Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2070

 PUBLIC LAW 108–170—DEC. 6, 2003

117 STAT. 2051

from the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative, then before taking any action resulting from that recommendation that would result in— (1) a medical facility closure; (2) an administrative reorganization described in subsection (c) of section 510 of title 38, United States Code; or (3) a medical facility consolidation, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written notification of the intent to take such action. (b) LIMITATION.—Upon submitting a notification under subsection (a), the Secretary may not take any action described in the notification until the later of— (1) the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the notification is received by Congress; or (2) the end of a period of 30 days of continuous session of Congress beginning on the date on which the notification is received by Congress or, if either House of Congress is not in session on such date, the first day after such date on which both Houses of Congress are in session. (c) CONTINUOUS SESSION OF CONGRESS.—For the purposes of subsection (b)— (1) the continuity of a session of Congress is broken only by an adjournment of Congress sine die; and (2) any day on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three days to a day certain is excluded in the computation of any period of time in which Congress is in continuous session. (d) MEDICAL FACILITY CONSOLIDATION.—For the purposes of subsection (a), the term ‘‘medical facility consolidation’’ means an action that closes one or more medical facilities for the purpose of relocating those activities to another medical facility or facilities within the same geographic service area. SEC. 223. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND REPORT ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS.

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Recognizing the difficulties that veterans residing in rural areas encounter in gaining access to health care in facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, it is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take steps to ensure that an appropriate mix of facilities and clinical staff is available for health care for veterans residing in rural areas. (b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing the steps the Secretary is taking, and intends to take, to improve access to health care for veterans residing in rural areas.

Deadline.

Subtitle D—Plans for New Facilities SEC. 231. PLANS FOR FACILITIES IN SPECIFIED AREAS.

(a) SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan for meeting the future hospital care needs of veterans who reside in southern New Jersey.

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