Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019

Bill: 115-hr-5895
Sponsor: Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]
Introduced: 2018-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Air quality
Alaska
Alliances
Alternative and renewable resources
American Battle Monuments Commission
Appalachian Regional Commission
Appropriations
Architect of the Capitol
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Army Corps of Engineers
Budget deficits and national debt
Building construction
Buy American requirements
California
Cancer
Caribbean area
Cemeteries and funerals
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Congressional agencies
Congressional committees
Congressional leadership
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Congressional tributes
Cuba
Dams and canals
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Defense spending
Delta Regional Authority
Denali Commission
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of the Interior
Detention of persons
Disability and paralysis
Electric power generation and transmission
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Europe
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal appellate courts
Floods and storm protection
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government Publishing Office (GPO)
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government trust funds
Great Lakes
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Horticulture and plants
Hospital care
House of Representatives
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Idaho
Indian lands and resources rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
Joint Committee on Taxation
Joint Economic Committee
Kentucky
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Latin America
Law enforcement officers
Library of Congress
Life, casualty, property insurance
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Manufacturing
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Members of Congress
Mental health
Metals
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Minority health
Mississippi
Mississippi River
Montana
Motor vehicles
National Guard and reserves
Nevada
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Oil and gas
Oregon
Policy sciences
Pornography
Public contracts and procurement
Racial and ethnic relations
Radioactive wastes and releases
Regional and metropolitan planning
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Russia
Senate
Solid waste and recycling
Strategic materials and reserves
Terrorism
U.S. Capitol
Utah
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Virgin Islands
Washington State
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-21
text: 

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

 
Provides FY2019 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy (DOE), and independent agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
Provides appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, including for: 
 
 
 Investigations, 
 
 Construction, 
 
Mississippi River and Tributaries, 
 
 Operation and Maintenance, 
 
 the Regulatory Program, 
 
 the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, 
 
 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, 
 
 Expenses, and 
 
 the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project and the Bureau of Reclamation. 
 
Provides appropriations to DOE for Energy Programs, including: 
 
 
 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy;
 
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response;
 
Electricity Delivery; 
 
 Nuclear Energy;
 
 Fossil Energy Research and Development;
 
 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; 
 
 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; 
 
the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; 
 
the Energy Information Administration; 
 
 Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup;
 
 the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; 
 
 Science;
 
Nuclear Waste Disposal;
 
the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy;
 
 the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program;
 
the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; 
 
the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; 
 
Departmental Administration; and
 
the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOE for:
 
 
Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration,
 
Environmental and Other Defense Activities, and 
 
the Power Marketing Administrations.
 
 
Provides appropriations to several independent agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts. 

action_date: 2018-05-21
text: 

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

 
Provides FY2019 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy (DOE), and independent agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
Provides appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, including for: 
 
 
 Investigations, 
 
 Construction, 
 
Mississippi River and Tributaries, 
 
 Operation and Maintenance, 
 
 the Regulatory Program, 
 
 the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, 
 
 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, 
 
 Expenses, and 
 
 the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project and the Bureau of Reclamation. 
 
Provides appropriations to DOE for Energy Programs, including: 
 
 
 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy;
 
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response;
 
Electricity Delivery; 
 
 Nuclear Energy;
 
 Fossil Energy Research and Development;
 
 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; 
 
 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; 
 
the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; 
 
the Energy Information Administration; 
 
 Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup;
 
 the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; 
 
 Science;
 
Nuclear Waste Disposal;
 
the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy;
 
 the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program;
 
the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; 
 
the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; 
 
Departmental Administration; and
 
the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOE for:
 
 
Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration,
 
Environmental and Other Defense Activities, and 
 
the Power Marketing Administrations.
 
 
Provides appropriations to several independent agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts. 

action_date: 2018-06-08
text: 

Highlights: 

 
This bill provides FY2019 appropriations for several federal agencies. The bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills: 
 
 
 the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; 
 
 the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019; and
 
the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019.
 
 
The bill also provides additional Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. 
 

Full Summary: 

 

Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
DIVISION A--ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

 
 This division provides FY2019 appropriations for: 
 
 
 the civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 
 
 the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project; 
 
 the Department of Energy (DOE); and 
 
 several independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
 
TITLE I--CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for authorized civil functions pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood and storm damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and related efforts. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for: 
 
 
 Investigations; 
 
Construction; 
 
 Mississippi River and Tributaries, including flood damage reduction projects in the Mississippi River alluvial valley below Cape Girardeau, Missouri; 
 
 Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 the Regulatory Program pertaining to navigable waters and wetlands; 
 
 the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program for clean-up of early atomic energy program contamination; 
 
 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters; 
 
 Expenses necessary for the supervision and general administration of the civil works program; and 
 
 the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits the reprogramming of funds provided by this title except in specified circumstances. 
 
(Sec. 102) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for a contract that commits funds beyond the amounts appropriated for that program, project, or activity that remain unobligated. Includes exception for funds made available through reprogramming. 
 
(Sec. 103) Permits the Corps of Engineers to transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service up to $5.4 million in Operation and Maintenance funds to mitigate for fisheries lost due to Corps of Engineers projects. 
 
(Sec. 104) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for an open lake placement of dredged material originating from Lake Erie or its tributaries unless it is approved under a state water quality certification pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Requires the Corps of Engineers to continue upland placement of the dredged material until an open lake placement for dredged materials is approved under a state water quality certification. 
 
(Sec. 105) Requires acquisitions funded by this title to comply with regulations that prohibit the Department of Defense from purchasing buoy chain unless it is procured from a U.S. manufacturer. 
 
(Sec. 106) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a water supply reallocation study under the Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, project authorized under the Act of July 24, 1946. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds made available by this division from being used to require a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material under the Clean Water Act for specified agricultural activities. 
 
(Sec. 108) Repeals the rule titled "Clean Water Rule: 'Definition of Waters of the United States'" (also known as the Waters of the United States rule), which was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to define the scope of waters protected and regulated under the Clean Water Act. 
 
(Sec. 109) Permits individuals to possess firearms at Corps of Engineers water resources development projects if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm complies with the law of the state in which the project is located. (The Corps of Engineers currently prohibits private individuals from possessing firearms and other weapons at the projects unless the weapons are being used for hunting, at authorized shooting ranges, or with written permission of the Corps District Commander.) 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds provided by this division or available in the revolving fund established by the Civil Functions Appropriations Act of 1954 from being used for a new hopper dredge. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation for: 
 
 
 Water and Related Resources, 
 
 the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, 
 
 California Bay-Delta Restoration, and 
 
 Policy and Administration. 
 
 
Permits appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation to be used for purchasing replacements for up to five passenger motor vehicles. 
 
(Sec. 201) Specifies the circumstances in which Reclamation may reprogram or transfer funds provided by this title. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until Interior and the State of California develop a plan to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters. Requires the plan to conform to California water quality standards as approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. 
 
Directs Interior to classify the costs of the Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program as either reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid pursuant to specified alternative repayment plans. 
 
Requires future federal obligations of funds regarding drainage service or drainage studies for the San Luis Unit to be fully reimbursable by San Luis Unit beneficiaries of the service or studies. 
 
(Sec. 203) Specifies that, from November 1 through April 30, water users may use their diversion structures for the purpose of recharging the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer when Interior determines there is water available in excess of that needed to satisfy existing Minidoka Project storage and hydropower rights and ensure operational flexibility. 
 
(Sec. 204) Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to extend the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct feasibility studies on certain projects that address water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho. 
 
(Sec. 205) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to implement the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Agreement. 
 
(Sec. 206) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to purchase water in California to supplement instream flow within a river basin that has suffered a drought within the last two years. 
 
(Sec. 207) Amends the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize pumped storage hydropower development exclusively utilizing Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs. 
 
TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 
 Provides appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for Energy Programs, including: 
 
 
 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; 
 
 Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; 
 
 Electricity Delivery; 
 
 Nuclear Energy; 
 
 Fossil Energy Research and Development; 
 
 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; 
 
 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR); 
 
 the SPR Petroleum Account; 
 
 the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; 
 
 the Energy Information Administration; 
 
 Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup; 
 
 the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; 
 
 Science; 
 
 Nuclear Waste Disposal; 
 
 Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy; 
 
 the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Loan Program; 
 
 the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; 
 
 the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; 
 
 Departmental Administration; and 
 
 the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including: 
 
 
 Weapons Activities, 
 
 Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, 
 
 Naval Reactors, and 
 
 Federal Salaries and Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Environmental and Other Defense Activities, including: 
 
 
 Defense Environmental Cleanup, 
 
 Other Defense Activities, and 
 
 Defense Nuclear Waste Disposal. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Power Marketing Administrations, including: 
 
 
 the Bonneville Power Administration Fund; 
 
 Southeastern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Southwestern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Western Area Power Administration Operation and Maintenance, Construction, and Rehabilitation; and 
 
 the Falcon and Amistad Operating and Maintenance Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 
 
(Sec. 301) Prohibits funds provided by this title from be used for programs, projects, or activities that have not been funded by Congress. 
 
Prohibits specified grants, contracts, allocations, and agreements unless Congress is notified in advance. 
 
Prohibits funds from being used for certain multiyear Department of Energy--Energy Programs activities unless specified conditions are met and Congress is notified. 
 
Establishes requirements and restrictions for the reprogramming of funds provided in this title. 
 
Permits unexpended balances of prior appropriations provided for activities in this division to be transferred and merged with appropriations accounts established in this division. 
 
(Sec. 302) Deems funds appropriated by this division for intelligence activities to be specifically authorized by Congress during FY2019 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 303) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to construct specified high-hazard nuclear facilities unless independent oversight is conducted by the Office of Enterprise Assessments to ensure compliance with nuclear safety requirements. 
 
(Sec. 304) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to approve certain critical decisions for construction projects exceeding $100 million until a separate independent cost estimate has been developed for the project for that critical decision. 
 
(Sec. 305) Specifies congressional notification requirements and limitations regarding transfers of funds from DOE's Working Capital Fund. 
 
(Sec. 306) Prohibits Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation funds from being used to enter into new contracts with, or new agreements for federal assistance to, the Russian Federation. Permits DOE to waive the prohibition if the activity is in the national security interests of the United States and a report justifying the waiver is submitted to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 307) Prohibits DOE from establishing any new regional petroleum product reserve unless funding is explicitly requested in advance and approved by Congress in an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 308) Specifies requirements for using funds provided for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility. 
 
(Sec. 309) Authorizes DOE to draw down and sell refined petroleum product from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) upon a determination by the President in this fiscal year that: 
 
 
 a regional supply shortage of refined petroleum product of significant scope and duration exists, 
 
 a severe increase in the price of refined petroleum product will likely result from the shortage, and 
 
 a draw down and sale of refined petroleum product would assist directly and significantly in reducing the adverse impact of the shortage. 
 
 
Specifies that the proceeds from the sale must be deposited into the SPR Petroleum Account and remain available for obligation without fiscal year limitation, consistent with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. 
 
(Sec. 310) Requires DOE to submit to Congress and the State of Nevada a report on the potential of locating a reprocessing or recycling facility for spent nuclear fuel near the Yucca Mountain site. 
 
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for independent agencies, including: 
 
 
 the Appalachian Regional Commission, 
 
 the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 
 
 the Delta Regional Authority, 
 
 the Denali Commission, 
 
 the Northern Border Regional Commission, 
 
 the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, 
 
 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and 
 
 the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. 
 
 
(Sec. 401) Requires the NRC to comply with specified internal procedures when responding to congressional requests for information, consistent with Department of Justice guidance for all federal agencies.
 
 (Sec. 402) Specifies the circumstances in which funds provided by this title may be reprogrammed.
 
 TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress, other than to communicate with Members of Congress as permitted under current law. 
 
(Sec. 502) Specifies restrictions and requirements for transfers of funds into and out of accounts funded by this division. 
 
(Sec. 503) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to contravene Executive Order No. 12898 of February 11, 1994 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations). 
 
(Sec. 504) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a computer network that does not block pornography, except for law enforcement purposes. 
 
(Sec. 505) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for further implementation of the coastal and marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management components of the National Ocean Policy developed under Executive Order 13547 (Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes). 
 
(Sec. 506) Prohibits federal funds from being used to operate the Federal Columbia River Power System hydroelectric dams in a manner that is inconsistent with the Corps of Engineers' 2017 Fish Operations Plan. 
 
(Sec. 507) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the removal of any federally owned or operated dam unless the removal was previously authorized by Congress. 
 
(Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division: (1) to conduct closure of adjudicatory functions, technical review, or support activities associated with the Yucca Mountain geologic repository license application; or (2) for actions that irrevocably remove the possibility that Yucca Mountain may be a repository option in the future. 
 
(Sec. 509) Specifies that, unless this bill expressly provides otherwise, references to "this Act" included in this division shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of this division. 
 
(Sec. 510) Specifies the committee report that applies for the purpose of implementing this division. 
 
(Sec. 511) Establishes a spending reduction account for the amount by which spending proposed in this division exceeds the applicable allocation made by the House Appropriations Committee under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Specifies that the amount is $0. (Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, any savings included in the spending reduction account are not available for further appropriation during consideration of the bill.)
 
 (Sec. 512) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to sell the transmission assets of the Bonneville Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, or the Tennessee Valley Authority. 
 
(Sec. 513) Revises the amounts provided by this division for the Corps of Engineers Investigations account. 
 
(Sec. 514) Prohibits funds provided by this division for Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Science from being used in contravention of the Department of Energy Organization Act. 
 
(Sec. 515) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to purchase heavy water from Iran.
 
 (Sec. 516) Revises the amounts provided by this division for the Corps of Engineers Construction account. 
 
(Sec. 517) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to enforce specified criteria for determining if prior converted cropland is abandoned and, therefore, subject to certain regulations under the Clean Water Act. 
 
(Sec. 518) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to prepare, propose, or promulgate any regulation or guidance that references or relies on the analysis contained in specified technical support documents and guidance related to the social cost of carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
DIVISION B--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations for the legislative branch, including the House of Representatives and Joint Items such as the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), and the Office of the Attending Physician. 
 
It also provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police, 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 
 
 the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), 
 
 the Library of Congress (LOC), 
 
 the Government Publishing Office (GPO), and 
 
 the Government Accountability Office (GAO). 
 
 
Pursuant to a longstanding practice under which each chamber of Congress determines its own requirements, the House bill does not include funds for the Senate. 
 
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
 
 Provides appropriations to the House of Representatives for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses; 
 
 House Leadership Offices; 
 
 Members' Representational Allowances, including Members' Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members, and Official Mail; 
 
 Committee Employees; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; and 
 
 Allowances and Expenses. 
 
 
(In this division, the term "Member of the House of Representatives" also includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.) 
 
(Sec. 110) Requires amounts remaining in Members' Representational Allowances after all payments are made for FY2019 to be used for deficit or debt reduction. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives unless the Member requests a copy. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Record to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 113) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to make payments from any Members' Representational Allowance to lease a vehicle, excluding mobile district offices, at a rate that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month. 
 
(Sec. 114) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any edition of the U.S. Code to all offices of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 115) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the report of disbursements for the operations of the House of Representatives to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 116) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver to the office of a Member of the House Representatives a printed copy of the Daily Calendar of the House of Representatives prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 117) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Pictorial Directory to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 118) Repeals the authorizations of office space, office expenses, franked mail and printing privileges, and staff for former Speakers of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 119) Prohibits cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress during FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 120) Provides transfer authority for funds provided for House Leadership Offices. 
 
Provides appropriations for Joint Items, including: 
 
 
 the Joint Economic Committee, 
 
 the Joint Committee on Taxation, 
 
 the Office of the Attending Physician, and 
 
 the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police, 
 
 the Office of Compliance, and 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). 
 
 
(Sec. 130) Permits funds provided for CBO salaries and expense to be used to reimburse new employees for relocation expenses if CBO determines that the reimbursement is of sufficient benefit or value.
 
 Provides appropriations to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for: 
 
 
 Capital Construction and Operations; 
 
 the Capitol Building; 
 
 the Capitol Grounds; 
 
 the House Office Buildings; 
 
 the Capitol Power Plant; 
 
 the Library Buildings and Grounds; 
 
 the Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security; 
 
 the Botanic Garden; and 
 
 the Capitol Visitor Center. 
 
 
(Sec. 140) Prohibits funds provided by this division for the AOC from being used to make incentive or award payments to contractors for work that is behind schedule or over budget, unless the deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope changes, or are insignificant within the overall scope of the project or program. 
 
(Sec. 141) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used for scrims (coverings for buildings that are being renovated) containing photographs of building facades during restoration or construction projects performed by the AOC. 
 
(Sec. 142) Amends the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery From and Response To Terrorist Attacks on the United States, with respect to the Capitol Police and Buildings and Ground Account, to: (1) specify that the uses for the account include AOC resilience and security programs; and (2) permit the AOC, with congressional approval, to receive interagency transfers of funds to carry out the purposes of the account.
 
(Sec. 143) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 to increase from $100,000 to $250,000 the threshold for the small purchase contract authority for purchases and contracts of the AOC. 
 
(Sec. 144) Permits the AOC to enter into a joint agency agreement to provide for interagency employee detailees. 
 
(Sec. 145) Permits the AOC to accept, or authorize an AOC employee to accept, payments from nonfederal sources for travel, subsistence, and related expenses for the attendance of an employee (or the spouse of an employee) at a meeting or similar function relating to the employee's official duties. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Library of Congress (LOC) for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses, 
 
 the Copyright Office, 
 
 the Congressional Research Service, and 
 
 Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. 
 
 
(Sec. 150) Limits the FY2019 obligational authority of the LOC for reimbursable and revolving fund activities funded from sources other than appropriations. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Government Publishing Office for: 
 
 
 Congressional Publishing, 
 
 Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents, and 
 
 the Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to: 
 
 
 the Government Accountability Office, 
 
 the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund, and 
 
 the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. 
 
 
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 201) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning, as provided under regulations for the House and Senate parking facilities. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond FY2019 unless expressly provided in this division. 
 
(Sec. 203) Provides that: (1) rates of compensation or designations of offices or positions included in this division that are either not established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 or are contrary to that Act are considered permanent law, and (2) provisions in this division for official congressional expenses and clerk hire for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives are permanent law.
 
 (Sec. 204) Limits contracts for certain consulting services to those where expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law or under an executive order issued under existing law. 
 
(Sec. 205) Permits legislative branch entities participating in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council to use funds provided for administrative expenses to pay a share of the cost of the council if the total cost shared among all participating entities does not exceed $2,000. 
 
(Sec. 206) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government unless the transfer is pursuant to authority provided by an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 207) Prohibits the AOC from using funds provided by this division to eliminate or restrict guided Capitol tours led by congressional employees and interns other than through regulations authorized by the Capitol Visitor Center of 2008, subject to an exception permitting tours to be suspended for security or related reasons. 
 
(Sec. 208) Specifies that, unless this bill expressly provides otherwise, references to "this Act" included in this division shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of this division. 
 
(Sec. 209) Specifies the committee report that applies for the purpose of implementing this division. 
 
(Sec. 210) Establishes a spending reduction account for the amount by which spending proposed in this division exceeds the applicable allocation made by the House Appropriations Committee under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Specifies that the amount is $0. (Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, any savings included in the spending reduction account are not available for further appropriation during consideration of the bill.) 
 
(Sec. 211) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to purchase plastic drinking straws. 
 
(Sec. 212) Reinstates a requirement for the GAO to perform semiannual financial reviews of Independent Counsel expenditures. 
 
DIVISION C--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction, military family housing, the U.S. share of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and base closures and realignments. 
 
The division also provides appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans benefit and health care programs, Departmental Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Related agencies and programs funded in the division include the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and the Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
The division also includes military construction funds which are designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds and are not subject to discretionary spending limits. 
 
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for Military Construction for: 
 
 
 the Army; 
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps; 
 
 the Air Force; 
 
Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments); 
 
 the Army and Air National Guard; and 
 
 the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program. 
 
Provides appropriations for the DOD Base Closure Account. 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for: 
 
 
 the Army, 
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 the Air Force, and 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments). 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund and the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for payments exceeding $25,000 under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction in the United States without a specific DOD approval in writing. Includes an exception for work that is to be performed in Alaska. 
 
(Sec. 102) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for hiring passenger motor vehicles. 
 
(Sec. 103) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration for the construction of access roads DOD has certified as important to national defense. 
 
(Sec. 104) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to begin construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to purchase land or land easements in excess of 100% of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Includes exceptions for: (1) determinations of value by a federal court, (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or a designee, (3) values less than $25,000, and (4) DOD determinations that the purchase is in the public interest. 
 
(Sec. 106) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to acquire land, provide for site preparation, or install utilities for family housing, except housing for which appropriations have been provided. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds provided by this title for minor construction from being used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 108) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to procure steel for construction unless American producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete for the procurement. 
 
(Sec. 109) Prohibits funds provided to DOD for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year from being used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to initiate a new installation overseas without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for architect and engineer contracts estimated to exceed $500,000 for projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf unless the contracts are awarded to U.S. firms or U.S. firms in joint ventures with host nation firms. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction in U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf from being used to award a contract over $1 million to a foreign contractor. Includes exceptions. 
 
(Sec. 113) Requires DOD to notify Congress in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if the construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 
 
(Sec. 114) Permits funds appropriated to DOD for construction in prior years to be used for construction projects authorized during the current session of Congress. 
 
(Sec. 115) Permits expired or lapsed funds to be used to pay for supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering, and design costs for military construction or family housing projects being completed with lapsed or expired funds. 
 
(Sec. 116) Permits funds provided for the construction of military projects to be available for five years if the funds for the project: (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction, and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated or permitted by law. 
 
(Sec. 117) Permits the following transfers if Congress is notified and specified conditions are met: 
 
 
 to the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction in Family Housing accounts, and 
 
 to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction of military unaccompanied housing in Military Construction accounts. 
 
 
Specifies that the transferred funds shall be available for DOD loans or loan guarantees pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 
 
(Sec. 118) Permits the transfer of funds from the DOD Base Closure Account to the fund established to pay expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
(Sec. 119) Specifies that funds for operation and maintenance of family housing in this title shall be the only source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters. Sets forth limitations and requirements for expenditures for maintenance and repair of general or flag officer quarters. 
 
(Sec. 120) Appropriates funds contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account to remain available until expended or transferred. 
 
(Sec. 121) Permits the transfer of unobligated balances of expired military construction and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations--Construction--Defense account. 
 
(Sec. 122) Prohibits the Army from using funds provided by this division to relocate a unit that: (1) performs a testing mission or function that is not performed by any other unit in the Army and is specifically stipulated under current law, and (2) is located at a military installation where the total number of Army civilian employees and contractor personnel exceeds 10% of the regular and reserve Army personnel assigned to the installation. Includes an exception if the Army notifies Congress of the relocation's compliance with Army Regulation 5-10 concerning stationing actions. 
 
(Sec. 123) Permits funds provided to an account in this title to be transferred among projects and activities within the account subject to specified DOD reprogramming guidelines for military and family housing construction. 
 
(Sec. 124) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for the planning, design, and construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 125) Provides specified additional funds to remain available through FY2023 for unfunded military construction priorities. 
 
(Sec. 126) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the following VA accounts and programs: 
 
 
 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program; 
 
 Military Construction--Air Force; and 
 
 the fund established to pay expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
 
(Sec. 127) Defines "congressional defense committees" to include the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. 
 
(Sec. 128) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the closure or realignment of the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
 
(Sec. 129) Prohibits funds from being used to consolidate or relocate any element of a U.S. Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) squadron outside of the United States until the Air Force: (1) submits to Congress an analysis and comparison of the cost and investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within the United States, and (2) certifies to Congress that the preferred site yields the greatest savings. 
 
(Sec. 130) Requires specified FY2019 Military Construction--Defense-Wide funds authorized to be appropriated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 to be immediately available and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized projects. 
 
(Sec. 131) Provides additional military construction funds to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and the Air Force to remain available through FY2023 for enhancing force protection and safety at military installations. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for: 
 
 
 Compensation and Pensions, 
 
 Readjustment Benefits, 
 
 Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, 
 
 the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund, 
 
 the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account, 
 
 the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account, and 
 
 General Operating Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for: 
 
 
 Medical Services, 
 
 Medical Community Care, 
 
 Medical Support and Compliance, 
 
Medical Facilities, and 
 
 Medical and Prosthetic Research. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Provides appropriations to the VA for Departmental Administration, including: 
 
 
 General Administration, 
 
 the Board of Veterans Appeals, 
 
 Information Technology Systems, 
 
 the Veterans Electronic Health Record, 
 
 the Office of Inspector General, 
 
 Construction--Major Projects, 
 
 Construction--Minor Projects, 
 
 Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, and 
 
 Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries. 
 
 
(Sec. 201) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VBA. 
 
(Sec. 202) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VHA. 
 
(Sec. 203) Permits appropriations provided by this title for salaries and expenses to be used for employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants, hire of passenger vehicles, lease of a facility or land or both, and uniforms. 
 
(Sec. 204) Prohibits appropriations in this title other than Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects from being used for land acquisition or construction of any new hospital or home. 
 
(Sec. 205) Requires the VA to be reimbursed for medical services it provides to any person not defined as a beneficiary under specified laws. 
 
(Sec. 206) Permits appropriations provided by this title for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be used for payment of prior year accrued obligations for the accounts recorded in the last quarter of FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 207) Permits appropriations provided by this title to be used to pay specified prior year obligations. Requires obligations from trust fund accounts to be paid only from the Compensation and Pensions account. 
 
(Sec. 208) Requires the VA to use surplus earnings from the National Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund to reimburse the General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for the costs to administer the insurance programs during FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 209) Permits amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds for reimbursement of expenses from a prior year to be obligated in the year in which the proceeds are received. 
 
(Sec. 210) Permits funds provided by this title for salaries and other administrative expenses to be used to reimburse the following offices, subject to specified limits: 
 
 
 the Office of Resolution Management, 
 
 the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, 
 
 the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and 
 
 the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 
 
 
(Sec. 211) Requires the VA to collect third-party reimbursement information prior to providing hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services for a non-service connected disability. Permits the VA to recover reasonable charges for care from anyone who has not provided the required disclosures. 
 
(Sec. 212) Permits enhanced-use leasing revenues to be deposited into the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to be used for construction, alterations, and improvements of VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 213) Permits funds provided for Medical Services to be used for: (1) furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) funeral and burial expenses. 
 
(Sec. 214) Permits funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund to be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community Care accounts and remain available until expended for the purposes of those accounts. 
 
(Sec. 215) Permits the VA to enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. Defines "rural Alaska" as those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
 
 (Sec. 216) Permits funds deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund to be transferred to the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 217) Requires the VA to report quarterly to Congress on the financial status of the VA.
 
 (Sec. 218) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds to be transferred to or from the Information Technology Systems account if approved by Congress. 
 
(Sec. 219) Permits specified FY2020 VA advance funding provided for medical accounts to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 220) Permits transfers from the Medical Care Collections Fund to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 221) Requires specified funds from the medical accounts to be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 222) Prohibits the VA from using funds to replace the current system that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks use to select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. 
 
(Sec. 223) Directs the VA to notify Congress of all bid savings in major construction projects that total at least $5 million or 5% of the programmed amount of the project, whichever is less. 
 
(Sec. 224) Prohibits funds provided for the Construction--Major Projects account from being used to increase the scope of a project above the original budget request without congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 225) Requires the VA to submit to Congress a quarterly report containing performance measures and data from each VBA regional office. 
 
(Sec. 226) Directs the VA to notify Congress before organizational changes that result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalent staff from one organizational unit to another. 
 
(Sec. 227) Requires the VA to report to Congress quarterly regarding any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign exceeding $2 million. 
 
(Sec. 228) Permits the VA to transfer funds to the Medical Services account if the transfer is necessary to address the needs of the VHA, meets specified requirements, and is approved by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress. 
 
(Sec. 229) Permits FY2019 funds provided for the Board of Veterans Appeals and General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration to be transferred between those accounts if Congress approves the transfer. 
 
(Sec. 230) Prohibits the VA from reprogramming more than $7 million in funds among major construction projects or programs without congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 231) Requires the VA to ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline authorized under current law: (1) provides individuals who contact the hotline with immediate assistance from a trained professional, and (2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology. 
 
Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to enforce or otherwise carry out any executive action that prohibits the VA from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil service position, with respect to the hotline. 
 
(Sec. 232) Prohibits funds from being used to close or diminish services at certain VA medical facilities until the VA submits to Congress a national realignment strategy. 
 
(Sec. 233) Requires the VA to use the breast cancer screening guidelines issued on May 10, 2017, by the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Specifies that the requirement is for the period beginning on October 1, 2018 and ending on January 1, 2024. 
 
(Sec. 234) Permits VA Medical Services funds to be used to provide: (1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of a covered veteran, or (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran. Defines a "covered veteran" as a veteran who has a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 
 
(Sec. 235) Prohibits funds from being used to: (1) convert to contractor performance an activity or function performed by more than 10 federal employees unless the conversion is based on the result of a public-private competition and meets specified criteria, or (2) conduct studies comparing the costs of private and government provision of certain VHA products and services without a specific appropriation for that purpose. 
 
(Sec. 236) Prohibits the VA from transferring funds from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other VA account. 
 
(Sec. 237) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to conduct research using canines unless: (1) the scientific objectives of the study can only be met by research with canines, (2) the study has been directly approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and (3) the study is consistent with the revised VA canine research policy document. Specifies reporting requirements for canine research. 
 
(Sec. 238) Provides additional appropriations to the VA for infrastructure improvements, including new construction, for: 
 
 
 seismic improvement projects and seismic program management activities, 
 
 National Cemetery Administration projects with Departmental Administration--Construction, Major Projects, 
 
 VHA Medical Facilities, and 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Minor Projects. 
 
 
(Sec. 239) Provides additional appropriations for programs and activities authorized in the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to remain available through FY2020. Requires specified funds to be used for: (1) the Veterans Community Care Program, and (2) the Family Caregivers Program. 
 
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for related agencies, including: 
 
 
 the American Battle Monuments Commission; 
 
 the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
 Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery; and 
 
 the Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
 
 
(Sec. 301) Permits funds from concessions at Army National Military Cemeteries to be used to support activities at the cemeteries. 
 
TITLE IV--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for Overseas Contingency Operations Military Construction projects for the: 
 
 
 Army, 
 
 Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 Air Force, and 
 
Defense-Wide agencies and activities. 
 
 
Designates the amounts provided in this title as for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
 
(Sec. 401) Specifies that funds designated in this division by Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism are only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 402) Prohibits funds provided for by this title for military construction projects outside of the United States from being used for planning and design of any project associated with the European Deterrence Initiative until DOD submits to Congress a list of the military construction projects associated with initiative that DOD anticipates will be carried out in each year during FY2019-FY2023. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Prohibits the obligation of funds in this division beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly permitted in this division. 
 
(Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for programs, projects, or activities not in compliance with federal laws related to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 
 
(Sec. 503) Encourages all departments and agencies funded in this division to expand their use of "E-Commerce" technologies and procedures. 
 
(Sec. 504) Specifies the congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications required by this division. 
 
(Sec. 505) Prohibits the transfer of funds to any part of the U.S. government without authority provided by an appropriations law. 
 
(Sec. 506) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a project or program named for an individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the U.S. House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 507) Requires agencies to post reports submitted to Congress on the public website of the agency. Includes exceptions for national security and confidential or proprietary information. 
 
(Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 509) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for first-class travel by an employee of the executive branch. 
 
(Sec. 510) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for any contract where the contractor has not complied with E-Verify requirements for verification of eligibility for employment. 
 
(Sec. 511) Prohibits DOD or the VA from using funds provided by this division to purchase or lease a new vehicle except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum--Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011. 
 
(Sec. 512) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for the renovation, expansion, or construction of any facility in the United States to house any individual detained at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control of DOD. Includes an exception for modification to the facility at Guantanamo Bay. 
 
(Sec. 513) Specifies that, unless this bill expressly provides otherwise, references to "this Act" included in this division shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of this division. 
 
(Sec. 514) Specifies the committee report that applies for the purpose of implementing this division. 
 
(Sec. 515) Establishes a spending reduction account for the amount by which spending proposed in this division exceeds the applicable allocation made by the House Appropriations Committee under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Specifies that the amount is $0. (Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, any savings included in the spending reduction account are not available for further appropriation during consideration of the bill.) 
 
(Sec. 516) Prohibits the VA from using funds provided by this division in contravention of requirements for training and outreach programs for homeless veterans. 
 
(Sec. 517) Reduces the funding provided by this division for Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental Administration--Information Technology Services (and the amount specified for operations and maintenance) and increases the funds provided by this division for Veterans Health Administration--Medical Services.
 
 (Sec. 518) Prohibits the VA from using funds provided by this division to implement, administer, or enforce certain proposed revisions to regulations related to providing prosthetic and rehabilitative items as medical services to veterans. 
 
(Sec. 519) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to convey the 17.1 acres of land and the 126 existing housing units known as Shenandoah Square and located in Mountain View, California. 
 
(Sec. 520) Prohibits the VA from transferring funds provided for the following programs: 
 
 
 the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program. 
 
 the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans program, 
 
 the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, and 
 
 the Department of Housing and Urban Development--Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) programs. 
 
 
(Sec. 521) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a new or additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round. 

action_date: 2018-06-25
text: 

Highlights: 

 
This bill provides FY2019 appropriations for several federal agencies. The bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills: 
 
 
 the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; 
 
 the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019; and 
 
 the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019. 
 
 
The departments and agencies funded in the bill include: 
 
 
 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
 
 the Bureau of Reclamation, 
 
 the Department of Energy, 
 
 Congress and the agencies that serve Congress, 
 
 Department of Defense military construction and military family housing activities, 
 
 the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
 
 several related and independent agencies. 
 
 
The bill also provides additional military construction funding for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. 
 

Full Summary: 

 

Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019

 
 (Sec. 2) Specifies that, unless this bill expressly provides otherwise, references to "this Act" included in a division shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division. 
 
(Sec. 3) Specifies the committee reports that apply for the purpose of implementing each division. 
 
DIVISION A--ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations for: 
 
 
 the civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 
 
 the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project; 
 
 the Department of Energy (DOE); and 
 
 several independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
 
TITLE I--CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for authorized civil functions pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood and storm damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and related efforts. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for: 
 
 
 Investigations; 
 
 Construction; 
 
 Mississippi River and Tributaries, including flood damage reduction projects in the Mississippi River alluvial valley below Cape Girardeau, Missouri; 
 
 Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 the Regulatory Program pertaining to navigable waters and wetlands; 
 
 the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program for clean-up of early atomic energy program contamination; 
 
 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters; 
 
 Expenses necessary for the supervision and general administration of the civil works program; and 
 
 the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits the reprogramming of funds provided by this title except in specified circumstances. 
 
(Sec. 102) Permits the Corps of Engineers to transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service up to $5.4 million in Operation and Maintenance funds to mitigate for fisheries lost due to Corps of Engineers projects. 
 
(Sec. 103) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for an open lake placement of dredged material originating from Lake Erie or its tributaries unless it is approved under a state water quality certification pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Requires the Corps of Engineers to continue upland placement of the dredged material until an open lake placement for dredged materials is approved under a state water quality certification. 
 
(Sec. 104) Requires acquisitions funded by this title to comply with regulations that prohibit the Department of Defense from purchasing buoy chain unless it is procured from a U.S. manufacturer. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds made available by this division from being used to require a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material under the Clean Water Act for specified agricultural activities. 
 
(Sec. 106) Requires the Corps of Engineers to report to Congress regarding funding requests and appropriations for flood and coastal storm damage reduction projects, including a comparison of funding for coastal projects and inland projects. 
 
(Sec. 107) Expresses the sense of the Senate that ongoing construction of projects that principally benefit urban areas, including rainfall drainage systems that address flood damages, should receive consideration for additional funding. 
 
(Sec. 108) Sets forth findings regarding the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the discharge of excess water by the Corps of Engineers from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon. 
 
(Sec. 109) Requires the Corps of Engineers to report to Congress regarding cost-shared projects that: (1) are physically and fiscally complete; and (2) for which excess non-federal funds have not been returned to the non-federal project sponsor. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits the Corps of Engineers from using funds provided by this title to conduct a release or discharge of water from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee Estuary or the Indian River Lagoon unless the discharge or release meets specified requirements. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation for: 
 
 
Water and Related Resources, 
 
 the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, 
 
 California Bay-Delta Restoration, and 
 
 Policy and Administration. 
 
 
Permits appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation to be used for purchasing replacements for up to five passenger motor vehicles. 
 
(Sec. 201) Specifies the circumstances in which Reclamation may reprogram or transfer funds provided by this title. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until Interior and California develop a plan to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters. Requires the plan to conform to California water quality standards as approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. 
 
Directs Interior to classify the costs of the Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program as either reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid pursuant to specified alternative repayment plans. 
 
Requires future federal obligations of funds regarding drainage service or drainage studies for the San Luis Unit to be fully reimbursable by San Luis Unit beneficiaries of the service or studies. 
 
(Sec. 203) Amends the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 to: (1) extend the authorization for Interior pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs to address the effects of historic drought conditions, and (2) prohibit Interior from funding the pilot projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin without the participation of the Upper Colorado River Commission.
 
 Amends the Secure Water Act of 2009 to increase from $450 million to $480 million the authorization of appropriations for grants and cooperative agreements for water management improvement. 
 
(Sec. 204) Amends the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 to extend the authorization for the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water Project in Montana. 
 
TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for Energy Programs, including: 
 
 
 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; 
 
 Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; 
 
 Nuclear Energy; 
 
 Fossil Energy Research and Development; 
 
 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; 
 
 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR); 
 
 the SPR Petroleum Account; 
 
 the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; 
 
 the Energy Information Administration; 
 
 Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup; 
 
 the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; 
 
 Science; 
 
Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy; 
 
 the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Loan Program; 
 
 the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; 
 
 the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; 
 
 the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs; 
 
 Departmental Administration; and 
 
 the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including: 
 
 
 Weapons Activities, 
 
 Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, 
 
 Naval Reactors, and 
 
 Federal Salaries and Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Environmental and Other Defense Activities, including: 
 
 
 Defense Environmental Cleanup, and 
 
 Other Defense Activities.
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Power Marketing Administrations, including: 
 
 
 the Bonneville Power Administration Fund; 
 
 Southeastern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Southwestern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Western Area Power Administration Construction, Rehabilitation; and Operation and Maintenance; and 
 
 the Falcon and Amistad Operating and Maintenance Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 
 
(Sec. 301) Prohibits funds provided by this title from be used for programs, projects, or activities that have not been funded by Congress. 
 
Prohibits specified grants, contracts, allocations, and agreements unless Congress is notified in advance. 
 
Prohibits funds from being used for certain multiyear Department of Energy--Energy Programs activities unless specified conditions are met and Congress is notified. 
 
Establishes requirements and restrictions for the reprogramming of funds provided in this title. 
 
Permits unexpended balances of prior appropriations provided for activities in this division to be transferred and merged with appropriations accounts established in this division. 
 
(Sec. 302) Deems funds appropriated by this division for intelligence activities to be specifically authorized by Congress during FY2019 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 303) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to approve certain critical decisions for construction projects exceeding $100 million until a separate independent cost estimate has been developed for the project for that critical decision. 
 
(Sec. 304) Authorizes DOE to conduct a pilot program to license, construct, and operate one or more federal consolidated storage facilities to provide interim storage for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Permits the Nuclear Waste Fund to be used for this purpose, subject to appropriations. 
 
(Sec. 305) Expresses the sense of the Senate the Congress and DOE should continue to support innovative science research and development at National Laboratories and institutions of higher education, along with private partners and nonprofit research organizations, through sustained robust and reliable funding in specified research areas. 
 
(Sec. 306) Requires DOE to evaluate the military installations at which it would be cost-effective to establish a partnership with community colleges, institutions of higher education, and the private sector to train veterans and members of the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life to enter the cybersecurity, energy, and artificial intelligence workforces. 
 
(Sec. 307) Amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to: 
 
 
 issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three years; 
 
 extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit; and 
 
 extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years. (Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.) 
 
 
(Sec. 308) Directs the Department of the Interior to: (1) survey a parcel of federal land within the boundary of the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2911) in Alaska, and (2) convey the parcel to Alaska.
 
(Sec. 309) Authorizes the licensee for the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Project in Kodiak Island, Alaska, to occupy up to 20 acres of federal land to construct, operate, and maintain the Upper Hidden Basin Diversion Expansion without further authorization under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act or from the Department of the Interior. 
 
(Sec. 310) Requires FERC, upon request, to issue a stay of the statutory deadline by which construction must commence on the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska. (The City of Saxman, Alaska, was granted a construction license for the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project on January 22, 1998.). 
 
Requires FERC, upon request, to reinstate the construction license and make it effective as of the date the stay is lifted. 
 
Permits FERC, subject to certain conditions to extend for up to six years the statutory deadline by which construction must commence on the project. 
 
(Sec. 311) Authorizes FERC, upon request, to extend for up to six years the time period during which construction must commence on the Red River Lock and Dam No. 3, 4, and 5 Hydroelectric Projects located on the Red River in Louisiana. Authorizes FERC to reinstate the construction license if it is expired. 
 
(Sec. 312) Authorizes FERC, upon request, to extend for up to six years the time period during which construction must commence on the Gibson Dam Hydroelectric Project located on the Sun River in Lewis, Clark, and Teton Counties in Montana. Authorizes FERC to reinstate the construction license if it is expired. 
 
(Sec. 313) Authorizes FERC upon request, to extend for up to eight years the time period during which construction must commence on the Cannonsville Hydroelectric Project located on the West Branch of the Delaware River in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. (The city of New York was granted a construction license for the Cannonsville Hydroelectric Project on May 13, 2014.) Authorizes FERC to reinstate the construction license if it is expired. 
 
(Sec. 314) Authorizes FERC, upon request, to extend for up to six years the time period during which construction must commence on the W. Kerr Scott Hydropower Project located on the Yadkin River in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Authorizes FERC to reinstate the construction license if it is expired. 
 
(Sec. 315) Authorizes FERC, upon request, to extend for up to six years the time period during which construction must commence on the Gathright Hydroelectric Project located in Alleghany County, Virginia, and the Flannagan Dam and Reservoir Hydroelectric Project located in Dickenson County, Virginia. Authorizes FERC to reinstate either construction license if it is expired. 
 
(Sec. 316) Authorizes FERC, upon request, to extend for up to six years the time period during which construction must commence on the Jennings Randolph Hydroelectric Project located on the North Branch of the Potomac River in Garrett County, Maryland; and Mineral County, West Virginia. Authorizes FERC to reinstate the construction license if it is expired. 
 
(Sec. 317) Specifies procedures for determining matching requirements for awards from the Energy Technology Commercialization Fund. 
 
(Sec. 318) Permits specified offsetting collections in the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund of the Western Area Power Administration for repayment of capital costs to be transferred to the Upper Colorado Basin Fund. 
 
(Sec. 319) Requires DOE to report to Congress on the potential for natural gas demand response across energy sectors and geographic regions. 
 
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for independent agencies, including: 
 
 
 the Appalachian Regional Commission, 
 
 the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 
 
 the Delta Regional Authority, 
 
 the Denali Commission, 
 
 the Northern Border Regional Commission, 
 
 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and 
 
 the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. 
 
 
(Sec. 401) Requires the NRC to comply with specified internal procedures when responding to congressional requests for information. 
 
(Sec. 402) Specifies the circumstances in which funds provided by this title may be reprogrammed. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress, other than to communicate with Members of Congress as permitted under current law. 
 
(Sec. 502) Specifies restrictions and requirements for transfers of funds into and out of accounts funded by this division. 
 
(Sec. 503) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
DIVISION B--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides appropriations for Congress and the agencies that serve Congress. 
 
It includes funding for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and Joint Items such as the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and the Office of the Attending Physician. 
 
It also provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police 
 
 the Office of Compliance, 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office, 
 
 the Architect of the Capitol, 
 
 the Library of Congress, 
 
 the Government Publishing Office, and 
 
 the Government Accountability Office. 
 
 
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
 
Provides appropriations to the Senate for: 
 
 
 Expense Allowances; 
 
 Representational Allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; 
 
 the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate; 
 
 the Office of Senate Legal Counsel; 
 
 Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of the Senate; and 
 
 Contingent Expenses of the Senate. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Requires that amounts remaining in the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account be used for deficit reduction or to reduce the federal debt. 
 
(Sec. 102) Prohibits cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress during FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require Senate political committees to file certain campaign finance designations, statements, and reports directly with the Federal Election Commission instead of with the Secretary of the Senate. 
 
Provides appropriations to the House of Representatives for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses; 
 
 House Leadership Offices; 
 
 Members' Representational Allowances, including Members' Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members, and Official Mail; 
 
 Committee Employees; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; and 
 
Allowances and Expenses. 
 
 
(In this division, the term "Member of the House of Representatives" also includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.)
 
 (Sec. 110) Requires amounts remaining in Members' Representational Allowances after all payments are made for FY2019 to be used for deficit or debt reduction. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives unless the Member requests a copy. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Record to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 113) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to make payments from any Members' Representational Allowance to lease a vehicle, excluding mobile district offices, at a rate that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month. 
 
(Sec. 114) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any edition of the U.S. Code to all offices of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 115) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the report of disbursements for the operations of the House of Representatives to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 116) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver to the office of a Member of the House Representatives a printed copy of the Daily Calendar of the House of Representatives prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 117) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Pictorial Directory to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 118) Repeals the authorizations of office space, office expenses, franked mail and printing privileges, and staff for former Speakers of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 119) Prohibits cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress during FY2019.
 
 (Sec. 120) Provides transfer authority for funds provided for House Leadership Offices. 
 
Provides appropriations for Joint Items, including: 
 
 
 the Joint Economic Committee, 
 
 the Joint Committee on Taxation, 
 
 the Office of the Attending Physician, and 
 
 the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police, 
 
 the Office of Compliance, and 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for: 
 
 
 Capital Construction and Operations; 
 
 the Capitol Building; 
 
 the Capitol Grounds; 
 
 the House Office Buildings; 
 
 the Senate Office Buildings; 
 
 the Capitol Power Plant; 
 
 the Library Buildings and Grounds; 
 
 the Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security; 
 
 the Botanic Garden; and 
 
 the Capitol Visitor Center. 
 
 
(Sec. 140) Prohibits funds provided by this division for the AOC from being used to make incentive or award payments to contractors for work that is behind schedule or over budget, unless the deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope changes, or are insignificant within the overall scope of the project or program. 
 
(Sec. 141) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for scrims (coverings for buildings that are being renovated) containing photographs of building facades during restoration or construction projects performed by the AOC. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Library of Congress (LOC) for: 
 
 
Salaries and Expenses, 
 
 the Copyright Office, 
 
 the Congressional Research Service, and 
 
 Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. 
 
 
(Sec. 150) Limits the FY2019 obligational authority of the LOC for reimbursable and revolving fund activities funded from sources other than appropriations. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Government Publishing Office for: 
 
 
 Congressional Publishing, 
 
 Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents, and 
 
 the Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to: 
 
 
 the Government Accountability Office, 
 
 the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund, and 
 
 the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. 
 
 
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 201) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning, as provided under regulations for the House and Senate parking facilities. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond FY2019 unless expressly provided in this division. 
 
(Sec. 203) Provides that: (1) rates of compensation or designations of offices or positions included in this division that are either not established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 or are contrary to that Act are considered permanent law, and (2) provisions in this division for official congressional expenses and clerk hire for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives are permanent law. 
 
(Sec. 204) Limits contracts for certain consulting services to those where expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law or under an executive order issued under existing law. 
 
(Sec. 205) Permits legislative branch entities participating in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council to use funds provided for administrative expenses to pay a share of the cost of the council if the total cost shared among all participating entities does not exceed $2,000.
 
 (Sec. 206) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government unless the transfer is pursuant to authority provided by an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 207) Prohibits the AOC from using funds provided by this division to eliminate or restrict guided Capitol tours led by congressional employees and interns other than through regulations authorized by the Capitol Visitor Center of 2008, subject to an exception permitting tours to be suspended for security or related reasons. 
 
(Sec. 208) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to acquire telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation or a high-impact or moderate-impact information system unless the agency meets certain requirements for reviews, assessments, and reports. 
 
(Sec. 209) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
 
 DIVISION C--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction, military family housing, the U.S. share of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and, base closures and realignments. 
 
The division also provides appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans benefit and health care programs, departmental administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Related agencies and programs funded in the division include:
 
 
the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and 
 
the Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
 
The division also includes military construction funds which are designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds and are not subject to discretionary spending limits. 
 
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for Military Construction for: 
 
 
 the Army; 
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps;
 
 the Air Force; 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments); 
 
 the Army and Air National Guard; and
 
the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program. 
 
Provides appropriations for the DOD Base Closure Account. 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for: 
 
 
 the Army, 
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 the Air Force, and 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments). 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund and the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for payments exceeding $25,000 under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction in the United States without a specific DOD approval in writing. Includes an exception for work that is to be performed in Alaska. 
 
(Sec. 102) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for hiring passenger motor vehicles. 
 
(Sec. 103) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration for the construction of access roads DOD has certified as important to national defense. 
 
(Sec. 104) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to begin construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to purchase land or land easements in excess of 100% of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Includes exceptions for: (1) determinations of value by a federal court, (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or a designee, (3) values less than $25,000, and (4) DOD determinations that the purchase is in the public interest. 
 
(Sec. 106) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to acquire land, provide for site preparation, or install utilities for family housing, except housing for which appropriations have been provided. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds provided by this title for minor construction from being used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 108) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to procure steel for construction unless American producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete for the procurement. 
 
(Sec. 109) Prohibits funds provided to DOD for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year from being used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to initiate a new installation overseas without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for architect and engineer contracts estimated to exceed $500,000 for projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf unless the contracts are awarded to U.S. firms or U.S. firms in joint ventures with host nation firms. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction in U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf from being used to award a contract over $1 million to a foreign contractor. Includes exceptions. 
 
(Sec. 113) Requires DOD to notify Congress in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if the construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 
 
(Sec. 114) Permits funds appropriated to DOD for construction in prior years to be used for construction projects authorized during the current session of Congress. 
 
(Sec. 115) Permits expired or lapsed funds to be used to pay for supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering, and design costs for military construction or family housing projects being completed with lapsed or expired funds. 
 
(Sec. 116) Permits funds provided for the construction of military projects to be available for five years if the funds for the project: (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction, and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated or permitted by law for the project. 
 
(Sec. 117) Permits the following transfers if Congress is notified and specified conditions are met: 
 
 
 to the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction in Family Housing accounts, and 
 
 to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction of military unaccompanied housing in Military Construction accounts. 
 
 
Specifies that the transferred funds shall be available for DOD loans or loan guarantees pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 
 
(Sec. 118) Permits the transfer of funds from the DOD Base Closure Account to the fund established to pay expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
(Sec. 119) Specifies that funds for operation and maintenance of family housing in this title shall be the only source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters. Sets forth limitations and requirements for expenditures for maintenance and repair of general or flag officer quarters. 
 
(Sec. 120) Appropriates funds contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account to remain available until expended or transferred. 
 
(Sec. 121) Permits the transfer of unobligated balances of expired military construction and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations--Construction--Defense account. 
 
(Sec. 122) Permits funds provided to an account in this title to be transferred among projects and activities within the account subject to specified DOD reprogramming guidelines for military and family housing construction. 
 
(Sec. 123) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for the planning, design, and construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 124) Provides specified additional funds to remain available through FY2023 for unfunded military construction priorities. 
 
(Sec. 125) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the following VA accounts and programs: 
 
 
 Military Construction--Air Force; 
 
 Military Construction--Army National Guard; and 
 
 Family House Construction--Navy and Marine Corps. 
 
 
(Sec. 126) Defines "congressional defense committees" to include the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. 
 
(Sec. 127) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the closure or realignment of the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
 
(Sec. 128) Prohibits funds from being used to consolidate or relocate any element of a U.S. Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) squadron outside of the United States until the Air Force: (1) submits to Congress an analysis and comparison of the cost and investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within the United States, and (2) certifies to Congress that the preferred site yields the greatest savings. 
 
(Sec. 129) Provides additional appropriations for the Defense Access Roads project and land acquisition for Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 130) Requires specified FY2019 Military Construction--Defense-Wide funds authorized to be appropriated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 to be immediately available and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized projects. 
 
(Sec. 131) Requires DOD to report to Congress regarding: (1) cell site simulators detected near DOD facilities, and (2) actions taken to protect against the use of the technology by foreign powers to conduct surveillance. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for: 
 
 
 Compensation and Pensions, 
 
 Readjustment Benefits, 
 
 Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, 
 
 the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund, 
 
 the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account, 
 
 the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account, and 
 
 General Operating Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for: 
 
 
 Medical Services, 
 
 Medical Community Care, 
 
 Medical Support and Compliance, 
 
 Medical Facilities, and 
 
 Medical and Prosthetic Research. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Provides appropriations to the VA for Departmental Administration, including: 
 
 
 General Administration, 
 
 the Board of Veterans Appeals, 
 
 Information Technology Systems, 
 
 the Veterans Electronic Health Record, 
 
 the Office of Inspector General, 
 
 Construction--Major Projects, 
 
 Construction--Minor Projects, 
 
 Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, and 
 
 Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries.
 
 
 (Sec. 201) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VBA. 
 
(Sec. 202) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VHA. 
 
(Sec. 203) Permits appropriations provided by this title for salaries and expenses to be used for employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants, hire of passenger vehicles, lease of a facility or land or both, and uniforms. 
 
(Sec. 204) Prohibits appropriations in this title other than Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects from being used for land acquisition for or construction of any new hospital or home. 
 
(Sec. 205) Requires the VA to be reimbursed for medical services it provides to any person not defined as a beneficiary under specified laws. 
 
(Sec. 206) Permits appropriations provided by this title for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be used for payment of prior year accrued obligations for the accounts recorded in the last quarter of FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 207) Permits appropriations provided by this title to be used to pay specified prior year obligations. Requires obligations from trust fund accounts to be paid only from the Compensation and Pensions account. 
 
(Sec. 208) Requires the VA to use surplus earnings from the National Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund to reimburse the General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for the costs to administer the insurance programs during FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 209) Permits amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds for reimbursement of expenses from a prior year to be obligated in the year in which the proceeds are received. 
 
(Sec. 210) Permits funds provided by this title for salaries and other administrative expenses to be used to reimburse the following offices for services provided, subject to specified limits: 
 
 
 the Office of Resolution Management, 
 
 the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, 
 
 the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and 
 
 the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 
 
 
(Sec. 211) Requires the VA to collect third-party reimbursement information prior to providing hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services for a non-service connected disability. Permits the VA to recover reasonable charges for care from anyone who has not provided the required disclosures. 
 
(Sec. 212) Permits enhanced-use leasing revenues to be deposited into the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to be used for construction, alterations, and improvements of VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 213) Permits funds provided for Medical Services to be used for: (1) furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) funeral and burial expenses for beneficiaries receiving care from the VA. 
 
(Sec. 214) Permits funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund to be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community Care accounts and remain available until expended for the purposes of those accounts. 
 
(Sec. 215) Permits the VA to enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. Defines "rural Alaska" as those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 
 
(Sec. 216) Permits funds deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund to be transferred to the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 217) Requires the VA to report quarterly to Congress on the financial status of the VA. 
 
(Sec. 218) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds to be transferred to or from the Information Technology Systems account if approved by Congress. 
 
(Sec. 219) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds provided for medical accounts, Construction--Minor Projects, and Information Technology Systems to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 220) Permits specified FY2020 VA advance funding provided for medical accounts to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 221) Permits transfers from the Medical Care Collections Fund to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 222) Requires specified funds from medical accounts to be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 223) Prohibits the VA from using funds to replace the current system that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks use to select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. 
 
(Sec. 224) Directs the VA to notify Congress of all bid savings in major construction projects that total at least $5 million or 5% of the programmed amount of the project, whichever is less. 
 
(Sec. 225) Prohibits funds provided for the Construction--Major Projects account from being used to increase the scope of a project above the original budget request without congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 226) Requires the VA to submit to Congress quarterly reports containing performance measures and data from each VBA regional office. 
 
(Sec. 227) Directs the VA to notify Congress before organizational changes that result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalent staff from one organizational unit to another. 
 
(Sec. 228) Requires the VA to report to Congress quarterly regarding any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign exceeding $2 million. 
 
(Sec. 229) Permits the VA to transfer funds to the Medical Services account if the transfer is necessary to address the needs of the VHA, meets specified requirements, and is approved by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress. 
 
(Sec. 230) Permits FY2019 funds provided for the Board of Veterans Appeals and General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration to be transferred between those accounts if Congress approves the transfer. 
 
(Sec. 231) Prohibits the VA from reprogramming more than $7 million in funds among major construction projects or programs without congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 232) Requires the VA to ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline authorized under current law: (1) provides individuals who contact the hotline with immediate assistance from a trained professional, and (2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology. 
 
Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to enforce or otherwise carry out any executive action that prohibits the VA from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil service position, with respect to the hotline.
 
 Requires the VA to study the effectiveness of the hotline based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from the hotline. 
 
(Sec. 233) Prohibits funds from being used to close, conduct an environmental assessment, or diminish services at certain VA medical facilities as part of a planned realignment of VA services until the VA submits to Congress a national realignment strategy and specified details. 
 
(Sec. 234) Requires the VA to use the breast cancer screening guidelines issued on May 10, 2017, by the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 
 
(Sec. 235) Permits VA Medical Services funds to be used to provide: (1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of a covered veteran, or (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran. Defines a "covered veteran" as a veteran who has a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 
 
(Sec. 236) Rescinds specified funds provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 for the VHA Medical Support and Compliance Account. 
 
(Sec. 237) Prohibits funds from being used to: (1) convert to contractor performance an activity or function performed by more than 10 federal employees unless the conversion is based on the result of a public-private competition and meets specified criteria, or (2) conduct studies comparing the costs of private and government provision of certain VHA products and services without a specific appropriation for that purpose. 
 
(Sec. 238) Specifies that certain restrictions and requirements that apply to the use of funds to convert an activity of an executive agency to contractor performance do not apply to the conversion of an activity or function of the VHA, VBA, or National Cemetery Administration to contractor performance by a business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more Indian Tribes or one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations.
 
(Sec. 239) Requires the VA to discontinue using Social Security numbers to identify individuals in all VA information systems. Includes an exception if the number is required to obtain information from an information system that is not under the jurisdiction of the VA. 
 
(Sec. 240) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA Medical Services funds a requirement for the VA to treat a marriage and family therapist as qualified to serve as a therapist for VA if the therapist meets specified educational and licensing requirements. 
 
(Sec. 241) Prohibits the VA from transferring funds from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other VA account. 
 
(Sec. 242) Permits FY2019 and FY2020 Medical Services funds to be used to carry out and expand the pilot program for providing child care assistance to veterans receiving health care. 
 
(Sec. 243) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA funds a provision that specifies documentation that DOD may accept to verify that a coastwise merchant seaman performed active duty service under honorable conditions. Permits the individuals whose service is recognized as honorable to be: (1) awarded an appropriate medal, ribbon, or other military decoration based on the service; and (2) honored as a veteran with benefits limited to those described in this provision.
 
 (Sec. 244) Permits the VA to use funds provided by this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time employment equivalents within any rehabilitation program does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment equivalent. Requires the VA to report to Congress on rehabilitation programs including: (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program, and (2) recommendations to reduce the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program. 
 
(Sec. 245) Prohibits the VA from using funds provided by this title to enter into an agreement related to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would restrict the individual from speaking to members of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure or required 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. 246) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA funds a requirement for certain details to be included in the budget justification documents submitted to Congress for the Construction--Major Projects account. 
 
(Sec. 247) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to conduct research using canines unless: (1) the scientific objectives of the study can only be met by research with canines, (2) the study has been directly approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and (3) the study is consistent with the revised VA canine research policy document. Specifies reporting requirements for canine research. 
 
(Sec. 248) Provides additional appropriations to the VA for infrastructure improvements, including new construction, for the following accounts: 
 
 
 VHA Medical Facilities, 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Minor Projects, and 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Major Projects.
 
 
 (Sec. 249) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used in a manner that would: 
 
 
 interfere with the ability of veterans to participate in a state-approved medicinal marijuana program, 
 
deny services to veterans participating in a program, or 
 
 limit or interfere with the ability of a VA health care provider to comply with a program. 
 
 
(Sec. 250) Requires departments and agencies funded by this division to provide an Inspector General (IG) funded by this division with timely access to records, documents, or other materials available to the department or agency over which the IG has responsibility. Requires each IG to comply with specified statutory limitations on disclosure of the information provided. 
 
(Sec. 251) Prohibits the VA from transferring funds provided for the following programs: 
 
 
 the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program. 
 
 the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans program, 
 
 the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, 
 
 the Department of Housing and Urban Development--Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) programs, and 
 
 the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program. 
 
 
(Sec. 252) Requires the VA to report to Congress on the Caregiver Support Program. 
 
(Sec. 253) Requires the VA to establish a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and other environmental exposures in Afghanistan or Iraq. 
 
(Sec. 254) Requires the VA to submit to Congress a plan to: (1) reduce the chances that clinical mistakes by VA employees will result in adverse events that require institutional or clinical disclosures, (2) prevent any unnecessary hardship for patients and families impacted by the adverse events. 
 
(Sec. 255) Requires the VA to develop a means to track and monitor information regarding: 
 
 
 the age and amount of debts owed to the United States due to a person's participation in a VA benefits program, 
 
 whether the debts may be the result of delays in VA processing of changes to beneficiary status or other VA actions; and 
 
 whether the debts are disputed. 
 
 
(Sec. 256) Requires the VA to annually submit to Congress, publish in the Federal Register, and make available online the VA rating assigned to each VA nursing home with respect to quality of care, including all internal metrics and criteria used to determine the rating. 
 
(Sec. 257) Requires the VA Inspector General to investigate VA nursing homes that had an overall one-star rating under the VA rating system with the two years prior to enactment of this division. 
 
(Sec. 258) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used in a manner that would increase wait times for veterans seeking care at VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 259) Prohibits the VA from using funds provided by this division to modernize or realign certain VHA facilities in states in which the VA does not operate a full-service medical facility until the VA certifies to Congress that modernization or realignment will not result in a disruption or reduction of services for veterans residing in those states. 
 
(Sec. 260) Restricts the conversion of funds provided for the VA program to improve retention of housing by formerly homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless. Specifies that the funds may not be converted from a specific purpose program to a general purpose program unless a proposal to do so was included in the VA budget justification materials submitted to Congress. 
 
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for related agencies, including: 
 
 
 the American Battle Monuments Commission; 
 
 the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
 Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery; and 
 
 the Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
 
 
(Sec. 301) Permits funds from concessions at Army National Military Cemeteries to be used to support activities at the cemeteries.
 
 TITLE IV--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
 
 Provides appropriations to DOD for Overseas Contingency Operations Military Construction projects for the: 
 
 
 Army, 
 
 Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
Air Force, and 
 
Defense-Wide agencies and activities. 
 
 
Designates the amounts provided in this title as for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
 
(Sec. 401) Specifies that funds designated in this division by Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism are only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 402) Requires DOD to provide Congress with a future years defense program for funds appropriated to DOD for construction projects related to the European Reassurance Initiative and the European Deterrence Initiative. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Prohibits the obligation of funds in this division beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly permitted in this division. 
 
(Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for programs, projects, or activities not in compliance with federal laws related to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 
 
(Sec. 503) Encourages all departments and agencies funded in this division to expand their use of "E-Commerce" technologies and procedures. 
 
(Sec. 504) Specifies the congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications required by this division. 
 
(Sec. 505) Prohibits the transfer of funds to any part of the U.S. government without authority provided by an appropriations law. 
 
(Sec. 506) Requires agencies to post reports submitted to Congress on the public website of the agency. Includes exceptions for national security and confidential or proprietary information. 
 
(Sec. 507) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for first-class travel by an employee of the executive branch. 
 
(Sec. 509) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for any contract where the contractor has not complied with E-Verify requirements for verification of eligibility for employment. 
 
(Sec. 510) Prohibits DOD or the VA from using funds provided by this division to purchase or lease a new vehicle except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum--Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011. 
 
(Sec. 511) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for the renovation, expansion, or construction of any facility in the United States to house any individual detained at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control of DOD. Includes an exception for modification to the facility at Guantanamo Bay. 

action_date: 2018-09-10
text: 

Highlights: 

 
This bill provides FY2019 appropriations for several federal agencies. The bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills: 
 
 
 the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; 
 
 the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019; and 
 
 the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019. 
 
 
The departments and agencies funded in the bill include: 
 
 
 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
 
 the Bureau of Reclamation, 
 
 the Department of Energy, 
 
 Congress and the agencies that serve Congress, 
 
 Department of Defense military construction and military family housing activities, 
 
 the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
 
 several related and independent agencies. 
 
 
The bill also includes additional military construction funds which are designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/ Global War on Terrorism funds and are not subject to discretionary spending limits. 
 

Full Summary: 

 

Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
(Sec. 3) Specifies that, unless this bill expressly provides otherwise, references to "this Act" included in a division shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division. 
 
(Sec. 4) Specifies that this bill provides appropriations for FY2019. 
 
DIVISION A--ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations for: 
 
 
 the civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 
 
 the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project; 
 
 the Department of Energy (DOE); and 
 
 several independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
 
TITLE I--CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL
 
 Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for authorized civil functions pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood and storm damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and related efforts. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for: 
 
 
 Investigations; 
 
 Construction; 
 
 Mississippi River and Tributaries, including flood damage reduction projects in the Mississippi River alluvial valley below Cape Girardeau, Missouri; 
 
 Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 the Regulatory Program pertaining to navigable waters and wetlands; 
 
 the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program for clean-up of early atomic energy program contamination; 
 
 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters; 
 
 Expenses necessary for the supervision and general administration of the civil works program; and 
 
 the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits the reprogramming of funds provided by this title except in specified circumstances. 
 
(Sec. 102) Requires the Corps of Engineers to allocate funds provided in this division in accordance with the provisions of this division and the joint explanatory statement. 
 
(Sec. 103) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for a contract that commits funds beyond the amounts appropriated for that program, project, or activity that remain unobligated. Includes exception for funds made available through reprogramming. 
 
(Sec. 104) Permits the Corps of Engineers to transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service up to $5.4 million in Operation and Maintenance funds to mitigate for fisheries lost due to Corps of Engineers projects. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for an open lake placement of dredged material originating from Lake Erie or its tributaries unless it is approved under a state water quality certification pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Requires the Corps of Engineers to continue upland placement of the dredged material until an open lake placement for dredged materials is approved under a state water quality certification.
 
 (Sec. 106) Requires acquisitions funded by this title to comply with regulations that prohibit the Department of Defense from purchasing buoy chain unless it is procured from a U.S. manufacturer. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a water supply reallocation study under the Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, project authorized under the Act of July 24, 1946. 
 
(Sec. 108) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to require a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material under the Clean Water Act for specified agricultural activities. 
 
(Sec. 109) Prohibits funds provided by this division or available in the revolving fund established by the Civil Functions Appropriations Act of 1954 from being used for a new hopper dredge. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds from being used to reorganize or to transfer the civil works functions or authority of the Corps of Engineers or the Secretary of the Army to another department or agency. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation for: 
 
 
 Water and Related Resources, 
 
 the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, 
 
 California Bay-Delta Restoration, and 
 
 Policy and Administration. 
 
 
Permits appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation to be used for purchasing replacements for up to five passenger motor vehicles.
 
 (Sec. 201) Specifies the circumstances in which Reclamation may reprogram or transfer funds provided by this title. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until Interior and California develop a plan to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters. Requires the plan to conform to California water quality standards as approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
 
 Directs Interior to classify the costs of the Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program as either reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid pursuant to specified alternative repayment plans. 
 
Requires future federal obligations of funds regarding drainage service or drainage studies for the San Luis Unit to be fully reimbursable by San Luis Unit beneficiaries of the service or studies. 
 
(Sec. 203) Specifies that, from November 1 through April 30, water users may use their diversion structures for the purpose of recharging the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer when Interior determines there is water available in excess of that needed to satisfy existing Minidoka Project storage and hydropower rights and ensure operational flexibility. 
 
(Sec. 204) Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to extend the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct feasibility studies on certain projects that address water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho. 
 
(Sec. 205) Amends the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 to: (1) extend the authorization for Interior pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs to address the effects of historic drought conditions, and (2) prohibit Interior from funding the pilot projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin without the participation of the Upper Colorado River Commission. 
 
Amends the Secure Water Act of 2009 to increase from $450 million to $480 million the authorization of appropriations for grants and cooperative agreements for water management improvement. 
 
(Sec. 206) Amends the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 to extend the authorization for the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water Project in Montana. 
 
TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for Energy Programs, including: 
 
 
 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; 
 
 Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; 
 
 Electricity Delivery; 
 
 Nuclear Energy; 
 
 Fossil Energy Research and Development; 
 
 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; 
 
 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR); 
 
 the SPR Petroleum Account; 
 
 the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; 
 
 the Energy Information Administration; 
 
 Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup; 
 
 the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; 
 
 Science; 
 
 Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy; 
 
 the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Loan Program; 
 
 the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; 
 
 the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; 
 
 the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs; 
 
 Departmental Administration; and 
 
 the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including: 
 
 
 Weapons Activities, 
 
 Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, 
 
 Naval Reactors, and 
 
 Federal Salaries and Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Environmental and Other Defense Activities, including: 
 
 
 Defense Environmental Cleanup, and 
 
 Other Defense Activities. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Power Marketing Administrations, including: 
 
 
 the Bonneville Power Administration Fund; 
 
 Southeastern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Southwestern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Western Area Power Administration Construction, Rehabilitation, and Operation and Maintenance; and 
 
 the Falcon and Amistad Operating and Maintenance Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
 
 (Sec. 301) Prohibits funds provided by this title from be used for programs, projects, or activities that have not been funded by Congress. 
 
Prohibits specified grants, contracts, allocations, and agreements unless Congress is notified in advance. 
 
Prohibits funds from being used for certain multiyear Department of Energy--Energy Programs activities unless specified conditions are met and Congress is notified. 
 
Establishes requirements and restrictions for the reprogramming of funds provided in this title. 
 
Permits unexpended balances of prior appropriations provided for activities in this division to be transferred and merged with appropriations accounts established in this division. 
 
(Sec. 302) Deems funds appropriated by this division for intelligence activities to be specifically authorized by Congress during FY2019 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 303) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to construct specified high-hazard nuclear facilities unless independent oversight is conducted by the Office of Enterprise Assessments to ensure compliance with nuclear safety requirements. 
 
(Sec. 304) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to approve certain critical decisions for construction projects exceeding $100 million until a separate independent cost estimate has been developed for the project for that critical decision. 
 
(Sec. 305) Specifies congressional notification requirements and limitations regarding transfers of funds from DOE's Working Capital Fund. 
 
(Sec. 306) Prohibits Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation funds from being used to enter into new contracts with, or new agreements for federal assistance to, the Russian Federation. Permits DOE to waive the prohibition if the activity is in the national security interests of the United States and a report justifying the waiver is submitted to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 307) Prohibits DOE from establishing any new regional petroleum product reserve unless funding is explicitly requested in advance and approved by Congress in an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 308) Authorizes DOE to draw down and sell refined petroleum product from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) upon a determination by the President in this fiscal year that: 
 
 
 a regional supply shortage of refined petroleum product of significant scope and duration exists, 
 
 a severe increase in the price of refined petroleum product will likely result from the shortage, and 
 
 a draw down and sale of refined petroleum product would assist directly and significantly in reducing the adverse impact of the shortage. 
 
 
Specifies that the proceeds from the sale must be deposited into the SPR Petroleum Account and remain available for obligation without fiscal year limitation, consistent with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. 
 
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for independent agencies, including: 
 
 
 the Appalachian Regional Commission, 
 
 the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 
 
 the Delta Regional Authority, 
 
 the Denali Commission, 
 
 the Northern Border Regional Commission, 
 
 the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, 
 
 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and 
 
 the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. 
 
 
(Sec. 401) Requires the NRC to comply with specified internal procedures when responding to congressional requests for information, consistent with Department of Justice guidance for all federal agencies. 
 
(Sec. 402) Specifies the circumstances in which funds provided by this title may be reprogrammed. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress, other than to communicate with Members of Congress as permitted under current law. 
 
(Sec. 502) Specifies restrictions and requirements for transfers of funds into and out of accounts funded by this division. 
 
(Sec. 503) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to contravene Executive Order No. 12898 of February 11, 1994 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations). 
 
(Sec. 504) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 505) Provides additional appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation Water and Related Resources account to be transferred to Reclamation's Upper Colorado River Basin Fund to carry out certain environmental stewardship and endangered species recovery efforts. 
 
DIVISION B--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides appropriations for Congress and the agencies that serve Congress.
 
 It includes funding for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and Joint Items such as the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and the Office of the Attending Physician. 
 
It also provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police 
 
 the Office of Compliance, 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office, 
 
 the Architect of the Capitol, 
 
 the Library of Congress, 
 
 the Government Publishing Office, and 
 
the Government Accountability Office. 
 
 
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
 
Provides appropriations to the Senate for: 
 
 
 Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress (for Cindy H. McCain, widow of the late Senator John S. McCain III); 
 
 Expense Allowances; 
 
 Representational Allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; 
 
 the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate; 
 
 the Office of Senate Legal Counsel; 
 
 Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of the Senate; and 
 
 Contingent Expenses of the Senate. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Requires amounts remaining in the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account be used for deficit or debt reduction. 
 
(Sec. 102) Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require Senate political committees to file certain campaign finance designations, statements, and reports directly with the Federal Election Commission instead of with the Secretary of the Senate. 
 
(Sec. 103) Extends the authority for the Senate National Security Working Group through 2020. 
 
Provides appropriations to the House of Representatives for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses; 
 
 House Leadership Offices; 
 
 Members' Representational Allowances, including Members' Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members, and Official Mail; 
 
 the Intern Allowance; 
 
 Committee Employees; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; and 
 
 Allowances and Expenses. 
 
 
(In this division, the term "Member of the House of Representatives" also includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.) 
 
(Sec. 110) Requires amounts remaining in Members' Representational Allowances after all payments are made for FY2019 to be used for deficit or debt reduction. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives unless the Member requests a copy. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Record to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 113) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to make payments from any Members' Representational Allowance to lease a vehicle, excluding mobile district offices, in an aggregate amount that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month. 
 
(Sec. 114) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any edition of the U.S. Code to all offices of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 115) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the report of disbursements for the operations of the House of Representatives to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 116) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver to the office of a Member of the House Representatives a printed copy of the Daily Calendar of the House of Representatives prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 117) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Pictorial Directory to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 118) Repeals the authorizations for office space, office expenses, franked mail and printing privileges, and staff for former Speakers of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 119) Provides transfer authority for funds provided for House Leadership Offices. 
 
(Sec. 120) Establishes and authorizes FY2019 appropriations for an allowance for compensating interns who serve in the offices of Members of the House of Representatives. 
 
Specifies that: (1) each office may not use more than $20,000 of the allowance per year, and (2) this provision has no effect on the use of the Members' Representational Allowance to compensate interns. 
 
Provides appropriations for Joint Items, including: 
 
 
 the Joint Economic Committee, 
 
 the Joint Committee on Taxation, 
 
 the Office of the Attending Physician, and 
 
 the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police, 
 
 the Office of Compliance, and 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for: 
 
 
 Capital Construction and Operations; 
 
 the Capitol Building; 
 
 the Capitol Grounds; 
 
 the House Office Buildings; 
 
 the Senate Office Buildings; 
 
 the Capitol Power Plant; 
 
 the Library Buildings and Grounds; 
 
 the Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security; 
 
 the Botanic Garden; and 
 
 the Capitol Visitor Center. 
 
 
(Sec. 130) Prohibits funds provided by this division for the AOC from being used to make incentive or award payments to contractors for work that is behind schedule or over budget, unless the deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope changes, or are insignificant within the overall scope of the project or program. 
 
(Sec. 131) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for scrims (coverings for buildings that are being renovated) containing photographs of building facades during restoration or construction projects performed by the AOC. 
 
(Sec. 132) Amends the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery From and Response To Terrorist Attacks on the United States, with respect to the Capitol Police and Buildings and Ground Account, to: (1) specify that the uses for the account include AOC resilience and security programs; and (2) permit the AOC, with congressional approval, to receive interagency transfers of funds to carry out the purposes of the account. 
 
(Sec. 133) Modifies the AOC's small purchase contracting authority to permit the AOC to use special simplified procedures for purchases of property and services if the aggregate amount does not exceed $250,000. 
 
(Sec. 134) Permits the AOC to enter into a joint agency agreement to provide for interagency employee detailees. 
 
(Sec. 135) Permits the AOC to accept, or authorize an AOC employee to accept, payments from nonfederal sources for travel, subsistence, and related expenses for the attendance of an employee (or the spouse of an employee) at a meeting or similar function relating to the employee's official duties. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Library of Congress (LOC) for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses, 
 
 the Copyright Office, 
 
 the Congressional Research Service, and 
 
 Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. 
 
 
(Sec. 140) Limits the FY2019 obligational authority of the LOC for reimbursable and revolving fund activities funded from sources other than appropriations. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Government Publishing Office for: 
 
 
 Congressional Publishing, 
 
 Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents, and 
 
 the Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to: 
 
 
 the Government Accountability Office, 
 
 the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund, and 
 
 the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. 
 
 
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 201) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning, as provided under regulations for the House and Senate parking facilities. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond FY2019 unless expressly provided in this division. 
 
(Sec. 203) Provides that: (1) rates of compensation or designations of offices or positions included in this division that are either not established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 or are contrary to that Act are considered permanent law, and (2) provisions in this division for official congressional expenses and clerk hire for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives are permanent law. 
 
(Sec. 204) Limits contracts for certain consulting services to those where expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law or under an executive order issued under existing law. 
 
(Sec. 205) Permits legislative branch entities participating in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council to use funds provided for administrative expenses to pay a share of the cost of the council if the total cost shared among all participating entities does not exceed $2,000. 
 
(Sec. 206) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government unless the transfer is pursuant to authority provided by an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 207) Prohibits the AOC from using funds provided by this division to eliminate or restrict guided Capitol tours led by congressional employees and interns other than through regulations authorized by the Capitol Visitor Center of 2008, subject to an exception permitting tours to be suspended for security or related reasons. 
 
(Sec. 208) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to acquire telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation or a high-impact or moderate-impact information system unless the agency, office, or entity acquiring the system meets certain requirements for reviews, assessments, reports, and mitigation strategies for risks. 
 
(Sec. 209) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 210) Requires agencies and offices funded by this division to confer and coordinate with their food service providers, in consultation with disability advocacy groups, to eliminate or reduce plastic waste, including waste from plastic straws, explore the use of biodegradable items, and increase recycling and composting opportunities. 
 
(Sec. 211) Requires agencies, offices, and entities funded by this division to report to Congress regarding the estimated dollar amounts for cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) included in the FY2019 budget request for each appropriations account. Specifies that, if executive branch agencies do not receive a COLA, the legislative branch entities may only spend the reported dollar amounts after receiving congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 212) Prohibits COLAs for Members of Congress during FY2019. 
 
DIVISION C--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction, military family housing, the U.S. share of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and base closures and realignments. 
 
The division also provides appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans benefit and health care programs, departmental administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Related agencies and programs funded in the division include: 
 
 
 the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
 the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and 
 
 the Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
 
The division also includes additional military construction funds which are designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/ Global War on Terrorism funds and are not subject to discretionary spending limits. 
 
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for Military Construction for: 
 
 
 the Army;
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps; 
 
 the Air Force; 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments); 
 
 the Army and Air National Guard; and 
 
 the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program.
 
 Provides appropriations for the DOD Base Closure Account. 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for: 
 
 
 the Army, 
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 the Air Force, and 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments). 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for: (1) the Family Housing Improvement Fund, and (2) the Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for payments exceeding $25,000 under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction in the United States without a specific DOD approval in writing. Includes an exception for work that is to be performed in Alaska. 
 
(Sec. 102) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for hiring passenger motor vehicles. 
 
(Sec. 103) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration for the construction of access roads DOD has certified as important to national defense. 
 
(Sec. 104) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to begin construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to purchase land or land easements in excess of 100% of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Includes exceptions for: (1) determinations of value by a federal court, (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or a designee, (3) values less than $25,000, and (4) DOD determinations that the purchase is in the public interest. 
 
(Sec. 106) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to acquire land, provide for site preparation, or install utilities for family housing, except housing for which appropriations have been provided. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds provided by this title for minor construction from being used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 108) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to procure steel for construction unless American producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete for the procurement. 
 
(Sec. 109) Prohibits funds provided to DOD for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year from being used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to initiate a new installation overseas without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for architect and engineer contracts estimated to exceed $500,000 for projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf unless the contracts are awarded to U.S. firms or U.S. firms in joint ventures with host nation firms. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction in U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf from being used to award a contract over $1 million to a foreign contractor. Includes exceptions. 
 
(Sec. 113) Requires DOD to notify Congress in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if the construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 
 
(Sec. 114) Permits funds appropriated to DOD for construction in prior years to be used for construction projects authorized during the current session of Congress. 
 
(Sec. 115) Permits expired or lapsed funds to be used to pay for supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering, and design costs for military construction or family housing projects being completed with lapsed or expired funds. 
 
(Sec. 116) Permits funds provided for the construction of military projects to be available for five years if the funds for the project: (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction, and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated or permitted by law for the project. 
 
(Sec. 117) Permits the following transfers if Congress is notified and specified conditions are met: 
 
 
 to the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction in Family Housing accounts, and 
 
 to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction of military unaccompanied housing in Military Construction accounts. 
 
 
Specifies that the transferred funds shall be available for DOD loans or loan guarantees pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 
 
(Sec. 118) Permits the transfer of funds from the DOD Base Closure Account to the fund established to pay expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
(Sec. 119) Specifies that funds for operation and maintenance of family housing in this title shall be the only source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters. Sets forth limitations and requirements for expenditures for maintenance and repair of general or flag officer quarters. 
 
(Sec. 120) Appropriates funds contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account to remain available until expended or transferred. 
 
(Sec. 121) Permits the transfer of unobligated balances of expired military construction and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations--Construction--Defense account. 
 
(Sec. 122) Prohibits the Army from using funds provided by this division to relocate a unit that: (1) performs a testing mission or function that is not performed by any other unit in the Army and is specifically stipulated under current law, and (2) is located at a military installation where the total number of Army civilian employees and contractor personnel exceeds 10% of the regular and reserve Army personnel assigned to the installation. Includes an exception if the Army notifies Congress of the relocation's compliance with Army Regulation 5-10 concerning stationing actions. 
 
(Sec. 123) Permits funds provided to an account in this title to be transferred among projects and activities within the account subject to specified DOD reprogramming guidelines for military and family housing construction. 
 
(Sec. 124) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for the planning, design, and construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 125) Provides specified additional funds to remain available through FY2023 for unfunded military construction priorities. 
 
(Sec. 126) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the following VA accounts and programs: 
 
 
 the NATO Security Investment Program 
 
 Military Construction--Air Force; 
 
 Military Construction--Army National Guard; 
 
 Family House Construction--Navy and Marine Corps; and
 
the fund established in section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
 
(Sec. 127) Defines "congressional defense committees" to include the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. 
 
(Sec. 128) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the closure or realignment of the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
 
(Sec. 129) Prohibits funds from being used to consolidate or relocate any element of a U.S. Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) squadron outside of the United States until the Air Force: (1) submits to Congress an analysis and comparison of the cost and investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within the United States, and (2) certifies to Congress that the preferred site yields the greatest savings. 
 
(Sec. 130) Provides additional appropriations for completion of the Defense Access Roads project and land acquisition for Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 131) Requires specified FY2019 Military Construction--Defense-Wide funds authorized to be appropriated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 to be immediately available and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized projects. 
 
(Sec. 132) Provides additional military construction funds to the Air Force and the Navy and Marine Corps to remain available through FY2023 for enhancing force protection and safety at military installations. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for: 
 
 
 Compensation and Pensions, 
 
 Readjustment Benefits, 
 
 Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, 
 
 the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund, 
 
 the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account, 
 
 the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account, and 
 
 General Operating Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for: 
 
 
 Medical Services, 
 
 Medical Community Care, 
 
 Medical Support and Compliance, 
 
 Medical Facilities, and 
 
 Medical and Prosthetic Research. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Provides appropriations to the VA for Departmental Administration, including: 
 
 
 General Administration, 
 
 the Board of Veterans Appeals, 
 
 Information Technology Systems, 
 
 the Veterans Electronic Health Record, 
 
 the Office of Inspector General, 
 
 Construction--Major Projects, 
 
 Construction--Minor Projects, 
 
 Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, and 
 
 Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries. 
 
 
(Sec. 201) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VBA. 
 
(Sec. 202) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VHA. 
 
(Sec. 203) Permits appropriations provided by this title for salaries and expenses to be used for employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants, hire of passenger vehicles, lease of a facility or land or both, and uniforms. 
 
(Sec. 204) Prohibits appropriations in this title other than Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects from being used for land acquisition for or construction of any new hospital or home. 
 
(Sec. 205) Requires the VA to be reimbursed for medical services it provides to any person not defined as a beneficiary under specified laws. 
 
(Sec. 206) Permits appropriations provided by this title for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be used for payment of prior year accrued obligations for the accounts recorded in the last quarter of FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 207) Permits appropriations provided by this title to be used to pay specified prior year obligations. Requires obligations from trust fund accounts to be paid only from the Compensation and Pensions account. 
 
(Sec. 208) Requires the VA to use surplus earnings from the National Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund to reimburse the General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for the costs to administer the insurance programs during FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 209) Permits amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds for reimbursement of expenses from a prior year to be obligated in the year in which the proceeds are received. 
 
(Sec. 210) Permits funds provided by this title for salaries and other administrative expenses to be used to reimburse the following offices for services provided, subject to specified limits: 
 
 
 the Office of Resolution Management, 
 
 the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, 
 
 the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and 
 
 the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 
 
 
(Sec. 211) Requires the VA to collect third-party reimbursement information prior to providing hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services for a non-service connected disability. Permits the VA to recover reasonable charges for care from anyone who has not provided the required disclosures. 
 
(Sec. 212) Permits enhanced-use leasing revenues to be deposited into the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to be used for construction, alterations, and improvements of VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 213) Permits funds provided for Medical Services to be used for: (1) furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) funeral and burial expenses for beneficiaries receiving care from the VA. 
 
(Sec. 214) Permits funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund to be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community Care accounts and remain available until expended for the purposes of those accounts. 
 
(Sec. 215) Permits the VA to enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. Defines "rural Alaska" as those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 
 
(Sec. 216) Permits funds deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund to be transferred to the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 217) Requires the VA to report quarterly to Congress on the financial status of the VA. 
 
(Sec. 218) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds to be transferred to or from the Information Technology Systems account if approved by Congress. 
 
(Sec. 219) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds provided for medical accounts, Construction--Minor Projects, and Information Technology Systems to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 220) Permits specified FY2020 VA advance funding provided for medical accounts to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 221) Permits transfers from the Medical Care Collections Fund to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 222) Requires specified funds from medical accounts to be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 223) Prohibits the VA from using funds to replace the current system that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks use to select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. 
 
(Sec. 224) Directs the VA to notify Congress of all bid savings in major construction projects that total at least $5 million or 5% of the programmed amount of the project, whichever is less.
 
 (Sec. 225) Prohibits funds provided for the Construction--Major Projects account from being used to increase the scope of a project above the original budget request without congressional approval.
 
 (Sec. 226) Requires the VA to submit to Congress quarterly reports containing performance measures and data from each VBA regional office. 
 
(Sec. 227) Directs the VA to notify Congress before organizational changes that result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalent staff from one organizational unit to another.
 
 (Sec. 228) Requires the VA to report to Congress quarterly regarding any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign exceeding $2 million. 
 
(Sec. 229) Permits the VA to transfer funds to the Medical Services account if the transfer is necessary to address the needs of the VHA, meets specified requirements, and is approved by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress.
 
 (Sec. 230) Permits FY2019 funds provided for the Board of Veterans Appeals and General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration to be transferred between those accounts if Congress approves the transfer.
 
 (Sec. 231) Prohibits the VA from reprogramming more than $7 million in funds among major construction projects or programs without congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 232) Requires the VA to ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline authorized under current law: (1) provides individuals who contact the hotline with immediate assistance from a trained professional, and (2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology. 
 
Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to enforce or otherwise carry out any executive action that prohibits the VA from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil service position, with respect to the hotline. 
 
Requires the VA to study the effectiveness of the hotline based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from the hotline. 
 
(Sec. 233) Prohibits funds from being used to close, conduct an environmental assessment, or diminish services at certain VA medical facilities as part of a planned realignment of VA services until the VA submits to Congress a national realignment strategy and specified details. 
 
(Sec. 234) Requires the VA to use the breast cancer screening guidelines issued on May 10, 2017, by the VHA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 
 
(Sec. 235) Permits VA Medical Services funds to be used to provide: (1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of a covered veteran, or (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran. Defines a "covered veteran" as a veteran who has a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 
 
(Sec. 236) Rescinds specified funds provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 for the VHA Medical Support and Compliance Account. 
 
(Sec. 237) Prohibits funds from being used to: (1) convert to contractor performance an activity or function performed by more than 10 federal employees unless the conversion is based on the result of a public-private competition and meets specified criteria, or (2) conduct studies comparing the costs of private and government provision of certain VHA products and services without a specific appropriation for that purpose. 
 
(Sec. 238) Specifies that certain restrictions and requirements that apply to the use of funds to convert an activity of an executive agency to contractor performance do not apply to the conversion of an activity or function of the VHA, VBA, or National Cemetery Administration to contractor performance by a business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more Indian Tribes or one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations. 
 
(Sec. 239) Requires the VA to discontinue using Social Security numbers to identify individuals in all VA information systems. Includes an exception if the number is required to obtain information from an information system that is not under the jurisdiction of the VA. 
 
(Sec. 240) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA Medical Services funds a requirement for the VA to treat a marriage and family therapist that meets specified educational and licensing requirements as qualified to serve as a VA therapist.
 
(Sec. 241) Prohibits the VA from transferring funds from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other VA account. 
 
(Sec. 242) Permits FY2019 and FY2020 Medical Services funds to be used to carry out and expand the pilot program for providing child care assistance to veterans receiving health care. 
 
(Sec. 243) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA funds a provision that specifies documentation that DOD may accept to verify that a coastwise merchant seaman performed active duty service under honorable conditions. Permits the individuals whose service is recognized as honorable to be: (1) awarded an appropriate medal, ribbon, or other military decoration based on the service; and (2) honored as a veteran with benefits limited to those described in this provision. 
 
(Sec. 244) Permits the VA to use funds provided by this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time employment equivalents within any rehabilitation program does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment equivalent. Requires the VA to report to Congress on rehabilitation programs including: (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program, and (2) recommendations to reduce the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program. 
 
(Sec. 245) Prohibits the VA from using funds provided by this title to enter into an agreement related to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would restrict the individual from speaking to members of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure or required 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. 246) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA funds a requirement for certain details to be included in the budget justification documents submitted to Congress for the Construction--Major Projects account. 
 
(Sec. 247) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to conduct research using canines unless: (1) the scientific objectives of the study can only be met by research with canines, (2) the study has been directly approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and (3) the study is consistent with the revised VA canine research policy document. Specifies reporting requirements for canine research. 
 
(Sec. 248) Provides additional appropriations to the VA for infrastructure improvements, including new construction, for the following accounts and activities: 
 
 
 seismic improvement projects and seismic program management activities; 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Major Projects; 
 
 VHA Medical Facilities for nonrecurring maintenance; and 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Minor Projects. 
 
 
(Sec. 249) Requires departments and agencies funded by this division to provide an Inspector General (IG) funded by this division with timely access to records, documents, or other materials available to the department or agency over which the IG has responsibility. Requires each IG to comply with specified statutory limitations on disclosure of the information provided.
 
(Sec. 250) Requires the VA to submit to Congress a plan to: (1) reduce the chances that clinical mistakes by VA employees will result in adverse events that require institutional or clinical disclosures, (2) prevent any unnecessary hardship for patients and families impacted by the adverse events.
 
(Sec. 251) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used in a manner that would increase wait times for veterans seeking care at VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 252) Prohibits VHA funds provided by this division from being used to convert any program which received specific purpose funds in FY2018 to a general purpose funded program unless Congress is notified in advance and approves the proposal. 
 
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for related agencies, including: 
 
 
 the American Battle Monuments Commission; 
 
 the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
 Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery; and 
 
 the Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
 
 
(Sec. 301) Permits funds from concessions at Army National Military Cemeteries to be used to support activities at the cemeteries.
 
TITLE IV--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
 
 Provides appropriations to DOD for Overseas Contingency Operations Military Construction projects for the: 
 
 
 Army, 
 
 Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 Air Force, and 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities. 
 
 
Designates the amounts provided in this title as for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
 
(Sec. 401) Specifies that funds designated in this division by Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism are only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 402) Prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction projects outside of the United States from being used for planning and design of any project associated with the European Deterrence Initiative until DOD submits to Congress a list of the military construction projects associated with initiative that DOD anticipates will be carried out in each year during FY2020-FY2024. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
 (Sec. 501) Prohibits the obligation of funds in this division beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly permitted in this division. 
 
(Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for programs, projects, or activities not in compliance with federal laws related to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 
 
(Sec. 503) Encourages all departments and agencies funded in this division to expand their use of "E-Commerce" technologies and procedures. 
 
(Sec. 504) Specifies the congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications required by this division. 
 
(Sec. 505) Prohibits the transfer of funds to any part of the U.S. government without authority provided by an appropriations law. 
 
(Sec. 506) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a project or program named for an individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 507) Requires agencies to post reports submitted to Congress on the public website of the agency. Includes exceptions for national security and confidential or proprietary information. 
 
(Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 509) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for first-class travel by an employee of the executive branch. 
 
(Sec. 510) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for any contract where the contractor has not complied with E-Verify requirements for verification of eligibility for employment. 
 
(Sec. 511) Prohibits DOD or the VA from using funds provided by this division to purchase or lease a new vehicle except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum--Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011. 
 
(Sec. 512) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for the renovation, expansion, or construction of any facility in the United States to house any individual detained at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control of DOD. Includes an exception for modification to the facility at Guantanamo Bay. 

action_date: 2018-09-21
text: 

Highlights: 

 
This bill provides FY2019 appropriations for several federal agencies. The bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills: 
 
 
 the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; 
 
 the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019; and 
 
 the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019. 
 
 
The departments and agencies funded in the bill include: 
 
 
 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
 
 the Bureau of Reclamation, 
 
 the Department of Energy, 
 
 Congress and the agencies that serve Congress, 
 
 Department of Defense military construction and military family housing activities, 
 
 the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
 
 several related and independent agencies. 
 
 
The bill also includes additional military construction funds which are designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/ Global War on Terrorism funds and are not subject to discretionary spending limits. 
 

Full Summary: 

 

Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
(Sec. 3) Specifies that, unless this bill expressly provides otherwise, references to "this Act" included in a division shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division. 
 
(Sec. 4) Specifies that this bill provides appropriations for FY2019. 
 
DIVISION A--ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations for: 
 
 
 the civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 
 
 the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project; 
 
 the Department of Energy (DOE); and 
 
 several independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
 
 
TITLE I--CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL
 
 Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for authorized civil functions pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood and storm damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and related efforts. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Corps of Engineers for: 
 
 
 Investigations; 
 
 Construction; 
 
 Mississippi River and Tributaries, including flood damage reduction projects in the Mississippi River alluvial valley below Cape Girardeau, Missouri; 
 
 Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 the Regulatory Program pertaining to navigable waters and wetlands; 
 
 the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program for clean-up of early atomic energy program contamination; 
 
 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters; 
 
 Expenses necessary for the supervision and general administration of the civil works program; and 
 
 the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits the reprogramming of funds provided by this title except in specified circumstances. 
 
(Sec. 102) Requires the Corps of Engineers to allocate funds provided in this division in accordance with the provisions of this division and the joint explanatory statement. 
 
(Sec. 103) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for a contract that commits funds beyond the amounts appropriated for that program, project, or activity that remain unobligated. Includes exception for funds made available through reprogramming. 
 
(Sec. 104) Permits the Corps of Engineers to transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service up to $5.4 million in Operation and Maintenance funds to mitigate for fisheries lost due to Corps of Engineers projects. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for an open lake placement of dredged material originating from Lake Erie or its tributaries unless it is approved under a state water quality certification pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Requires the Corps of Engineers to continue upland placement of the dredged material until an open lake placement for dredged materials is approved under a state water quality certification.
 
 (Sec. 106) Requires acquisitions funded by this title to comply with regulations that prohibit the Department of Defense from purchasing buoy chain unless it is procured from a U.S. manufacturer. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a water supply reallocation study under the Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, project authorized under the Act of July 24, 1946. 
 
(Sec. 108) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to require a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material under the Clean Water Act for specified agricultural activities. 
 
(Sec. 109) Prohibits funds provided by this division or available in the revolving fund established by the Civil Functions Appropriations Act of 1954 from being used for a new hopper dredge. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds from being used to reorganize or to transfer the civil works functions or authority of the Corps of Engineers or the Secretary of the Army to another department or agency. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation for: 
 
 
 Water and Related Resources, 
 
 the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, 
 
 California Bay-Delta Restoration, and 
 
 Policy and Administration. 
 
 
Permits appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation to be used for purchasing replacements for up to five passenger motor vehicles.
 
 (Sec. 201) Specifies the circumstances in which Reclamation may reprogram or transfer funds provided by this title. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until Interior and California develop a plan to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters. Requires the plan to conform to California water quality standards as approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
 
 Directs Interior to classify the costs of the Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program as either reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid pursuant to specified alternative repayment plans. 
 
Requires future federal obligations of funds regarding drainage service or drainage studies for the San Luis Unit to be fully reimbursable by San Luis Unit beneficiaries of the service or studies. 
 
(Sec. 203) Specifies that, from November 1 through April 30, water users may use their diversion structures for the purpose of recharging the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer when Interior determines there is water available in excess of that needed to satisfy existing Minidoka Project storage and hydropower rights and ensure operational flexibility. 
 
(Sec. 204) Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to extend the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct feasibility studies on certain projects that address water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho. 
 
(Sec. 205) Amends the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 to: (1) extend the authorization for Interior pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs to address the effects of historic drought conditions, and (2) prohibit Interior from funding the pilot projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin without the participation of the Upper Colorado River Commission. 
 
Amends the Secure Water Act of 2009 to increase from $450 million to $480 million the authorization of appropriations for grants and cooperative agreements for water management improvement. 
 
(Sec. 206) Amends the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 to extend the authorization for the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water Project in Montana. 
 
TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for Energy Programs, including: 
 
 
 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; 
 
 Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; 
 
 Electricity Delivery; 
 
 Nuclear Energy; 
 
 Fossil Energy Research and Development; 
 
 Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; 
 
 the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR); 
 
 the SPR Petroleum Account; 
 
 the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; 
 
 the Energy Information Administration; 
 
 Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup; 
 
 the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; 
 
 Science; 
 
 Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy; 
 
 the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Loan Program; 
 
 the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; 
 
 the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; 
 
 the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs; 
 
 Departmental Administration; and 
 
 the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including: 
 
 
 Weapons Activities, 
 
 Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, 
 
 Naval Reactors, and 
 
 Federal Salaries and Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for Environmental and Other Defense Activities, including: 
 
 
 Defense Environmental Cleanup, and 
 
 Other Defense Activities. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Power Marketing Administrations, including: 
 
 
 the Bonneville Power Administration Fund; 
 
 Southeastern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Southwestern Power Administration Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Western Area Power Administration Construction, Rehabilitation, and Operation and Maintenance; and 
 
 the Falcon and Amistad Operating and Maintenance Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
 
 (Sec. 301) Prohibits funds provided by this title from be used for programs, projects, or activities that have not been funded by Congress. 
 
Prohibits specified grants, contracts, allocations, and agreements unless Congress is notified in advance. 
 
Prohibits funds from being used for certain multiyear Department of Energy--Energy Programs activities unless specified conditions are met and Congress is notified. 
 
Establishes requirements and restrictions for the reprogramming of funds provided in this title. 
 
Permits unexpended balances of prior appropriations provided for activities in this division to be transferred and merged with appropriations accounts established in this division. 
 
(Sec. 302) Deems funds appropriated by this division for intelligence activities to be specifically authorized by Congress during FY2019 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 303) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to construct specified high-hazard nuclear facilities unless independent oversight is conducted by the Office of Enterprise Assessments to ensure compliance with nuclear safety requirements. 
 
(Sec. 304) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to approve certain critical decisions for construction projects exceeding $100 million until a separate independent cost estimate has been developed for the project for that critical decision. 
 
(Sec. 305) Specifies congressional notification requirements and limitations regarding transfers of funds from DOE's Working Capital Fund. 
 
(Sec. 306) Prohibits Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation funds from being used to enter into new contracts with, or new agreements for federal assistance to, the Russian Federation. Permits DOE to waive the prohibition if the activity is in the national security interests of the United States and a report justifying the waiver is submitted to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 307) Prohibits DOE from establishing any new regional petroleum product reserve unless funding is explicitly requested in advance and approved by Congress in an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 308) Authorizes DOE to draw down and sell refined petroleum product from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) upon a determination by the President in this fiscal year that: 
 
 
 a regional supply shortage of refined petroleum product of significant scope and duration exists, 
 
 a severe increase in the price of refined petroleum product will likely result from the shortage, and 
 
 a draw down and sale of refined petroleum product would assist directly and significantly in reducing the adverse impact of the shortage. 
 
 
Specifies that the proceeds from the sale must be deposited into the SPR Petroleum Account and remain available for obligation without fiscal year limitation, consistent with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. 
 
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for independent agencies, including: 
 
 
 the Appalachian Regional Commission, 
 
 the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 
 
 the Delta Regional Authority, 
 
 the Denali Commission, 
 
 the Northern Border Regional Commission, 
 
 the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, 
 
 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and 
 
 the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. 
 
 
(Sec. 401) Requires the NRC to comply with specified internal procedures when responding to congressional requests for information, consistent with Department of Justice guidance for all federal agencies. 
 
(Sec. 402) Specifies the circumstances in which funds provided by this title may be reprogrammed. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 501) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress, other than to communicate with Members of Congress as permitted under current law. 
 
(Sec. 502) Specifies restrictions and requirements for transfers of funds into and out of accounts funded by this division. 
 
(Sec. 503) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to contravene Executive Order No. 12898 of February 11, 1994 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations). 
 
(Sec. 504) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 505) Provides additional appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation Water and Related Resources account to be transferred to Reclamation's Upper Colorado River Basin Fund to carry out certain environmental stewardship and endangered species recovery efforts. 
 
DIVISION B--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides appropriations for Congress and the agencies that serve Congress.
 
 It includes funding for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and Joint Items such as the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and the Office of the Attending Physician. 
 
It also provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police 
 
 the Office of Compliance, 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office, 
 
 the Architect of the Capitol, 
 
 the Library of Congress, 
 
 the Government Publishing Office, and 
 
the Government Accountability Office. 
 
 
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
 
Provides appropriations to the Senate for: 
 
 
 Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress (for Cindy H. McCain, widow of the late Senator John S. McCain III); 
 
 Expense Allowances; 
 
 Representational Allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; 
 
 the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate; 
 
 the Office of Senate Legal Counsel; 
 
 Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of the Senate; and 
 
 Contingent Expenses of the Senate. 
 
 
(Sec. 101) Requires amounts remaining in the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account be used for deficit or debt reduction. 
 
(Sec. 102) Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require Senate political committees to file certain campaign finance designations, statements, and reports directly with the Federal Election Commission instead of with the Secretary of the Senate. 
 
(Sec. 103) Extends the authority for the Senate National Security Working Group through 2020. 
 
Provides appropriations to the House of Representatives for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses; 
 
 House Leadership Offices; 
 
 Members' Representational Allowances, including Members' Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members, and Official Mail; 
 
 the Intern Allowance; 
 
 Committee Employees; 
 
 Salaries, Officers, and Employees; and 
 
 Allowances and Expenses. 
 
 
(In this division, the term "Member of the House of Representatives" also includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.) 
 
(Sec. 110) Requires amounts remaining in Members' Representational Allowances after all payments are made for FY2019 to be used for deficit or debt reduction. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives unless the Member requests a copy. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Record to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 113) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to make payments from any Members' Representational Allowance to lease a vehicle, excluding mobile district offices, in an aggregate amount that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month. 
 
(Sec. 114) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any edition of the U.S. Code to all offices of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 115) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the report of disbursements for the operations of the House of Representatives to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 116) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver to the office of a Member of the House Representatives a printed copy of the Daily Calendar of the House of Representatives prepared by the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 117) Prohibits funds provided in any fiscal year from being used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Pictorial Directory to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 118) Repeals the authorizations for office space, office expenses, franked mail and printing privileges, and staff for former Speakers of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 119) Provides transfer authority for funds provided for House Leadership Offices. 
 
(Sec. 120) Establishes and authorizes FY2019 appropriations for an allowance for compensating interns who serve in the offices of Members of the House of Representatives. 
 
Specifies that: (1) each office may not use more than $20,000 of the allowance per year, and (2) this provision has no effect on the use of the Members' Representational Allowance to compensate interns. 
 
Provides appropriations for Joint Items, including: 
 
 
 the Joint Economic Committee, 
 
 the Joint Committee on Taxation, 
 
 the Office of the Attending Physician, and 
 
 the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. 
 
 
Provides appropriations for: 
 
 
 the Capitol Police, 
 
 the Office of Compliance, and 
 
 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for: 
 
 
 Capital Construction and Operations; 
 
 the Capitol Building; 
 
 the Capitol Grounds; 
 
 the House Office Buildings; 
 
 the Senate Office Buildings; 
 
 the Capitol Power Plant; 
 
 the Library Buildings and Grounds; 
 
 the Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security; 
 
 the Botanic Garden; and 
 
 the Capitol Visitor Center. 
 
 
(Sec. 130) Prohibits funds provided by this division for the AOC from being used to make incentive or award payments to contractors for work that is behind schedule or over budget, unless the deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope changes, or are insignificant within the overall scope of the project or program. 
 
(Sec. 131) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for scrims (coverings for buildings that are being renovated) containing photographs of building facades during restoration or construction projects performed by the AOC. 
 
(Sec. 132) Amends the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery From and Response To Terrorist Attacks on the United States, with respect to the Capitol Police and Buildings and Ground Account, to: (1) specify that the uses for the account include AOC resilience and security programs; and (2) permit the AOC, with congressional approval, to receive interagency transfers of funds to carry out the purposes of the account. 
 
(Sec. 133) Modifies the AOC's small purchase contracting authority to permit the AOC to use special simplified procedures for purchases of property and services if the aggregate amount does not exceed $250,000. 
 
(Sec. 134) Permits the AOC to enter into a joint agency agreement to provide for interagency employee detailees. 
 
(Sec. 135) Permits the AOC to accept, or authorize an AOC employee to accept, payments from nonfederal sources for travel, subsistence, and related expenses for the attendance of an employee (or the spouse of an employee) at a meeting or similar function relating to the employee's official duties. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Library of Congress (LOC) for: 
 
 
 Salaries and Expenses, 
 
 the Copyright Office, 
 
 the Congressional Research Service, and 
 
 Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. 
 
 
(Sec. 140) Limits the FY2019 obligational authority of the LOC for reimbursable and revolving fund activities funded from sources other than appropriations. 
 
Provides appropriations to the Government Publishing Office for: 
 
 
 Congressional Publishing, 
 
 Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents, and 
 
 the Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to: 
 
 
 the Government Accountability Office, 
 
 the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund, and 
 
 the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. 
 
 
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
(Sec. 201) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning, as provided under regulations for the House and Senate parking facilities. 
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond FY2019 unless expressly provided in this division. 
 
(Sec. 203) Provides that: (1) rates of compensation or designations of offices or positions included in this division that are either not established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 or are contrary to that Act are considered permanent law, and (2) provisions in this division for official congressional expenses and clerk hire for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives are permanent law. 
 
(Sec. 204) Limits contracts for certain consulting services to those where expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law or under an executive order issued under existing law. 
 
(Sec. 205) Permits legislative branch entities participating in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council to use funds provided for administrative expenses to pay a share of the cost of the council if the total cost shared among all participating entities does not exceed $2,000. 
 
(Sec. 206) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government unless the transfer is pursuant to authority provided by an appropriations Act. 
 
(Sec. 207) Prohibits the AOC from using funds provided by this division to eliminate or restrict guided Capitol tours led by congressional employees and interns other than through regulations authorized by the Capitol Visitor Center of 2008, subject to an exception permitting tours to be suspended for security or related reasons. 
 
(Sec. 208) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to acquire telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation or a high-impact or moderate-impact information system unless the agency, office, or entity acquiring the system meets certain requirements for reviews, assessments, reports, and mitigation strategies for risks. 
 
(Sec. 209) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 210) Requires agencies and offices funded by this division to confer and coordinate with their food service providers, in consultation with disability advocacy groups, to eliminate or reduce plastic waste, including waste from plastic straws, explore the use of biodegradable items, and increase recycling and composting opportunities. 
 
(Sec. 211) Requires agencies, offices, and entities funded by this division to report to Congress regarding the estimated dollar amounts for cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) included in the FY2019 budget request for each appropriations account. Specifies that, if executive branch agencies do not receive a COLA, the legislative branch entities may only spend the reported dollar amounts after receiving congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 212) Prohibits COLAs for Members of Congress during FY2019. 
 
DIVISION C--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019 
 

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 

 
This division provides FY2019 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction, military family housing, the U.S. share of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and base closures and realignments. 
 
The division also provides appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans benefit and health care programs, departmental administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Related agencies and programs funded in the division include: 
 
 
 the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
 the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and 
 
 the Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
 
The division also includes additional military construction funds which are designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/ Global War on Terrorism funds and are not subject to discretionary spending limits. 
 
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
 
Provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for Military Construction for: 
 
 
 the Army;
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps; 
 
 the Air Force; 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments); 
 
 the Army and Air National Guard; and 
 
 the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program.
 
 Provides appropriations for the DOD Base Closure Account. 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for: 
 
 
 the Army, 
 
 the Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 the Air Force, and 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments). 
 
 
Provides appropriations to DOD for: (1) the Family Housing Improvement Fund, and (2) the Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 
 
(Sec. 101) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for payments exceeding $25,000 under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction in the United States without a specific DOD approval in writing. Includes an exception for work that is to be performed in Alaska. 
 
(Sec. 102) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for hiring passenger motor vehicles. 
 
(Sec. 103) Permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration for the construction of access roads DOD has certified as important to national defense. 
 
(Sec. 104) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to begin construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation. 
 
(Sec. 105) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to purchase land or land easements in excess of 100% of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Includes exceptions for: (1) determinations of value by a federal court, (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or a designee, (3) values less than $25,000, and (4) DOD determinations that the purchase is in the public interest. 
 
(Sec. 106) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to acquire land, provide for site preparation, or install utilities for family housing, except housing for which appropriations have been provided. 
 
(Sec. 107) Prohibits funds provided by this title for minor construction from being used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 108) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to procure steel for construction unless American producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete for the procurement. 
 
(Sec. 109) Prohibits funds provided to DOD for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year from being used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 
 
(Sec. 110) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to initiate a new installation overseas without notifying Congress in advance. 
 
(Sec. 111) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for architect and engineer contracts estimated to exceed $500,000 for projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf unless the contracts are awarded to U.S. firms or U.S. firms in joint ventures with host nation firms. 
 
(Sec. 112) Prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction in U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf from being used to award a contract over $1 million to a foreign contractor. Includes exceptions. 
 
(Sec. 113) Requires DOD to notify Congress in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if the construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 
 
(Sec. 114) Permits funds appropriated to DOD for construction in prior years to be used for construction projects authorized during the current session of Congress. 
 
(Sec. 115) Permits expired or lapsed funds to be used to pay for supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering, and design costs for military construction or family housing projects being completed with lapsed or expired funds. 
 
(Sec. 116) Permits funds provided for the construction of military projects to be available for five years if the funds for the project: (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction, and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated or permitted by law for the project. 
 
(Sec. 117) Permits the following transfers if Congress is notified and specified conditions are met: 
 
 
 to the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction in Family Housing accounts, and 
 
 to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction of military unaccompanied housing in Military Construction accounts. 
 
 
Specifies that the transferred funds shall be available for DOD loans or loan guarantees pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 
 
(Sec. 118) Permits the transfer of funds from the DOD Base Closure Account to the fund established to pay expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
(Sec. 119) Specifies that funds for operation and maintenance of family housing in this title shall be the only source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters. Sets forth limitations and requirements for expenditures for maintenance and repair of general or flag officer quarters. 
 
(Sec. 120) Appropriates funds contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account to remain available until expended or transferred. 
 
(Sec. 121) Permits the transfer of unobligated balances of expired military construction and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations--Construction--Defense account. 
 
(Sec. 122) Prohibits the Army from using funds provided by this division to relocate a unit that: (1) performs a testing mission or function that is not performed by any other unit in the Army and is specifically stipulated under current law, and (2) is located at a military installation where the total number of Army civilian employees and contractor personnel exceeds 10% of the regular and reserve Army personnel assigned to the installation. Includes an exception if the Army notifies Congress of the relocation's compliance with Army Regulation 5-10 concerning stationing actions. 
 
(Sec. 123) Permits funds provided to an account in this title to be transferred among projects and activities within the account subject to specified DOD reprogramming guidelines for military and family housing construction. 
 
(Sec. 124) Prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for the planning, design, and construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 125) Provides specified additional funds to remain available through FY2023 for unfunded military construction priorities. 
 
(Sec. 126) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the following VA accounts and programs: 
 
 
 the NATO Security Investment Program 
 
 Military Construction--Air Force; 
 
 Military Construction--Army National Guard; 
 
 Family House Construction--Navy and Marine Corps; and
 
the fund established in section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
 
 
(Sec. 127) Defines "congressional defense committees" to include the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. 
 
(Sec. 128) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for the closure or realignment of the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
 
(Sec. 129) Prohibits funds from being used to consolidate or relocate any element of a U.S. Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) squadron outside of the United States until the Air Force: (1) submits to Congress an analysis and comparison of the cost and investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus within the United States, and (2) certifies to Congress that the preferred site yields the greatest savings. 
 
(Sec. 130) Provides additional appropriations for completion of the Defense Access Roads project and land acquisition for Arlington National Cemetery. 
 
(Sec. 131) Requires specified FY2019 Military Construction--Defense-Wide funds authorized to be appropriated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 to be immediately available and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized projects. 
 
(Sec. 132) Provides additional military construction funds to the Air Force and the Navy and Marine Corps to remain available through FY2023 for enhancing force protection and safety at military installations. 
 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for: 
 
 
 Compensation and Pensions, 
 
 Readjustment Benefits, 
 
 Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, 
 
 the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund, 
 
 the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account, 
 
 the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account, and 
 
 General Operating Expenses. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for: 
 
 
 Medical Services, 
 
 Medical Community Care, 
 
 Medical Support and Compliance, 
 
 Medical Facilities, and 
 
 Medical and Prosthetic Research. 
 
 
Provides appropriations to the National Cemetery Administration. 
 
Provides appropriations to the VA for Departmental Administration, including: 
 
 
 General Administration, 
 
 the Board of Veterans Appeals, 
 
 Information Technology Systems, 
 
 the Veterans Electronic Health Record, 
 
 the Office of Inspector General, 
 
 Construction--Major Projects, 
 
 Construction--Minor Projects, 
 
 Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, and 
 
 Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries. 
 
 
(Sec. 201) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VBA. 
 
(Sec. 202) Specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VHA. 
 
(Sec. 203) Permits appropriations provided by this title for salaries and expenses to be used for employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants, hire of passenger vehicles, lease of a facility or land or both, and uniforms. 
 
(Sec. 204) Prohibits appropriations in this title other than Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects from being used for land acquisition for or construction of any new hospital or home. 
 
(Sec. 205) Requires the VA to be reimbursed for medical services it provides to any person not defined as a beneficiary under specified laws. 
 
(Sec. 206) Permits appropriations provided by this title for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be used for payment of prior year accrued obligations for the accounts recorded in the last quarter of FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 207) Permits appropriations provided by this title to be used to pay specified prior year obligations. Requires obligations from trust fund accounts to be paid only from the Compensation and Pensions account. 
 
(Sec. 208) Requires the VA to use surplus earnings from the National Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund to reimburse the General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for the costs to administer the insurance programs during FY2019. 
 
(Sec. 209) Permits amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds for reimbursement of expenses from a prior year to be obligated in the year in which the proceeds are received. 
 
(Sec. 210) Permits funds provided by this title for salaries and other administrative expenses to be used to reimburse the following offices for services provided, subject to specified limits: 
 
 
 the Office of Resolution Management, 
 
 the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, 
 
 the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and 
 
 the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 
 
 
(Sec. 211) Requires the VA to collect third-party reimbursement information prior to providing hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services for a non-service connected disability. Permits the VA to recover reasonable charges for care from anyone who has not provided the required disclosures. 
 
(Sec. 212) Permits enhanced-use leasing revenues to be deposited into the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to be used for construction, alterations, and improvements of VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 213) Permits funds provided for Medical Services to be used for: (1) furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) funeral and burial expenses for beneficiaries receiving care from the VA. 
 
(Sec. 214) Permits funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund to be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community Care accounts and remain available until expended for the purposes of those accounts. 
 
(Sec. 215) Permits the VA to enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. Defines "rural Alaska" as those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 
 
(Sec. 216) Permits funds deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund to be transferred to the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 217) Requires the VA to report quarterly to Congress on the financial status of the VA. 
 
(Sec. 218) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds to be transferred to or from the Information Technology Systems account if approved by Congress. 
 
(Sec. 219) Permits specified FY2019 VA funds provided for medical accounts, Construction--Minor Projects, and Information Technology Systems to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 220) Permits specified FY2020 VA advance funding provided for medical accounts to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 221) Permits transfers from the Medical Care Collections Fund to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 222) Requires specified funds from medical accounts to be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund to remain available until expended. 
 
(Sec. 223) Prohibits the VA from using funds to replace the current system that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks use to select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. 
 
(Sec. 224) Directs the VA to notify Congress of all bid savings in major construction projects that total at least $5 million or 5% of the programmed amount of the project, whichever is less.
 
 (Sec. 225) Prohibits funds provided for the Construction--Major Projects account from being used to increase the scope of a project above the original budget request without congressional approval.
 
 (Sec. 226) Requires the VA to submit to Congress quarterly reports containing performance measures and data from each VBA regional office. 
 
(Sec. 227) Directs the VA to notify Congress before organizational changes that result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalent staff from one organizational unit to another.
 
 (Sec. 228) Requires the VA to report to Congress quarterly regarding any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign exceeding $2 million. 
 
(Sec. 229) Permits the VA to transfer funds to the Medical Services account if the transfer is necessary to address the needs of the VHA, meets specified requirements, and is approved by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress.
 
 (Sec. 230) Permits FY2019 funds provided for the Board of Veterans Appeals and General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration to be transferred between those accounts if Congress approves the transfer.
 
 (Sec. 231) Prohibits the VA from reprogramming more than $7 million in funds among major construction projects or programs without congressional approval. 
 
(Sec. 232) Requires the VA to ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline authorized under current law: (1) provides individuals who contact the hotline with immediate assistance from a trained professional, and (2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology. 
 
Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to enforce or otherwise carry out any executive action that prohibits the VA from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil service position, with respect to the hotline. 
 
Requires the VA to study the effectiveness of the hotline based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from the hotline. 
 
(Sec. 233) Prohibits funds from being used to close, conduct an environmental assessment, or diminish services at certain VA medical facilities as part of a planned realignment of VA services until the VA submits to Congress a national realignment strategy and specified details. 
 
(Sec. 234) Requires the VA to use the breast cancer screening guidelines issued on May 10, 2017, by the VHA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 
 
(Sec. 235) Permits VA Medical Services funds to be used to provide: (1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of a covered veteran, or (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran. Defines a "covered veteran" as a veteran who has a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 
 
(Sec. 236) Rescinds specified funds provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 for the VHA Medical Support and Compliance Account. 
 
(Sec. 237) Prohibits funds from being used to: (1) convert to contractor performance an activity or function performed by more than 10 federal employees unless the conversion is based on the result of a public-private competition and meets specified criteria, or (2) conduct studies comparing the costs of private and government provision of certain VHA products and services without a specific appropriation for that purpose. 
 
(Sec. 238) Specifies that certain restrictions and requirements that apply to the use of funds to convert an activity of an executive agency to contractor performance do not apply to the conversion of an activity or function of the VHA, VBA, or National Cemetery Administration to contractor performance by a business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more Indian Tribes or one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations. 
 
(Sec. 239) Requires the VA to discontinue using Social Security numbers to identify individuals in all VA information systems. Includes an exception if the number is required to obtain information from an information system that is not under the jurisdiction of the VA. 
 
(Sec. 240) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA Medical Services funds a requirement for the VA to treat a marriage and family therapist that meets specified educational and licensing requirements as qualified to serve as a VA therapist.
 
(Sec. 241) Prohibits the VA from transferring funds from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other VA account. 
 
(Sec. 242) Permits FY2019 and FY2020 Medical Services funds to be used to carry out and expand the pilot program for providing child care assistance to veterans receiving health care. 
 
(Sec. 243) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA funds a provision that specifies documentation that DOD may accept to verify that a coastwise merchant seaman performed active duty service under honorable conditions. Permits the individuals whose service is recognized as honorable to be: (1) awarded an appropriate medal, ribbon, or other military decoration based on the service; and (2) honored as a veteran with benefits limited to those described in this provision. 
 
(Sec. 244) Permits the VA to use funds provided by this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time employment equivalents within any rehabilitation program does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment equivalent. Requires the VA to report to Congress on rehabilitation programs including: (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program, and (2) recommendations to reduce the veteran-to-staff ratio for each program. 
 
(Sec. 245) Prohibits the VA from using funds provided by this title to enter into an agreement related to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would restrict the individual from speaking to members of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure or required 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. 246) Applies to FY2019 and FY2020 VA funds a requirement for certain details to be included in the budget justification documents submitted to Congress for the Construction--Major Projects account. 
 
(Sec. 247) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to conduct research using canines unless: (1) the scientific objectives of the study can only be met by research with canines, (2) the study has been directly approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and (3) the study is consistent with the revised VA canine research policy document. Specifies reporting requirements for canine research. 
 
(Sec. 248) Provides additional appropriations to the VA for infrastructure improvements, including new construction, for the following accounts and activities: 
 
 
 seismic improvement projects and seismic program management activities; 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Major Projects; 
 
 VHA Medical Facilities for nonrecurring maintenance; and 
 
 Departmental Administration--Construction, Minor Projects. 
 
 
(Sec. 249) Requires departments and agencies funded by this division to provide an Inspector General (IG) funded by this division with timely access to records, documents, or other materials available to the department or agency over which the IG has responsibility. Requires each IG to comply with specified statutory limitations on disclosure of the information provided.
 
(Sec. 250) Requires the VA to submit to Congress a plan to: (1) reduce the chances that clinical mistakes by VA employees will result in adverse events that require institutional or clinical disclosures, (2) prevent any unnecessary hardship for patients and families impacted by the adverse events.
 
(Sec. 251) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used in a manner that would increase wait times for veterans seeking care at VA medical facilities. 
 
(Sec. 252) Prohibits VHA funds provided by this division from being used to convert any program which received specific purpose funds in FY2018 to a general purpose funded program unless Congress is notified in advance and approves the proposal. 
 
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES 
 
Provides appropriations for related agencies, including: 
 
 
 the American Battle Monuments Commission; 
 
 the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; 
 
 Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, including Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery; and 
 
 the Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
 
 
(Sec. 301) Permits funds from concessions at Army National Military Cemeteries to be used to support activities at the cemeteries.
 
TITLE IV--OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
 
 Provides appropriations to DOD for Overseas Contingency Operations Military Construction projects for the: 
 
 
 Army, 
 
 Navy and Marine Corps, 
 
 Air Force, and 
 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities. 
 
 
Designates the amounts provided in this title as for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
 
(Sec. 401) Specifies that funds designated in this division by Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism are only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 402) Prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction projects outside of the United States from being used for planning and design of any project associated with the European Deterrence Initiative until DOD submits to Congress a list of the military construction projects associated with initiative that DOD anticipates will be carried out in each year during FY2020-FY2024. 
 
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
 (Sec. 501) Prohibits the obligation of funds in this division beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly permitted in this division. 
 
(Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for programs, projects, or activities not in compliance with federal laws related to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 
 
(Sec. 503) Encourages all departments and agencies funded in this division to expand their use of "E-Commerce" technologies and procedures. 
 
(Sec. 504) Specifies the congressional committees that are to receive all reports and notifications required by this division. 
 
(Sec. 505) Prohibits the transfer of funds to any part of the U.S. government without authority provided by an appropriations law. 
 
(Sec. 506) Prohibits funds provided by this division from being used for a project or program named for an individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives. 
 
(Sec. 507) Requires agencies to post reports submitted to Congress on the public website of the agency. Includes exceptions for national security and confidential or proprietary information. 
 
(Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 
 
(Sec. 509) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for first-class travel by an employee of the executive branch. 
 
(Sec. 510) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for any contract where the contractor has not complied with E-Verify requirements for verification of eligibility for employment. 
 
(Sec. 511) Prohibits DOD or the VA from using funds provided by this division to purchase or lease a new vehicle except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum--Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011. 
 
(Sec. 512) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this division for the renovation, expansion, or construction of any facility in the United States to house any individual detained at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control of DOD. Includes an exception for modification to the facility at Guantanamo Bay. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-09-21
text: Became Public Law No: 115-244.
action_date: 2018-09-21
text: Became Public Law No: 115-244.
action_date: 2018-09-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-09-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-09-18
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-09-18
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: Pursuant to the provisions of S. Con. Res. 46, enrollment corrections on H.R. 5895 have been made.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 377 - 20 (Roll No. 399).
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 377 - 20 (Roll No. 399).
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1059, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 5895.
action_date: 2018-09-13
text: Mr. Frelinghuysen brought up conference report H. Rept. 115-929 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 1059. (consideration: CR H8239-8245)
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 5. Record Vote Number: 207.
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 5. Record Vote Number: 207.
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 5895 withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 5895 presented in Senate. (CR S6116-6117)
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S6133-6135)
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement and official papers held at the desk in Senate.
action_date: 2018-09-10
text: Conference report H. Rept. 115-929 filed. (text of conference report: CR H7946--8106)
action_date: 2018-09-10
text: Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 115-929 filed.(text of conference report: CR H7946--8106)
action_date: 2018-09-10
text: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
action_date: 2018-09-10
text: Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
action_date: 2018-09-05
text: Conference held.
action_date: 2018-09-05
text: Conference committee actions: Conference held.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Senate appointed conferees. Shelby; Alexander; Boozman; Daines; Lankford; Leahy; Feinstein; Schatz; Murphy.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Motion by Senator Corker to instruct Senate conferees (Trade Expansion Act of 1962) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 88 - 11. Record Vote Number: 151.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Motion by Senator Cassidy to instruct Senate conferees (National Flood Insurance Program) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 5. Record Vote Number: 150.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Motion by Senator Corker to instruct Senate conferees made in Senate.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Motion by Senator Cassidy to instruct Senate conferees made in Senate.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Senate insists on its amendment, agrees to request for conference, and authorizes the Presiding Officer to appoint conferees.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Motion to insist on Senate amendment to House bill, agree to request for conference, and authorize the Presiding Officer to appoint conferees agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Motion to insist on Senate amendment to House bill, agree to request for conference, and authorize the Presiding Officer to appoint conferees made in Senate.
action_date: 2018-07-11
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Appropriations: Frelinghuysen, Simpson, Carter of Texas, Calvert, Fortenberry, Fleischmann, Herrera Beutler, Taylor, Lowey, Kaptur, Visclosky, Ryan of Ohio, and Wasserman Schultz.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Appropriations: Frelinghuysen, Simpson, Carter of Texas, Calvert, Fortenberry, Fleischmann, Herrera Beutler, Taylor, Lowey, Kaptur, Visclosky, Ryan of Ohio, and Wasserman Schultz.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Mr. Frelinghuysen asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference. (consideration: CR H5826)
action_date: 2018-06-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-06-26
text: Notwithstanding the passage of H.R. 5895 and the adoption of amendment SA 2910 to H.R. 5895, previously agreed to amendment SA 2920 and amendment SA 2999 are considered as having been agreed to following the adoption of amendment SA 3066 by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 86 - 5. Record Vote Number: 139.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 86 - 5. Record Vote Number: 139.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4353-4364)
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4313-4336)
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4253-4257, S4261-4275)
action_date: 2018-06-19
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4012-4020, S4021-4032, S4249-4251)
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Measure laid before Senate by motion.
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3973-3976)
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 3. Record Vote Number: 129.
action_date: 2018-06-14
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S3930)
action_date: 2018-06-14
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S3930-3932)
action_date: 2018-06-13
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 449.
action_date: 2018-06-12
text: Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 235 - 179 (Roll no. 257).
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 235 - 179 (Roll no. 257).
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 187 - 225 (Roll no. 256).
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to increase the Veterans Health Administration's Medical Services Account by $10,000,000.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Ms. Kuster (NH) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Appropriations. (text: CR H4998)
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5895.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4995-4996, H4996-5800)
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5895 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Mr. Frelinghuysen moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ratcliffe Amendment No. 38.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Peters Amendment No. 37.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Eshoo Amendment No. 36.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walberg Amendment No. 35.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 34.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 33.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly Amendment No. 32.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Eddie Bernice Johnson Amendment No. 31.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Keating Amendment No. 30.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Keating Amendment No. 29.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Carbajal Amendment No. 28.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2018-06-08
text: Considered as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5895 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Mr. Carter (TX) moved that the committee rise.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Barr (KY) amendment No. 27.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch amendment No. 26.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McSally amendment No. 25.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ruiz amendment No. 24.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Johnson (OH) amendment No. 23.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ruiz amendment No. 22.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kildee amendment No. 21.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Torres amendment No. 20.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kildee amendment No. 19.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cohen amendment No. 17.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Takano amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Takano demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Takano amendment No. 16.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Meadows amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Ryan (OH) demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Meadows amendment No. 15.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Esty amendment No. 13.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kildee amendment No. 12.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gohmert amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Kaptur demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gohmert amendment No. 10.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the LaMalfa amendment No. 9.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 8.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rogers (AL) Amendment No. 7.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings Amendment No. 5.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perlmutter Amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Eshoo Amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4985-4986)
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5895 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Considered as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5895 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Mr. Simpson moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 923, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nolan Amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4964-4977)
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5895 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Mr. Simpson moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Norman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Norman demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Norman Amendment No. 39.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSantis Amendment No. 38.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 36.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 35.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Blackburn amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Blackburn demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blackburn Amendment No. 34.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Newhouse Amendment No. 33.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kihuen Amendment No. 32.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Lowenthal amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Lowenthal demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lowenthal Amendment No. 31.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Keating Amendment No. 30.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gosar amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Gosar demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gosar Amendment No. 29.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the O'Halleran Amendment No. 28.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly Amendment No. 27.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Lee demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lee Amendment No. 26.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 25.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gosar amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Gosar demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gosar Amendment No. 24.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: The Committee resumed its sitting.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kihuen Amendment No. 23.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Langevin Amendment No. 22.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Keating Amendment No. 20.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Smith (TX) Amendment No. 19.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Beyer amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Beyer demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Beyer Amendment No. 18.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Esty (CT) Amendment No. 17.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Weber (TX) Amendment No. 16.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Soto Amendment No. 15.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Soto Amendment No. 14.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Tsongas amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Tsongas demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tsongas Amendment No. 13.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Esty (CT) Amendment No. 12.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bonamici Amendment No. 11.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Keating Amendment No. 10.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cohen Amendment No. 9.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier Amendment No. 7.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lujan Grisham Amendment No. 6.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ruiz Amendment No. 5.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Beyer Amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Keating Amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Abraham Amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Collins (NY) Amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Mr. Harper raised a point of order against the content of the measure. Mr. Harper stated the provision contained in H.R. 5895 violates clause 2 of House rule XXI. The provision on page 66, line 14 through page 66, line 20, states an appropriation may not be reported in a general appropriation bill for an expenditure not previously authorized by law. The Chair sustained the point of order.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5895.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Paul Mitchell to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 918 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The resolution provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3249 in addition to providing for consideration of H.R. 8 and H.R. 5895. Each measure will be debatable for 1 hour. For H.R. 8, the resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in part A of the report. For H.R. 5895, the resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in part B of the report.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 918. (consideration: CR H4884-4957, H4957-4964)
action_date: 2018-06-06
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 923 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5895 and H.R. 3. The resolution provides for further consideration of H.R. 5895 under a structured rule. Also, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3 under a closed rule with one hour of debate. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions for both bills.
action_date: 2018-05-21
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 540.
action_date: 2018-05-21
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 115-697, by Mr. Simpson.
action_date: 2018-05-21
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 115-697, by Mr. Simpson.
action_date: 2018-05-21
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 115-244