[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 84 (Thursday, June 17, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H4434-H4435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PERMISSION TO INSERT EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ON H.R. 4520, AMERICAN JOBS 
                          CREATION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that an exchange of 
letters between the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the 
chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, and the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the Committee on the 
Judiciary, be made a part of the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                     Committee on Agriculture,

                                    Washington, DC, June 10, 2004.
     Hon. Bill Thomas,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thomas: I am writing concerning the markup of 
     H.R. 4520, the ``American Jobs Creation Act of 2004,'' which 
     is scheduled for Monday, June 14, 2004.
       As you know, the Committee on Agriculture has jurisdiction 
     over matters concerning reforms to Federal tobacco programs. 
     Title VII of the introduced bill involves an effort to reform 
     the market for tobacco growers and thus falls within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture.
       However, in order to expedite this legislation for floor 
     consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this bill. 
     This is being done with the understanding that it does not in 
     any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the 
     appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this or similar legislation.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming 
     this understanding with respect to H.R. 4520, and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration.
           Best regards,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                    Washington, DC, June 10, 2004.
     Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Goodlatte: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding H.R. 4520, the ``American Jobs Creation Act of 
     2004.'' As you have noted, the Committee has scheduled to 
     hold a markup of H.R. 4520 on Monday, June 14, 2004. I 
     appreciate your agreement to expedite the passage of this 
     legislation although it contains provisions within your 
     Committee's jurisdiction. I acknowledge your decision to 
     forego further action on the bill is based on the 
     understanding that it will not prejudice the Committee on 
     Agriculture with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     or the appointment of conferees on this or similar 
     legislation.
       Our committees have worked closely together on this 
     important initiative, and I am very pleased we are continuing 
     that cooperation. Your leadership on agricultural issues is 
     critical to the success of this bill. I appreciate your 
     helping us to move this legislation quickly to the floor.

[[Page H4435]]

       Finally, I will include in the Congressional Record a copy 
     of our exchange of letters on this matter. Thank you for your 
     assistance and cooperation. We look forward to working with 
     you in the future.
           Best regards,
                                                      Bill Thomas,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                    Washington, DC, June 14, 2004.
     Hon. Bill Thomas,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thomas: In recognition of the desire to 
     expedite floor consideration of H.R. 4520, the ``American 
     Jobs Creation Act of 2004,'' the Committee on the Judiciary 
     hereby waives consideration of the bill.
       Certain sections of H.R. 4520 contain matters within the 
     Committee on the Judiciary's Rule X jurisdiction: Section 416 
     (extension of provision allowing disclosure of tax 
     information for law enforcement and terrorism investigation 
     purposes); Section 613 (limitation on tax practitioners' 
     privilege that applied in Federal courts); Section 620 
     (creation of civil action to enjoin tax shelters); Section 
     657(b) (increased criminal penalty for failure to register); 
     Section 658 (treatment of court jurisdiction for collection 
     on customs bond); Section 681 (creation of civil action 
     against private collection agents); and Section 691 (study of 
     DHS fees to the extent that it covers fees of components over 
     which the Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction). 
     Because of the need to expedite this legislation, I will not 
     seek a sequential referral of this legislation.
       The Committee on the Judiciary takes this action with the 
     understanding that the Committee's jurisdiction over these 
     provisions is in no way diminished or altered. I would 
     appreciate your including this letter in your Committee's 
     report on H.R. 4520 and the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the legislation on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                      F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                    Washington, DC, June 15, 2004.
     Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Sensenbrenner: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding H.R. 4520, the ``American Jobs Creation Act of 
     2004.'' The Committee on Ways and Means ordered favorably 
     reported, as amended, H.R. 4520, the ``American Jobs Creation 
     Act of 2004,'' on Monday, June 14, 2004. I appreciate your 
     agreement to expedite the passage of this legislation 
     although it contains several judicial and court provisions 
     which are shared with your Committee's jurisdiction. I 
     acknowledge your decision to forego further action on the 
     bill is based on the understanding that it will not prejudice 
     the Committee on the Judiciary with respect to its 
     jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar legislation.
       Our committees have long collaborated on these important 
     initiatives, and I am very pleased we are continuing that 
     cooperation. Your leadership on judicial issues is critical 
     to the success of this bill. I appreciate your helping us to 
     move this legislation quickly to the floor.
       Finally, I will include in the Congressional Record a copy 
     of our exchange of letters on this matter. Thank you for your 
     assistance and cooperation. We look forward to working with 
     you in the future.
           Best regards,
                                                      Bill Thomas,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________