Sen. Banks introduces legislation to speed up VA construction projects

Submitted by Office of U.S. Senator Jim Banks

Last week, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the Faster VA Construction Act. This bill would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to adopt commercial building codes and standards where possible, consistent with law. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) are original cosponsors of the bipartisan legislation.

Banks

“Hoosier veterans deserve timely care, not red tape,” Sen. Banks said. “This bill speeds up VA construction and makes sure taxpayer dollars are put to their best use.”

Key provisions of Faster VA Construction Act:

• Direct VA to use commercial codes and standards in its construction and leasing projects instead of, or in addition to, unique federal codes and standards, where they do not conflict with statutory or regulatory requirements.
• Direct VA to use commercial codes and standards in three construction or leasing projects, as a pilot, for each of the next five years.
• Require VA to report on its use of these authorities.

Click here to read the full bill.

Background

VA estimates it would cost between $98 billion and $109 billion to fully implement its strategic capital investment plan, including deferred maintenance and new construction, and this figure has been steadily increasing for many years. VA’s infrastructure needs have long significantly exceeded its infrastructure resources, and stretching each construction dollar as far as possible is critical.

The Government Accountability Office, Office of Inspector General, and VA officials have repeatedly cited the Department’s unique construction codes and standards as major, and sometimes unnecessary, cost drivers. VA has long maintained its own facility design standards that are significantly different from commercial codes and standards and often vary from project to project. In contrast, GAO, OIG, and VA officials have touted the two CHIP IN Act projects (in Omaha, Neb., and Tulsa, Okla.) for being completed more quickly and at lower cost compared to VA-managed projects, because the law permitted their private developers to rely on commercial codes and standards to a limited extent.