Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006

Fact Sheet API

Bill Number

HR 2528

Introduced

May 23, 2005

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 109-114.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Topics

Africa Africa (Sub-Saharan) Air force Alaska Alliances American Battle Monuments Commission American Samoa Appellate courts Appropriations Arab countries Architecture Armed forces abroad Armed Forces and National Security Armed forces reserves Armed Forces Retirement Home Army Arts, Culture, Religion Ballistic missile defenses Building construction Buy American Cabinet officers Cemeteries and funerals Central Asia Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Claims Clinics Collection of accounts Commemorations Commerce Competitive bidding Conflict of interests Congress Congress and military policy Congressional hearings Congressional investigations Congressional oversight Congressional reporting requirements Congressional witnesses Congressional-executive relations Construction costs Consultants Cost plus contracts Courts of special jurisdiction Defense budgets Defense burdensharing Defense contracts Defense procurement Department of Defense Department of Veterans Affairs Diabetes Disability evaluation Disabled District of Columbia Drugs Easements East Asia Economics and Public Finance Electronic commerce Electronic government information Engineering Environmental Protection Europe Families Federal mandates Federal officials Federally-guaranteed loans Finance and Financial Sector Foreign exchange Foreign Trade and International Finance Former Soviet states Germany Government contractors Government insurance Government lending Government liability Government life insurance Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Government procurement Government publicity Government trust funds Government vehicles Guam Hazardous wastes Health Health education Health insurance Highway finance Homeless Hospital rates Housing and Community Development Housing finance Housing subsidies Human immunodeficiency viruses Indian medical care Information technology Infrastructure Inspectors general Insurance premiums International Affairs International relief Iraq Iraq compilation Iron and steel industry Japan Joint ventures Labor and Employment Land transfers Law Layoffs Leases Life insurance Lobbying Maintenance and repair Marines Marshall Islands Medical economics Medical ethics Medical research Medical supplies Mental health services Middle East and North Africa Military and naval supplies Military base closures Military bases Military civic action Military construction operations Military dependents Military housing Military maneuvers Military medicine Military occupation Military pay Military research Military training Military transportation Minorities Mississippi Monuments and memorials Mortgages National Guard Native Americans NATO countries NATO military forces Navy Northern Mariana Islands Nursing homes Oceania Officer personnel Parking facilities Philippines Post-traumatic stress disorder Prescription pricing Preventive medicine Property tax Prosthesis Public Lands and Natural Resources Real estate appraisal Recycling of waste products Refuse and refuse disposal Rent Rental housing Reprogramming of appropriated funds Residential rehabilitation Right of property Risk Road construction Science, Technology, Communications Social Welfare Soldiers' homes South Korea Steel Surplus government property Taxation Transportation and Public Works Veterans' benefits Veterans' disability compensation Veterans' employment Veterans' hospitals Veterans' loans Veterans' medical care Veterans' pensions Veterans' rehabilitation Virginia Vocational rehabilitation World health

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Votes

Summary

(This measure has not been amended since the Conference Report was filed in the House on November 18, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006 - Title I: Department of Defense - Appropriates funds for FY2006 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military construction for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force (military departments), DOD, the Army and Air National Guard, and the Army, Naval, and Air Force reserves; (2) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (3) family housing and related operation and maintenance for the military departments and DOD; (4) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund; and (5) the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 and the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Account 2005.

Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding the use of funds appropriated in this title and in other military construction appropriations Acts.

(Sec. 113) Directs the Secretary of Defense to notify the appropriate congressional committees 30 days in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000.

(Sec. 118) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriations committees on actions proposed by DOD to encourage other member nations of NATO, Japan, Korea, and U.S. allies bordering the Arabian Sea to assume a greater share of the common defense burden of such nations and the United States.

(Sec. 121) Prohibits this Act's funds from being obligated for Partnership for Peace programs in the new independent states of the former Soviet Union.

(Sec. 122) Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned, at least 60 days prior to issuing any solicitation for a contract with the private sector for military family housing, to notify the appropriations committees of any guarantee (including the making of mortgage or rental payments) proposed to be made to the private party in the event of: (1) the closure or realignment of the installation for which housing is provided; (2) a reduction in force of units stationed at such installation; or (3) the extended deployment overseas of units stationed at such installation.

(Sec. 123) Authorizes the transfer of DOD funds for expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1996.

(Sec. 125) Prohibits any funds made available in this Act for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program from being obligated or expended for missile defense studies.

(Sec. 126) Requires the Secretary or any other DOD official, when requested by specified congressional subcommittees to respond to a question or inquiry pursuant to a subcommittee hearing or other authorized activity, to respond to such request within 21 days.

(Sec. 128) Prohibits any funds from being obligated or expended to carry out a military construction, land acquisition, or family housing project at or for a military installation approved for closure, or at a military installation for supporting a function that has been approved for realignment to another installation, in 2005 under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, unless such project will support a new mission or function, or unless the Secretary certifies that the cost of carrying out the project would be less than the cost of canceling the project, or that another government agency will assume ownership of the completed project. Prohibits the Secretary from transferring funds made available as a result of this limitation to another account or using such funds for another purpose or project without the prior approval of the appropriations committees.

(Sec. 129) Makes specified funds from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 1990 available for environmental restoration and property management and disposal at Navy installations closed or realigned under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit to the appropriations committees a plan for the use of such funds, including specific sites and work to be accomplished.

(Sec. 130) Requires the Secretary to submit to the appropriations committees a housing plan for Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Prohibits the use of family housing construction funds from this title at such base until both committees approve such plan or until 30 days have elapsed since both committees received such plan, whichever is earlier.

Title II: Department of Veterans Affairs - Appropriates funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs (Department) for: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration; (2) readjustment benefits; (3) veterans insurance and indemnities; (4) the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund; (5) the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program; (6) the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program; (7) guaranteed transitional housing loans for homeless veterans; (8) the Veterans Health Administration (including for medical and prosthetic research and information technology systems); (9) the National Cemetery Administration; (10) the Office of Inspector General; (11) construction for major and minor projects; and (12) grants for the construction of State extended care facilities and veterans cemeteries.

Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding the use of funds appropriated in this title.

(Sec. 208) Directs the Department to continue, without fiscal year limitation, the Franchise Fund program (previously a pilot program).

(Sec. 210) Makes funds from this title available to reimburse expenses of the Office of Resolution Management and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, within specified limits.

(Sec. 211) Prohibits funds in this title from being available to enter into any new lease of real property if the estimated annual rental is more than $300,000 unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits a report which the appropriations committees approve within 30 days after receipt.

(Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow veterans eligible under existing Department medical care requirements and who reside in Alaska to obtain medical services from facilities supported by the Indian Health Services or tribal organizations.

(Sec. 220) Prohibits any funds made available to the Department from being used to replace the current system for selecting and contracting for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment.

(Sec. 222) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to the appropriations committees on the financial status of the Veterans Health Administration.

(Sec. 223) Prohibits the use of funds: (1) to retroactively or prospectively revoke or reduce an award of veteran's disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with respect to 2,100 compensation cases identified and reviewed by the Department's Inspector General, unless the award was the direct result of applicant fraud; or (2) for implementation of a specified recommendation of such Inspector General, or any related review or investigation of PTSD unemployability and schedular 100 percent ratings cases, until the Department reports to the appropriations committees on its plan for implementing such recommendation.

(Sec. 224) Directs the National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to collaborate with the Secretary of Defense to: (1) enhance the clinical skills of military clinicians; and (2) promote pre-deployment resilience and post-deployment readjustment among servicemembers serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

(Sec. 226) Provides for the transfer of funds from specified Department accounts for purposes of perfecting funding sources for the Department's information technology systems account.

(Sec. 228) Requires the Department to conduct an information campaign, in states with an average annual disability compensation payment of less than $7,300, to inform all veterans receiving disability compensation of the history of below average payments to veterans in such states, including instructions for submitting new claims and requesting review of past disability claims and ratings.

(Sec. 229) Earmarks funds for FY2006 for the HealtheVetVista project.

(Sec. 230) Continues through FY2006 the Department's homeless veterans' comprehensive services program.

Title III: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for: (1) the American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; (3) cemeterial expenses, Army; and (4) the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

Title IV: General Provisions - Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding the use of funds appropriated in this Act.

Actions

Nov 30, 2005

Became Public Law No: 109-114.
Nov 30, 2005

Signed by President.
Nov 28, 2005

Presented to President.
Nov 18, 2005

Cleared for White House.
Nov 18, 2005

Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 18, 2005

Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S13329)
Nov 18, 2005

Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S13329)
Nov 18, 2005

On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 427 - 0 (Roll no. 604).
Nov 18, 2005

Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 18, 2005

Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 427 - 0 (Roll no. 604).
Nov 18, 2005

The House proceeded to consider the conference report H.Rept. 109-305 as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10958)
Nov 18, 2005

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the conference report, the Chair put the question on adoption of the conference report and announced that the yeas and nays were required under the rule. Pursuant to clause 8, Rule XX, further proceedings on the question of adoption of the conference report were postponed until later in the legislative day.
Nov 18, 2005

The previous question was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H10925)
Nov 18, 2005

Rule H. Res. 564 passed House.
Nov 18, 2005

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2528.
Nov 18, 2005

Mr. Walsh brought up conference report H. Rept. 109-305 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 564. (consideration: CR H10915-10925)
Nov 18, 2005

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 564 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 2528. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read.
Nov 18, 2005

Conference report H. Rept. 109-305 filed. (text of conference report: CR 11/17/2005 H10749-10786)
Nov 18, 2005

Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 109-305 filed.(text of conference report: CR 11/17/2005 H10749-10786)
Nov 17, 2005

Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Nov 17, 2005

Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Nov 3, 2005

The Speaker appointed conferees: Walsh, Aderholt, Northup, Simpson, Crenshaw, Young (FL), Kirk, Rehberg, Carter, Lewis (CA), Edwards, Farr, Boyd, Bishop (GA), Price (NC), Cramer, and Obey.
Nov 3, 2005

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 3, 2005

On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote.
Nov 3, 2005

The previous question was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H9566)
Nov 3, 2005

DEBATE - The House proceeded with debate on the Obey motion to instruct conferees. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the managers on the part of the House to insist on the House level in order to support force protection activities in Iraq.
Nov 3, 2005

Mr. Obey moved that the House instruct conferees. (consideration: CR H9562-9566; text: CR H9562)
Nov 3, 2005

On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
Nov 3, 2005

Mr. Walsh moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and agree to a conference.
Sep 26, 2005

Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 22, 2005

Measure amended in Senate after passage by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10391)
Sep 22, 2005

Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Hutchison; Burns; Craig; DeWine; Brownback; Allard; McConnell; Cochran; Feinstein; Inouye; Johnson; Landrieu; Byrd; Murray; Leahy.
Sep 22, 2005

Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 - 0. Record Vote Number: 243. (text: CR 9/26/2005 S10453-10459)
Sep 22, 2005

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 - 0. Record Vote Number: 243.(text: CR 9/26/2005 S10453-10459)
Sep 22, 2005

The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 22, 2005

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10335-10360; text of measure as reported in Senate: CRS S10335-10346)
Jul 21, 2005

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 169.
Jul 21, 2005

Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Hutchison with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 109-105.
Jul 21, 2005

Committee on Appropriations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 19, 2005

Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 26, 2005

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
May 26, 2005

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 26, 2005

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 425 - 1 (Roll no. 226).
May 26, 2005

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 425 - 1 (Roll no. 226).
May 26, 2005

The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
May 26, 2005

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H4117)
May 26, 2005

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2528.
May 26, 2005

On motion to rise and report Agreed to by voice vote.
May 26, 2005

Mr. Walsh moved for the Committee of the Whole to rise and report.
May 26, 2005

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
May 26, 2005

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tiahrt amendment, pending reservation of a point of order.
May 26, 2005

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Jones (OH) amendment under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation of a point of order was withdrawn and debate under the five-minute rule continued.
May 26, 2005

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Jones (OH) amendment under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.
May 26, 2005

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Obey amendment under the five-minute rule, pending a reservation of a point of order.
May 26, 2005

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Blumenauer amendment under the five-minute rule.
May 26, 2005

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Blumenauer amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Blumenauer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 26, 2005

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Melancon amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Melancon demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 26, 2005

DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Melancon amendment under the five-minute rule.
May 26, 2005

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2528.
May 26, 2005

The Speaker designated the Honorable Charles F. Bass to act as Chairman of the Committee.
May 26, 2005

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 298 and Rule XVIII.
May 26, 2005

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2528 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. Measure will be read by paragraph. Bill is open to amendments.
May 26, 2005

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 298. (consideration: CR H4085-4114; text of Title I as reported in House: CR H4096, H4097-4098, H4099, H4100, H4103-4105; text of Title II as reported in House: CR H4105, H4106-4108; text of Title III as reported in House: CR H4108; text of Title IV as reported in House: CR H4108-4109)
May 26, 2005

Rule H. Res. 298 passed House.
May 25, 2005

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 298 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2528 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. Measure will be read by paragraph. Bill is open to amendments.
May 23, 2005

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 51.
May 23, 2005

The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 109-95, by Mr. Walsh.
May 23, 2005

Introduced in House

Amendments

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