[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. GOHMERT:
        H.R. 3026.
        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 in order to 
     ensure that U.S. servicemembers will not lose pay.