Chapter 521. To authorize an appropriation to provide additional hospital, domiciliary, and out-patient dispensary facilities for persons entitled to hospitalization under the World War Veterans’ Act, 1924, as amended, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 521.— An Act To authorize an appropriation to provide additional hospital, domiciliary, and out-patient dispensary facilities for persons entitled to hospitalization under the World War Veterans’ Act, 1924, as amended, and for other purposes. March 4, 1931.[[H. R. 16982](/us/bill/71/hr/16982).][[Public No. 868](/us/pl/71/868).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Veterans’ Administration.Additional hospital, domiciliary, etc., facilities, for persons under care of, authorized.
That in order to provide sufficient hospital, domiciliary, and out-patient dispensary facilities to care for the increasing load of disabled veterans of all wars and to enable the Veterans’ Administration to care for its beneficiaries in Veterans’ Administration institutions, rather than in contract temporary facilities and other institutions, the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, subject to the approval of the President, is hereby authorized to provide additional hospital, domiciliary, and out-patient dispensary facilities for persons entitled to hospitalization or domiciliary care under the World War Veterans’ Act, 1924, as amended, or the various laws pertaining to the Bureau of National Homes, formerly the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers,Purchase of existing plants, etc. by purchase, replacement, and remodeling or extension of existing plants, and by construction on sites now owned by the Government or on sites to be acquired by purchase, condemnation, gift, or otherwise of such hospitals, domiciliary and out-patient dispensary facilities to include the necessary buildings and auxiliary structures, mechanical equipment, approach work, roads, and trackage facilities leading thereto, sidewalks abutting hospital reservations, vehicles, livestock, furniture, equipment, and accessories; and also to 1551provide accommodations for officers, nurses, and attending personnel;Accommodations for officers, nurses, etc. and also to provide proper and suitable recreational centers; and the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs is authorized to acceptAcceptance of gifts, etc. gifts or donations for any of the purposes named herein.
Such hospital and domiciliary plants to be constructed shall be of fireproofFireproof, etc., construction requirements. construction, and existing plants purchased shall be remodeled to be fireproof, and the location and nature thereof, whether for domiciliary care or the treatment of tuberculosis, neuropsychiatrie, or general medical and surgical cases, shall be in the discretion of the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, subject to the approval of the President. Sec. 2. The construction of new hospitals, domiciliary facilities,Technical, etc., services for construction purposes authorized. or dispensaries, or the replacement, extension, alteration, remodeling, or repair of all hospitals, domiciliary facilities, or dispensaries heretofore or hereafter constructed shall be done in such manner as the President may determine, and he is authorized to require the architectural, engineering, constructing, or other forces of any of the departments of the Government to do or assist in such work,Assistance of other departments, and outside agencies. and to employ individuals and agencies not now connected with the Government, if in his opinion desirable, at such compensation as he may consider reasonable.
Sec. 3. For carrying into effect the preceding sections relating toAppropriation authorized.*Post*, p. 1629. additional hospitals and domiciliary and out-patient dispensary facilities there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $20,877,000 to be immediately available and to remain available until expended: *Provided*, That not to exceed 3 per centum of this*Proviso*.Allowance available for technical, etc., assistants. sum shall be available for the employment in the District of Columbia and in the field of necessary technical and clerical assistants at the customary rates of compensation, exclusively to aid in the preparation of the plans and specifications for the projects authorized herein and for the supervision of the execution thereof, and for traveling expenses, field office equipment, and supplies in connection therewith.
Sec. 4. The President is further authorized to accept from anyAcceptance of suitable buildings, grounds, etc., authorized. State or other political subdivision, or from any corporation, association, individual or individuals, any building, structure, equipment, or grounds suitable for the care of the disabled, with due regard to fire or other hazards, state of repair, and all other pertinent considerations, and to designate what department, bureau, board, commission, or other governmental agency shall have the control and management thereof.
Sec. 5. The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, with the approvalUse of appropriations previously authorized.*Ante*, p. 366. of the President, is further authorized to use all or any part of the money authorized to be appropriated by the provisions of the Act approved May 16, 1930 (Public, Numbered 230, Seventy-first Congress), the Act approved June 21, 1930 (Public, Numbered 405,*Ante*, p. 792. Seventy-first Congress), and the Act approved July 1, 1930 (Public,*Ante*, p. 843.
Numbered 492, Seventy-first Congress), for extending the facilities at the national homes designated therein or at any other national home or hospital under the jurisdiction of the Veterans’ Administration, or for any of the purposes set forth in section 1 of this Act. Sec. 6. Subject to existing leases, easements, and rights of way,Transfer of military reservation. title to military reservation described in “Temporary transfer of hospital property, Army General Hospital Numbered 20, Whipple Barracks, Arizona,” dated February 15, 1920, is hereby permanently transferred from the War Department to the veterans’ Administration.
Approved, March 4, 1931.