Venue Named Under Exception Act

Bill: 119-hr-194
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Introduced: 2025-01-03
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: District of Columbia

Federal district courts

Jurisdiction and venue

Maryland

Virginia
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Venue Named Under Exception Act or the VENUE Act</strong></p><p>This bill changes the venue rules for cases involving criminal offenses on federal property in the National Capital Region. <em>Venue </em>refers to the court where it is proper for a case to proceed.</p><p>Specifically, the bill requires certain cases involving criminal offenses committed on federal property in the National Capital Region (Washington, DC and specified regions of Maryland and Virginia) to be brought in the district of the last known residence of the offender (or of any one of two or more joint offenders). If the last residence of the offender is not known,&nbsp;then the case may be brought in DC.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 194 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Mr. Self (for himself and Mr. Nehls ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, to modify venue for certain offenses.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Venue Named Under Exception Act or the VENUE Act . 2. Venue for certain offenses (a) In general Chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3245. Offenses committed in the National Capital Region (a) Offenses in National Capital Region In the case of an offense that is committed in the National Capital Region on property under the control of the Federal Government, an indictment or information shall be filed in the district of the last known residence of the offender or of any one of two or more joint offenders, or if no such residence is known, the indictment or information may be filed in the District of Columbia. (b) Transfer (1) Right to transfer Notwithstanding subsection (a), a district court shall, upon motion of the defendant, grant a transfer of an indictment or information to the district court encompassing the jurisdiction where the defendant is domiciled. (2) Multiple defendants If multiple defendants file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1), the district court shall grant the motion of the defendant who filed the motion first. (3) Defendants not domiciled in the United States A defendant not domiciled in the United States may not file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1). (c) Definition In this section: (1) The term National Capital Region means the geographic area located within the boundaries of— (A) the District of Columbia; (B) Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in the State of Maryland; (C) Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and (D) all cities and other units of government within the geographic areas of such District, Counties, and City. (2) The term property under the control of the Federal Government means property owned or leased by the United States, or any agency thereof, except in the case of the United States Postal Service. (d) Pending cases This section shall apply to any offense with respect to which a trial has not been scheduled as of the date of enactment of this section. (e) Limitation This section shall only apply to an offense not otherwise subject to section 3235, 3236, 3237, 3238, 3239, 3241, 3242, 3243 or 3244. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3245. Offenses committed in the National Capital Region. .