Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act

Bill: 108-hr-1720
Sponsor: Rep. Simmons, Rob [R-CT-2]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Adult day care
Ambulatory care
Animals
Architecture and the disabled
Authorization
Blind
Brain
Building construction
Cabinet officers
California
Capital investments
Clinics
Colorado
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Congressional tributes
Connecticut
Construction costs
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disabled
Earth movements and building
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Emergency Management
Fire prevention
Florida
Geriatrics
Government Operations and Politics
Head injuries
Health
Higher education
Hospital care
Human experimentation in medicine
Illinois
Labor and Employment
Leases
Long-term care
Maintenance and repair
Medical education
Medical ethics
Medical laboratories
Medical research
Mental illness
Military hospitals
Military medicine
Names
Nevada
New Jersey
North Carolina
Nursing homes
Occupational health and safety
Ohio
Pain
Prosthesis
Protection of animals
Rehabilitation of the disabled
Research centers
Research ethics
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
South Carolina
Spinal cord injuries
Terminal care
Texas
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation
Women
Women veterans
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects, using funds appropriated for FY 2004 through 2006. Allows such projects to be carried out in order to improve, replace, renovate, update, or establish a new patient care facility, or to improve, replace, renovate, or update, a research facility, in order to improve: (1) seismic protection related to patient safety; (2) fire safety; (3) utility systems and ancillary patient care facilities; (4) accommodation for persons with disabilities; and (5) patient care facilities to specialized programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: 
Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act - (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects, using funds appropriated for FY 2004 and 2005 . Allows such projects to be carried out to improve, replace, renovate, update, or establish a new patient care facility, or to improve, replace, renovate, or update, a research facility, in order to improve: (1) seismic protection related to patient safety; (2) fire safety; (3) utility systems and ancillary patient care facilities; (4) accommodation for persons with disabilities; and (5) patient care facilities to specialized programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires: (1) each project to be reviewed by a board independent of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department; and (2) each board's recommendations to be considered by the Secretary prior to selection. Authorizes appropriations for such fiscal years. Directs the Comptroller General to report to the congressional veterans' committees: (1) evaluating advantages and disadvantages of congressional authorization for such projects over specific authorization by law; and (2) describing specific actions of the Secretary during FY 2004 with respect to such projects. Requires the Secretary to report to such committees on the project authorization process.
 
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified major medical facility projects for current or future Department medical facilities in: (1) Chicago, Illinois; (2) San Diego, California; (3) West Haven, Connecticut; (4) Columbus, Ohio; and (5) Pensacola, Florida. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into major medical facilities leases for Department outpatient clinics in: (1) Charlotte, North Carolina; and (2) Clark County, Nevada.
 
(Sec. 4) Prohibits the Secretary from making a final disposal of the Lakeside Division facility in Chicago, Illinois, until the Secretary has entered into a contract for the project for such facility.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to develop a plan: (1) to establish an inpatient facility to meet veterans' hospital care needs in southern New Jersey; and (2) for hospital care needs of veterans who reside in far south Texas. Requires reports on each plan from the Secretary to the veterans' committees.
 
(Sec. 6) Increases from $4 million to $6 million the threshold cost of a major medical facility project above which funds for such project must be specifically authorized by law.
 
(Sec. 7) Designates the Department health care facility on South Damen Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
 
(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary to: (1) examine the feasibility of Department coordination of its needs for veterans' inpatient hospital, medical, and long-term care services with the pending construction of a new university medical center at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina; and (2) report results to the veterans' committees.

action_date: 2003-10-29
text: 
Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act - (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects, using funds appropriated for FY 2004 and 2005. Allows such projects to be carried out to improve, replace, renovate, update, or establish a new patient care facility, or to improve, replace, renovate, or update, a research facility, in order to improve: (1) seismic protection related to patient safety; (2) fire safety; (3) utility systems and ancillary patient care facilities; (4) accommodation for persons with disabilities; and (5) patient care facilities to specialized programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires: (1) each project to be reviewed by a board independent of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department; and (2) each board's recommendations to be considered by the Secretary prior to selection. Authorizes appropriations for such fiscal years. Directs the Comptroller General to report to the congressional veterans' committees: (1) evaluating advantages and disadvantages of congressional authorization for such projects over specific authorization by law; and (2) describing specific actions of the Secretary during FY 2004 with respect to such projects. Requires the Secretary to report to such committees on the project authorization process.
 
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified major medical facility projects for current or future Department medical facilities in: (1) Chicago, Illinois; (2) San Diego, California; (3) West Haven, Connecticut; (4) Columbus, Ohio; and (5) Pensacola, Florida. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 for such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into major medical facilities leases for Department outpatient clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina, Clark County, Nevada, and at the site of the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out major medical facility projects at the site of the former Fitzsimons Center, including inpatient and outpatient facilities providing acute, sub-acute, primary, and long-term care services. Requires consultation between the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense, which shall include consideration of establishing a Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense joint health-care venture at the site. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006. Directs the Secretary to report to the veterans' and appropriations committees on the exercise of such authority.
 
(Sec. 5) Prohibits the Secretary from making a final disposal of the Lakeside Division facility in Chicago, Illinois, until the Secretary has entered into a contract for the project for such facility.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to develop a plan: (1) to establish an inpatient facility to meet veterans' hospital care needs in southern New Jersey; and (2) for hospital care needs of veterans who reside in far south Texas. Requires reports on each plan from the Secretary to the veterans' committees.
 
(Sec. 7) Increases from $4 million to $6 million the threshold cost of a major medical facility project above which funds for such project must be specifically authorized by law.
 
(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary to: (1) examine the feasibility of Department coordination of its needs for veterans' inpatient hospital, medical, and long-term care services with the pending construction of a new university medical center at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina; and (2) report results to the veterans' committees.
 
(Sec. 9) Designates the Department: (1) health care facility on South Damen Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and (2) outpatient clinic in New London, Connecticut, as the John J. McGuirk Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
 
(Sec. 11) Establishes in the VHA an Office of Research Oversight to advise the Under Secretary for Health on matters of compliance and assurance in human subjects protections, animal welfare, research safety, and research impropriety and misconduct. Requires the Office to function independently of VHA offices responsible for the conduct of medical research programs. Establishes an Office Director to conduct investigations and report to the Under Secretary with respect to the above matters, including appropriate recommendations for the termination, suspension, or limitation of Department research activities. Requires the Director to report: (1) to the Under Secretary, Secretary, and veterans' committees on any suspected lapse of protecting the safety of human subjects and others, including employees, in medical research programs; and (2) annually to the veterans' committees on prior-year activities.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the veterans' committees on the effects of the establishment of the Office, the actions taken, and improvements in the conduct of ethical medical research in the VHA. Requires the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees on the implementation of this section.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 0 (Roll no. 576). (text: CR H9996-9999)
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 0 (Roll no. 576).(text: CR H9996-9999)
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10079-10080)
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1720.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9996-10008)
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 116.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-210.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 108-210.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-06-24
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-04-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E758-759)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in House