S. 3527Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)Enacted

A bill 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.

Sponsored by Jon TesterSen. Jon Tester (D-MT)
Introduced January 19, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:55 AM UTC

The bill changes the rules for naming Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property. It lets the Secretary of Veterans Affairs move the name of a VA facility, structure, or piece of real property to another similar VA property when the original no longer provides benefits or services. The change applies to any VA property that was originally named by law and requires notice to congressional veterans committees and the members of Congress from the states involved.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary may transfer a name from one VA "covered property" to another similar property if the original was named by law, no longer offers services, the new property is of the same type and purpose, and is located within the same local government area.
  • A minimum of 30 days’ notice must be given to the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs committees and each member of Congress from the states where the two properties are located before the name transfer.
  • After a transfer, any reference in laws, regulations, maps, or other official records to the original property is treated as referring to the new property with the transferred name.
  • The heading of 38 U.S.C. §531 is changed to "Requirements" and the section’s language is updated to allow name transfers, with a clerical update to the table of sections reflecting the new title.

Legislative Activity

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18 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 117-137.

June 7, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 19, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

January 19, 2022

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

February 3, 2022

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S527-528)

February 3, 2022

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

February 3, 2022

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

February 7, 2022

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

February 7, 2022 • 5:27 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

February 7, 2022 • 8:20 PM

HouseFloor

Mr. Trone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

May 16, 2022 • 3:24 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4991)

May 16, 2022 • 3:25 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3527.

May 16, 2022 • 3:25 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

May 16, 2022 • 3:28 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5079)

May 17, 2022 • 7:16 PM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 2 (Roll no. 198).

May 17, 2022 • 7:25 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 2 (Roll no. 198). (text: 05/16/2022 CR H4991)

May 17, 2022 • 7:25 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

May 17, 2022 • 7:25 PM

President

Presented to President.

June 6, 2022

Became Law

Signed by President.

June 7, 2022

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 117-137.

June 7, 2022

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about S. 3527 on the floor

2 Republicans2 Democrats
David J. Trone
Rep. David J. TroneD-MD-6 · May 16, 2022

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…

Mike Bost
Rep. Mike BostR-IL-12 · May 16, 2022

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…

Ron Wyden
Sen. Ron WydenD-OR · Feb 3, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3527. Mr. President, I ask unanimous…

Dan Bishop
Rep. Dan BishopR-NC-9 · May 16, 2022

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America

2d Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty two

S. 3527

AN ACT

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.

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:

.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate