S. 4341

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4341 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4341

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use commercial codes 
and standards instead of or in addition to Federal codes and standards 
in the construction or alteration of facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026

Mr. Banks (for himself and Ms. Hirono) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use commercial codes 
and standards instead of or in addition to Federal codes and standards 
in the construction or alteration of facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Faster Department of Veterans 
Affairs Construction Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS USE OF COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION 
AND FACILITIES CODE AND STANDARDS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall use 
commercial codes and standards instead of or in addition to Federal 
codes and standards in the construction or alteration of facilities of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, where such commercial codes and 
standards do not conflict with statutory and regulatory requirements.
(b) Pilot Projects.--The Secretary shall undertake not fewer than 
three pilot projects during each of fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029, 
2030, and 2031 utilizing commercial codes and standards instead of 
Federal codes and standards to lease or construct facilities of the 
Department for major construction, minor construction, or major lease 
projects.
(c) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the House of Representatives not later than 90 days after 
the end of each of fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031 
detailing the use by the Secretary of the authority provided by 
subsection (a) and conduct of each pilot project required by subsection 
(b) that was initiated, ongoing, or completed during the fiscal year.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commercial codes and standards.--The term ``commercial 
codes and standards'' means building codes or standards of the 
following:
(A) The National Fire Protection Association.
(B) The International Code Council.
(C) The American Society for Testing and Materials.
(D) The American Society of Civil Engineers.
(E) Any other building code or standard, other than 
those described in paragraph (2), determined by the 
Secretary.
(2) Federal codes and standards.--The term ``Federal codes 
and standards'' means the following:
(A) Building codes or standards specific to one or 
more Federal agencies.
(B) Building codes or standards specific to the 
Department, including the Technical Information 
Library.
(C) Standards of the Federal Guidelines Institute.
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