[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H2215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. GOHMERT:
       H.R. 1297.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution 
     sets for the power of appropriations states that ``No Money 
     shall be drawn from the Treasury but in Consequence of 
     Appropriations made by Law . . . .''
       In addition, Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 states that 
     ``The Congress shall have the Power . . . to pay the Debts 
     and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the 
     United States. . . .''
       Also, Article I, Section 8, Clauses 12 and 13 states that 
     Congress shall have power ``[t]o raise and support Armies . . 
     .'' and ``[t]o provide and maintain a Navy.''
       Together, these specific constitutional provisions 
     establish the congressional power of the purse, granting 
     Congress the authority to appropriate funds to ensure that 
     U.S. servicemembers will not lose pay due to a funding gap.