[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 131 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1659-E1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ON S. 743

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2012

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker: I submit the exchange of letters on S. 743.

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                               Washington, DC, September 19, 2012.
     Hon. Darrell Issa,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Issa: I am writing regarding the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Homeland Security 
     over provisions in S. 743, the Whistleblower Protection 
     Enhancement Act of 2012, which passed the Senate by unanimous 
     consent with amendments on May 8, 2012.
       I understand the importance of advancing this legislation 
     to the House floor in an expeditious manner. Therefore, the 
     Committee on Homeland Security will waive further 
     consideration. This action is conditional on our mutual 
     understanding and agreement that doing so will in no way 
     diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Homeland Security over the subject matter included in this or 
     similar legislation. I request that you urge the Speaker to 
     appoint members of this Committee to any conference committee 
     for consideration of any provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security in the 
     House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation.
       I also request that this letter and your response be 
     included in the Congressional Record during consideration of 
     this measure on the House floor. Thank you for you 
     consideration of this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Peter T. King,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                               Washington, DC, September 19, 2012.
     Hon. Peter T. King,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of 
         Representatives, Washington DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding the 
     Committee on the Homeland Security's jurisdictional interest 
     in S. 743, the ``Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 
     2012,'' and your willingness to forego consideration of S. 
     743 by your committee.
       I agree that the Committee on Homeland Security has a valid 
     jurisdictional interest in certain provisions of S. 743 and 
     that the Committee's jurisdiction will not be adversely 
     affected by your decision to forego consideration of S. 743. 
     As you have requested, I will support your request for an 
     appropriate appointment of outside conferees from your 
     Committee in the event of a House-Senate conference on this 
     or similar legislation should such a conference be convened.
       Finally, I will include a Copy of your letter and this 
     response in the Congressional Record during the floor 
     consideration of this bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Darrell Issa,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on 
           Intelligence,
                               Washington, DC, September 18, 2012.
     Hon. Darrell Issa,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: In recognition of the importance of 
     expediting the passage of S. 743, the ``Whistleblower 
     Protection Enhancement Act of 2012,'' the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence will not object to consideration of 
     a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The 
     Committee has jurisdictional interests in S. 743, including 
     intelligence and intelligence-related authorizations and 
     provisions contained in the bill.
       We very much appreciate the efforts of you and your staff 
     to address issues of jurisdictional interest to the Permanent 
     Select Committee on Intelligence during consideration of this 
     legislation.
       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.

[[Page E1660]]

       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 S. 743. I appreciate the 
     constructive work between our committees in this matter and 
     thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Mike Rogers,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                               Washington, DC, September 19, 2012.
     Hon. Mike Rogers,
     Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman:  Thank you for your letter regarding the 
     House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's 
     jurisdictional interest in S. 743, the ``Whistleblower 
     Protection Enhancement Act of 2012,'' and your willingness to 
     forego consideration of S. 743 by your committee.
       I agree that the House Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence has a valid jurisdictional interest in certain 
     provisions of S. 743 and that the Committee's jurisdiction 
     will not be adversely affected by your decision to forego 
     consideration of S. 743. As you have requested, I will 
     support your request for an appropriate appointment of 
     outside conferees from your Committee in the event of a 
     House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation should 
     such a conference be convened.
       Finally, I will include a copy of your letter and this 
     response in the Congressional Record during the floor 
     consideration of this bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Darrell Issa,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________