[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E868-E869]
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 exchange of letters:

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                     Washington, DC, May 10, 2012.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC
       Dear Chairman McKeon. I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4310, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. However, in 
     order to expedite floor consideration of this important 
     legislation, the committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 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 
     Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 4310 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Darrell Issa,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Darrell Issa,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     3210, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2013. I agree that the Committee on Oversight and Government 
     Reform 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 Oversight 
     and Government Reform 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 Education and the 
           Workforce,
                                     Washington, DC, May 10, 2012.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to confirm our mutual 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 4310, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Thank you for 
     consulting with the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
     with regard to H.R. 4310 on those matters within the 
     committee's jurisdiction.
       In the interest of expediting the House's consideration of 
     H.R. 4310, the Committee on Education and the Workforce will 
     forgo further consideration of this bill. However, I do so 
     only with the understanding that this procedural route will 
     not be construed to prejudice my committee's jurisdictional 
     interest and prerogatives on this bill or any other similar 
     legislation and will not be considered as precedent for 
     consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to my 
     committee in the future.
       I respectfully request your support for the appointment of 
     outside conferees from the Committee on Education and the 
     Workforce should this bill or a similar bill be considered in 
     a conference with the Senate. I also request that you include 
     our exchange of letters on this matter in the Committee 
     Report on H.R. 4310 and in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill on the House floor. Thank you for 
     your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                       John Kline,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. John Kline,
     Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, 
         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 Education and the 
     Workforce 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 
     Education and the Workforce 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 Foreign Affairs,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4310, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. This legislation 
     contains subject matter that falls within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. However, 
     due to our cooperation in working out text prior to your 
     markup, and in order to expedite Floor consideration of this 
     important legislation, the Foreign Affairs Committee will not 
     seek a sequential referral or object to Floor consideration 
     of the bill text approved at your Committee markup.
       The House Committee on Foreign Affairs takes this action 
     only with the understanding that our jurisdictional interests 
     in this bill, any subsequent amendments, and similar 
     legislation are in no way diminished or altered.
       The Foreign Affairs 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 your Committee report on the bill, and in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 4310 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                              Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Ms. 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 Foreign 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 Foreign 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, Permanent Select Committee on 
           Intelligence,
                                                     May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: In recognition of the importance of 
     expediting the passage of H.R. 4310, the ``Fiscal Year 2013 
     National Defense Authorization Bill,'' the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence hereby waives further consideration 
     of the bill. The Committee has jurisdictional interests in 
     H.R. 4310, including intelligence and intelligence-related 
     authorizations and provisions contained in the bill.
       The Committee takes this action only with the understanding 
     that this procedural route should not be construed to 
     prejudice the House Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence's jurisdictional interest over this bill or any 
     similar bill and will not be considered as precedent for 
     consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to the 
     Committee in the future, including in connection with any 
     subsequent consideration of the bill by the House. In 
     addition, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will 
     seek conferees on any provisions of the bill that are within 
     its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may 
     be convened on this legislation.
       Finally, I would ask that you include a copy of our 
     exchange of letters on this matter in the Congressional 
     Record during the House debate on H.R. 4310. 1 appreciate the 
     constructive work between our committees

[[Page E869]]

     on this matter and thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Mike Rogers,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Mike Rogers,
     Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
         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 Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence 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 Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence 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 Energy and Commerce,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I write concerning H.R. 4310, the 
     ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.'' 
     I wanted to notify you that the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce will forgo action on H.R. 4310 so that it may 
     proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
       This is done with the understanding that the Committee on 
     Energy and Commerce is not waiving any of its jurisdiction on 
     this or similar legislation. In addition, the Committee 
     reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 4310 and 
     requests your support when such a request is made.
       I would appreciate your response confirming this 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 4310 and ask that a copy 
     of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Fred Upton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Fred Upton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 Energy and Commerce 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 Energy and 
     Commerce 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 Small Business,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, 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 Rule X (q) of the Committee on 
     Small Business.
       In the interest of permitting the Committee on Armed 
     Services to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of 
     this important bill, I am willing to waive the right of the 
     Committee on Small Business to sequential referral. I do so 
     with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the 
     bill the Committee on Small Business does not waive any 
     future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters 
     contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X (q) 
     jurisdiction, including future bills that the Committee on 
     Armed Services will consider. 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 
     issue and others between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Sam Graves,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Sam Graves,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business, 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 Small Business 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 Small Business 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 the Judiciary,

                                     Washington, DC, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Buck McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: On May 10, 2012, the Committee on 
     Armed Services ordered H.R. 4310, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as amended, to be 
     reported to the House. As a result of your having consulted 
     with the Judiciary Committee concerning provisions of the 
     bill that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, and having 
     made amendments to the bill in consideration thereof, I am 
     able to agree to discharging our committee from further 
     consideration of the bill so that it may proceed 
     expeditiously to the House Floor.
       The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4310, 
     as amended, at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter contained in this or similar 
     legislation, and that our committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     that fall within our Rule X 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 for 
     any such request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4310, and 
     would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this 
     matter be included in your committee's report on H.R. 4310 
     and/or in the Congressional Record during floor consideration 
     thereof.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                         Washington, May 11, 2012.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, 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 the Judiciary 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 the Judiciary 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.

                          ____________________