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.
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