I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3936

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 

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 
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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: 

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

14 other than the United States Court of Appeals for 

15 Veterans Claims is located in a dedicated court16 house. 

17 (2) The United States Court of Appeals for 

18 Veterans Claims has since its creation in 1988 been 

19 located in a commercial office building in the Dis20 trict of Columbia. 

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

22 courthouse, as are all other Article I courts. 

23 (4) A dedicated courthouse for that court con24 stituting a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center 
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1 would express the gratitude and respect of the Na2 tion for the sacrifices of those serving and those who 

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

4 (5) Location of such a courthouse and judicial 

5 center in an area proximate to the Pentagon, Arling6 ton National Cemetery, and the Air Force Memorial 

7 (as planned) in Arlington, Virginia would be sym8 bolically significant of the high esteem that the Na9 tion holds for its veterans. 

10 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con11 gress that—

12 (1) a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Jus13 tice Center should be provided for the United States 

14 Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and 

15 (2) the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation 

16 with the United States Court of Appeals for Vet17 erans Claims, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 

18 the Administrator of General Services, should deter19 mine the feasibility of locating such a Veterans 

20 Courthouse and Justice Center at an appropriate 

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

22 proximate to the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, 

23 Virginia. 

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

25 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
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1 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Administrator 

2 of General Services shall submit to the Committees on 

3 Veterans’ Affairs and the Committees on Armed Services 

4 of the Senate and House of Representatives a joint report 

5 on the feasibility of locating a new Veterans Courthouse 

6 and Justice Center at an appropriate site owned by the 

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

8 Reservation in Arlington, Virginia.

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