[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 85 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E880-E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1960) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

                        general leave statement

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I submit the following exchange of letters.

                                           Committee on Education,


                                            and the Workforce,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to confirm our mutual 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 1960, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. Thank you for 
     consulting with the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
     with regard to H.R. 1960 on those matters within the 
     committee's jurisdiction.
       In the interest of expediting the House's consideration of 
     H.R. 1960, 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. 1960 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.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. John Kline
     Chairman, House Committee on Education and the Workforce, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Kline: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2014. 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.
                                  ____

                                    Congress of the United States,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I write concerning H.R. 1960, the 
     ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.'' 
     I wanted to notify you that the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce will forgo action on H.R. 1960 so that it may 
     proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
       This is done with the understanding that the Committee's 
     jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation 
     are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the 
     Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 1960 
     and requests your support when such a request is made.
       I would appreciate your response confirming this 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 1960 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.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Fred Upton,
     Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Chairman Upton: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2014. 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.
                                  ____

                                        Permanent Select Committee


                                              on Intelligence,

                                                     June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Buck McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: In recognition of the importance of 
     expediting the passage of H.R. 1960, the ``National Defense 
     Authorization

[[Page E881]]

     Act for Fiscal Year 2014,'' the Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence hereby waives further consideration of the bill. 
     The Committee has jurisdictional interests in several 
     provisions of H.R. 1960, including intelligence and 
     intelligence-related authorizations and provisions contained 
     in the bill and provisions that may affect sensitive 
     reporting with respect to covert action.
       The Committee has specific and unresolved concerns with 
     respect to certain provisions of the bill, and 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. 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. 1960. I appreciate the 
     constructive work between our committees on this matter and 
     thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Mike Rogers,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Mike Rogers,
     House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Capitol 
         Vistor Center, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Rogers: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2014. 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.
                                  ____



                               Committee on Financial Services

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Buck McKeon,
     Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: On June 6, 2013, the Committee on 
     Armed Services ordered H.R. 1960, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, as amended, to be 
     reported favorably to the House. As a result of your having 
     consulted with the Committee on Financial Services concerning 
     provisions of the bill that fall within our Rule X 
     jurisdiction, I agree to discharge our committee from further 
     consideration of the bill so that it may proceed 
     expeditiously to the House Floor.
       The Committee on Financial Services takes this action with 
     our mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of 
     H.R. 1960, 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. 1960, as 
     amended, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters 
     on this matter be included in your committee's report to 
     accompany the legislation and/or in the Congressional Record 
     during floor consideration thereof.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
     House Committee on Financial Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Hensarling: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2014. I agree that the Committee on Financial 
     Services 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 
     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 the Budget,

                                     Washington, DC, June 5, 2013.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon, I am writing concerning H.R. 1960, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, 
     which was expected to be marked up in the Committee on Armed 
     Services this week.
       In order to expedite House consideration of H.R. 1960, the 
     Committee on the Budget will forgo action on the bill. This 
     is being done with the understanding that it does not in any 
     way prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment 
     of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or 
     similar legislation.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming 
     this understanding with respect to H.R. 1960, and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record during Floor 
     consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Paul Ryan,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Paul Ryan,
     House Committee on the Budget, Cannon House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Ryan: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2014. I agree that the Committee on the Budget 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 Budget 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 Agriculture,

                                      Washington DC, June 3, 2013.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Agriculture in 
     matters being considered in H.R. 1960, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.
       Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 1960 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, 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 Agriculture, 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.
       I also ask 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,
                                                   Frank D. Lucas,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Frank D. Lucas,
     House Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Lucas: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2014. I agree that the Committee on Agriculture 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 fore 
     going a sequential referral, the Committee on Agriculture 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 Homeland Security,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon, I write to you regarding H.R. 1960, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. 
     There are certain provisions of this legislation that fall 
     within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland 
     Security.
       In the interest of permitting the Committee on Armed 
     Services to proceed expeditiously to the House floor, I

[[Page E882]]

     will not seek a sequential referral of H.R. 1960. However, I 
     do so only with the mutual understanding that the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security over 
     matters contained in this or similar legislation is in no way 
     diminished or altered. I further request that you urge the 
     Speaker to name members of this Committee to any conference 
     committee that is named to consider such provisions.
       I request that you include this letter and your response 
     into the committee report on H.R. 1960 and into the 
     Congressional Record. Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2014. I am most appreciative of your support and 
     interest in this important legislation. Further, this 
     exchange of letters will be included in the committee report 
     on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                        Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                                         Chairman.