II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2854 

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement 

with the city of Fargo, North Dakota, for the conveyance of certain 

land of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 

Mr. HOEVEN (for himself and Ms. SMITH) 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 enter into 

an agreement with the city of Fargo, North Dakota, 

for the conveyance of certain land of the Department 

of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of 

6 Fargo, North Dakota. 


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1 (2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

2 means the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

3 (3) PARCEL.—The term ‘‘parcel’’ means the ap4 proximately 2.73 acres of land of the Department of 

5 Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery in 

6 Harwood, North Dakota, located in the southeast 

7 corner of the proposed expansion of the cemetery as 

8 depicted on the map provided by the Department en9 titled ‘‘Fargo National Cemetery’’ ‘‘Figure B’’ and 

10 dated April 21, 2023. 

11 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

12 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

13 SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF14 FAIRS LAND AT FARGO NATIONAL CEME15 TERY. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—After the acquisition by the De17 partment of Veterans Affairs of 29.06 acres adjacent to 

18 the original 4.82-acre area of Fargo National Cemetery, 

19 North Dakota, and only if such acquisition is completed, 

20 upon a written request from the City for the conveyance 

21 of the parcel, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement 

22 with the City under which the Secretary shall convey to 

23 the City all right, title, and interest of the United States 

24 in and to the parcel for the purpose of improving the expeVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Sep 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2854.IS S2854

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1 rience of visitors and volunteers at Fargo National Ceme2 tery. 

3 (b) CONSIDERATION.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under the agreement de5 scribed in subsection (a), for the conveyance of the 

6 parcel, the City shall pay to the Secretary an 

7 amount equal to the market value of the parcel, as 

8 determined by the appraisal conducted under para9 graph (2). 

10 (2) APPRAISAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 

11 an appraisal of the parcel to be conveyed under sub12 section (a) in accordance with— 

13 (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 

14 Federal Land Acquisitions; 

15 (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional 

16 Appraisal Practice; and 

17 (C) any other applicable law (including 

18 regulations). 

19 (c) ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.—The Secretary may 

20 require such additional conditions in connection with the 

21 conveyance of the parcel as the Secretary considers appro22 priate. 

23 (d) PROCEEDS.—Proceeds from the conveyance of 

24 the parcel shall be deposited into the National Cemetery 

25 Administration Facilities Operation Fund. 


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1 SEC. 3. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 

2 (a) NO REQUIREMENT FOR PURCHASE OR SALE OF

3 OTHER PARCELS.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed 

4 to require or encourage the Secretary to purchase or sell 

5 any parcel not described in section 1(3). 

6 (b) NO REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIAL AGREE7 MENTS.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require 

8 or encourage the Secretary to enter into any special agree9 ment with an entity not described in section 1(1). 

Æ 


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