[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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