HR194-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Venue Named Under Exception Act or the VENUE Act.

2. Venue for certain offenses Chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: In the case of an offense that is committed in the National Capital Region on property under the control of the Federal Government, an indictment or information shall be filed in the district of the last known residence of the offender or of any one of two or more joint offenders, or if no such residence is known, the indictment or information may be filed in the District of Columbia. Notwithstanding subsection (a), a district court shall, upon motion of the defendant, grant a transfer of an indictment or information to the district court encompassing the jurisdiction where the defendant is domiciled. If multiple defendants file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1), the district court shall grant the motion of the defendant who filed the motion first. A defendant not domiciled in the United States may not file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1). In this section: The term National Capital Region means the geographic area located within the boundaries of— the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in the State of Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and all cities and other units of government within the geographic areas of such District, Counties, and City. The term property under the control of the Federal Government means property owned or leased by the United States, or any agency thereof, except in the case of the United States Postal Service. This section shall apply to any offense with respect to which a trial has not been scheduled as of the date of enactment of this section. This section shall only apply to an offense not otherwise subject to section 3235, 3236, 3237, 3238, 3239, 3241, 3242, 3243 or 3244. The table of sections for chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3245.Offenses committed in the National Capital Region(a)Offenses in National Capital RegionIn the case of an offense that is committed in the National Capital Region on property under the control of the Federal Government, an indictment or information shall be filed in the district of the last known residence of the offender or of any one of two or more joint offenders, or if no such residence is known, the indictment or information may be filed in the District of Columbia.(b)Transfer(1)Right to transferNotwithstanding subsection (a), a district court shall, upon motion of the defendant, grant a transfer of an indictment or information to the district court encompassing the jurisdiction where the defendant is domiciled.(2)Multiple defendantsIf multiple defendants file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1), the district court shall grant the motion of the defendant who filed the motion first.(3)Defendants not domiciled in the United StatesA defendant not domiciled in the United States may not file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1).(c)DefinitionIn this section:(1)The term National Capital Region means the geographic area located within the boundaries of—(A)the District of Columbia;(B)Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in the State of Maryland;(C)Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and(D)all cities and other units of government within the geographic areas of such District, Counties, and City.(2)The term property under the control of the Federal Government means property owned or leased by the United States, or any agency thereof, except in the case of the United States Postal Service.(d)Pending casesThis section shall apply to any offense with respect to which a trial has not been scheduled as of the date of enactment of this section.(e)LimitationThis section shall only apply to an offense not otherwise subject to section 3235, 3236, 3237, 3238, 3239, 3241, 3242, 3243 or 3244.. 3245. Offenses committed in the National Capital Region..

3245. Offenses committed in the National Capital Region In the case of an offense that is committed in the National Capital Region on property under the control of the Federal Government, an indictment or information shall be filed in the district of the last known residence of the offender or of any one of two or more joint offenders, or if no such residence is known, the indictment or information may be filed in the District of Columbia. Notwithstanding subsection (a), a district court shall, upon motion of the defendant, grant a transfer of an indictment or information to the district court encompassing the jurisdiction where the defendant is domiciled. If multiple defendants file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1), the district court shall grant the motion of the defendant who filed the motion first. A defendant not domiciled in the United States may not file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1). In this section: The term National Capital Region means the geographic area located within the boundaries of— the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in the State of Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and all cities and other units of government within the geographic areas of such District, Counties, and City. The term property under the control of the Federal Government means property owned or leased by the United States, or any agency thereof, except in the case of the United States Postal Service. This section shall apply to any offense with respect to which a trial has not been scheduled as of the date of enactment of this section. This section shall only apply to an offense not otherwise subject to section 3235, 3236, 3237, 3238, 3239, 3241, 3242, 3243 or 3244.