[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

            By Mr. THORNBERRY:
        H.R. 3840.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, ``The Congress 
     shall have Power . . . To declare War . . .'' and ``To make 
     Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval 
     Forces.''
       This bill would establish an independent organization 
     within the Department of Defense to develop and coordinate 
     net assessments of the military capabilities of the United 
     States compared to potential adversaries in order to identify 
     emerging threats or opportunities. Congressional authority to 
     establish such an office falls within two clauses of Article 
     I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which give Congress the 
     specific power ``To make Rules for the Government and 
     Regulation of the land and naval Forces,'' and, more 
     generally, ``To declare War.'' The organization that would be 
     established by this bill is a function of the ``Government 
     and Regulation of the land and naval Forces'' and 
     Congressional power to declare war.