An Act to authorize certain flagpoles to be located on the Capitol Grounds, and to improve the flow of traffic to and from the United States Capitol Grounds and the National Visitor Center.
PL 94-320 (S.3161), enacted 06/25/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-320--JUNE 25, 1976 
90 STAT. 711 
Public Law 94-320 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize certain flagpoles to be located on the Capitol Grounds, and to 
improve the flow of traflic to and from the United States Capitol Grounds 
and the National Visitor Center. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That, subject to the 
approval of the Architect of the Capitol and to such conditions as he 
may prescribe, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make such 
use of that portion of the United States Capitol Grounds adjacent or in 
close proximity to the sidewalks abutting the circular perimeter of the 
Union Station Plaza in front of Columbus Plaza and the National 
Visitor Center as may be necessary to enable the Secretary of the 
Interior' to erect and maintain flagpoles to fly the flags of each of the 
States of the United States and its territories and possessions, gen-
erally as shown on NCPC Map File Numbered 1.11 (38.00)-27861. 
SEC. 2, (a) Notwithstanding anj^ other provision of law, the Archi-
tect of the Capitol is authorized, subject to the provisions of this Act 
and to such conditions as the Architect of the Capitol may prescribe, 
to enter into an agreement with the appropriate officials of the govern-
ment of the District of Columbia pursuant to which the Architect 
of the Capitol is authorized to permit the government of the District 
of Columbia to utilize certain areas of the United States Capitol 
Grounds for the purpose of making certain street changes in order 
to coordinate and improve the flow of traffic to and from the United 
States Capitol Grounds and the National Visitor Center (formerly 
Union Station), and the flow of traffic within Union Station Plaza. 
(b) Pursuant to such agreement, the Architect of the Capitol is 
authorized to make available to the government of the District of 
Columbia, for the purposes referred to in subsection (a), certain por-
tions of the United States Capitol Grounds as follows: 
(1) approximately two thousand one hundred square feet of 
land in Square 680, at the east end thereof, located within the 
United States Capitol Grounds adjacent to the Union Station 
Plaza, Massachusetts Avenue, and E Street Northeast, in order to 
enable the government of the District of Columbia to carry out 
the purposes referred to in subsection (a) of this section, and to 
change the curbline, and relocate existing sidewalks and curbs, 
to conform to such street change; 
(2) approximately three thousand five hundred square feet of 
land in Square 723, at the northwest end thereof, located within 
the United States Capitol Grounds adjacent to the Union Station 
Plaza, First Street, and Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, in order 
to enable the government of the District of Columbia to carry 
out the purposes referred to in subsection (a) of this section, 
and to change the curbline, and relocate existing sidewalks and 
curbs, to conform to such street change; and 
(3) approximately four hundred square feet of land in Square 
721, at the southwest end thereof, located within the United States 
Capitol Grounds adjacent to the Union Station Plaza and Mas-
sachusetts Avenue Northeast, in order to enable the government 
June 25. 1976 
[S. 31611 
U.S. Capitol 
Grounds. 
U.S. State flags, 
placement; flow 
of traffic, 
improvement. 
40 u s e 801 note. 
90 STAT. 712 
PUBLIC LAW 94-320—JUNE 25, 1976 
of the District of Columbia to carry out the purposes referred 
to in subsection (a) of this section, and to change the curbline, 
and relocate existing sidewalks and curbs, to conform to such 
' 
street change. 
SEC. 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to grant to the Sec-
retary of the Interior or to the government of the District of Columbia 
any right, title, or interest in or to any part of the United States 
Capitol Grounds and such area affected by this Act or any agreement 
pursuant thereto shall continue to be a part of the United States 
Capitol Grounds. All areas of the United States Capitol Grounds, 
including sidewalks, lawns and other growth, streets, and curblines, 
disturbed by reason of operations pursuant to this Act shall be 
promptly relocated or restored by the Secretary of the Interior or the 
government of the District of Columbia, as the case may be, in a man-
ner approved by, and satisfactory to the Architect of the Capitol. 
r: 
SEC. 4. The Congress shall not incur any expense, liability, obliga-
tion, or other responsibility (operational or otherwise), under or by 
reason of this Act, or any agreement pursuant to this Act, or be liable 
under any claim of any nature or kind that may arise from either the 
construction, operation, or maintenance of the flagpoles authorized by 
this Act, or from carrying out any agreement pursuant to this Act. 
Approved June 25, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-1078 (Comm. on Public Works and Transportation). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-699 (Comm. on Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol 122 (1976): 
Mar. 18, considered and passed Senate. 
May 17, considered and passed House, amended. 
June 15, Senate concurred in House amendment.