§801. National Visitor Center; designation; parking facility; authorization of agreements and leases for use of Union Station

The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the "Secretary"), in consultation with the Administrator of General Services (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the "Administrator"), is authorized to negotiate and enter into agreements and leases with The Washington Terminal Company, its successors or assigns (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the "Company"), the owner of the property in the District of Columbia known as Union Station, for use of all or a part of such property for a national visitor center to be known as the National Visitor Center and a parking facility in connection therewith.

( Pub. L. 90–264, title I, §101, Mar. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 43 .)

Short Title of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–125, §1, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1667 , provided: "That this Act [enacting part B (§811 et seq.) of this subchapter, amending section 802 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 811 of this title and section 582 of Title 45, Railroads] may be cited as the 'Union Station Redevelopment Act of 1981'."

Short Title of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–610, §1, Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3564 , provided: "That this Act [enacting section 809 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 802 of this title] may be cited as the 'National Visitor Center Emergency Repair Act of 1980'."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 90–264 provided: "That this Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note under section 804 of this title] may be cited as the 'National Visitor Center Facilities Act of 1968'."

Capitol Grounds; Erection of Flagpoles and Improvement of Traffic

Pub. L. 94–320, June 25, 1976, 90 Stat. 711 , provided: "That, subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol and to such conditions as he may prescribe, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make such use of that portion of the United States Capitol Grounds adjacent or in close proximity to the sidewalks abutting the circular perimeter of the Union Station Plaza in front of Columbus Plaza and the National Visitor Center as may be necessary to enable the Secretary of the Interior to erect and maintain flagpoles to fly the flags of each of the States of the United States and its territories and possessions, generally as shown on NCPC Map File Numbered 1.11 (38.00)–27861.

"Sec. 2. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Architect of the Capitol is authorized, subject to the provisions of this Act and to such conditions as the Architect of the Capitol may prescribe, to enter into an agreement with the appropriate officials of the government of the District of Columbia pursuant to which the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to permit the government of the District of Columbia to utilize certain areas of the United States Capitol Grounds for the purpose of making certain street changes in order to coordinate and improve the flow of traffic to and from the United States Capitol Grounds and the National Visitor Center (formerly Union Station), and the flow of traffic within Union Station Plaza.

"(b) Pursuant to such agreement, the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to make available to the government of the District of Columbia, for the purposes referred to in subsection (a), certain portions of the United States Capitol Grounds as follows:

"(1) approximately two thousand one hundred square feet of land in Square 680, at the east end thereof, located within the United States Capitol Grounds adjacent to the Union Station Plaza, Massachusetts Avenue, and E Street Northeast, in order to enable the government of the District of Columbia to carry out the purposes referred to in subsection (a) of this section, and to change the curbline, and relocate existing sidewalks and curbs, to conform to such street change;

"(2) approximately three thousand five hundred square feet of land in Square 723, at the northwest end thereof, located within the United States Capitol Grounds adjacent to the Union Station Plaza, First Street, and Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, in order to enable the government of the District of Columbia to carry out the purposes referred to in subsection (a) of this section, and to change the curbline, and relocate existing sidewalks and curbs, to conform to such street change; and

"(3) approximately four hundred square feet of land in Square 721, at the southwest end thereof, located within the United States Capitol Grounds adjacent to the Union Station Plaza and Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, in order to enable the government of the District of Columbia to carry out the purposes referred to in subsection (a) of this section, and to change the curbline, and relocate existing sidewalks and curbs, to conform to such street change.

"Sec. 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to grant to the Secretary of the Interior or to the government of the District of Columbia any right, title, or interest in or to any part of the United States Capitol Grounds and such area affected by this Act or any agreement pursuant thereto shall continue to be a part of the United States Capitol Grounds. All areas of the United States Capitol Grounds, including sidewalks, lawns and other growth, streets, and curblines, disturbed by reason of operations pursuant to this Act shall be promptly relocated or restored by the Secretary of the Interior or the government of the District of Columbia, as the case may be, in a manner approved by, and satisfactory to the Architect of the Capitol.

"Sec. 4. The Congress shall not incur any expense, liability, obligation, or other responsibility (operational or otherwise), under or by reason of this Act, or any agreement pursuant to this Act, or be liable under any claim of any nature or kind that may arise from either the construction, operation, or maintenance of the flagpoles authorized by this Act, or from carrying out any agreement pursuant to this Act."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 802 of this title.