Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-5815
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Henry E., Jr. [R-SC-1]
Introduced: 2006-07-17 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Air force
Alaska
Ambulatory care
Authorization
Blind
Building construction
California
Capital investments
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Clinics
Colleges
Colorado
Commerce
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction costs
Cost accounting
Cost effectiveness
Department of Veterans Affairs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electric power distribution
Emergency Management
Energy
Executive reorganization
Federal officials
Finance and Financial Sector
Florida
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Hurricanes
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Land transfers
Leases
Long-term care
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mental health services
Michigan
Military bases
Mississippi
Nevada
New York State
North Carolina
Ohio
Parking facilities
Patients' rights
Pennsylvania
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public-private partnerships
Puerto Rico
Right of privacy
Rural health
Science, Technology, Communications
Seismology
South Carolina
Spinal cord injuries
Surgery
Telemedicine
Texas
Transportation and Public Works
Veterans' hospitals

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) carry out a major medical facility project (project) for Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi; (2) enter into agreements to carry out the design, construction, and operation of projects in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Charleston, South Carolina; and (3) enter into an agreement to purchase a site for the replacement of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified: (1) projects in connection with the Capital Asset Realignment Initiative; and (2) major medical facility leases in FY2006.
 
Authorizes appropriations for: (1) FY2006 projects; (2) projects under the above Initiative; and (3) major medical facility leases.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should take steps to explore all options for addressing the need for medical facility improvements in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to convey to the city of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, specified real property in Fort Thomas currently managed by the VA.
 
Establishes in the VA the position of Director, Construction and Facilities Management.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit to the congressional veterans' committees a business plan for enhanced access to outpatient care for primary, mental health, and specialty care in the areas of Lewiston-Auburn, Houlton, and Dover-Foxcroft in Maine and Whiteside County, Illinois.

action_date: 2006-09-13
text: 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project (project) for restoration of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Biloxi, Mississippi.
 
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with: (1) Louisiana State University to design, construct, and operate a joint-use medical facility in or near New Orleans, Louisiana, to replace the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005; and (2) the Medical University of South Carolina to design, construct, and operate a joint-use medical facility in Charleston, South Carolina, to replace the Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston.
 
(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement to purchase a site for the replacement of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado. Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on options available for the replacement facility.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified projects in connection with the Capital Asset Realignment Initiative (Initiative) in Alaska, California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
 
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified major medical facility leases in: (1) FY2006 in Indiana, Maryland, and Texas; and (2) FY2007 in Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas.
 
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) FY2006 projects; (2) projects under the Initiative; and (3) major medical facility leases.
 
(Sec. 9) Expresses the sense of Congress recognizing the need for veterans' medical facility improvements in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Requires a report from the Secretary to the veterans' committees on options available for replacing the current Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Juan.
 
(Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to convey to the city of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, a portion of Tower Park in Fort Thomas.
 
(Sec. 11) Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the position of Director, Construction and Facilities Management, with responsibility for: (1) construction and facilities management across the VA; and (2) all VA major and minor construction projects.
 
(Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary to submit to the veterans' committees: (1) a business plan for enhanced access to outpatient care for primary, mental health, and specialty care in the areas of Lewiston-Auburn, Houlton, and Dover-Foxcroft in Maine and Whiteside County, Illinois; and (2) a report identifying and outlining options available for the placement of a VA medical center in Okaloosa County, Florida. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-09-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6453-6455)
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6453-6455)
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5815.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6453-6459)
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Mr. Buyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2006-09-08
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 382.
action_date: 2006-09-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 109-643.
action_date: 2006-09-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 109-643.
action_date: 2006-07-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2006-07-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Introduced in House