[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1004-E1005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5136) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chair, I would like to submit the following exchange 
of letters:

                                            Committee on Education


                                                    and Labor,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Re Corrected Bill Number.

     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Skelton: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Education and 
     Labor in matters being considered in H.R. 5136, the National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.
       Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 5136 and 
     the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. 
     Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over 
     the bill, I do not intend to request a sequential referral. 
     This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding 
     that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forego a 
     sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise affects the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor, and 
     that a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging 
     our jurisdictional interest will be included in the Committee 
     Report and as part of the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill by the House.
       The Committee on Education and Labor also asks that you 
     support our request to be conferees on the provisions over 
     which we have jurisdiction during any House-Senate 
     conference.
       Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                    George Miller,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. George Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011. I agree that the Committee on Education and Labor has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to schedule a mark-up of this bill in the 
     interest of expediting consideration. I agree that by 
     agreeing to waive consideration of certain provisions of the 
     bill, the Committee on Education and Labor is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction over these matters. Should this bill or similar 
     legislation be the subject of a House-Senate conference, I 
     will support the appointment of conferees from the Committee 
     on Education and Labor.
       This exchange of letters will be included in the committee 
     report on the bill.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of 
           Representatives,
                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Skelton: I am writing regarding H.R. 5136, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. 
     As you know, the Committee on Energy and Commerce has 
     jurisdictional interest in a number of provisions of this 
     bill.
       In light of the interest in moving this bill forward 
     promptly, I do not intend to exercise the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce by seeking sequential 
     referral of H.R. 5136. I do this, however, only with the 
     understanding that forgoing consideration of H.R. 5136 at 
     this time will not be construed as prejudicing this 
     Committee's jurisdictional interests and prerogatives on the 
     subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. In 
     addition, we reserve the right to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference named to consider such provisions.
       I would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011. I agree that the Committee on Energy and Commerce has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to schedule a mark-up of this bill in the 
     interest of expediting consideration. I agree that by 
     agreeing to waive consideration of certain provisions of the 
     bill, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction over these matters. Should this bill or similar 
     legislation be the subject of a House-Senate conference, I 
     will support the appointment of conferees from the Committee 
     on Energy and Commerce.
       This exchange of letters will be included in the committee 
     report on the bill.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                  Committee on Financial Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Skelton: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 5136, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. While this 
     legislation as reported contains subject matter within the 
     jurisdiction of Committee on Financial Services, the 
     committee waives consideration of the bill in order to 
     expedite floor consideration of this important legislation.
       The Committee on Financial Services takes this action only 
     with the understanding that the committee's jurisdictional 
     interests over this and similar legislation are in no way 
     diminished or altered.
       The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment 
     to any House-Senate conference on this legislation and 
     requests your support if such a request is made. Finally, I 
     would appreciate your including this letter in the committee 
     report or in the Congressional Record during consideration of 
     H.R. 5136 on the House Floor. Thank you for your attention to 
     these matters.
                                                     Barney Frank,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Barney Frank,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011. I agree that the Committee on Financial Services has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to schedule a mark-up of this bill

[[Page E1005]]

     in the interest of expediting consideration. I agree that by 
     agreeing to waive consideration of certain provisions of the 
     bill, the Committee on Financial Services is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction over these matters. Should this bill or similar 
     legislation be the subject of a House-Senate conference, I 
     will support the appointment of conferees from the Committee 
     on Financial Services.
       This exchange of letters will be included in the committee 
     report on the bill.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                     Committee on Foreign Affairs,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Bldg., Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011.
       This bill contains provisions within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the 
     interest of permitting your Committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive this Committee's right to mark up this 
     bill. I do so with the understanding that by waiving 
     consideration of the bill, the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its 
     Rule X jurisdiction.
       Further, I request your support for the appointment of 
     Foreign Affairs Committee conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation.
       Please include a copy of this letter and your response in 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure 
     on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Howard L. Berman,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Howard Berman,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011. I agree that the Committee on Foreign Affairs has valid 
     jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this important 
     legislation, and I am most appreciative of your decision not 
     to schedule a mark-up of this bill in the interest of 
     expediting consideration. I agree that by agreeing to waive 
     consideration of certain provisions of the bill, the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs is not waiving its jurisdiction 
     over these matters. Should this bill or similar legislation 
     be the subject of a House-Senate conference, I will support 
     the appointment of conferees from the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs.
       This exchange of letters will be included in the committee 
     report on the bill.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
                                                         Chairman.
                                   Committee on Homeland Security,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 20, 2010.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Skelton: I write to you regarding H.R. 5136, 
     the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011,'' introduced on April 26, 2010.
       H.R. 5136 contains provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security. I 
     recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this 
     legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, 
     accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the 
     bill. However, agreeing to waive consideration of this bill 
     should not be construed as the Committee on Homeland Security 
     waiving, altering, or otherwise affecting its jurisdiction 
     over subject matters contained in the bill which fall within 
     its Rule X jurisdiction.
       Further, I request your support for the appointment of 
     Homeland Security conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this or similar legislation. I also 
     ask that a copy of this letter and your response be placed in 
     the Committee Report accompanying the legislation and the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.
       I look forward to working with you on this legislation and 
     other matters of great importance to this nation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2010.
     Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of 
         Representatives, Ford Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2011. I agree that the Committee on Homeland Security has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to schedule a mark-up of this bill in the 
     interest of expediting consideration. I agree that by 
     agreeing to waive consideration of certain provisions of the 
     bill, the Committee on Homeland Security is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction over these matters. Should this bill or similar 
     legislation be the subject of a House-Senate conference, I 
     will support the appointment of conferees from the Committee 
     on Homeland Security.
       This exchange of letters will be included in the committee 
     report on the bill.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________