S. 35: Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-05 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Became Public Law No: 115-175.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-05 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 187 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S35 (2018-05-16), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 115-175. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act

Plain summary

Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act (Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) complete environmental, cultural resource, and other due diligence activities on certain federal land to confirm its suitability for inclusion in the Black Hills National Cemetery, South Dakota; and (2) notify, and coordinate with, the Department of the Interior regarding such activities. After completion of such activities and upon receipt by Interior of written confirmation of suitability from the VA, the land shall: (1) be withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws, for as long as it remains under VA administrative jurisdiction; (2) be treated as property; and (3) be transferred, except for the land within 100 feet of the center of the Centennial Trail, from Interior to the VA for use as a national cemetery. Interior shall publish a notice containing the legal descriptions of such transferred land. The VA shall reimburse Interior for reasonable transfer costs, including survey costs. The cemetery's boundary is modified to include such federal land.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 35, Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act (2017-04-10); CBO cost estimate: S. 35, Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act (2018-03-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Rounds (R-SD)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] reported raising $4.7 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 187 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S35 (2018-05-16): Passed

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s35.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s35 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115