H.R. 4635 (rfs) Making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for oth...

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106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4635


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

            October 12 (legislative day, September 22), 2000

    Ordered to be printed with the amendments of the Senate numbered

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
   Making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
  Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, 
  boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year 
           ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
(1)<DELETED>That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Departments of 
Veteran Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry 
independent agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes, 
namely:

       <DELETED>TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS</DELETED>

          <DELETED>Veterans Benefits Administration</DELETED>

              <DELETED>compensation and pensions</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf 
of veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as 
authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107, chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 
61); pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by law 
(38 U.S.C. chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 92 Stat. 2508); and burial 
benefits, emergency and other officers' retirement pay, adjusted-
service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due on commercial 
life insurance policies guaranteed under the provisions of Article IV 
of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended, and 
for other benefits as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107, 1312, 1977, and 
2106, chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 50 U.S.C. App. 540-548; 43 Stat. 
122, 123; 45 Stat. 735; 76 Stat. 1198), $22,766,276,000, to remain 
available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $17,419,000 of 
the amount appropriated shall be reimbursed to ``General operating 
expenses'' and ``Medical care'' for necessary expenses in implementing 
those provisions authorized in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1990, and in the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. chapters 51, 
53, and 55), the funding source for which is specifically provided as 
the ``Compensation and pensions'' appropriation: Provided further, That 
such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall 
be reimbursed to ``Medical facilities revolving fund'' to augment the 
funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home care provided 
to pensioners as authorized.</DELETED>

                <DELETED>readjustment benefits</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation 
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 
chapters 21, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 51, 53, 55, and 61, 
$1,664,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
funds shall be available to pay any court order, court award or any 
compromise settlement arising from litigation involving the vocational 
training program authorized by section 18 of Public Law 98-77, as 
amended.</DELETED>

         <DELETED>veterans insurance and indemnities</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For military and naval insurance, national service life 
insurance, servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans 
insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by 38 
U.S.C. chapter 19; 70 Stat. 887; 72 Stat. 487, $19,850,000, to remain 
available until expended.</DELETED>

        <DELETED>veterans housing benefit program fund program 
                           account</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 
chapter 37, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost 
of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That 
during fiscal year 2001, within the resources available, not to exceed 
$300,000 in gross obligations for direct loans are authorized for 
specially adapted housing loans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $161,484,000, which may be 
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``General 
operating expenses''.</DELETED>

         <DELETED>education loan fund program account</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For the cost of direct loans, $1,000, as authorized by 38 
U.S.C. 3698, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost 
of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That 
these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the 
principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $3,400.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct loan program, $220,000, which may be transferred 
to and merged with the appropriation for ``General operating 
expenses''.</DELETED>

   <DELETED>vocational rehabilitation loans program account</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For the cost of direct loans, $52,000, as authorized by 38 
U.S.C. chapter 31, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including the 
cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided further, That 
these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the 
principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $2,726,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct loan program, $432,000, which may be transferred 
to and merged with the appropriation for ``General operating 
expenses''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>native american veteran housing loan program account</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan 
program authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, subchapter V, as amended, 
$532,000, which may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation 
for ``General operating expenses''.</DELETED>

 <DELETED>guaranteed transitional housing loans for homeless veterans 
                       program account</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Not to exceed $750,000 of the amounts appropriated by this 
Act for ``General operating expenses'' and ``Medical care'' may be 
expended for the administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed 
loan program authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, subchapter 
VI.</DELETED>

           <DELETED>Veterans Health Administration</DELETED>

                    <DELETED>medical care</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation 
of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities; for 
furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and outpatient care and 
treatment to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
including care and treatment in facilities not under the jurisdiction 
of the department; and furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, 
and equipment; funeral, burial, and other expenses incidental thereto 
for beneficiaries receiving care in the department; administrative 
expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real 
property acquisition and disposition, construction and renovation of 
any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the department; 
oversight, engineering and architectural activities not charged to 
project cost; repairing, altering, improving or providing facilities in 
the several hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the 
department, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by the 
hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; uniforms or 
allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902; aid to State 
homes as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 1741; administrative and legal 
expenses of the department for collecting and recovering amounts owed 
the department as authorized under 38 U.S.C. chapter 17, and the 
Federal Medical Care Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq. and such sums 
as necessary to fund cost comparison studies as referred to in 38 
U.S.C. 8110(a)(5): $20,281,587,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That 
of the funds made available under this heading, not more than 
$3,000,000,000 may be used for the operation and maintenance of 
facilities: Provided further, That of the funds made available under 
this heading, $927,000,000 is for the equipment and land and structures 
object classifications only, which amount shall not become available 
for obligation until August 1, 2001, and shall remain available until 
September 30, 2002: Provided further, That of the funds made available 
under this heading, not to exceed $900,000,000 shall be available until 
September 30, 2002: Provided further, That of the funds made available 
under this heading, not to exceed $28,134,000 may be transferred to and 
merged with the appropriation for ``General operating expenses'': 
Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct 
by contract a program of recovery audits for the fee basis and other 
medical services contracts with respect to payments for hospital care; 
and, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302(b), amounts collected, by setoff or 
otherwise, as the result of such audits shall be available, without 
fiscal year limitation, for the purposes for which funds are 
appropriated under this heading and the purposes of paying a contractor 
a percentage of the amount collected as a result of an audit carried 
out by the contractor: Provided further, That all amounts so collected 
under the preceding proviso with respect to a designated health care 
region (as that term is defined in 38 U.S.C. 1729A(d)(2)) shall be 
allocated, net of payments to the contractor, to that region.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    In addition, in conformance with Public Law 105-33 
establishing the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care 
Collections Fund, such sums as may be deposited to such Fund pursuant 
to 38 U.S.C. 1729A may be transferred to this account, to remain 
available until expended for the purposes of this account.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    None of the foregoing funds may be transferred to the 
Department of Justice for the purposes of supporting tobacco 
litigation.</DELETED>

           <DELETED>medical and prosthetic research</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical 
and prosthetic research and development as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 
chapter 73, to remain available until September 30, 2002, $321,000,000 
(increased by $5,000,000) (increased by $25,000,000), plus 
reimbursements.</DELETED>

      <DELETED>medical administration and miscellaneous operating 
                           expenses</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For necessary expenses in the administration of the 
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and 
research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in 
support of capital policy activities, $62,000,000 plus reimbursements: 
Provided, That technical and consulting services offered by the 
Facilities Management Field Service, including project management and 
real property administration (including leases, site acquisition and 
disposal activities directly supporting projects), shall be provided to 
Department of Veterans Affairs components only on a reimbursable basis, 
and such amounts will remain available until September 30, 
2001.</DELETED>

             <DELETED>Departmental Administration</DELETED>

             <DELETED>general operating expenses</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For necessary operating expenses of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including uniforms or 
allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official reception and 
representation expenses; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and 
reimbursement of the General Services Administration for security guard 
services, and the Department of Defense for the cost of overseas 
employee mail, $1,006,000,000 (increased by $4,000,000 for transfers 
authorized by law; decreased by $4,000,000 from general administrative 
expenses): Provided, That of the funds made available under this 
heading, not to exceed $50,050,000 shall be available until September 
30, 2002: Provided further, That funds under this heading shall be 
available to administer the Service Members Occupational Conversion and 
Training Act.</DELETED>

          <DELETED>national cemetery administration</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation 
of the National Cemetery Administration, not otherwise provided for, 
including uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as 
authorized by law; purchase of two passenger motor vehicles for use in 
cemeterial operations; and hire of passenger motor vehicles, 
$106,889,000: Provided, That travel expenses shall not exceed 
$1,125,000: Provided further, That of the amount made available under 
this heading, not to exceed $125,000 may be transferred to and merged 
with the appropriation for ``General operating expenses''.</DELETED>

             <DELETED>office of inspector general</DELETED>

            <DELETED>(including transfer of funds)</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General 
in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, 
$46,464,000: Provided, That of the amount made available under this 
heading, not to exceed $28,000 may be transferred to and merged with 
the appropriation for ``General operating expenses''.</DELETED>

            <DELETED>construction, major projects</DELETED>

<DELETED>    For constructing, altering, extending and improving any of 
the facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 
316, 2404, 2406, 8102, 8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, and 8122 of title 
38, United States Code, including planning, architectural and 
engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs 
associated with equipment guarantees provided under the project, 
services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system 
construction costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a 
project is $4,000,000 or more or where funds for a project were made 
available in a previous major project appropriation, $62,140,000, to 
remain available until expended: Provided, That except for advance 
planning of projects (including market-based assessments of health care 
needs which may or may not lead to capital investments) funded through 
the advance planning fund and the design of projects funded through the 
design fund, none of these funds shall be used for any project which 
has not been considered and approved by the Congress in the budgetary 
process: Provided further, That funds provided in this appropriation 
for fiscal year 2001, for each approved project, shall be obligated: 
(1) by the awarding of a construction documents contract by September 

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