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.....................................................................
(Original Signature of Member)

H. R. ll

114TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION

To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing Department

of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, to make certain
improvements in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act
of 2014, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. MILLER of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on lllllllllllllll

A BILL
To extend the authorization for the replacement of the existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
Denver, Colorado, to make certain improvements in the
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014,
and for other purposes.
1

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the Construction Author-

5 ization and Choice Improvement Act.

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1

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR MAJOR MED-

ICAL

PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED.

FACILITY

CONSTRUCTION

PROJECT

(a) IN GENERAL.The Secretary of Veterans Affairs

5 may carry out the replacement of the existing Department

6 of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver, Colorado,
7 in fiscal year 2015, in an amount not to exceed
8 $900,000,000.
9

(b) LIMITATION

ON

OBLIGATION

OF

FUNDS.Not-

10 withstanding section 8104(c) of title 38, United States

11 Code, or any other provision of law, funds may not be obli12 gated or expended for the project described in subsection
13 (a) in an amount that would cause the total amount obli14 gated for that project to exceed the amount specified in
15 the law for that project (or would add to total obligations
16 exceeding such specified amount).
17

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR

18

EXPANDED

19

CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR VET-

20

ERANS THROUGH THE USE OF AGREEMENTS

21

WITH NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-

22

FAIRS ENTITIES.

23

AVAILABILITY

OF

HOSPITAL

(a) IN GENERAL.Section 101(b)(2) of the Veterans

24 Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public

25 Law 113146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended

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1

(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting (as cal-

culated based on distance traveled) after 40

miles; and

(2) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking sub-

clause (II), and inserting the following new sub-

clause (II):

(II) faces an unusual or exces-

sive burden in traveling to such a

medical facility of the Department

10

based on

11

(aa)

12

geographical

chal-

lenges;

13

(bb) environmental factors,

14

such as roads that are not acces-

15

sible to the general public, traf-

16

fic, or hazardous weather;

17

(cc) a medical condition

18

that impacts the ability to travel;

19

or

20

(dd) other factors, as de-

21
22

termined by the Secretary..

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.The amendments made by

23 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact24 ment of this Act and apply with respect to care or services
25 provided on or after such date.

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