Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51; 117th Congress)/Title II/Subtitle A

by Eleanor Holmes Norton

SEC. 201. TREATMENT OF MILITARY LANDS.

(a) Reservation Of Federal Authority.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (b) and notwithstanding the admission of the State into the Union, authority is reserved in the United States for the exercise by Congress of the power of exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such tracts or parcels of land located in the State that, on the day before the date of the admission of the State into the Union, are controlled or owned by the United States and held for defense or Coast Guard purposes.

(2) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY.—The power of exclusive legislation described in paragraph (1) shall vest and remain in the United States only so long as the particular tract or parcel of land involved is controlled or owned by the United States and held for defense or Coast Guard purposes.

(b) Authority Of State.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The reservation of authority in the United States under subsection (a) shall not operate to prevent such tracts or parcels of land from being a part of the State, or to prevent the State from exercising over or upon such lands, concurrently with the United States, any jurisdiction which it would have in the absence of such reservation of authority and which is consistent with the laws hereafter enacted by Congress pursuant to such reservation of authority.

(2) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—The State shall have the right to serve civil or criminal process in such tracts or parcels of land in which the authority of the United States is reserved under subsection (a) in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed in the State but outside of such lands.

SEC. 202. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO FEDERAL PROPERTY.

(a) In General.—As a compact with the United States, the State and its people disclaim all right and title to any real or personal property not granted or confirmed to the State by or under the authority of this Act, the right or title to which is held by the United States or subject to disposition by the United States.

(b) Effect On Claims Against United States.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act shall recognize, deny, enlarge, impair, or otherwise affect any claim against the United States, and any such claim shall be governed by applicable laws of the United States.

(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act is intended or shall be construed as a finding, interpretation, or construction by Congress that any applicable law authorizes, establishes, recognizes, or confirms the validity or invalidity of any claim referred to in paragraph (1), and the determination of the applicability to or the effect of any law on any such claim shall be unaffected by anything in this Act.