Construction Reform Act of 2016

Floor Speech

I want to thank the chairman for his fair and even leadership on this committee. While we don't agree on all issues, I feel he has made an effort to allow all voices to be heard, and for that I want to thank him. I thank the chairman for bringing this important legislation to our attention.

As we have seen by recent events, the VA has been challenged with major construction projects. Before they undertook the most recent medical center construction projects, it had been at least 15 years since a new medical center had been built.

This lack of experience showed and continues to show today. Not one of the major hospitals is on its original timeline. However, the VA has demonstrated they are able to do small, less complicated projects on time and under budget.

The bill also references ``a non-department Federal entity to provide full project management services for the super construction project, including management over the project design, acquisition, construction, and contract changes.''

We all know from experience that there is only one Federal entity that fits that description, and that is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

For those projects that have not broken ground yet, the VA and the Corps of Engineers are already working on plans to include the Corps in the planning and construction of major projects over $100 million.

I continue to believe that the threshold for a super construction project should be at least $250 million. As a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I know how busy the Army Corps is in responding to the projects that the committee requires them to complete. It is important that they do not get bogged down with projects of insufficient complexity. I will continue to watch the construction process and follow the complexity issue to determine if the threshold needs to be increased in the future.

I am pleased this legislation also includes an assistant inspector general for construction. Oversight of the projects needs a person who has the expertise to evaluate the complexity of VA's ongoing construction projects.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
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