220. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act or any other Act for the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner that 
is inconsistent with: (1) section 842 of the Transportation, 
Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, 
the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appro-
priations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–115; 119 Stat. 2506); 
or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code. 
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(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 221. Of the amounts appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017 for ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Construction, 
Minor Projects’’, and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’, 
up to $274,731,000, plus reimbursements, may be trans-
ferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, es-
tablished by section 1704 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 
Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation of the facilities 
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as de-
scribed by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National De-
fense 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 Defense-Department of Veterans 
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written 
notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Com-
mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Pro-
vided further, That section 223 of title II of division J of 
Public Law 114–113 is repealed. 
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(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 222. Of the amounts appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs which become available on October 
1, 2017, for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community 
Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical 
Facilities’’, up to $280,802,000, plus reimbursements, may 
be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Depart-
ment 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. 3571) and may be used for operation of the 
facilities designated as combined Federal 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 Department of Defense-Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund 
upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 223. Such sums as may be deposited to the Med-
ical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of 
title 38, United States Code, for healthcare provided at fa-
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cilities designated as combined Federal 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) shall also be available: (1) 
for transfer to the Joint Department of Defense-Department 
of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, 
established by section 1704 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 
Stat. 3571); and (2) for operations of the facilities des-
ignated as combined Federal medical facilities as described 
by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 
122 Stat. 4500). 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 224. 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 authorized by 
section 8111(d) of title 38, United States Code, to remain 
available until expended, for any purpose authorized by sec-
tion 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 225. None of the funds available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may 
be used to replace the current system by which the Veterans 
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Integrated Service Networks select and contract for diabetes 
monitoring supplies and equipment. 
SEC. 226. 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: Provided, 
That such notification shall occur within 14 days of a con-
tract identifying the programmed amount: Provided fur-
ther, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to 
the obligation of such bid savings and shall describe the an-
ticipated use of such savings. 
SEC. 227. None of the funds made available for ‘‘Con-
struction, Major Projects’’ may be used for a project in ex-
cess of the scope specified for that project in the original 
justification data provided to the Congress as part of the 
request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs receives approval from the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 228. 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 Con-
gress a quarterly report containing performance measures 
and data from each Veterans Benefits Administration Re-
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gional Office: Provided, That, at a minimum, 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 accompanying this Act. 
SEC. 229. Of the funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017 for ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’ a maximum of $40,000,000 may be obli-
gated from the ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ account 
for the VistA Evolution and electronic health record inter-
operability projects: Provided, That funds in addition to 
these amounts may be obligated for the VistA Evolution and 
electronic health record interoperability projects upon writ-
ten notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pro-
vide written notification to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to organiza-
tional 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. 231. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pro-
vide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress notification of any single 
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national outreach and awareness marketing campaign in 
which obligations exceed $2,000,000. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 232. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon de-
termination that such action is necessary to address needs 
of the Veterans Health Administration, may transfer to the 
‘‘Medical Services’’ account any discretionary appropria-
tions made available for fiscal year 2017 in this title (except 
appropriations made to the ‘‘General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration’’ account) or any discre-
tionary unobligated balances within the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, including those appropriated for fiscal year 
2017, that were provided in advance by appropriations 
Acts: Provided, That transfers shall be made only with the 
approval of the Office of Management 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 emer-
gency 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 
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item for which funds are requested has been denied by Con-
gress: 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 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. 233. Amounts made available for the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2017, under the ‘‘Board 
of Veterans Appeals’’ and the ‘‘General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration’’ accounts may be trans-
ferred between such accounts: Provided, That before a trans-
fer 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. 
SEC. 234. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 
reprogram funds among major construction projects or pro-
grams if such instance of reprogramming will exceed 
$5,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
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(RESCISSION OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 235. Of the unobligated balances available within 
the ‘‘DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund’’, 
$40,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 
(RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 236. Of the discretionary funds made available 
in Public Law 114–113 for the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs for fiscal year 2017, $134,000,000 are rescinded from 
‘‘Medical Services’’, $26,000,000 are rescinded from ‘‘Med-
ical Support and Compliance’’, and $9,000,000 are re-
scinded from ‘‘Medical Facilities’’. 
SEC. 237. The amounts otherwise made available by 
this Act for the following accounts of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs are hereby reduced by the following amounts: 
(1) ‘‘Veterans Health Administration—Medical 
and Prosthetic Research’’, $2,000,000. 
(2) ‘‘Departmental Administration—Board of 
Veterans Appeals’’, $500,000. 
(3) ‘‘Veterans Benefits Administration—General 
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion’’, $12,000,000. 
(4) ‘‘Departmental Administration—Informa-
tion Technology Systems’’, $8,000,000. 
(5) ‘‘Departmental Administration—Office of 
Inspector General’’, $500,000. 
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SEC. 238. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall en-
sure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 1720F(h) 
of title 38, United States Code— 
(1) provides to individuals who contact the hot-
line immediate assistance from a trained professional; 
and 
(2) adheres to all requirements of the American 
Association of Suicidology. 
SEC. 239. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
treat a marriage and family therapist described in sub-
section (b) as qualified to serve as a marriage and family 
therapist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless 
of any requirements established by the Commission on Ac-
creditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. 
(b) A marriage and family therapist described in this 
subsection is a therapist who meets each of the following 
criteria: 
(1) Has a masters or higher degree in marriage 
and family therapy, or a related field, from a region-
ally accredited institution. 
(2) Is licensed as a marriage and family thera-
pist in a State (as defined in section 101(20) of title 
38, United States Code) and possesses the highest level 
of licensure offered from the State. 
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(3) Has passed the Association of Marital and 
Family Therapy Regulatory Board Examination in 
Marital and Family Therapy or a related examina-
tion for licensure administered by a State (as so de-
fined). 
SEC. 240. None of the funds in this or any other Act 
may be used to close Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
hospitals, domiciliaries, or clinics, conduct an environ-
mental assessment, or to diminish healthcare services at ex-
isting Veterans Health Administration medical facilities lo-
cated in Veterans Integrated Service Network 23 as part 
of a planned realignment of VA services until the Secretary 
provides to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress a report including the following ele-
ments: 
(1) a national realignment strategy that includes 
a detailed description of realignment plans within 
each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), in-
cluding an updated Long Range Capital Plan to im-
plement realignment requirements; 
(2) an explanation of the process by which those 
plans were developed and coordinated within each 
VISN; 
(3) a cost vs. benefit analysis of each planned re-
alignment, including the cost of replacing Veterans 
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Health Administration services with contract care or 
other outsourced services; 
(4) an analysis of how any such planned re-
alignment of services will impact access to care for 
veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, includ-
ing travel distances and transportation costs to access 
a VA medical facility and availability of local spe-
cialty and primary care; 
(5) an inventory of VA buildings with historic 
designation and the methodology used to determine 
the buildings’ condition and utilization; 
(6) a description of how any realignment will be 
consistent with requirements under the National His-
toric Preservation Act; and 
(7) consideration given for reuse of historic 
buildings within newly identified realignment re-
quirements: Provided, That, this provision shall not 
apply to capital projects in VISN 23, or any other 
VISN, which have been authorized or approved by 
Congress. 
SEC. 241. 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 transfer 
any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensa-
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tion Fund to any other account within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 242. Paragraph (3) of section 403(a) of the Vet-
erans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 
2008 (Public Law 110–387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—A veteran may receive health 
services under this section during the period begin-
ning on the date specified in paragraph (2) and end-
ing on September 30, 2017.’’. 
SEC. 243. (a) Section 1722A(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to opioid an-
tagonists furnished under this chapter to a veteran 
who is at high risk for overdose of a specific medica-
tion or substance in order to reverse the effect of such 
an overdose.’’. 
(b) Section 1710(g)(3) of such title is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘with respect to home health serv-
ices’’ and inserting ‘‘with respect to the following:’’ 
‘‘(A) Home health services’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
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‘‘(B) Education on the use of opioid antago-
nists to reverse the effects of overdoses of specific 
medications or substances.’’. 
SEC. 244. Section 312 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended in subsection (c)(1) by striking the phrase ‘‘that 
makes a recommendation or otherwise suggests corrective 
action,’’. 
SEC. 245. Of the funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 
2018 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, funds may be used in each 
year to carry out and expand the child care program au-
thorized by section 205 of Public Law 111–163, notwith-
standing subsection (e) of such section. 
SEC. 246. Section 5701(l) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
VA PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2016 
SEC. 247. (a) PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subchapter: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—WHISTLEBLOWER 
COMPLAINTS 
‘‘§ 731. Whistleblower complaint defined 
‘‘In this subchapter, the term ‘whistleblower complaint’ 
means a complaint by an employee of the Department dis-
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closing, or assisting another employee to disclose, a poten-
tial violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or gross mis-
management, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or 
substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. 
‘‘§ 732. Treatment of whistleblower complaints 
‘‘(a) FILING.—(1) In addition to any other method es-
tablished by law in which an employee may file a whistle-
blower complaint, an employee of the Department may file 
a whistleblower complaint in accordance with subsection (g) 
with a supervisor of the employee. 
‘‘(2) Except as provided by subsection (d)(1), in mak-
ing a whistleblower complaint under paragraph (1), an em-
ployee shall file the initial complaint with the immediate 
supervisor of the employee. 
‘‘(b) NOTIFICATION.—(1)(A) Not later than four busi-
ness days after the date on which a supervisor receives a 
whistleblower complaint by an employee under this section, 
the supervisor shall notify, in writing, the employee of 
whether the supervisor determines that there is a reasonable 
likelihood that the complaint discloses a violation of any 
law, rule, or regulation, or gross mismanagement, gross 
waste of funds, abuse of authority, or substantial and spe-
cific danger to public health and safety. 
‘‘(B) The supervisor shall retain written documenta-
tion regarding the whistleblower complaint and shall sub-
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mit to the next-level supervisor and the central whistle-
blower office described in subsection (h) a written report 
on the complaint. 
‘‘(2)(A) On a monthly basis, the supervisor shall sub-
mit to the appropriate director or other official who is supe-
rior to the supervisor a written report that includes the 
number of whistleblower complaints received by the super-
visor under this section during the month covered by the 
report, the disposition of such complaints, and any actions 
taken because of such complaints pursuant to subsection (c). 
‘‘(B) In the case in which such a director or official 
carries out this paragraph, the director or official shall sub-
mit such monthly report to the supervisor of the director 
or official and to the central whistleblower office described 
in subsection (h). 
‘‘(c) POSITIVE
DETERMINATION.—If a supervisor 
makes a positive determination under subsection (b)(1) re-
garding a whistleblower complaint of an employee, the su-
pervisor shall include in the notification to the employee 
under such subsection the specific actions that the super-
visor will take to address the complaint. 
‘‘(d) FILING COMPLAINT WITH NEXT-LEVEL SUPER-
VISORS.—(1) If any circumstance described in paragraph 
(3) is met, an employee may file a whistleblower complaint 
in accordance with subsection (g) with the next-level super-
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visor who shall treat such complaint in accordance with 
this section. 
‘‘(2) An employee may file a whistleblower complaint 
with the Secretary if the employee has filed the whistle-
blower complaint to each level of supervisors between the 
employee and the Secretary in accordance with paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(3) A circumstance described in this paragraph is 
any of the following circumstances: 
‘‘(A) A supervisor does not make a timely deter-
mination under subsection (b)(1) regarding a whistle-
blower complaint. 
‘‘(B) The employee who made a whistleblower 
complaint determines that the supervisor did not ade-
quately address the complaint pursuant to subsection 
(c). 
‘‘(C) The immediate supervisor of the employee 
is the basis of the whistleblower complaint. 
‘‘(e) TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE WHO FILES WHISTLE-
BLOWER COMPLAINT.—If a supervisor makes a positive de-
termination under subsection (b)(1) regarding a whistle-
blower complaint filed by an employee, the Secretary 
shall— 
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‘‘(1) inform the employee of the ability to volun-
teer for a transfer in accordance with section 3352 of 
title 5; and 
‘‘(2) give preference to the employee for such a 
transfer in accordance with such section. 
‘‘(f) PROHIBITION
ON EXEMPTION.—The Secretary 
may not exempt any employee of the Department from 
being covered by this section. 
‘‘(g) WHISTLEBLOWER
COMPLAINT
FORM.—(1) A 
whistleblower complaint filed by an employee under sub-
section (a) or (d) shall consist of the form described in para-
graph (2) and any supporting materials or documentation 
the employee determines necessary. 
‘‘(2) The form described in this paragraph is a form 
developed by the Secretary, in consultation with the Special 
Counsel, that includes the following: 
‘‘(A) An explanation of the purpose of the whis-
tleblower complaint form. 
‘‘(B) Instructions for filing a whistleblower com-
plaint as described in this section. 
‘‘(C) An explanation that filing a whistleblower 
complaint under this section does not preclude the 
employee from any other method established by law in 
which an employee may file a whistleblower com-
plaint. 
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‘‘(D) A statement directing the employee to in-
formation accessible on the Internet website of the De-
partment as described in section 735(d). 
‘‘(E) Fields for the employee to provide— 
‘‘(i) the date that the form is submitted; 
‘‘(ii) the name of the employee; 
‘‘(iii) the contact information of the em-
ployee; 
‘‘(iv) a summary of the whistleblower com-
plaint (including the option to append sup-
porting documents pursuant to paragraph (1)); 
and 
‘‘(v) proposed solutions to the complaint. 
‘‘(F) Any other information or fields that the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary, in consultation with the Special 
Counsel, shall develop the form described in paragraph (2) 
by not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this section. 
‘‘(h) CENTRAL WHISTLEBLOWER OFFICE.—(1) The 
Secretary shall ensure that the central whistleblower of-
fice— 
‘‘(A) is not an element of the Office of the Gen-
eral Counsel; 
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‘‘(B) is not headed by an official who reports to 
the General Counsel; 
‘‘(C) does not provide, or receive from, the Gen-
eral Counsel any information regarding a whistle-
blower complaint except pursuant to an action re-
garding the complaint before an administrative body 
or court; and 
‘‘(D) does not provide advice to the General 
Counsel. 
‘‘(2) The central whistleblower office shall be respon-
sible for investigating all whistleblower complaints of the 
Department, regardless of whether such complaints are 
made by or against an employee who is not a member of 
the Senior Executive Service. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the central whis-
tleblower office maintains a toll-free hotline to anonymously 
receive whistleblower complaints. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall ensure that the central whis-
tleblower office has such staff and resources as the Secretary 
considers necessary to carry out the functions of the central 
whistleblower office. 
‘‘(5) In this subsection, the term ‘central whistleblower 
office’ means the Office of Accountability Review or a suc-
cessor office that is established or designated by the Sec-
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retary to investigate whistleblower complaints filed under 
this section or any other method established by law. 
‘‘§ 733. Adverse actions against supervisory employees 
who commit prohibited personnel actions 
relating to whistleblower complaints 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) In accordance with paragraph 
(2), the Secretary shall carry out the following adverse ac-
tions against supervisory employees (as defined in section 
7103(a) of title 5) whom the Secretary, an administrative 
judge, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of 
Special Counsel, an adjudicating body provided under a 
union contract, a Federal judge, or the Inspector General 
of the Department determines committed a prohibited per-
sonnel action described in subsection (c): 
‘‘(A) With respect to the first offense, an adverse 
action that is not less than a 12-day suspension and 
not more than removal. 
‘‘(B) With respect to the second offense, removal. 
‘‘(2)(A) An employee against whom an adverse action 
under paragraph (1) is proposed is entitled to written no-
tice. 
‘‘(B)(i) An employee who is notified under subpara-
graph (A) of being the subject of a proposed adverse action 
under paragraph (1) is entitled to 14 days following such 
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notification to answer and furnish evidence in support of 
the answer. 
‘‘(ii) If the employee does not furnish any such evi-
dence as described in clause (i) or if the Secretary deter-
mines that such evidence is not sufficient to reverse the de-
termination to propose the adverse action, the Secretary 
shall carry out the adverse action following such 14-day pe-
riod. 
‘‘(C) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of sec-
tion 7513 of title 5, subsection (c) of such section, para-
graphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of section 7543 of such 
title, and subsection (c) of such section shall not apply with 
respect to an adverse action carried out under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION
ON OTHER ADVERSE ACTIONS.— 
With respect to a prohibited personnel action described in 
subsection (c), if the Secretary carries out an adverse action 
against a supervisory employee, the Secretary may carry 
out an additional adverse action under this section based 
on the same prohibited personnel action if the total severity 
of the adverse actions do not exceed the level specified in 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITED PERSONNEL ACTION DESCRIBED.— 
A prohibited personnel action described in this subsection 
is any of the following actions: 
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‘‘(3) Conducting a negative peer review or open-
ing a retaliatory investigation because of an activity 
of an employee that is protected by section 2302 of 
title 5. 
‘‘(4) Requesting a contractor to carry out an ac-
tion that is prohibited by section 4705(b) or section 
4712(a)(1) of title 41, as the case may be. 
‘‘§ 734. Evaluation criteria of supervisors and treat-
ment of bonuses 
‘‘(a) EVALUATION CRITERIA.—(1) In evaluating the 
performance of supervisors of the Department, the Secretary 
shall include the criteria described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) The criteria described in this subsection are the 
following: 
‘‘(A) Whether the supervisor treats whistleblower 
complaints in accordance with section 732 of this 
title. 
‘‘(B) Whether the appropriate deciding official, 
performance review board, or performance review 
committee determines that the supervisor was found 
to have committed a prohibited personnel action de-
scribed in section 733(b) of this title by an adminis-
trative judge, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the 
Office of Special Counsel, an adjudicating body pro-
vided under a union contract, a Federal judge, or, in 
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the case of a settlement of a whistleblower complaint 
(regardless of whether any fault was assigned under 
such settlement), the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) BONUSES.—(1) The Secretary may not pay to a 
supervisor described in subsection (a)(2)(B) an award or 
bonus under this title or title 5, including under chapter 
45 or 53 of such title, during the one-year period beginning 
on the date on which the determination was made under 
such subsection. 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary shall issue an order directing a supervisor de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2)(B) to repay the amount of any 
award or bonus paid under this title or title 5, including 
under chapter 45 or 53 of such title, if— 
‘‘(A) such award or bonus was paid for perform-
ance during a period in which the supervisor com-
mitted a prohibited personnel action as determined 
pursuant to such subsection (a)(2)(B); 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines such repayment 
appropriate pursuant to regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary to carry out this section; and 
‘‘(C) the supervisor is afforded notice and an op-
portunity for a hearing before making such repay-
ment. 
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‘‘§ 735. Training regarding whistleblower complaints 
‘‘(a) TRAINING.—Not less frequently than once each 
year, the Secretary, in coordination with the Whistleblower 
Protection Ombudsman designated under section 3(d)(1)(C) 
of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), shall 
provide to each employee of the Department training re-
garding whistleblower complaints, including— 
‘‘(1) an explanation of each method established 
by law in which an employee may file a whistleblower 
complaint; 
‘‘(2) an explanation of prohibited personnel ac-
tions described by section 733(c) of this title; 
‘‘(3) with respect to supervisors, how to treat 
whistleblower complaints in accordance with section 
732 of this title; 
‘‘(4) the right of the employee to petition Con-
gress regarding a whistleblower complaint in accord-
ance with section 7211 of title 5; 
‘‘(5) an explanation that the employee may not 
be prosecuted or reprised against for disclosing infor-
mation to Congress, the Inspector General, or another 
investigatory agency in instances where such disclo-
sure is permitted by law, including under sections 
5701, 5705, and 7732 of this title, under section 552a 
of title 5 (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act), 
under chapter 93 of title 18, and pursuant to regula-
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tions promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 
(Public Law 104–191); 
‘‘(6) an explanation of the language that is re-
quired to be included in all nondisclosure policies, 
forms, and agreements pursuant to section 115(a)(1) 
of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 
2012 (5 U.S.C. 2302 note); and 
‘‘(7) the right of contractors to be protected from 
reprisal for the disclosure of certain information 
under section 4705 or 4712 of title 41. 
‘‘(b) MANNER TRAINING IS PROVIDED.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that training provided under subsection (a) is 
provided in person. 
‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION.—Not less frequently than once 
each year, the Secretary shall provide training on merit 
system protection in a manner that the Special Counsel cer-
tifies as being satisfactory. 
‘‘(d) PUBLICATION.—(1) The Secretary shall publish 
on the Internet website of the Department, and display 
prominently at each facility of the Department, the rights 
of an employee to file a whistleblower complaint, including 
the information described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of 
subsection (a). 
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‘‘(2) The Secretary shall publish on the Internet 
website of the Department, the whistleblower complaint 
form described in section 732(g)(2). 
‘‘§ 736. Reports to Congress 
‘‘(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not less frequently than once 
each year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report that includes— 
‘‘(1) with respect to whistleblower complaints 
filed under section 732 of this title during the year 
covered by the report— 
‘‘(A) the number of such complaints filed; 
‘‘(B) the disposition of such complaints; and 
‘‘(C) the ways in which the Secretary ad-
dressed such complaints in which a positive de-
termination was made by a supervisor under 
subsection (b)(1) of such section; 
‘‘(2) the number of whistleblower complaints 
filed during the year covered by the report that are 
not included under paragraph (1), including— 
‘‘(A) the method in which such complaints 
were filed; 
‘‘(B) the disposition of such complaints; and 
‘‘(C) the ways in which the Secretary ad-
dressed such complaints; and 
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‘‘(3) with respect to disclosures made by a con-
tractor under section 4705 or 4712 of title 41— 
‘‘(A) the number of complaints relating to 
such disclosures that were investigated by the In-
spector General of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs during the year covered by the report; 
‘‘(B) the disposition of such complaints; and 
‘‘(C) the ways in which the Secretary ad-
dressed such complaints. 
‘‘(b) NOTICE OF OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL DE-
TERMINATIONS.—Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the Secretary receives from the Special Counsel infor-
mation relating to a whistleblower complaint pursuant to 
section 1213 of title 5, the Secretary shall notify the appro-
priate committees of Congress of such information, includ-
ing the determination made by the Special Counsel. 
‘‘(c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—In 
this section, the term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ 
means— 
‘‘(1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate; and 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of 
the House of Representatives.’’. 
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(2) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Such chapter is 
further amended by inserting before section 701 the 
following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL EMPLOYEE 
MATTERS’’. 
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended— 
(i) by inserting before the item relating to 
section 701 the following new item: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL EMPLOYEE MATTERS’’; 
and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following new 
items: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS 
‘‘731. Whistleblower complaint defined. 
‘‘732. Treatment of whistleblower complaints. 
‘‘733. Adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit prohibited per-
sonnel actions relating to whistleblower complaints. 
‘‘734. Evaluation criteria of supervisors and treatment of bonuses. 
‘‘735. Training regarding whistleblower complaints. 
‘‘736. Reports to Congress.’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY BY 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES AS OFFI-
CIAL DUTY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 7 of 
title 38, United States Code, as designated by section 
2(a)(2)(A), is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
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‘‘§ 715. Congressional testimony by employees: treat-
ment as official duty 
‘‘(a) CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY.—An employee of 
the Department is performing official duty during the pe-
riod with respect to which the employee is testifying in an 
official capacity in front of either chamber of Congress, a 
committee of either chamber of Congress, or a joint or select 
committee of Congress. 
‘‘(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The Secretary shall provide 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, to any employee of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs performing official duty described under 
subsection (a).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by 
section 2(a)(2)(B), is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 713 the following 
new item: 
‘‘715. Congressional testimony by employees: treatment as official duty.’’. 
SEC. 248. (a) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of 
verifying that an individual performed service under honor-
able conditions that satisfies the requirements of a coastwise 
merchant seaman who is recognized pursuant to section 401 
of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95– 
202; 38 U.S.C. 106 note) as having performed active duty 
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service for the purposes described in subsection (c)(1), the 
Secretary of Defense shall accept the following: 
(1) In the case of an individual who served on 
a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition 
for whom no applicable Coast Guard shipping or dis-
charge form, ship logbook, merchant mariner’s docu-
ment or Z-card, or other official employment record 
is available, the Secretary of Defense shall provide 
such recognition on the basis of applicable Social Se-
curity Administration records submitted for or by the 
individual, together with validated testimony given 
by the individual or the primary next of kin of the 
individual that the individual performed such service 
during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, 
and ending on December 31, 1946. 
(2) In the case of an individual who served on 
a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition 
for whom the applicable Coast Guard shipping or dis-
charge form, ship logbook, merchant mariner’s docu-
ment or Z-card, or other official employment record 
has been destroyed or otherwise become unavailable by 
reason of any action committed by a person respon-
sible for the control and maintenance of such form, 
logbook, or record, the Secretary of Defense shall ac-
cept other official documentation demonstrating that 
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the individual performed such service during period 
beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on De-
cember 31, 1946. 
(3) For the purpose of determining whether to 
recognize service allegedly performed during the pe-
riod beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on 
December 31, 1946, the Secretary shall recognize mas-
ters of seagoing vessels or other officers in command 
of similarly organized groups as agents of the United 
States who were authorized to document any indi-
vidual for purposes of hiring the individual to per-
form service in the merchant marine or discharging 
an individual from such service. 
(b) TREATMENT OF OTHER DOCUMENTATION.—Other 
documentation accepted by the Secretary of Defense pursu-
ant to subsection (a)(2) shall satisfy all requirements for 
eligibility of service during the period beginning on Decem-
ber 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 
(c) BENEFITS ALLOWED.— 
(1) MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND DECORATIONS.—An 
individual whose service is recognized as active duty 
pursuant to subsection (a) may be awarded an appro-
priate medal, ribbon, or other military decoration 
based on such service. 
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(2) STATUS OF VETERAN.—An individual whose 
service is recognized as active duty pursuant to sub-
section (a) shall be honored as a veteran but shall not 
be entitled by reason of such recognized service to any 
benefit that is not described in this subsection. 
SEC. 249. Section 322(d)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘allowance to a veteran’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘allowance to— 
‘‘(A) a veteran’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A), as designated by para-
graph (1), by striking the period at the end and in-
serting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) a veteran with a VA service-connected dis-
ability rated as 30 percent or greater by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs who is selected by the United 
States Olympic Committee for the United States 
Olympic Team for any month in which the veteran 
is competing in any event sanctioned by the National 
Governing Bodies of the United States Olympic 
Sports.’’. 
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SEC. 250. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 111(b)(1) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) A veteran with vision impairment, a vet-
eran with a spinal cord injury or disorder, or a vet-
eran with double or multiple amputations whose trav-
el is in connection with care provided through a spe-
cial disabilities rehabilitation program of the Depart-
ment (including programs provided by spinal cord 
injury centers, blind rehabilitation centers, and pros-
thetics rehabilitation centers) if such care is pro-
vided— 
‘‘(i) on an in-patient basis; or 
‘‘(ii) during a period in which the Sec-
retary provides the veteran with temporary lodg-
ing at a facility of the Department to make such 
care more accessible to the veteran.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a report on the beneficiary travel 
program under section 111 of title 38, United States Code, 
as amended by subsection (a), that includes the following: 
(1) The cost of the program. 
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(2) The number of veterans served by the pro-
gram. 
(3) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal 
year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 251. (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall establish a program to conduct in-
spections of kitchens and food service areas at each medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such inspec-
tions shall occur not less frequently than annually. The pro-
gram’s goal is to ensure that the same standards for kitch-
ens and food service areas at hospitals in the private sector 
are being met at kitchens and food service areas at medical 
facilities of the Department. 
(b) AGREEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with the Joint Commission 
on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations under 
which the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hos-
pital Organizations conducts the inspections required 
under subsection (a). 
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(2) ALTERNATE
ORGANIZATION.—If the Sec-
retary is unable to enter into an agreement described 
in paragraph (1) with the Joint Commission on Ac-
creditation of Hospital Organizations on terms ac-
ceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek to 
enter into such an agreement with another appro-
priate organization that— 
(A) is not part of the Federal Government; 
(B) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and 
(C) has expertise and objectivity comparable 
to that of the Joint Commission on Accreditation 
of Hospital Organizations. 
(c) REMEDIATION PLAN.— 
(1) INITIAL FAILURE.—If a kitchen or food serv-
ice area of a medical facility of the Department is de-
termined pursuant to an inspection conducted under 
subsection (a) not to meet the standards for kitchens 
and food service areas in hospitals in the private sec-
tor, that medical facility fails the inspection and the 
Secretary shall— 
(A) implement a remediation plan for that 
medical facility within 72 hours; and 
(B) Conduct a second inspection under sub-
section (a) at that medical facility within 14 
days of the failed inspection. 
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(2) SECOND FAILURE.—If a medical facility of 
the Department fails the second inspection conducted 
under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall close the 
kitchen or food service area at that medical facility 
that did not meet the standards for kitchens and food 
service areas in hospitals in the private sector until 
full remediation is completed and all kitchens and 
food service areas at that medical facility meet such 
standards. 
(3) PROVISION OF FOOD.—If a kitchen or food 
service area is closed at a medical facility of the De-
partment pursuant to paragraph (2), the Director of 
the Veterans Integrated Service Network in which the 
medical facility is located shall enter into a contract 
with a vendor approved by the General Services Ad-
ministration to provide food at the medical facility. 
(d) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not less frequently than 
quarterly, the Under Secretary of Health shall submit to 
Congress a report on inspections conducted under this sec-
tion, and their detailed findings and actions taken, during 
the preceding quarter at medical facilities of the Depart-
ment. 
SEC. 252. (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall establish a program to conduct 
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risk-based inspections for mold and mold issues at each 
medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such 
facilities will be rated high, medium, or low risk for mold. 
Such inspections at facilities rated high risk shall occur not 
less frequently than annually, and such inspections at fa-
cilities rated medium or low risk shall occur not less fre-
quently than biennially. 
(b) AGREEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with the Joint Commission 
on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations under 
which the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hos-
pital Organizations conducts the inspections required 
under subsection (a). 
(2) ALTERNATE
ORGANIZATION.—If the Sec-
retary is unable to enter into an agreement described 
in paragraph (1) with the Joint Commission on Ac-
creditation of Hospital Organizations on terms ac-
ceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek to 
enter into such an agreement with another appro-
priate organization that— 
(A) is not part of the Federal Government; 
(B) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and 
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(C) has expertise and objectivity comparable 
to that of the Joint Commission on Accreditation 
of Hospital Organizations. 
(c) REMEDIATION PLAN.—If a medical facility of the 
Department is determined pursuant to an inspection con-
ducted under subsection (a) to have a mold issue, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) implement a remediation plan for that med-
ical facility within 7 days; and 
(2) Conduct a second inspection under subsection 
(a) at that medical facility within 90 days of the ini-
tial inspection. 
(d) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not less frequently than 
quarterly, the Under Secretary for Health shall submit to 
Congress a report on inspections conducted under this sec-
tion, and their detailed findings and actions taken, during 
the preceding quarter at medical facilities of the Depart-
ment. 
SEC. 253. Section 1706(b)(5)(A) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘through 2008’’. 
SEC. 254. (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-
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tion conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States 
Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employ-
ment equivalent. 
(b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted under 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, including— 
(1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for 
each such program; and 
(2) recommendations for such action as the Sec-
retary considers necessary to reduce the veteran-to- 
staff ratio for each such program. 
SEC. 255. (a) None of the funds made available in 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 General has responsibilities under the In-
spector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), or to prevent 
or impede that Inspector General’s access to such records, 
documents, or other materials, under any provision of law, 
except a provision of law that expressly refers to the Inspec-
tor General and expressly limits the Inspector General’s 
right of access. 
(b) A department or agency covered by this section 
shall provide its Inspector General with access to all such 
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records, documents, and other materials in a timely man-
ner. 
(c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance 
with statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the in-
formation provided by the establishment over which that In-
spector 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 Committees on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate within 5 calendar 
days any failures to comply with this requirement. 
SEC. 256. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available in this title may be used by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement related to 
resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would 
restrict in any way the individual from speaking to mem-
bers 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 affairs. 
SEC. 257. Appropriations made available in this Act 
under the heading ‘‘Medical Services’’ shall be available to 
carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United 
States Code, to include the payment of the administrative 
expenses necessary to carry out such sections. Of the amount 
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appropriated for fiscal year 2017, up to $2,000,000 shall 
be available for the payment of monthly assistance allow-
ances to veterans pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 322(d) and up to 
$8,000,000 shall be available for the payment of grants pur-
suant to 38 U.S.C. 521A. Of the amounts appropriated in 
advance for fiscal year 2018, up to $2,000,000 shall be 
available for the payment of monthly assistance allowances 
to veterans pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 322(d) and up to 
$8,000,000 shall be available for the payment of grants pur-
suant to 38 U.S.C. 521A. 
SEC. 258. (a) In fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year 
hereafter, beginning with the fiscal year 2018 budget request 
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 
31, United States Code, the budget justification documents 
submitted for the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ account 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall include, at a 
minimum, the information required under subsection (b). 
(b) The budget justification documents submitted pur-
suant to subsection (a) shall include, for each project— 
(1) the estimated total cost of the project; 
(2) the funding provided for each fiscal year 
prior to the budget year; 
(3) the amount requested for the budget year; 
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(4) the estimated funding required for the project 
for each of the 4 fiscal years succeeding the budget 
year; and 
(5) such additional information as is enumer-
ated under the heading relating to the ‘‘Construction, 
Major Projects’’ account of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs in the joint explanatory statement ac-
companying this Act. 
(c) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con-
gress a proposed budget justification template that complies 
with the requirements of this section. 
SEC. 259. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
carry out the following major medical facility projects, with 
each project to be carried out in an amount not to exceed 
the amount specified for that project: 
(1) Seismic corrections to buildings, including 
retrofitting and replacement of high-risk buildings, in 
San Francisco, California, in an amount not to ex-
ceed $180,480,000. 
(2) Seismic corrections to facilities, including fa-
cilities to support homeless veterans, at the medical 
center in West Los Angeles, California, in an amount 
not to exceed $105,500,000. 
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(3) Seismic corrections to the mental health and 
community living center in Long Beach, California, 
in an amount not to exceed $287,100,000. 
(4) Construction of an outpatient clinic, admin-
istrative space, cemetery, and columbarium in Ala-
meda, California, in an amount not to exceed 
$87,332,000. 
(5) Realignment of medical facilities in Liver-
more, California, in an amount not to exceed 
$194,430,000. 
(6) Construction of a medical center in Louis-
ville, Kentucky, in an amount not to exceed 
$150,000,000. 
(7) Construction of a replacement community 
living center in Perry Point, Maryland, in an 
amount not to exceed $92,700,000. 
(8) Seismic corrections and other renovations to 
several buildings and construction of a specialty care 
building in American Lake, Washington, in an 
amount not to exceed $16,260,000. 
(b) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2016 or the year 
in which funds are appropriated for the Construction, 
Major Projects, account, $1,113,802,000 for the projects au-
thorized in subsection (a). 
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(c) The projects authorized in subsection (a) may only 
be carried out using— 
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2016 pur-
suant to the authorization of appropriations in sub-
section (b); 
(2) funds available for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 that 
remain available for obligation; 
(3) funds available for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 that 
remain available for obligation; 
(4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for fiscal year 2016 for a category of activity 
not specific to a project; 
(5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2016 for 
a category of activity not specific to a project; and 
(6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 for a 
category of activity not specific to a project. 
SEC. 260. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ‘‘Medical 
Services’’ account may be used to provide— 
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(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 veteran. 
(b) In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘service-connected’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 101 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a veteran, 
as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code, who has a service-connected dis-
ability that results in the inability of the veteran to 
procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 
(3) The term ‘‘assisted reproductive technology’’ 
means benefits relating to reproductive assistance pro-
vided 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 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 Defense for Health Affairs on 
April 3, 2012, and the guidance issued to implement 
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such policy, including any limitations on the amount 
of such benefits available to such a member. 
(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 De-
partment of Defense, as authorized in Department of 
Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the reimburse-
ment limits and requirements set forth in such in-
struction. 
(c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified 
in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the require-
ments for funds contained in section 508 of division H of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 
114–113). 
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 
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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 $7,500 for official reception and representation 
expenses; and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign 
countries, when required by law of such countries, 
$75,100,000, 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. 
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, $30,945,000: Provided, That $2,500,000 shall be 
available for the purpose of providing financial assistance 
as described, and in accordance with the process and report-
ing procedures set forth, under this heading in Public Law 
102–229. 
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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 $1,000 
for 
official 
reception 
and 
representation 
expenses, 
$70,800,000, of which not to exceed $15,000,000 shall re-
main available until September 30, 2019. In addition, such 
sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, repairs 
and replacement, to be derived from the ‘‘Lease of Depart-
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, $64,300,000, of which $1,000,000 
shall remain available until expended for construction and 
renovation of the physical plants at the Armed Forces Re-
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tirement 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 Retire-
ment Home Trust Fund, $22,000,000 shall be paid from 
the general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. Funds appropriated in this Act under the 
heading ‘‘Department of Defense—Civil, Cemeterial Ex-
penses, Army’’, may be provided to Arlington County, Vir-
ginia, for the relocation of the federally owned water main 
at Arlington National Cemetery, making additional land 
available for ground burials. 
SEC. 302. Amounts deposited into the special account 
established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are appropriated and 
shall be available until expended to support activities at 
the Army National Military Cemeteries. 
TITLE IV 
OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY 
For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 
Army’’, $18,900,000, to remain available until September 
30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States: Provided, 
That such amount is designated by the Congress for Over-
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seas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pur-
suant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS 
For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 
Navy and Marine Corps’’, $59,809,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United 
States: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War 
on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
1985. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE 
For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 
Air Force’’ $88,291,000, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States: 
Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 
for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter-
rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE 
For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 
Defense-Wide’’, $5,000,000, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2021, for projects outside of the United States: 
Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 
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