[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

            By Mr. GOHMERT:
        H.R. 1970.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution 
     sets forth the power of appropriations and 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 ``to raise and support Armies. . 
     .'' and ``to provide and maintain a Navy.''
       Together, these specific constitutional provisions 
     establish the congressional power of the purse, granting 
     Congress the authority to appropriate funds and pay U.S. debt 
     in order to ensure that U.S. servicemembers will not lose 
     pay.