---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 3477"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "3477"
heading: "Acquisition and maintenance of property"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/3477"
units:
  - "Chapter 48 — Department of Education"
  - "Subchapter IV — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Part B — General Administrative Provisions"
---

# §3477. Acquisition and maintenance of property

- (a) **Authorized properties; establishment of necessary facilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/3404.md?p=2) is authorized—
  - (1) to acquire (by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise), construct, improve, repair, operate, and maintain—
    - (A) schools and related facilities (but only to the extent that operation of schools and related facilities by the [Department](/usc/20/3404.md?p=1) is authorized by this chapter);
    - (B) laboratories;
    - (C) research and testing sites and facilities;
    - (D) quarters and related accommodations for employees and dependents of employees of the [Department](/usc/20/3404.md?p=1); and
    - (E) personal property (including patents), or any interest therein,

    as may be necessary; and

  - (2) to provide by contract or otherwise for the establishment of eating facilities and other necessary facilities for the health and welfare of employees of the [Department](/usc/20/3404.md?p=1) at its installations, and purchase and maintain equipment therefor.
- (b) **Day care center facilities—** The authority available to the [Secretary](/usc/20/3404.md?p=2) of Health, Education, and Welfare under [section 2564 of this title](/usc/20/2564.md), shall also be available to the [Secretary](/usc/20/3404.md?p=2).
- (c) **Special purpose facilities—** The authority granted by [subsection (a)](#a) of this section shall be available only with respect to facilities of a special purpose nature that cannot readily be reassigned from similar Federal activities and are not otherwise available for assignment to the [Department](/usc/20/3404.md?p=1) by the Administrator of General Services.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–88, title IV, § 417, Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 685.)