National Visitor Center Emergency Repair Act of 1980
PL 96-610 (S.2729), enacted 12/28/1980

94 STAT. 3564 
PUBLIC LAW 96-610—DEC. 28,1980 
Public Law 96-610 
96th Congress 
Dec. 28, 1980 
[S. 2729] 
National Visitor 
Center 
Emergency 
Repair Act of 
1980. 
40 u s e 801 note. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
40 u s e 802 note. 
Repairs, 
liability. 
40 u s e 802 note. 
Contract. 
40 u s e 809. 
An Act 
To authorize certain emergency repairs at the National Visitor Center in the 
District of Columbia. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be 
cited as the "National Visitor Center Emergency Repair Act of 1980". 
SEC. 2. (a) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1981, the sum of $11,000,000 for the purpose of making emergency 
repairs to the primary structure and roofs of the National Visitor 
Center in the District of Columbia and for the purpose of providing 
protection of the structural elements of the unfinished parking 
facility and southeast ramp at such Center. Such sum shall remain 
available until expended. 
Ot)) Prior to entering into any contract for the repairs or protection 
authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation regarding 
the planning for such repairs or protection. 
SEC. 3. (a) The Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice 
shall prepare an opinion on the question of whether the United 
States or the Terminal Realty Baltimore Co. and the Terminal Realty 
Penn Co. are legally liable for the repairs anticipated by the provi-
sions of this Act. If the Office of Legal Counsel determines that there 
is a reasonable cause to believe a party other than the United States 
is legally obligated to bear all or a portion of the costs of that repair 
authorized by this Act, the Attorney General shall institute an action 
to recover expenditures that were incurred by the Secretary pursu-
ant to this Act. 
O
t
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) None of the actions taken pursuant to the provisions of this Act 
shall be deemed to limit or affect in any way the rights of the United 
States under the lease for real property between Terminal Realty 
Baltimore Co. and Terminal Realty Penn Co. and the United States of 
America, dated March 1, 1972, or any additions or modifications 
thereto. 
SEC. 4. The Architect of the Capitol may enter into a contract or 
other agreement with the Secretary of the Interior providing for the 
Architect of the Capitol to furnish steam from the Capitol Power 
Plant to the Union Station-National Visitor Center complex. Under 
PUBLIC LAW 96-610—DEC. 28, 1980 
94 STAT. 3565 
such contract, the Secretary of the Interior shall pay for such steam at 
rates, not less than cost, and shall connect the Union Station-
National Visitor Center complex with the Capitol Power Plant steam 
lines without expenses to the Congress. 
Approved December 28, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-902 accompanying H.R. 6674 (Comm. on Public Works and 
Transportation). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-775 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
Dec. 13, considered and passed Senate and House.