(a) Authorization of major medical facility project of Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027 in Manchester, New Hampshire
(1) In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a major medical facility project for the replacement of a medical center, a new central utility plant, a community living center, a residential rehabilitation treatment facility, associated parking, and demolition of existing buildings in Manchester, New Hampshire.
(2) Non-Department Federal entity waiver
In order to reduce cost and expedite timelines, the Secretary may waive the requirements under section 8103(e) of title 38, United States Code, and section 1096 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( Public Law 114–92 ; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note) for a non-Department Federal entity to be engaged in project management and other activities for the project under paragraph (1).
(3) Notification
Not later than 60 days after making a waiver, modification, or substitution relating to the project under subsection (a), including a waiver under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a notification describing the waiver, modification, or substitution and the reason for such waiver, modification, or substitution.
(4) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Construction, Major Projects account $1,180,000,000 for the project under paragraph (1), to remain available until expended.
(5) Appropriate committees of Congress defined
In this section the term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(b) Access to information for medical facility construction projects and leases
(1) In general
Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8106 the following:
8107. Access to information for medical facility construction projects and leases
(a) In general
For any major construction project, lease, or enhanced-use lease for a medical facility of the Department, the Secretary shall ensure that the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives are provided timely access to all information, records, documents, data, analyses, communications, contracts, agreements, project schedules, cost estimates, memoranda, briefings, reports, and other materials relating to the project or lease.
(b) Prohibition on withholding information
The Secretary may not withhold information under subsection (a) from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives solely on the basis that the information is predecisional, deliberative, advisory, procurement-sensitive, or subject to an internal policy or directive of the Department.
(2) Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8106 the following new item: