HR 10159: To authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey to the State of North Carolina a certain parcel of real property located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on which the State shall construct a veterans’ State home, and for other purposes.

HR 10159 in plain English: This bill authorizes the U.S. Army to transfer a 20-acre parcel of land at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the State of North Carolina at no cost, so the state can build a veterans' home for disabled veterans. North Carolina must pay all costs related to the transfer. If the property stops being used as a veterans' home, ownership reverts to the federal government.

Stated purpose

To allow the Army to transfer a 20-acre parcel of land at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the State of North Carolina at no cost, so the state can build a home for disabled veterans.

Key points

• Transfers a specific 20-acre parcel at Fort Bragg (Parcel 3B) to North Carolina at no cost to the federal government.
• North Carolina must cover all costs associated with carrying out the land conveyance.
• The land must be used to construct a state veterans' home for disabled veterans unable to earn a living.
• Property reverts to the U.S. government if it is no longer used for veterans' home purposes.

Arguments supporters make

• Transferring unused military land for a veterans' home is a practical way to serve those who served, at little direct cost to the federal government.
• Placing the home on Fort Bragg puts veterans close to existing military support services and infrastructure that can benefit their care.
• The bill passed both chambers with unanimous consent, suggesting broad, bipartisan agreement that the benefit to veterans justifies the land transfer.

Arguments opponents make

• Giving away federal land without compensation means the public receives no financial return for an asset that may have other valuable uses or sale potential.
• North Carolina bears all transfer costs with no federal financial contribution toward actually building or operating the home, which could slow or limit the project.
• The reversionary clause gives the federal government broad, open-ended authority to reclaim the property, creating long-term uncertainty for the state's investment in construction and operations.

Tradeoffs

The federal government gives up a 20-acre parcel of publicly owned land at no payment in order to expand care options for disabled veterans; this maximizes veteran benefit but forgoes any revenue the land might otherwise generate for taxpayers.

Current status in Congress: Passed both chambers.

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