[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2854 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2854

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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).
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