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H.R. 5856: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008

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H.R. 5856: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-04-22 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-04-22 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 349 (2008): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR5856 (2008-05-21), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects (projects) in FY2009 in: (1) Palo Alto, California; (2) San Antonio, Texas; and (3) San Juan, Puerto Rico. Amends the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 to increase the amount authorized under such Act for: (1) all projects; and (2) specified projects in Florida, Nevada, and Pennsylvania in connection with the Capital Asset Realignment Initiative. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified major medical facility leases (leases) in FY2009 in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a project in Okaloosa County, Florida. Authorizes appropriations for projects and leases authorized or increased under this Act. Directs the Secretary to submit to the congressional veterans' committees: (1) a report updating progress made in complying with provisions requiring the establishment of, and responsibilities for, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Director of Construction and Facilities Management; and (2) an annual report on VA community-based outpatient clinics and other outpatient clinics.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5856, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008 (2008-05-12); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5856, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008 (2008-05-12)

Agencies named in this bill

Found automatically: the agency's full official name appears in the bill title. A bill can affect agencies it does not name, so this list may be incomplete.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5856 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110