Northern Marianas VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Authorization Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9652 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9652

  To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a minor 
   medical facility project in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern 
                            Mariana Islands.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2026

Ms. King-Hinds introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a minor 
   medical facility project in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern 
                            Mariana Islands.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Northern Marianas VA Community-Based 
Outpatient Clinic Authorization Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MINOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT FOR COMMUNITY-
              BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC IN SAIPAN, COMMONWEALTH OF THE 
              NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a 
minor medical facility project in fiscal year 2027 in Saipan, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for the construction, 
lease, build-to-lease, renovation, alteration, repair, or retrofit of a 
community-based outpatient clinic in an amount not to exceed 
$3,696,000.
    (b) Use of Existing Structures.--In carrying out the project 
authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary may use amounts 
authorized to be appropriated under subsection (e) to conduct such 
construction activities as the Secretary determines appropriate for 
such project.
    (c) Flexibility in Building Standards.--In carrying out the project 
authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary may apply such 
alternative building, design, space, resiliency, or construction 
standards as the Secretary determines appropriate for the unique 
geographic, logistical, and market conditions of the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, if the Secretary determines such 
standards will ensure that the facility is safe, accessible, 
functional, and suitable for the delivery of outpatient care under laws 
administered by the Secretary to veterans.
    (d) Required Considerations.--In determining the feasibility of the 
project under subsection (a) or in determining the type of facility at 
which to carry out the project under such subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall consider the elevated costs and logistical challenges associated 
with construction, leasing, renovation, alteration, repair, and 
retrofit activities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, including--
            (1) the lack of a permanent Department of Veterans Affairs 
        clinical presence in the Commonwealth;
            (2) the geographic distance of existing medical facilities 
        from the Commonwealth;
            (3) the need to ship construction materials for such 
        project by ocean transport;
            (4) the limited availability of--
                    (A) construction contractors and subcontractors; 
                and
                    (B) contractor housing; and
            (5) the need to reduce the burden of traveling to medical 
        facilities for veterans residing in the Commonwealth.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2027, for the project 
authorized under subsection (a), $3,696,000, to be deposited in the 
Construction, minor Projects account of the Department.
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