[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TRANSFER NAMES OF 
  FACILITIES, STRUCTURES, OR REAL PROPERTY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                                AFFAIRS

  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 3527) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer the name of property of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs designated by law to other property of 
the Department.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3527

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   TRANSFER NAMES OF FACILITIES, STRUCTURES, OR 
                   REAL PROPERTY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 531 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``Requirement'' and 
     inserting ``Requirements'';
       (2) by striking ``Except as expressly provided by law'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(a) Naming Limitation.--Except as expressly provided by 
     law or as authorized under subsection (b)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Transfer of Names.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may transfer the name of 
     covered property of the Department to other covered property 
     of the Department if--
       ``(A) the original covered property was designated with 
     that name by law;
       ``(B) the Department no longer offers benefits or services 
     at the original covered property;
       ``(C) the other covered property is similar in type and 
     purpose as the original covered property;
       ``(D) the other covered property is located in a different 
     location or at a different address from the original covered 
     property within the town, city, or other local government 
     area specified in the designation made by such law; and
       ``(E) such transfer occurs not less than 30 days after the 
     Secretary notifies the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives, and each member of Congress representing the 
     State in which the original covered property and other 
     covered property are located of the intent of the Secretary 
     to transfer the name of the original covered property to the 
     other covered property.
       ``(2) References.--If the Secretary transfers the name of 
     covered property under paragraph (1), any reference in a law, 
     regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States to the covered property originally named by law 
     shall be deemed to be a reference to the covered property to 
     which the name has been transferred under such paragraph.
       ``(3) Covered property.--In this subsection, the term 
     `covered property' means a facility, structure, or real 
     property of the Department or a major portion (such as a wing 
     or floor) of any such facility, structure, or real 
     property.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking the item relating to section 531 and 
     inserting the following new item:

``531. Requirements relating to naming of Department property.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Trone) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on S. 3527.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of S. 3527, a commonsense piece of legislation 
introduced by the chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, 
Jon Tester.
  The purpose of this bill is to ensure the Secretary has the authority 
to transfer the name of a facility to another physical property should 
VA decide it needs to relocate the facility. Such a relocation could 
occur if there is a need to increase clinic space or to move a facility 
closer to the veteran population.
  I hope my colleagues see the benefit of such authority and will join 
me in supporting this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3527.
  When Congress acts to name a VA medical facility in law, the name 
should stay with that facility even if it moves to another location in 
the same area. That is common sense, and it is what this bill would 
allow.
  A lot of thought and hard work goes into honoring a veteran or other 
individual by naming a VA facility after them. The person who is 
honored this way often has a storied history that becomes important to 
the veterans served by that facility. That should not be taken away, 
and it should not be taken lightly.
  I am grateful to Senator Tester for his work on this legislation. I 
urge all of my colleagues to join in supporting this bill today, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing S. 3527, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3527.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  May 16, 2022, on page H4991, in the second column the following 
appeared: The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, 
two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. MURPHY 
of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro 
tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the 
affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. 
Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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