[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E972-E973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SECURE BORDER ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am submitting the following 
letter exchange between myself and Chairman Dave Camp of the House 
Committee on Ways and Means.

                                    U.S. House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                     Washington, DC, June 5, 2012.
     Hon. Dave Camp,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Camp, Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1299, the ``Secure Border Act of 2011.'' I acknowledge 
     that by forgoing action on this legislation, your Committee 
     is not diminishing or altering its jurisdiction.
       I also concur with you that forgoing action on this bill 
     does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means 
     with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill 
     or similar legislation in the future, and I would support 
     your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this 
     legislation. The Committee on Ways and Means is considered to 
     be an ``appropriate congressional committee'' in regards to 
     the reports required by H.R. 1299 with respect to resource 
     allocation for staffing requirements and the level of 
     manpower data available as all ports of entry.
       I will include our letters on H.R. 1299 in the 
     Congressional Record, and I appreciate your cooperation 
     regarding this legislation. I look forward to working with 
     the Committee on Ways and Means as the bill moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Peter T. King,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                    U.S. House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                     Washington, DC, June 1, 2012.
     Hon. Peter King,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of 
         Representatives, H2 176 Ford House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman King. I am writing to you concerning the bill 
     H.R. 1299, the ``Secure Border Act of 2011.'' This 
     legislation includes several provisions that pertain to the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways & Means with respect to 
     Customs and Border Protection staffing requirements and 
     commercial traffic.
       The Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 1299 and 
     the need to move expeditiously. Therefore, the Committee is 
     willing to forego action on the bill with the understanding 
     that by doing so, the Committee is

[[Page E973]]

     not in any way prejudiced with respect to its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives or the appointment of conferees on this or 
     similar legislation.
       In addition, I ask that the Ways & Means Committee be 
     included within the definition of ``appropriate congressional 
     committee'' so that it will receive the report required in 
     subsections 2(e)(1) and (2) of the bill with respect to 
     resource allocation for staffing requirements as well as the 
     report on the level of manpower data available at all ports 
     of entry.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming 
     this understanding with respect to H.R. 1299, and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record.
           Sincerely,

                                                    Dave Camp,

                                                         Chairman,
                                      Committee on Ways and Means.
       Enclosures.

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