Bill > S1740

This bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013, authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into numerous major medical facility leases across the country, specifying the location and maximum cost for each, such as a clinical research center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and outpatient clinics in various states and Puerto Rico. It also addresses the budgetary treatment of these leases, requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to record the full cost of a lease obligation upfront, either the total payments over the lease term or the first year's payments plus cancellation costs, in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A11, which provides guidance on federal budget matters. Furthermore, the bill enhances transparency by mandating that lease proposals include a detailed analysis of their compliance with OMB Circular A11 and the Anti-Deficiency Act (a law preventing federal agencies from spending money not appropriated by Congress), and requires the Secretary to submit specific information to Congressional committees before and after entering into a lease, ensuring that these leases are properly accounted for and that Congress is informed of their financial implications.