[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E811-E813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4435) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2015 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:

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I ask that the following exchange of letters 
be included as part of the Record during consideration of H.R. 4435:

[[Page E812]]

                                        Permanent Select Committee


                                              on Intelligence,

                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard ``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. 4435, the ``Fiscal Year 2015 
     National Defense Authorization Bill,'' the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence hereby waives further consideration 
     of the bill. The Committee has jurisdictional interests in 
     H.R. 4435, including intelligence and intelligence-related 
     authorizations and provisions contained in the bill.
       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.
       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. 4435. 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, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Mike Rogers,
     Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2015. 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.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I write to you regarding H.R. 4435, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. 
     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 will 
     not seek a sequential referral of H.R. 4435. 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.
       Finally, I request you include this letter and your 
     response into the committee report on H.R. 4435 and into the 
     Congressional Record. Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2015. 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.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4435, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the House 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs, however in order to expedite 
     floor consideration of this important legislation, the 
     Committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs takes this action 
     only with the understanding that the committee's 
     jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation 
     are in no way diminished or altered.
       The committee also reserves the right to seek appointment 
     to any House-Senate conference on this legislation and 
     requests your support if such a request is made. Finally, I 
     would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 4435 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
       With warm personal regards, I am
           Sincerely,
                                                      Jeff Miller,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2015. I agree that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 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 Veterans' 
     Affairs 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 Judiciary,

                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on the Judiciary in 
     matters being considered in H.R. 4435, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
       Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 4435 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 Judiciary Committee, 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.
       The Judiciary Committee also asks 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,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2015. I agree that the Committee on the Judiciary 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 Judiciary 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 Natural Resources,

                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4435, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Natural Resources, including:
       Sec. 602. No fiscal year 2015 increase in basic pay for 
     general and flag officers
       Sec. 611. One-year extension of certain expiring bonus and 
     special pay authorities
       Sec. 2841. Land conveyance, Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, 
     La Jolla, California
       Sec. 2861, Memorial to the victims of the shooting attack 
     at the Washington Navy Yard
       Sec. 2864, Designation of Distinguished Flying Cross 
     National Memorial in Riverside, California
       Sec. 2865, Renaming site of Dayton Aviation Heritage 
     National Historical Park, Ohio
       Sec. 2866, Manhattan Project National Historical Park

[[Page E813]]

       Title 29, Subtitle A--Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada
       Sec. 2911, Redesignation of Johnson Valley Off-Highway 
     Vehicle Recreation Area, California
       Sec. 2921, Elimination of termination date for public land 
     withdrawals and reservations under Military Lands Withdrawal 
     Act of 1999
       Title 29, Subtitle D--Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, 
     California
       Title 29, Subtitle D--White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico
       Sec. xxx, National security considerations for inclusion of 
     federal property on National Register of Historic Places or 
     designation as National Historic Landmark under the National 
     Historic Preservation Act
       To expedite floor consideration of this important 
     legislation, and because of the extensive cooperation shown 
     by you and your staff, the Committee will forego seeking a 
     sequential referral of the bill. The Natural Resources 
     Committee takes this action only with the understanding that 
     the Committee's jurisdictional interests over this and 
     similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered.
       The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment 
     to any House-Senate conference on this legislation and 
     requests your support if such a request is made. Finally, I 
     would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 4435 on the 
     House Floor.
       Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Doc Hastings,
     Chairman.
                                  ____



                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Doc Hastings,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2015. I agree that the Committee on Natural Resources 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 Natural 
     Resources 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.

                          ____________________