[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 172 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5103-S5104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REQUIRING 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

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration 
of

[[Page S5104]]

S. 2854 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (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.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged and the Senate 
proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2854) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                S. 2854

       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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