IB 

Union Calendar No. 336 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3936 

[Report No. 108–574, Part I] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the principal office 

of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be at 

any location in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, rather than 

only in the District of Columbia, and expressing the sense of Congress 

that a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should be 

provided for that Court and those it serves and should be located, 

if feasible, at a site owned by the United States that is part of or 

proximate to the Pentagon Reservation, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 11, 2004 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. SKELTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

JUNE 25, 2004 

Additional sponsors: Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. FILNER, Mr. STRICKLAND, Ms. 

CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. RENZI, 

Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. RAHALL, and Ms. HARRIS

JUNE 25, 2004 

Reported from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JUNE 25, 2004 

Referral to the Committee on Armed Services extended for a period ending 

not later than June 25, 2004 
2 

•HR 3936 RH 

JUNE 25, 2004 

The Committee on Armed Services discharged; committed to the Committee 

of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 

principal office of the United States Court of Appeals 

for Veterans Claims to be at any location in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, rather than only in the 

District of Columbia, and expressing the sense of Congress that a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice 

Center should be provided for that Court and those it 

serves and should be located, if feasible, at a site owned 

by the United States that is part of or proximate to 

the Pentagon Reservation, 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. PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF UNITED STATES COURT 

4 OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 

5 Section 7255 of title 38, United States Code, is 

6 amended by striking ‘‘District of Columbia’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘Washington, D.C., metropolitan area’’. 

8 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING 

9 NEW VETERANS COURTHOUSE AND JUSTICE 

10 CENTER. 

11 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find12 ings: 
3 

•HR 3936 RH 

1 (1) Every Article I court of the United States 

2 other than the United States Court of Appeals for 

3 Veterans Claims is located in a dedicated court4 house. 

5 (2) The United States Court of Appeals for 

6 Veterans Claims has since its creation in 1988 been 

7 located in a commercial office building in the Dis8 trict of Columbia. 

9 (3) That court should be housed in a dedicated 

10 courthouse, as are all other Article I courts. 

11 (4) A dedicated courthouse for that court con12 stituting a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center 

13 would express the gratitude and respect of the Na14 tion for the sacrifices of those serving and those who 

15 have served in the Armed Forces, and their families. 

16 (5) Location of such a courthouse and judicial 

17 center in an area proximate to the Pentagon, Arling18 ton National Cemetery, and the Air Force Memorial 

19 (as planned) in Arlington, Virginia would be sym20 bolically significant of the high esteem that the Na21 tion holds for its veterans. 

22 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con23 gress that— 
4 

•HR 3936 RH 

1 (1) a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Jus2 tice Center should be provided for the United States 

3 Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and 

4 (2) the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation 

5 with the United States Court of Appeals for Vet6 erans Claims, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 

7 the Administrator of General Services, should deter8 mine the feasibility of locating such a Veterans 

9 Courthouse and Justice Center at an appropriate 

10 site owned by the United States that is part of or 

11 proximate to the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, 

12 Virginia. 

13 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

14 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 

15 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Administrator 

16 of General Services shall submit to the Committees on 

17 Veterans’ Affairs and the Committees on Armed Services 

18 of the Senate and House of Representatives a joint report 

19 on the feasibility of locating a new Veterans Courthouse 

20 and Justice Center at an appropriate site owned by the 

21 United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon 

22 Reservation in Arlington, Virginia. 

Union Calendar No. 336 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3936 

[Report No. 108–574, Part I] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorposes. to the Pentagon Reservation, and for other pur- by the United States that is part of or proximate and should be located, if feasible, at a site owned be provided for that Court and those it serves Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should expressing the sense of Congress that a dedicated rather than only in the District of Columbia, and tion in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be at any loca- ize the principal office of the United States Court 

JUNE 25, 2004 

Reported from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JUNE 25, 2004 

Referral to the Committee on Armed Services extended 

for a period ending not later than June 25, 2004 

JUNE 25, 2004 

The Committee on Armed Services discharged; committed 

the Union and ordered to be printed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of