Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 
This act provides FY2024 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It also extends several expiring programs and authorities, including various public health programs. 
Specifically, the act includes 6 of the 12 regular FY2024 appropriations bills: 
 the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024; 
 the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024; 
 the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024; 
 the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024; 
 the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024; and 
 the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. 
The act also modifies the Compacts of Free Association that govern the relationship between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. 
(Sec. 3) This section provides that references to this Act included in any division of this act refer only to the provisions of that division unless the act expressly provides otherwise. 
(Sec. 4) This section provides that the explanatory statement regarding this act that was printed in the Congressional Record has the same effect as a joint explanatory statement of a conference committee. 
(Sec. 5) This section specifies that the sums in this act are appropriated for FY2024. 
(Sec. 6) This section specifies that funds designated by this act as emergency spending are only available if the President subsequently designates all of the funds as emergency spending and transmits the designations to Congress. 
DIVISION A--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024 
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 
This division provides FY2024 appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies. 
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
This title provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for Military Construction for 
 the Army; 
 the Navy and Marine Corps; 
 the Air Force; 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments); 
 the Army and Air National Guard; and 
 the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves. 
The title also provides appropriations to DOD for the (1) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program, and (2) the DOD Base Closure Account. 
The title provides appropriations to DOD for Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for 
 the Army, 
 the Navy and Marine Corps, 
 the Air Force, and 
 Defense-Wide agencies and activities (other than military departments). 
The title provides appropriations to DOD for (1) the Family Housing Improvement Fund, and (2) the Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund. 
(Sec. 101) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for payments exceeding $25,000 under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction in the United States without a specific DOD approval in writing. The section includes an exception for work that is to be performed in Alaska.
 (Sec. 102) This section permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for hiring passenger motor vehicles. 
(Sec. 103) This section permits construction funds provided by this title to be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration for the construction of access roads DOD has certified as important to national defense. 
(Sec. 104) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to begin construction of new bases in the United States without a specific appropriation. 
(Sec. 105) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to purchase land or land easements in excess of 100% of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. The section includes exceptions for (1) determinations of value by a federal court, (2) purchases negotiated by the Department of Justice, (3) values less than $25,000, and (4) purchases that are otherwise determined by DOD to be in the public interest. 
(Sec. 106) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to acquire land, provide for site preparation, or install utilities for family housing, except housing for which appropriations have been provided. 
(Sec. 107) This section prohibits funds provided by this title for minor construction from being used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another without notifying Congress in advance. 
(Sec. 108) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to procure steel for construction unless American producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been allowed to compete for the procurement. 
(Sec. 109) This section prohibits funds provided to DOD for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year from being used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 
(Sec. 110) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used to initiate a new installation overseas without notifying Congress in advance. 
(Sec. 111) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for architect and engineer contracts estimated to exceed $500,000 for projects in Japan, NATO member countries, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf unless the contracts are awarded to U.S. firms or U.S. firms in joint ventures with host nation firms. 
(Sec. 112) This section prohibits funds provided by this title for military construction in U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, from being used to award a contract over $1 million to a foreign contractor. The section also includes exceptions.
 (Sec. 113) This section requires DOD to notify Congress in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if the construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 
(Sec. 114) This section permits funds appropriated to DOD for construction in prior years to be used for construction projects authorized during the current session of Congress. 
(Sec. 115) This section permits expired or lapsed funds to be used to pay for supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering, and design costs for military construction or family housing projects being completed with lapsed or expired funds. 
(Sec. 116) This section permits funds provided for the construction of military projects to be available for five years if the funds for the project (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction, and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated or permitted by law for the project.
 (Sec. 117) This section permits the following transfers if Congress is notified and specified conditions are met: 
 to the DOD Family Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction in Family Housing accounts, and 
 to the DOD Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from appropriations for construction of military unaccompanied housing in Military Construction accounts. 
The section also specifies that the transferred funds shall be available for DOD loans or loan guarantees pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities.
 (Sec. 118) This section permits the transfer of funds from the DOD Base Closure Account to the fund established to pay expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. 
(Sec. 119) This section specifies that funds for operation and maintenance of family housing in this title shall be the only source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters. It also sets forth limitations and requirements for expenditures for maintenance and repair of general or flag officer quarters. 
(Sec. 120) This section appropriates funds contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account and permits the funds to remain available until expended or transferred. 
(Sec. 121) This section permits the transfer of unobligated balances of expired military construction and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations--Construction--Defense account.
 (Sec. 122) This section permits funds provided to an account in this title to be transferred among projects and activities within the account, subject to specified DOD reprogramming guidelines for military and family housing construction. 
(Sec. 123) This section prohibits funds provided by this title from being used for the planning, design, and construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. 
(Sec. 124) This section provides specified additional funds to remain available through FY2028 for unfunded military construction priorities. 
(Sec. 125) This section requires specified military construction appropriations that are appropriated pursuant to authorizations in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to be immediately available and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized projects. 
(Sec. 126) This section permits specified funds to be obligated before October 1, 2025, for FY2017, FY2018, and FY2019 military construction projects for which the project authorizations have not lapsed or for which authorizations were extended for FY2024 by a National Defense Authorization Act.
 (Sec. 127) This section defines congressional defense committees to include the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. 
(Sec. 128) This section provides additional appropriations for planning and design, and unspecified minor construction, for improving military installation resilience. 
(Sec. 129) This section provides additional appropriations for planning and design and unspecified minor construction for construction improvements to DOD laboratory facilities. 
(Sec. 130) This section provides additional military construction appropriations to the Air Force for expenses incurred as a result of natural disasters. 
(Sec. 131) This section provides additional military construction appropriations to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and the Air Force for the planning and design of child development centers.
 (Sec. 132) This section provides additional military construction appropriations to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and the Air Force for the planning and design of barracks. 
(Sec. 133) This section provides additional appropriations to the Air Force for cost increases identified subsequent to the FY2024 budget request for authorized major construction projects. 
(Sec. 134) This section provides additional appropriations for unspecified minor construction for demolition. 
(Sec. 135) This section requires DOD to transfer specified funds from the Family Housing Improvement Fund to the Navy. 
(Sec. 136) This section provides additional appropriations for military construction projects authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024. 
(Sec. 137) This section provides additional appropriations to the Air National Guard for planning and design and authorized major construction projects at future foreign military training sites. 
(Sec. 138) This section prohibits funds provided by this division from being used to carry out the closure or realignment of the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
This title provides appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA budget includes both discretionary spending and mandatory spending (i.e., appropriated entitlements).
 The title provides appropriations to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for 
 Compensation and Pensions, 
 Readjustment Benefits, 
 Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, 
 the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund, 
 the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account, 
 the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account, and 
 General Operating Expenses. 
The title provides appropriations to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for 
 Medical Services, 
 Medical Community Care, 
 Medical Support and Compliance, 
 Medical Facilities, and 
 Medical and Prosthetic Research. 
The title provides appropriations to the National Cemetery Administration. 
The title provides appropriations to the VA for Departmental Administration, including 
 General Administration, 
 the Board of Veterans Appeals, 
 Information Technology Systems, 
 the Veterans Electronic Health Record, 
 the Office of Inspector General, 
 Construction--Major Projects, 
 Construction--Minor Projects, 
 Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, and 
Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries. 
(Sec. 201) This section specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VBA. 
(Sec. 202) This section specifies transfer authorities and requirements for the VHA.
 (Sec. 203) This section permits appropriations provided by this title for salaries and expenses to be used for employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants, hire of passenger vehicles, lease of a facility or land or both, and uniforms. 
(Sec. 204) This section prohibits appropriations in this title other than Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects funds from being used for the purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home. 
(Sec. 205) This section requires the VA to be reimbursed for medical services it provides to any person not defined as a beneficiary under specified laws. 
(Sec. 206) This section permits appropriations provided by this title for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities to be used for payment of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded by law against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter of FY2023. 
(Sec. 207) This section permits appropriations provided by this title to be used to pay specified prior year obligations. Obligations from trust fund accounts may only be paid from the Compensation and Pensions account. 
(Sec. 208) This section requires the VA to use surplus earnings from the National Service Life Insurance Fund, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund to reimburse the General Operating Expenses--Veterans Benefits Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for the costs to administer the insurance programs. 
(Sec. 209) This section permits amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services to remain available until expended. 
(Sec. 210) This section permits funds provided by this title for salaries and other administrative expenses to be used to reimburse the following offices for services provided, subject to specified limits: 
 the Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion; 
 the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication; and 
 the Alternative Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human Resources and Administration. 
(Sec. 211) This section requires the VA to collect third-party reimbursement information prior to providing hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services for certain non-service-connected disabilities. It also permits the VA to recover reasonable charges for care from anyone who has not provided the required disclosures. 
(Sec. 212) This section permits enhanced-use leasing revenues to be deposited into the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to be used for construction, alterations, and improvements of VA medical facilities. 
(Sec. 213) This section permits funds provided for Medical Services to be used for (1) furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) funeral and burial expenses for beneficiaries receiving care from the VA. 
(Sec. 214) This section permits funds deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund to be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community Care accounts and remain available until expended for the purposes of those accounts. 
(Sec. 215) This section permits the VA to enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service to provide health care, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. It defines rural Alaska as those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 
(Sec. 216) This section permits funds deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund to be transferred to the Construction--Major Projects and Construction--Minor Projects accounts to remain available until expended for the purposes of those accounts. 
(Sec. 217) This section requires the VA to report quarterly to Congress on the financial status of the VA. 
(Sec. 218) This section permits specified FY2024 VA funds to be transferred to or from the Information Technology Systems account if the transfer is approved by Congress. 
(Sec. 219) This section permits specified FY2024 VA funds provided for medical accounts, Construction--Minor Projects, and Information Technology Systems to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
(Sec. 220) This section permits specified FY2025 VA funding provided for medical accounts to be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and used for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
(Sec. 221) This section permits transfers from the Medical Care Collections Fund to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund and for the operation of combined federal medical facilities. 
(Sec. 222) This section requires specified funds from medical accounts to be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund to remain available until expended. 
(Sec. 223) This section prohibits VA funds from being used to replace the current system that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks use to select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipmen