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Bill113th CongressFiled Nov 21, 2013Armed Forces and National Security
H.R. 3593

VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014

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Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Sep 16, 2014)

VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the management of the major medical center construction projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been an abysmal failure; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should fully implement all recommendations made by the Comptroller General in an April 2013 report to improve VA construction procedures.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Secretary, for any construction or alteration project that is a major medical facility project, to: (1) use the services of a medical equipment planner as part of the architectural and engineering firm for the project, (2) develop and use a project management plan to ensure clear and consistent communication among all parties, (3) subject the project to construction peer excellence review, (4) develop a metrics program to enable the monitoring of change-order processing time and goals for the change-order process consistent with the best practices of other federal agencies, and (5) use design-build processes to minimize multiple change orders.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to procure the services of the Army Corps of Engineers with respect to appointing not less than one special project manager who has experience in managing construction projects that exceed $60 million to oversee such covered projects until completion. Requires a special project manager to submit to specified congressional committees detailed plans of a covered project and progress reports, which shall include an analysis of all changes ordered by the VA and recommendations for improving the operation of any construction-related activity to reduce costs or complete the project in a more timely manner.

Defines "covered projects" to mean each construction project that is a major medical facility project that: (1) was the subject of a report by the Comptroller General (GAO) titled "Additional Actions Needed to Decrease Delays and Lower Costs of Major Medical-Facility Projects," published in April 2013; and (2) has not been activated to accept patients as of this Act's enactment.

(Sec. 5) Prohibits additional funds from being authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.

What just happenedSep 17, 2014

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6](R-CO)Sponsor
7 cosponsors1 D6 R
Read on Congress.gov
7cosponsors2committees19actions13subjects
  • Referred in SenateSep 17, 2014
  • Engrossed in HouseSep 16, 2014
  • Reported in HouseSep 15, 2014
  • Introduced in HouseNov 21, 2013
  1. Sep 17, 2014IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  2. Sep 16, 2014FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Sep 16, 2014FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7581-7582)

  4. Sep 16, 2014Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7581-7582)

  5. Sep 16, 2014FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3593.

  6. Sep 16, 2014FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7581-7585)

  7. Sep 16, 2014FloorH30300

    Mr. Lamborn moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Sep 15, 2014CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 433.

  9. Sep 15, 2014CommitteeH12200

    Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-586.

  10. Sep 15, 2014Committee5000

    Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-586.

  11. Sep 10, 2014Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

  12. Sep 10, 2014Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  13. Mar 25, 2014Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  14. Mar 7, 2014Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

  15. Mar 7, 2014Committee

    Subcommittee on Health Discharged.

  16. Dec 11, 2013Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  17. Nov 21, 2013IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  18. Nov 21, 2013IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  19. Nov 21, 2013IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedSep 16, 201436

VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the management of the major medical center construction projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been an abysmal failure; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should fully implement all recommendations made by the Comptroller General in an April 2013 report to improve VA construction procedures.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Secretary, for any construction or alteration project that is a major medical facility project, to: (1) use the services of a medical equipment planner as part of the architectural and engineering firm for the project, (2) develop and use a project management plan to ensure clear and consistent communication among all parties, (3) subject the project to construction peer excellence review, (4) develop a metrics program to enable the monitoring of change-order processing time and goals for the change-order process consistent with the best practices of other federal agencies, and (5) use design-build processes to minimize multiple change orders.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to procure the services of the Army Corps of Engineers with respect to appointing not less than one special project manager who has experience in managing construction projects that exceed $60 million to oversee such covered projects until completion. Requires a special project manager to submit to specified congressional committees detailed plans of a covered project and progress reports, which shall include an analysis of all changes ordered by the VA and recommendations for improving the operation of any construction-related activity to reduce costs or complete the project in a more timely manner.

Defines "covered projects" to mean each construction project that is a major medical facility project that: (1) was the subject of a report by the Comptroller General (GAO) titled "Additional Actions Needed to Decrease Delays and Lower Costs of Major Medical-Facility Projects," published in April 2013; and (2) has not been activated to accept patients as of this Act's enactment.

(Sec. 5) Prohibits additional funds from being authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.

Reported to House without amendmentSep 15, 201479

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

VA Construction Assistance Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the management of the major medical center construction projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been an abysmal failure; (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should fully implement all recommendations made by the Comptroller General in an April 2013 report to improve VA construction procedures; and (3) management of the major medical facility projects currently underway in Denver, Colorado, Orlando, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, (covered projects) should be subject to the oversight of a special project manager of the Army Corps of Engineers that is independent of the VA.

Requires the Secretary, for any construction or alteration project that is a major medical facility project, to: (1) use the services of a medical equipment planner as part of the architectural and engineering firm for the project, (2) develop and use a project management plan to ensure clear and consistent communication among all parties, (3) subject the project to construction peer excellence review, (4) develop a metrics program to enable the monitoring of change-order processing time and goals for the change-order process consistent with the best practices of other federal agencies, and (5) use design-build processes to minimize multiple change orders.

Directs the Secretary to procure the services of the Army Corps of Engineers with respect to appointing not less than one special project manager who has experience in managing construction projects that exceed $60 million to oversee such covered projects until completion. Requires a special project manager to submit to specified congressional committees detailed plans of a covered project and progress reports, which shall include an analysis of all changes ordered by the VA and recommendations for improving the operation of any construction-related activity to reduce costs or complete the project in a more timely manner.

Introduced in HouseNov 21, 2013

VA Construction Assistance Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the management of the major medical center construction projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been an abysmal failure; (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should fully implement all recommendations made by the Comptroller General in an April 2013 report to improve VA construction procedures; and (3) management of the major medical facility projects currently underway in Denver, Colorado, Orlando, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, (covered projects) should be subject to the oversight of a special project manager of the Army Corps of Engineers that is independent of the VA.

Requires the Secretary, for any construction or alteration project that is a major medical facility project, to: (1) use the services of a medical equipment planner as part of the architectural and engineering firm for the project, (2) develop and use a project management plan to ensure clear and consistent communication among all parties, (3) subject the project to construction peer excellence review, (4) develop a metrics program to enable the monitoring of change-order processing time and goals for the change-order process consistent with the best practices of other federal agencies, and (5) use design-build processes to minimize multiple change orders.

Directs the Secretary to procure the services of the Army Corps of Engineers with respect to appointing not less than one special project manager who has experience in managing construction projects that exceed $60 million to oversee such covered projects until completion. Requires a special project manager to submit to specified congressional committees detailed plans of a covered project and progress reports, which shall include an analysis of all changes ordered by the VA and recommendations for improving the operation of any construction-related activity to reduce costs or complete the project in a more timely manner.




VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014 — Informed