PLANS FOR FACILITIES IN SPECIFIED AREAS.

SEC. 231. PLANS FOR FACILITIES IN SPECIFIED AREAS.(a) Southern New Jersey.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan for meeting the future hospital care needs of veterans who reside in southern New Jersey.117 STAT. 2052(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “southern New Jersey” means the following counties of the State of New Jersey: Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May.(b) Far South Texas.—(1) The Secretary shall develop a plan for meeting the future hospital care needs of veterans who reside in far south Texas.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “far south Texas” means the following counties of the State of Texas: Bee, Calhoun, Crockett, DeWitt, Dimmit, Goliad, Jackson, Victoria, Webb, Aransas, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, Willacy, and Zapata.(c) North Central Washington.—(1) The Secretary shall develop a plan for meeting the future hospital care needs of veterans who reside in north central Washington.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “north central Washington” means the following counties of the State of Washington: Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas, and Okanogan.(d) Pensacola Area.—(1) The Secretary shall develop a plan for meeting the future hospital care needs of veterans who reside in the Pensacola area.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “Pensacola area” means—(A) the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Gulf, and Franklin of the State of Florida; and(B) the counties of Covington, Geneva, Houston, and Escambia of the State of Alabama.(e) Consideration of Use of Certain Existing Authorities.—In developing the plans under this section, the Secretary shall, at a minimum, consider options using the existing authorities of sections 8111 and 8153 of title 38, United States Code, to—(1) establish a hospital staffed and managed by employees of the Department, either in private or public facilities, including Federal facilities; or(2) enter into contracts with existing Federal facilities, private facilities, and private providers for that care.(f) Report.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on each plan under this section not later than April 15, 2004.