To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical center for the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at a site to be selected pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal medical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that would best serve the needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries in Puerto Rico.

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3020 Introduced in House (IH)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3020

To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical center for the
Department of Veterans Affairs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at a
site to be selected pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal medical
center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that would best serve the
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries
in Puerto Rico.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 5, 2003

Mr. Acevedo-Vila introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize construction of a new (replacement) medical center for the
Department of Veterans Affairs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at a
site to be selected pursuant to a study by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and Secretary of Defense as suitable for a new Federal medical
center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that would best serve the
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries
in Puerto Rico.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT,
COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a major medical
facility project for the construction of a new (replacement) medical
center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in an amount not to exceed
$450,000,000. The project shall be carried out at the site selected
pursuant to section 3.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2004 for the
Construction, Major Projects, account $450,000,000 for the project
authorized in section 1.
(b) Limitation.--The project authorized in section 1 may only be
carried out using--
(1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2004 pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations in subsection (a);
(2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2004 that remain available
for obligation; and
(3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects,
for fiscal year 2004 for a category of activity not specific to
a project.

SECTION 3. STUDY OF SITE FOR NEW MEDICAL CENTER IN COMMONWEALTH OF
PUERTO RICO.

(a) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Defense shall conduct a joint study of the locations in the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico specified in subsection (b) to determine
which of those two locations would be the preferable site for a new
Federal medical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to serve the
needs of both veterans and Department of Defense medical beneficiaries
in Puerto Rico.
(b) Specification of Sites.--The sites to be studied under
subsection (a) are the following:
(1) Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico.
(2) Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.
(c) Report to Congress.--The two Secretaries shall jointly submit
to Congress a report setting forth the results of the study, including
the recommendation of the Secretaries for the site for a new Federal
medical center in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The report shall be
submitted not later than six months after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
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