Principal Office of United State Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and Sense of Congress Regarding New Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center

PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NEW VETERANS COURTHOUSE AND JUSTICE CENTER -- (House of Representatives - July 20, 2004)

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3936) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the principal office of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be at any location in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, rather than only in the District of Columbia, and expressing the sense of Congress that a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should be provided for that Court and those it serves and should be located, if feasible, at a site owned by the United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon Reservation, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3936
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS.
Section 7255 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking "District of Columbia" and inserting "Washington, D.C., metropolitan area".
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NEW VETERANS COURTHOUSE AND JUSTICE CENTER.
(a) Findings.-Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Every Article I court of the United States other than the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is located in a dedicated courthouse.
(2) The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has since its creation in 1988 been located in a commercial office building in the District of Columbia.
(3) That court should be housed in a dedicated courthouse, as are all other Article I courts.
(4) A dedicated courthouse for that court constituting a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center would express the gratitude and respect of the Nation for the sacrifices of those serving and those who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families.
(5) Location of such a courthouse and judicial center in an area proximate to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Air Force Memorial (as planned) in Arlington, Virginia would be symbolically significant of the high esteem that the Nation holds for its veterans.
(b) Sense of Congress.-It is the sense of Congress that-
(1) a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should be provided for the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and
(2) the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Administrator of General Services, should determine the feasibility of locating such a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center at an appropriate site owned by the United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, Virginia.
© Report.-Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Administrator of General Services shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a joint report on the feasibility of locating a new Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center at an appropriate site owned by the United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, Virginia.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each will control 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

[Time: 17:30]

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3936, a bill to authorize the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, now located in commercial office space in the District of Columbia, to seek a new location in the greater national capital region. This bill would also express the sense of Congress that a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should be provided for the court and the veterans it serves. It should be located, or would be located, if feasible, next to Interstate Highway 395 on one of three small parking lots that are part of the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, Virginia.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was created by statute in 1988 as an independent article I judicial tribunal that for the first time gave our Nation's veterans the right to judicial review of benefits decisions on their disability, pension, education and other claims. It should, like all other article I courts, have a permanent courthouse.

In addition to the court, occupants of the new courthouse would be representatives of veterans that regularly practice before the court, for example, the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, the National Veterans Legal Services Program, and the appellate attorneys of veterans service organizations. The court and the offices of its constituents pay over $3.7 million per year for their rent. The General Services Administration anticipates that the court's rental costs will increase substantially in the not-too-distant future. Therefore, the committee believes that it would be desirable to relocate the court on a government-owned site if possible.

H.R. 3936 would also require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of General Services to submit a joint report to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs on the feasibility of locating a new Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center at an appropriate site owned by the U.S. that is part of or near the Pentagon Reservation.

Madam Speaker, we have veterans or their survivors from all of the wars in which our country fought in the 20th century, and we are now engaged in a global war on terrorism. I cannot imagine a better use for one of the present parking lots near the Pentagon than a stand-alone dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center to embody the gratitude and the respect this Nation has for these men and women who have served and are serving their country so well.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the full committee, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), our ranking member, as well as our chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), for their work in bringing this bill before the House this afternoon.

H.R. 3936 will honor our veterans by supporting the establishment of a dedicated courthouse for the United States Courts of Appeal For Veterans Claims in the greater Washington, D.C. area. It is strongly supported by Members from both sides of the aisle.

H.R. 3936 shows support for our Nation's veterans, especially those who must avail themselves of a Federal court system in order to obtain the benefits that they have earned by military service. I hope that by establishing a separate, dedicated courthouse for veterans' claims, there will ease any confusion veterans may have about the role of this court as part of the Federal judicial system, and not part of the VA, and that this will streamline and facilitate the adjudication process.

The establishment of this courthouse will also improve the security of the court. The events of September 11, 2001, have made clear the need for appropriate security in government buildings. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is currently located above a parking area which creates a serious security risk. This bill recommends a location for the court on land near the Pentagon. I believe this is an appropriate site.

H.R. 3936 is a bill which deserves the support of all Members of this House, and I urge them to do so.
Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert in the RECORD a letter from the Committee on Armed Services and an additional letter concerning H.R. 3936.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES,
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Washington, DC, June 21, 2004.
Hon. Christopher Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Armed Services in matters being considered in H.R. 3936, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the principal office of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be at any location in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, rather than only in the District of Columbia, and expressing the sense of Congress that a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should be provided for that Court and those it serves and should be located, if feasible, at a site owned by the United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon Reservation, and for other purposes.

Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 3936 and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously.

Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over a number of provisions of the bill, I do not intend to request a sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forego a sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services.

Additionally, the Committee on Armed Services asks that you support our request to be conferees on the provisions over which we have jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference. The Committee also asks that this letter and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs response be included in the Congressional Record.
With best wishes.
Sincerely,
Duncan Hunter,
Chairman.
--
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS,
Washington, DC, June 25, 2004.
Hon. DUNCAN HUNTER,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your letter of June 21, 2004, regarding the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Armed Services in the bill H.R. 3936, to authorize the principal office of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be at any location in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, rather than only in the District of Columbia, and expressing the sense of Congress that a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center should be provided for that Court and those it serves and should be located, if feasible, at a site owned by the United States that is part of or proximate to the Pentagon Reservation, and for other purposes. This bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and additionally to the Committee on Armed Services.

Your willingness to forego a sequential referral to expedite House consideration of H.R. 3936 is most appreciated. I recognize that the Committee on Armed Services has a valid claim to jurisdiction over certain provisions of the bill, and this decision to forego sequential referral is not construed by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs as affecting the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services over the bill or as a precedent for other bills. In addition, if a conference on H.R. 3936 should become necessary, I will support any request by you for the Committee on Armed Services to be represented on the conference. Finally, because the bill report was submitted on June 9, 2004, I will include your letter and this reply in the Congressional Record during House consideration of H.R. 3936.

Thank you for your cooperation on this matter of interest to both of our committees, and I look forward to working with you again on other matters.

Sincerely,
Christopher H. Smith,
Chairman.

GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3936.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?

There was no objection.

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), of the Subcommittee on Benefits for their strong support and work in crafting this legislation; and to my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member on the full committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3936.

The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

END