[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E823-E825]
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

[[Page E824]]

     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:

         Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, 
           Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the bill 
     H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2015. There are certain provisions in the legislation 
     which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Oversight and Government Reform.
       In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential 
     referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving 
     consideration of the bill the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform does not waive any future jurisdictional 
     claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which 
     fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge 
     the Speaker to name members of this committee to any 
     conference committee which is named to consider such 
     provisions.
       Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 
     4435 and into the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the 
     cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this 
     matter and others between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Darrell Issa,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Darrell Issa,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House 
         of Representatives, 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 Oversight and Government 
     Reform 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 Oversight 
     and Government Reform 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 Small Business,

                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I am writing to you concerning the 
     bill H.R. 4435, the Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. There are 
     certain provisions in the legislation which fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Small Business pursuant to 
     Rule X(q) of the House of Representatives.
       In the interest of permitting the Committee on Armed 
     Services to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of 
     this important bill, I am willing to waive the right of the 
     Committee on Small Business to sequential referral. I do so 
     with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the 
     bill, the Committee on Small Business does not waive any 
     future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters 
     contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X(q) 
     jurisdiction, including future bills that the Committee on 
     Armed Services will consider. I request that you urge the 
     Speaker to appoint members of this Committee to any 
     conference committee which is named to consider such 
     provisions.
       Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 
     4435 and into the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the 
     cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this 
     issue and others between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Sam Graves,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Sam Graves,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business, House of 
         Representatives, 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 Small Business 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 Small Business 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, House of Representatives, 
           Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. 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 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. However, in 
     order to expedite jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology. However, in order to expedite floor 
     consideration of this important legislation, the committee 
     waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 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 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 in these matters.
           Sincerely,

                                                  Lamar Smith,

                                   Chairman, Committee on Science,
     Space, and Technology.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 12, 2014.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House 
         of Representatives, 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 Science, Space, and 
     Technology 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 
     Science, Space, and Technology 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 Transportation and Infrastructure, House of 
           Representatives,
                                      Washington, DC, May 9, 2014.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McKeon: I write concerning H.R. 4435, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, as 
     amended. There are certain provisions in the legislation that 
     fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       However, in order to expedite this legislation for floor 
     consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this bill. 
     This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding 
     that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice 
     the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or 
     to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters 
     contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within 
     the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the 
     Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference 
     committee named to consider such provisions.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee 
     report on H.R. 4435 and into the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the measure on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Bill Shuster,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

            Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives,
                                     Washington, DC, May 21, 2014.
     Hon. Bill Shuster,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, 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 Transportation and 
     Infrastructure 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

[[Page E825]]

     sequential referral, the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure 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.

                          ____________________