[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E841-E842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4310) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I submit the following letters:

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I write concerning H.R. 4310, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, as 
     amended. There are certain provisions in the legislation 
     which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       However, in order to expedite this legislation for floor 
     consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this bill. 
     This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding 
     that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice 
     the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or 
     to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters 
     contained in the bill or similar legislation which fall 
     within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you 
     urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any 
     conference committee named to consider such provisions.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee 
     report on H.R. 4310 and into the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the measure on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                     John L. Mica,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. John Mica,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2013. I agree that the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure has valid jurisdictional claims to certain 
     provisions in this important legislation, and I am most 
     appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in 
     the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree 
     that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters will be 
     included in the committee report on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                        Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                                         Chairman.
                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on financial Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Financial 
     Services in H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2013. The bill contains provisions that fall 
     within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Financial 
     Services under rule X of the Rules of the House of 
     Representatives.
       In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive the Committee on Financial Services' 
     right to a sequential referral. I make this commitment with 
     the mutual understanding that this will not prejudice the 
     Committee on Financial Services with respect to its 
     prerogatives on this or similar legislation. Further, it is 
     our mutual understanding that the Committee on Financial 
     Services be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill 
     or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address 
     any issues relating to the provisions that fall in our 
     jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek 
     appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any 
     House-Senate conference involving this or similar 
     legislation, and requests your support of any such request.
       Further, I appreciate your agreement to include this letter 
     and a copy of your response acknowledging our jurisdictional 
     interest on this matter in your committee report and in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 4310.
       Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Spencer Bachus,
                                                         Chairman.
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Spencer Bachus,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2013. I agree that the Committee on Financial Services has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to a certain provision in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to request a referral in the interest of 
     expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by 
     foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on Financial 
     Services is not waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this 
     exchange of letters will be included in the committee report 
     on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                        Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                                         Chairman.
         House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, 
           and Technology,
                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology in H.R. 4310, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.
       Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 4310 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 is, of course, 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 Science, Space, and 
     Technology.
       Further, I request your support for the appointment of 
     Science, Space, and Technology Committee conferees during any 
     House-Senate conference convened on this and any similar 
     legislation. I also ask that a copy of this letter and your 
     response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest be placed 
     in the legislative report on H.R. 4310 and the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of this measure on the House 
     floor.
       I look forward to working with you on this important 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Ralph M. Hall,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Ralph Hall,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House 
         of Representatives, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2013. I agree that the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology has valid jurisdictional claims to certain 
     provisions in this important legislation, and I am most 
     appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in 
     the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree 
     that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology is not

[[Page E842]]

     waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters 
     will be included in the committee report on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                        Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                                         Chairman.
                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

                                      Washington, DC, May 11, 2012
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     bill H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2013. There are certain provisions in the 
     legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Veterans' 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 sequential 
     referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving 
     consideration of the bill the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its 
     Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to 
     name members of this committee to any conference committee 
     which is named to consider such provisions.
       Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 
     4310 and into the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the 
     cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this 
     matter and others between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Jeff Miller,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Jeff Miller
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Cannon Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2013. I agree that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to request a referral in the interest of 
     expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by 
     foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs is not waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this 
     exchange of letters will be included in the committee report 
     on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                        Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                                         Chairman.
                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Natural Resources 
     in matters being considered in H.R. 4310, the National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.
       Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 4310 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. 
     Of particular note, in Section 28XX--Transfer of 
     Administrative Jurisdiction, Fort Lee Military Reservation 
     and Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia, the Committee 
     agrees only to a 1.7 acre land exchange. This waiver, 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 Natural Resources 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 Natural Resources 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,
                                                      Doc Hastings
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Doc Hastings,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of 
         Representatives, Longworth Office Building, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2013. I agree that the Committee on Natural Resources has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this 
     important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your 
     decision not to request a referral in the interest of 
     expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by 
     foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on Natural 
     Resources is not waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this 
     exchange of letters will be included in the committee report 
     on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                        Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________