S.Amdt. 6615

Ms. Duckworth submitted this amendment to add a new section to the bill that creates and codifies the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund.

The purpose of this amendment is to change the bill by adding the following:

• Establishment of a Fund: It creates a fund under the Department of Veterans Affairs to help provide joint funding for combined Federal medical facilities shared by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Funding and Use:

  • Amounts can be transferred into the fund by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from specific appropriations authorized on or after the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.
  • Funds can also come from medical care collections under specific legal authorities.
  • The money is used for facility operations, including real property maintenance, capital equipment, and certain minor construction projects.

• Specific Facility Coverage: It allows funds transferred by the Secretary of Defense to be used for the operations of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

• Administration: The fund will be managed through an executive agreement between the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which must include an independent review of the funding methodology and a financial reconciliation process.

• Reporting and Repeal: The amendment repeals Section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and requires a joint report within 180 days listing medical facilities that should be designated as combined Federal medical facilities.