108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3936
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to author-
ize the principal office of the United States Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be at any loca-
tion 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 pur-
poses.
108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3936
AN ACT
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 Wash-
ington, D.C., metropolitan area, rather than only in the
District of Columbia, and expressing the sense of Con-
gress 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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF UNITED STATES COURT
OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS.
Section 7255 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ‘‘District of Columbia’’ and inserting
‘‘Washington, D.C., metropolitan area’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING
NEW VETERANS COURTHOUSE AND JUSTICE
CENTER.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings:
(1) Every Article I court of the United States
other than the United States Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims is located in a dedicated court-
house.
(2) The United States Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims has since its creation in 1988 been
located in a commercial office building in the Dis-
trict of Columbia.
(3) That court should be housed in a dedicated
courthouse, as are all other Article I courts.
(4) A dedicated courthouse for that court con-
stituting a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center
would express the gratitude and respect of the Na-
tion for the sacrifices of those serving and those who
have served in the Armed Forces, and their families.
(5) Location of such a courthouse and judicial
center in an area proximate to the Pentagon, Arling-
ton National Cemetery, and the Air Force Memorial
(as planned) in Arlington, Virginia would be sym-
bolically significant of the high esteem that the Na-
tion holds for its veterans.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that—
(1) a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Jus-
tice Center should be provided for the United States
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and
(2) the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation
with the United States Court of Appeals for Vet-
erans Claims, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and
the Administrator of General Services, should deter-
mine the feasibility of locating such a Veterans
Courthouse and Justice Center at an appropriate
site owned by the United States that is part of or
proximate to the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington,
Virginia.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Administrator
of General Services shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans’ Affairs and the Committees on Armed Services
of the Senate and House of Representatives a joint report
on the feasibility of locating a new Veterans Courthouse
and Justice Center at an appropriate site owned by the
United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon
Reservation in Arlington, Virginia.
Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2004.
Attest:
Clerk.