Feasibility studies for outleasing facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the availability of funds for such purposes, may conduct feasibility studies to evaluate the potential outleasing of existing medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to generate resources, including in-kind consideration such as the construction of new facilities at alternative locations, to meet current and future health care needs of veterans. (b) Elements Each feasibility study conducted under subsection (a) shall— (1) assess the financial, operational, and strategic impacts of outleasing medical facilities of the Department, including the potential for reinvesting proceeds or in-kind contributions into new or modernized facilities of the Department; and (2) consider that any resulting obligations in connection with such outleasing shall be funded through appropriations or borne by the partner entity for the entire lifecycle of the outleasing arrangement. (c) Report Not later than one year after conducting any feasibility study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report detailing— (1) the findings of the Secretary with respect to such study; (2) the recommendations of the Secretary for potential outleasing arrangements pursuant to such study; and (3) a budget justification confirming that all costs for such arrangements are within appropriated funds or covered by the partner entity.