The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health this week passed The Construction Reform Act of 2015, introduced by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), that would require another federal construction agency to execute U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) construction projects above $100 million. Under the bill, federal construction agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or General Services Administration could execute construction projects for the VA under project-specific agreements reached by the VA and respective agency.
In a letter to House VA Committee members, AGC noted its general support for H.R. 3106. However, AGC warned that Congress must allow sufficient time for federal construction management agencies to properly assess their staffing levels and make internal arrangements to effectively and efficiently execute these VA construction projects. Additionally, the VA should remain the construction manager on existing construction projects, with limited exception, as changing federal owners mid-construction would present further difficulties and delays.
AGC also sent a letter to members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee making a similar request about a transfer of VA construction projects. The Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2016 (NDAA bill), H.R. 1735, includes a provision that would also require another federal construction agency to perform VA construction projects above $100 million. The House-passed NDAA bill did not include such a provision. As such, legislators are reconciling the differences between the two NDAA bills to draft a final bill—called a conference report—that both chambers could pass later this year.
Earlier this Spring, AGC called for another, well-qualified federal construction agency to execute major construction projects (projects above $10 million) for the VA. AGC has met with VA Secretary Robert McDonald twice to discuss its concerns as well as reforms the agency should consider implementing.
For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at 703-837-5325 orchristiansonj@agc.org. Return to Top