Northern Marianas VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Authorization Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Northern Marianas VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Authorization Act of 2026”.

(a) In general.— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a minor medical facility project in fiscal year 2027 in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for the construction, lease, build-to-lease, renovation, alteration, repair, or retrofit of a community-based outpatient clinic in an amount not to exceed $3,696,000.

(b) Use of existing structures.— In carrying out the project authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary may use amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (e) to conduct such construction activities as the Secretary determines appropriate for such project.

(c) Flexibility in building standards.— In carrying out the project authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary may apply such alternative building, design, space, resiliency, or construction standards as the Secretary determines appropriate for the unique geographic, logistical, and market conditions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, if the Secretary determines such standards will ensure that the facility is safe, accessible, functional, and suitable for the delivery of outpatient care under laws administered by the Secretary to veterans.

(d) Required considerations.— In determining the feasibility of the project under subsection (a) or in determining the type of facility at which to carry out the project under such subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the elevated costs and logistical challenges associated with construction, leasing, renovation, alteration, repair, and retrofit activities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including—

(1) the lack of a permanent Department of Veterans Affairs clinical presence in the Commonwealth;

(2) the geographic distance of existing medical facilities from the Commonwealth;

(3) the need to ship construction materials for such project by ocean transport;

(4) the limited availability of—

(A) construction contractors and subcontractors; and

(B) contractor housing; and

(5) the need to reduce the burden of traveling to medical facilities for veterans residing in the Commonwealth.

(e) Authorization of appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2027, for the project authorized under subsection (a), $3,696,000, to be deposited in the Construction, minor Projects account of the Department.