A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer the name of property of the Department of Veterans Affairs designated by law to other property of the Department.
Bill: S.3527 | Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon (D-MT)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to transfer the name of a facility, structure, real property, or a major part of such properties (e.g., a wing) to another VA facility under certain circumstances.
Specifically, the VA may transfer the name if (1) the original property was designated with its name by law; (2) the VA no longer offers benefits or services at the original property; (3) the other property is similar in type and purpose to the original property; (4) the other property is located in a different location or a different address from the original property within the town, city, or other local government area specified in the designation; and (5) such transfer occurs at least 30 days after the VA notifies Congress of the intent to transfer the name.

[117th Congress Public Law 137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 136 STAT. 1254]]

Public Law 117-137
117th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs to transfer the name of property of the Department of 
      Veterans Affairs designated by law to other property of the 
            Department. <<NOTE: June 7, 2022 -  [S. 3527]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TRANSFER 
                              NAMES OF FACILITIES, STRUCTURES, OR 
                              REAL PROPERTY OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 531 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``Requirement'' and 
        inserting ``Requirements'';
            (2) by striking ``Except as expressly provided by law'' and 
        inserting the following:

    ``(a) Naming Limitation.--Except as expressly provided by law or as 
authorized under subsection (b)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

    ``(b) Transfer of Names.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may transfer the name of 
        covered property of the Department to other covered property of 
        the Department if--
                    ``(A) the original covered property was designated 
                with that name by law;
                    ``(B) the Department no longer offers benefits or 
                services at the original covered property;
                    ``(C) the other covered property is similar in type 
                and purpose as the original covered property;
                    ``(D) the other covered property is located in a 
                different location or at a different address from the 
                original covered property within the town, city, or 
                other local government area specified in the designation 
                made by such law; and
                    ``(E) <<NOTE: Deadline. Notification.>>  such 
                transfer occurs not less than 30 days after the 
                Secretary notifies the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
                the Senate, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
                House of Representatives, and each member of Congress 
                representing the State in which the original covered 
                property and other covered property are located of the 
                intent of the Secretary to transfer the name of the 
                original covered property to the other covered property.
            ``(2) References.--If the Secretary transfers the name of 
        covered property under paragraph (1), any reference in a law, 
        regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United

[[Page 136 STAT. 1255]]

        States to the covered property originally named by law shall be 
        deemed to be a reference to the covered property to which the 
        name has been transferred under such paragraph.
            ``(3) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  Covered property.--In this 
        subsection, the term `covered property' means a facility, 
        structure, or real property of the Department or a major portion 
        (such as a wing or floor) of any such facility, structure, or 
        real property.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, <<NOTE: 38 USC 501 prec.>>  
is amended by striking the item relating to section 531 and inserting 
the following new item:

``531. Requirements relating to naming of Department property.''.

    Approved June 7, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3527:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
            Feb. 3, considered and passed Senate.
            May 16, 17, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2022):
            June 7, Presidential remarks.

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