January 3, 2025
Mr. Self (for himself and Mr. Nehls) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, to modify venue for certain offenses.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Venue Named Under Exception Act
or the VENUE Act
.
Sec. 2. Venue for certain offenses
(a) In general
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 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.
(b) Transfer
(1) Right to transfer
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.
(2) Multiple defendants
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.
(3) Defendants not domiciled in the United States
A defendant not domiciled in the United States may not file a motion to transfer an indictment or information under paragraph (1).
(c) Definition
In this section:
(1)
The term
National Capital Regionmeans 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 Governmentmeans property owned or leased by the United States, or any agency thereof, except in the case of the United States Postal Service.(d) Pending cases
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.
(e) Limitation
This section shall only apply to an offense not otherwise subject to section 3235, 3236, 3237, 3238, 3239, 3241, 3242, 3243 or 3244.
(b) Clerical amendment
The table of sections for chapter 211 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: