In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Opportunities and Mitigating 
Emergencies Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Gulf Coast region of the United States was recently 
        decimated by twin natural disasters: Hurricanes Katrina and 
        Rita.
            (2) Hurricane Katrina crashed into the Gulf Coast on August 
        29, 2005, as a category 4 storm.
            (3) At the time of its landing, Hurricane Katrina was 
        recorded as the third strongest hurricane to ever make landfall 
        on the United States, with sustained winds over 140 miles per 
        hour.
            (4) The damage and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina 
        along the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
        Alabama were unmatched in their breadth and scope.
            (5) A 10- to 30-foot storm surge came ashore on over 200 
        continuous miles of coastline from southeast Louisiana, 
        including Mississippi and Alabama, through to the Florida 
        panhandle.
            (6) The 30-foot storm surge recorded at Biloxi, 
        Mississippi, is the highest ever observed in the United States.
            (7) Hurricane Katrina's storm surge quickly breached the 
        levee system that protected the city of New Orleans from Lake 
        Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River, subsequently flooding 
        at least 80 percent of the city.
            (8) The magnitude of Hurricane Katrina was of such an 
        unprecedented scale that the Federal disaster declarations 
        which followed its destructive path blanketed over 90,000 
        square miles of the United States, an area almost as large as 
        the United Kingdom, displacing more than 1,000,000 people--a 
        humanitarian crisis on a scale unseen in the United States 
        since the Great Depression.
            (9) The storm has now become the most destructive and 
        costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States, 
        resulting in over 1,300 deaths and estimated damage between 
        $70,000,000,000 and $130,000,000,000.
            (10) Less than one month later, on September 24, 2005, the 
        region was battered again, this time by the strongest-measured 
        hurricane to ever have entered the Gulf of Mexico--Hurricane 
        Rita.
            (11) Hurricane Rita came ashore between Texas and Louisiana 
        as a category 3 hurricane, packing winds up to 120 miles per 
        hour and a storm surge of 10 feet.
            (12) A day prior to landfall, the resultant storm surge 
        also reopened some of the levee breaches caused by Hurricane 
        Katrina a month earlier and re-flooded parts of New Orleans.
            (13) Local storm surges of 15 to 20 feet in southwestern 
        Louisiana were reported, and damage was extensive in coastal 
        parishes.
            (14) Thousands of residents and families in the effected 
        States, who lived outside the 100-year flood plain and were 
        told they did not need flood insurance, suffered significant 
        damage to their homes and in many cases total losses.
            (15) These families are currently without any type of 
        permanent shelter or any means by which to acquire such shelter 
        or otherwise make themselves whole, thus crippling the Gulf 
        Coast region and its economy.
            (16) Because of the unprecedented magnitude of the storm 
        and the impact that the devastation of such a large region will 
        have on the United States as a whole, the Federal Government 
        should play a role in providing emergency assistance to these 
        families to help them rebuild and get on with their lives.

SEC. 3. TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR PRIMARY RESIDENCES DAMAGED 
              OR DESTROYED BY HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.

    Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 425. TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR PRIMARY RESIDENCES 
              DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall provide emergency assistance 
to owners of eligible structures in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Application.--The Director shall provide for owners of 
eligible structures to submit applications for assistance under this 
section in such form, containing such information, and in accordance 
with such procedures, as the Director may require.
    ``(c) Use of Funds; Scope of Coverage.--
            ``(1) In general.--The amount of any assistance under this 
        section provided to an owner of an eligible structure in a 
        covered disaster area of a State may be used only for paying--
                    ``(A) the costs of repair, reconstruction, or 
                replacement of such structure or construction or 
                purchase of any other structure (including a 
                manufactured home) to be used as the primary residence 
                of the owner in the covered disaster area of such 
                State; or
                    ``(B) the amount remaining to be paid by the owner 
                on the mortgage of the eligible structure.
            ``(2) Replacement cost.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subsection (d), the 
                amount of any assistance provided under this section 
                shall be based on the replacement cost necessary for 
                repair, reconstruction, or replacement of the eligible 
                structure to its original specifications and standards 
                prior to--
                            ``(i) August 29, 2005, in the case of a 
                        structure damaged by flooding resulting from 
                        Hurricane Katrina; or
                            ``(ii) September 23, 2005, in the case of a 
                        structure damaged by flooding resulting from 
                        Hurricane Rita.
                Such costs shall include adjustments as necessary for 
                compliance with the requirements of subsection 
                (e)(1)(B).
                    ``(B) Documentation.--An owner of an eligible 
                structure applying for assistance under paragraph (1) 
                shall submit to the Director documentation and such 
                other evidence (including a report completed by a 
                State-licensed, nationally-certified home inspector) as 
                the Director may require to establish the replacement 
                cost of the eligible structure under subparagraph (A).
    ``(d) Cost Sharing.--
            ``(1) Federal share.--Subject to subsection (f) and 
        paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of assistance 
        provided under this section for an eligible structure that the 
        Director shall pay to the owner of the eligible structure shall 
        be 80 percent of the replacement cost of the eligible structure 
        as determined under subsection (c)(2).
            ``(2) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of assistance 
        that may be provided to an owner of an eligible structure under 
        this section for such structure may not exceed $150,000.
            ``(3) Optional state share.--If the owner of an eligible 
        structure in a State is provided assistance under this section, 
        the State may provide to the owner 10 percent of the 
        replacement cost of the eligible structure as determined under 
        subsection (c)(2), but not to exceed $15,000.
    ``(e) Requirements Regarding Future Flood Insurance Coverage and 
Mitigation Actions.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director may not provide assistance 
        under this section for an eligible structure unless--
                    ``(A) the owner of the property upon which the 
                eligible structure is located has entered into a 
                legally binding agreement with the Director, including 
                such deed restrictions as the Director considers 
                appropriate, to ensure that such owner, and any future 
                owners, will at all times after such assistance is 
                provided under this section with respect to the 
                property, purchase and maintain flood insurance, in 
                perpetuity, for any structures located at any time on 
                the same property on which, at the time of purchase, 
                such eligible structure is located, in an amount at 
                least equal to the lesser of--
                            ``(i) the value of the structure, as 
                        determined by the Director; or
                            ``(ii) the maximum limit of coverage made 
                        available with respect to the particular type 
                        of property under the National Flood Insurance 
                        Program, if such coverage is available; and
                    ``(B) the owner of the property certifies to the 
                Director that any structure constructed, repaired, or 
                reconstructed with such assistance will be constructed, 
                repaired, or reconstructed in accordance with--
                            ``(i) standards established by the 
                        International Code Council in effect at the 
                        time the building permit is issued by the local 
                        government to the owner of the eligible 
                        structure; and
                            ``(ii) any final flood elevations or flood 
                        maps in effect for purposes of the National 
                        Flood Insurance Program at the time the 
                        building permit is issued by the local 
                        government to the owner of the eligible 
                        structure and any advisory flood elevations or 
                        advisory flood insurance rate maps issued by 
                        the Director for purposes of such program 
                        before such building permit is issued.
            ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Director may waive the 
        requirements of paragraph (1)(B) with respect to the repair of 
        an eligible structure if the Director determines that the cost 
        of compliance with such requirements by the owner in repairing 
        the eligible structure outweigh the benefit derived from such 
        compliance pursuant to a substantial damage analysis.
    ``(f)  Prohibition on Duplicative Benefits in Excess of Replacement 
Costs.--Notwithstanding section 312, the Director shall assure that no 
owner of an eligible structure will receive assistance under this 
section that, when combined with other financial assistance received by 
the owner under any program, including section 404 or 408, or from 
insurance or any other source for the purpose of repair, 
reconstruction, or replacement of the eligible structure, is in excess 
of the replacement cost of the eligible structure as determined under 
subsection (c)(2). Before receipt of any assistance for which an owner 
is eligible under this section for an eligible structure, the owner 
shall enter into a legally binding agreement with the Director to repay 
any and all of such assistance that is in excess of the replacement 
cost of the eligible structure as determined under subsection (c)(2).
    ``(g) Verification of Use of Funds and Compliance.--
            ``(1) Documentation; reports.--Within 6 months after the 
        date on which an owner of an eligible structure receives 
        assistance under this section, and every 6 months thereafter 
        until all such assistance is accounted for, the owner shall 
        submit to the Director--
                    ``(A) all receipts and documentation verifying the 
                use of such assistance for the purpose for which it was 
                provided; and
                    ``(B) reports completed by a State-licensed, 
                nationally-certified home inspector verifying 
                compliance by the owner with the requirements of 
                subsection (e)(1)(B) if such requirements are not 
                waived by the Director.
            ``(2) Enforcement.--The Director may suspend assistance 
        under this section, and take any additional action which the 
        Director deems appropriate, with respect to an owner of an 
        eligible structure if the Director determines that the owner is 
        not complying with paragraph (1).
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
            ``(1) Covered disaster area.--The term `covered disaster 
        area' means an area--
                    ``(A) for which a major disaster was declared by 
                the Director pursuant to title IV of the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
                as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita in 
                2005; and
                    ``(B) in which the sale of flood insurance coverage 
                was available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 
                1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) as of--
                            ``(i) August 29, 2005, in the case of an 
                        area for which a declaration referred to in 
                        subparagraph (A) was made as a result of 
                        Hurricane Katrina; or
                            ``(ii) September 23, 2005, in the case of 
                        an area for which a declaration referred to in 
                        subparagraph (A) was made as a result of 
                        Hurricane Rita.
            ``(2) Eligible structure.--The term `eligible structure' 
        means a structure (including a manufactured home) that--
                    ``(A) sustained damage or losses from flooding 
                resulting from Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita in 
                2005;
                    ``(B) is located in a covered disaster area;
                    ``(C) is a residential structure that was used as 
                the primary residence of the owner of the structure as 
                of--
                            ``(i) August 29, 2005, in the case of a 
                        structure damaged by flooding resulting from 
                        Hurricane Katrina; and
                            ``(ii) September 23, 2005, in the case of a 
                        structure damaged by flooding resulting from 
                        Hurricane Rita;
                    ``(D) was covered by an insurance policy for losses 
                caused by wind or windstorm as of--
                            ``(i) August 29, 2005, in the case of a 
                        structure damaged by flooding resulting from 
                        Hurricane Katrina; and
                            ``(ii) September 23, 2005, in the case of a 
                        structure damaged by flooding resulting from 
                        Hurricane Rita;
                    ``(E) is of a type for which coverage was generally 
                made available under the National Flood Insurance 
                Program as of August 29, 2005; and
                    ``(F) is not located in an area that has been 
                identified by the Director as an area having special 
                flood hazards (as such term is used for purposes of 
                section 102 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 
                1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a)) as of August 29, 2005.
            ``(3) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    ``(i) Termination.--The Director may not provide any assistance 
under this section except pursuant to an application for such 
assistance submitted to the Director before the expiration of the 180-
day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this section.
    ``(j) Regulations.--The Director may issue any regulations 
necessary to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 4. HAZARD MITIGATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 404(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence by striking ``75'' and inserting 
        ``90''; and
            (2) in the last sentence by striking ``7.5'' and inserting 
        ``15''.
    (b) Property Acquisition and Relocation Assistance.--Section 404(b) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(4) Reduction.--The amount of any assistance that would 
        otherwise be provided to an owner of an eligible structure 
        under section 425(c)(1)(B) shall be reduced by the amount of 
        assistance the owner receives for such structure under such 
        section.''.
    (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall apply with respect to a major disaster declared by the President 
on or after August 24, 2005.

A: Housing Opportunities and Mitigating Emergencies Act of 2005 - Amernds the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide temporary emergency assistance for primary residences damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Increases from 75% to 90% the amount the President may contribute toward the cost of cost-effective hazard mitigation measures which substantially reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster. Doubles from 7.5% to 15% of the estimated aggregate federal disaster relief grants to an area the limit on the total amount of such presidential contributions.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Construction Reform Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONSTRUCTION REFORMS.

    (a) Application of Industry Standards; Assistance.--Section 8103 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections:
    ``(f) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use 
industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying 
out the construction of medical facilities.
    ``(g)(1) The Secretary shall provide to a non-Department Federal 
entity with which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under 
subsection (e)--
            ``(A) design, planning, and construction assistance before 
        the entity issues a request for proposals for the design or 
        construction of the super construction project covered by the 
        agreement;
            ``(B) any documents or information needed for the entity to 
        carry out the responsibilities of the entity with respect to 
        the super construction project; and
            ``(C) upon the request of the entity, any other assistance 
        that the entity determines necessary to carry out such 
        responsibilities.
    ``(2) Any assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be provided 
to the non-Department Federal entity on a non-reimbursable basis.
    ``(h)(1) With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered 
into by a non-Department Federal entity with which the Secretary has 
entered into an agreement under subsection (e) that is estimated at a 
value of less than $250,000, the non-Department Federal entity shall 
issue a final decision regarding such change not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the change is proposed.
    ``(2) With respect to a proposed change to such a contract that is 
estimated at a value of $250,000 or more--
            ``(A) the Secretary may provide to the entity the 
        recommendations of the Secretary regarding such change;
            ``(B) during the 30-day period beginning on the date on 
        which the entity furnishes to the Secretary information 
        regarding such change, the Secretary may issue the final 
        decision regarding such change; and
            ``(C) if the Secretary does not issue a final decision 
        under subparagraph (B), during the 30-day period following the 
        period described in such paragraph, the entity shall issue a 
        final decision regarding such a change no later than 90 days 
        from when the entity furnished information regarding such a 
        change to the Secretary.
    ``(i) The Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the 
Department with responsibilities relating to the construction or 
alteration of medical facilities, including such construction or 
alteration carried out pursuant to contracts or agreements, undergoes a 
program of ongoing professional training and development. Such program 
shall be designed to ensure that employees maintain adequate expertise 
relating to industry standards and best practices for the acquisition 
of design and construction services. The Secretary may provide the 
program under this subsection through a contract or agreement with a 
non-Federal entity or with a non-Department Federal entity.''.
    (b) Limitation on Planning and Design for Super Construction 
Projects.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8104(a) of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4);
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph (3):
    ``(3) The Secretary may not obligate or expend funds for advance 
planning or design for any super construction project, until the date 
that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives notice of such 
obligation or expenditure.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph 
                (1) of this subsection, by adding at the end the 
                following new subparagraph:
            ``(C) The term `super construction project' means a project 
        for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical 
        facility involving a total expenditure of more than 
        $100,000,000, but such term does not include an acquisition by 
        exchange.''.
            (2) Applicability.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
        shall apply with respect to a construction project that is 
        initiated on or after that date.
    (c) Congressional Approval of Certain Projects.--
            (1) Projects that exceed specified amount.--Subsection (c) 
        of section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
        read as follows:
    ``(c)(1) The Secretary may not obligate funds for a major medical 
facility project or a super construction project approved by a law 
described in subsection (a)(2) in an amount that would cause the total 
amount obligated for that project to exceed the amount specified in the 
law for that project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such 
specified amount) by more than 10 percent unless the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation 
of those funds.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall--
            ``(A) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
        department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic 
        audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an 
        external forensic audit of the expenditures relating to any 
        major medical facility or super construction project for which 
        the total expenditures exceed the amount specified in the law 
        for the project by more than 25 percent; and
            ``(B) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
        department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic 
        audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an 
        external audit of the medical center construction project in 
        Aurora, Colorado.''.
            (2) Use of extra amounts.--Subsection (d) of such section 
        is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding 
                clause (i), by striking ``Whenever'' and inserting 
                ``Before''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(3) The Secretary may not obligate any funds described in 
paragraph (1) or amounts described in paragraph (2) before the date 
that is 30 days after the notification submitted under paragraph (1) or 
paragraph (2)(B), as the case may be, unless the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation of 
those funds or amounts.''.
            (3) Notification requirements.--
                    (A) Committees required.--Subsection (d)(1) of such 
                section is amended by striking ``each committee'' and 
                inserting ``the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
                Appropriations of the House of Representatives''.
                    (B) Use of amounts from bid savings.--Subsection 
                (d)(2)(B) of such section is amended by adding at the 
                end the following new clause:
            ``(iv) With respect to the major construction project that 
        is the source of the bid savings--
                    ``(I) the amounts already obligated or available in 
                the project reserve for such project;
                    ``(II) the percentage of such project that has been 
                completed; and
                    ``(III) the amount of such bid savings that is 
                already obligated or otherwise being used for a purpose 
                other than such project.''.
    (d) Quarterly Report on Super Construction Projects.--
            (1) In general.--At the end of subchapter I of chapter 81 
        of title 38, United States Code, add the following new section:
``Sec. 8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects
    ``(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
last day of each fiscal quarter the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives on the super construction projects carried out by the 
Secretary during such quarter. Each such report shall include, for each 
such project--
            ``(1) the budgetary and scheduling status of the project, 
        as of the last day of the quarter covered by the report; and
            ``(2) the actual cost and schedule variances of the 
        project, as of such day, compared to the planned cost and 
        schedules for the project.
    ``(b) Super Construction Project Defined.--In this section, the 
term `super construction project' has the meaning given such term in 
section 8104(a)(4)(C) of this title.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of the chapter is amended by adding at the end of the 
        items relating to such subchapter the following new item:

``8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects.''.
    (e) Accelerated Master Planning for Each Medical Facility of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.--
            (1) Existing facilities.--Not later than December 31, 2016, 
        the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a master plan 
        described in paragraph (3) for each medical facility of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) New facilities.--For each medical facility of the 
        Department for which construction is completed after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a 
        master plan described in paragraph (3) for the facility by not 
        later than the earlier of the following dates:
                    (A) The date on which activation is completed.
                    (B) The date of the formal dedication of the 
                facility.
            (3) Master plan described.--A master plan described in this 
        paragraph is, with respect to a medical facility of the 
        Department, a plan to inform investment decisions and funding 
        requests over a 10-year period for construction projects at 
        such medical facility--
                    (A) to meet the health care needs of a changing 
                veteran population through a combination of health care 
                from the Department and other community resources; and
                    (B) to maximize the best use of the land and 
                structures comprising such medical facility.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 312 the following new section:
``Sec. 312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction
    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Office of Inspector General an 
Assistant Inspector General for Construction. The Assistant Inspector 
General for Construction is responsible for conducting, supervising, 
and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the 
planning, design, contracting, execution, and construction of 
facilities and infrastructure of the Department, including major and 
minor construction projects and leases.
    ``(b) Qualifications.--Each individual appointed as Assistant 
Inspector General for Construction shall be an individual who has 
expertise in construction and facilities management.
    ``(c) Reports.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the appointment of 
an individual as the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and 
every calendar quarter thereafter, the Assistant Inspector General for 
Construction shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report summarizing the activities 
of the Assistant Inspector General for Construction during the 120-day 
period ending on the date of such report.
    ``(2) In addition to the report required in paragraph (1), and the 
requirements contained in section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), the Assistant Inspector General for Construction 
shall promptly provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives the findings of any investigation 
undertaken by the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and 
shall notify the Committees promptly if the Assistant Inspector General 
for Construction identifies any serious or flagrant problem or 
deficiency relating to the administration or operation of any 
construction program of the Department, if, during the course of any 
investigation, the Assistant Inspector General for Construction 
determines that Congress should take immediate action.
    ``(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize 
the public disclosure of information that is--
            ``(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other 
        provision of law;
            ``(B) specifically required by Executive Order to be 
        protected from disclosure in the interest of national defense 
        or national security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or
            ``(C) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
312 the following new item:

``312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 9, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

A: Construction Reform Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out medical facility construction. A super construction project is one for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100 million (but does not include an acquisition by exchange).  The VA shall provide, on a non-reimbursable basis, a non-VA federal entity with: (1) design, planning, and construction assistance; (2) project documents; and (3) other assistance upon request.  With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered into by a non-VA federal entity with which the VA has entered into an agreement that is estimated at a value of less than $250,000, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding such change within 30 days.   With respect to a proposed contract change estimated at a value of $250,000 or more:    the VA may make recommendations to the entity;   the VA may issue the final decision regarding the change within 30 days after the entity proposes it; and   if the VA does not issue a final decision within 60 days after the entity proposes the contract change, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding the change no later than 90 days after it proposes the change.    The VA shall ensure that each VA employee with responsibilities relating to the construction or alteration of medical facilities undergoes ongoing professional training and development.   The VA is prohibited from:    obligating or expending funds for advance planning or design for any super construction project until 60 days after congressional notification,  obligating funds for a major medical facility project or a super construction project by more than 10% of the amount approved by law unless certain congressional committees approve the obligation, or  using bid savings amounts or funds for other than their original purpose before 30 days after notifying those committees unless each committee approves the obligation.   The VA shall enter into a contract with an appropriate non-department federal entity to conduct an external forensic audit of: (1) the medical center construction project in Aurora, Colorado; and (2) the expenditures relating to any major medical facility or super construction project when such expenditures exceed the amount approved by law by more than 25%.  The VA must complete a 10-year master plan for: (1) each existing VA medical facility by December 31, 2016, and (2) each new VA medical facility by not later than the earlier of the date on which activation is completed or the date of the facility's formal dedication.  (Sec. 3) There is established in the Office of Inspector General an Assistant Inspector General for Construction who shall be responsible for conducting, supervising, and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the planning, design, contracting, and construction of VA facilities and infrastructure, including major and minor construction projects and leases.
****
Q: SECTION 1. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.

    The first section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 33. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Definition of Firefighting Personnel.--In this section, the 
term `firefighting personnel' means individuals, including volunteers, 
who are firefighters, officers of fire departments, or emergency 
medical service personnel of fire departments.
    ``(b) Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Authority.--In accordance with this section, the 
        Administrator may--
                    ``(A) make grants on a competitive basis directly 
                to fire departments of a State, in consultation with 
                the chief executive of the State, for the purpose of 
                protecting the health and safety of the public, 
                firefighting personnel, and property against fire and 
                fire-related hazards; and
                    ``(B) provide assistance for fire prevention 
                programs in accordance with paragraph (4).
            ``(2) Office for administration of assistance.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--Before providing assistance 
                under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall establish 
                an office in the Administration to administer the 
                assistance under this section.
                    ``(B) Included duties.--The duties of the office 
                shall include the following:
                            ``(i) Recipient selection criteria.--To 
                        establish specific criteria for the selection 
                        of recipients of the assistance under this 
                        section, including a requirement for peer 
                        review of the selection process.
                            ``(ii) Grant-writing assistance.--To 
                        provide grant-writing assistance to applicants.
            ``(3) Use of fire department grant funds.--The 
        Administrator may make a grant under paragraph (1)(A) only if 
        the applicant for the grant agrees to use the grant funds for 
        one or more of the following purposes:
                    ``(A) To hire additional firefighting personnel.
                    ``(B) To train firefighting personnel in 
                firefighting, emergency response (including response to 
                a terrorism incident or use of a weapon of mass 
                destruction), arson prevention and detection, or the 
                handling of hazardous materials, or to train 
                firefighting personnel to provide any of the training 
                described in this subparagraph.
                    ``(C) To fund the creation of rapid intervention 
                teams to protect firefighting personnel at the scenes 
                of fires and other emergencies.
                    ``(D) To certify fire inspectors.
                    ``(E) To establish wellness and fitness programs 
                for firefighting personnel to ensure that the 
                firefighting personnel can carry out their duties.
                    ``(F) To fund emergency medical services provided 
                by fire departments.
                    ``(G) To acquire additional firefighting vehicles, 
                including fire trucks.
                    ``(H) To acquire additional firefighting equipment, 
                including equipment for communications, monitoring, and 
                response to a terrorism incident or use of a weapon of 
                mass destruction.
                    ``(I) To acquire personal protective equipment 
                required for firefighting personnel by the Occupational 
                Safety and Health Administration, and other personal 
                protective equipment for firefighting personnel, 
                including protective equipment to respond to a 
                terrorism incident or the use of a weapon of mass 
                destruction.
                    ``(J) To modify fire stations, fire training 
                facilities, and other facilities to protect the health 
                and safety of firefighting personnel.
                    ``(K) To enforce fire codes.
                    ``(L) To fund fire prevention programs.
                    ``(M) To educate the public about arson prevention 
                and detection.
                    ``(N) To provide incentives for the recruitment and 
                retention of volunteer firefighting personnel for 
                volunteer firefighting departments and other 
                firefighting departments that utilize volunteers, 
                including funding to enable training described in 
                subparagraph (B).
            ``(4) Fire prevention programs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For each fiscal year, the 
                Administrator shall use not less than 5 percent of the 
                funds made available under subsection (e)--
                            ``(i) to make grants to fire departments 
                        for the purpose described in paragraph (3)(L); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) to make grants to, or enter into 
                        contracts or cooperative agreements with, 
                        national, State, local, or community 
                        organizations that are recognized for their 
                        experience and expertise with respect to fire 
                        prevention or fire safety programs and 
                        activities, for the purpose of carrying out 
                        fire prevention programs.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In selecting organizations 
                described in subparagraph (A)(ii) to receive assistance 
                under this paragraph, the Administrator shall give 
                priority to organizations that focus on prevention of 
                injuries to children from fire.
            ``(5) Application.--The Administrator may provide 
        assistance to a fire department or organization under this 
        subsection only if the fire department or organization seeking 
        the assistance submits to the Administrator an application that 
        meets the following requirements:
                    ``(A) Form.--The application shall be in such form 
                as the Administrator may require.
                    ``(B) Information.--The application shall include 
                the following information:
                            ``(i) Financial need.--Information that 
                        demonstrates the financial need of the 
                        applicant for the assistance for which applied. 
                        In allocating funds under this section, the 
                        Administrator shall not discriminate against an 
                        applicant whose funding jurisdiction places a 
                        high budget priority on fire department needs.
                            ``(ii) Cost-benefit analysis.--An analysis 
                        of the costs and benefits, with respect to 
                        public safety, of the use of the assistance.
                            ``(iii) Reporting systems data.--An 
                        agreement to provide information to the 
                        national fire incident reporting system for the 
                        period covered by the assistance.
                            ``(iv) Other information.--Any other 
                        information that the Administrator may require.
            ``(6) Non-federal contribution.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Administrator may provide assistance under this 
                subsection only if the applicant for the assistance 
                agrees to provide 30 percent of the cost of the 
                purposes for which the assistance is sought under this 
                subsection in non-Federal funds for any fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Requirement for small community 
                organizations.--In the case of an applicant whose 
                personnel serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer 
residents, the required non-Federal contribution under subparagraph (A) 
shall be 10 percent.
            ``(7) Maintenance of expenditures.--The Administrator may 
        provide assistance under this subsection only if the applicant 
        for the assistance agrees to maintain in the fiscal year for 
        which the assistance will be received the applicant's aggregate 
        expenditures for the uses described in paragraph (3) or (4) at 
        or above the average level of such expenditures in the two 
        fiscal years preceding the fiscal year for which the assistance 
        will be received.
            ``(8) Report to the administrator.--The Administrator may 
        provide assistance under this subsection only if the applicant 
        for the assistance agrees to submit to the Administrator a 
        report, including a description of how the assistance was used, 
        with respect to each fiscal year for which the assistance was 
        received.
            ``(9) Variety of fire department grant recipients.--The 
        Administrator shall ensure that grants under paragraph (1)(A) 
        for a fiscal year are made to a variety of fire departments, 
        including, to the extent that there are eligible applicants--
                    ``(A) career, volunteer, and combination fire 
                departments;
                    ``(B) fire departments located in communities of 
                varying sizes; and
                    ``(C) fire departments located in urban, suburban, 
                and rural communities.
            ``(10) Grant limitations.--
                    ``(A) Recipient limitation.--A grant recipient 
                under this section may not receive more than $750,000 
                under this section for any fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Limitation on expenditures for firefighting 
                vehicles.--Not more than 25 percent of the funds 
                appropriated to provide grants under this section for a 
                fiscal year may be used to assist grant recipients to 
                purchase vehicles, as authorized by paragraph (3)(G).
            ``(11) Reservation of grant funds for volunteer 
        departments.--In making grants to firefighting departments, the 
        Administrator shall ensure that those firefighting departments 
        that have either all-volunteer forces of firefighting personnel 
        or combined forces of volunteer and career firefighting 
        personnel collectively receive at least a proportion of the 
        total grant funding that equals the proportion of the United 
        States population that those firefighting departments protect.
    ``(c) Audits.--A recipient of a grant under this section shall be 
subject to audits to ensure that the grant proceeds are expended for 
the intended purposes and that the grant recipient complies with the 
requirements of paragraphs (6) and (7) of subsection (b).
    ``(d) State Defined.--In this section, the term `State' includes 
the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Administrator $900,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
        2002 through 2004 for the purposes of this section.
            ``(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the funds appropriated 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator 
        may use not more than five percent of the funds to cover 
        salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred 
        by the Administrator to operate the office established under 
        subsection (b)(2) and make grants and provide assistance under 
        this section.''.

SEC. 2. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    The second section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2230) and section 34 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 
2231) are redesignated as sections 34 and 35, respectively.

A:
Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 with respect to competitive grants to fire departments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) U.S. Fire Administration. Adds protection of property to the list of grant purposes.Requires the grant administration office to require peer review of the grant recipient selection process.Adds funding for training as a volunteer recruitment and retention incentive among the proper uses of grant funds.
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