A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the city of Fargo, North Dakota, for the conveyance of certain land of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-s-2854
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2023-09-19
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals

Land transfers

North Dakota

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2023-10-25
text: Held at the desk.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-10-19
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to, if certain conditions are met, enter into an agreement with the city of Fargo, North Dakota, to convey to the city an approximately 2.73-acre parcel of land located in the southeast corner of the proposed expansion of the Fargo National Cemetery. Specifically, after the VA acquires 29.06 acres adjacent to the original acreage of Fargo National Cemetery, the VA must convey such parcel upon written request from the city for the conveyance of the parcel. Under the agreement, the city must pay the VA an amount equal to the market value of the parcel as determined by a VA appraisal.</p>

tv_txt: 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2854 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the city of Fargo, North Dakota, for the conveyance of certain land of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

1. Definitions In this Act: (1) City The term City means the city of Fargo, North Dakota. (2) Department The term Department means the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) Parcel The term parcel means the approximately 2.73 acres of land of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood, North Dakota, located in the southeast corner of the proposed expansion of the cemetery as depicted on the map provided by the Department entitled Fargo National Cemetery Figure B and dated April 21, 2023. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 2. Conveyance of Department of Veterans Affairs land at Fargo National Cemetery (a) In general After the acquisition by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 29.06 acres adjacent to the original 4.82-acre area of Fargo National Cemetery, North Dakota, and only if such acquisition is completed, upon a written request from the City for the conveyance of the parcel, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the City under which the Secretary shall convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcel for the purpose of improving the experience of visitors and volunteers at Fargo National Cemetery. (b) Consideration (1) In general Under the agreement described in subsection (a), for the conveyance of the parcel, the City shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the market value of the parcel, as determined by the appraisal conducted under paragraph (2). (2) Appraisal The Secretary shall conduct an appraisal of the parcel to be conveyed under subsection (a) in accordance with— (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; and (C) any other applicable law (including regulations). (c) Additional conditions The Secretary may require such additional conditions in connection with the conveyance of the parcel as the Secretary considers appropriate. (d) Proceeds Proceeds from the conveyance of the parcel shall be deposited into the National Cemetery Administration Facilities Operation Fund. 3. Rules of construction (a) No requirement for purchase or sale of other parcels Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require or encourage the Secretary to purchase or sell any parcel not described in section 1(3). (b) No requirement for special agreements Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require or encourage the Secretary to enter into any special agreement with an entity not described in section 1(1).

Passed the Senate October 19, 2023. Secretary

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2854 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 19, 2023 Mr. Hoeven (for himself and Ms. Smith ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the city of Fargo, North Dakota, for the conveyance of certain land of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

1. Definitions In this Act: (1) City The term City means the city of Fargo, North Dakota. (2) Department The term Department means the Department of Veterans Affairs. (3) Parcel The term parcel means the approximately 2.73 acres of land of the Department of Veterans Affairs at Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood, North Dakota, located in the southeast corner of the proposed expansion of the cemetery as depicted on the map provided by the Department entitled Fargo National Cemetery Figure B and dated April 21, 2023. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 2. Conveyance of Department of Veterans Affairs land at Fargo National Cemetery (a) In general After the acquisition by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 29.06 acres adjacent to the original 4.82-acre area of Fargo National Cemetery, North Dakota, and only if such acquisition is completed, upon a written request from the City for the conveyance of the parcel, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the City under which the Secretary shall convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcel for the purpose of improving the experience of visitors and volunteers at Fargo National Cemetery. (b) Consideration (1) In general Under the agreement described in subsection (a), for the conveyance of the parcel, the City shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the market value of the parcel, as determined by the appraisal conducted under paragraph (2). (2) Appraisal The Secretary shall conduct an appraisal of the parcel to be conveyed under subsection (a) in accordance with— (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; and (C) any other applicable law (including regulations). (c) Additional conditions The Secretary may require such additional conditions in connection with the conveyance of the parcel as the Secretary considers appropriate. (d) Proceeds Proceeds from the conveyance of the parcel shall be deposited into the National Cemetery Administration Facilities Operation Fund. 3. Rules of construction (a) No requirement for purchase or sale of other parcels Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require or encourage the Secretary to purchase or sell any parcel not described in section 1(3). (b) No requirement for special agreements Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require or encourage the Secretary to enter into any special agreement with an entity not described in section 1(1).