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) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ 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 com-
mittee 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 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.
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