Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 3603 - A Bill to Authorize Major Medical Facility Projects and Major Medical Facility Leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 1999, and for other purposes

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(House)

(Stump (R) AZ and 7 cosponsors)

H.R. 3603 would authorize appropriations of $205.3 million for ten major construction projects and $8.5 million for three facility leases. It also would increase the threshold for the designation of certain projects as "major" medical facilities.

The Administration does not object to House passage of H.R. 3603, but will work in the Senate to:

• Address the Administration's concerns about the additional, unrequested authorization of appropriations included in the bill. H.R. 3603 would authorize nearly $140 million in projects not requested in the President's FY 1999 Budget.
• Increase the threshold amount for determining what constitutes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility lease. The Administration is pleased that H.R. 3603 would increase the threshold for designating a parking facility project as a major medical facility project from $3 million to $4 million, but also favors an increase from $300,000 to $1 million in the threshold defining a VA major medical facility lease.