[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E714-E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1735) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I ask that the following exchange of 
letters be submitted during consideration of H.R. 1735:

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 1735, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which contains 
     substantial matter that falls within the Rule X legislative 
     jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I appreciate 
     the cooperation that allowed us to work out mutually 
     agreeable text on numerous matters prior to your markup.
       Based on that cooperation and our associated 
     understandings, the Foreign Affairs Committee will not seek a 
     sequential referral or object to floor consideration of the 
     bill text approved at your Committee markup. This decision in 
     no way diminishes or alters

[[Page E715]]

     the jurisdictional interests of the Foreign Affairs Committee 
     in this bill, any subsequent amendments, or similar 
     legislation. I request your support for the appointment of 
     House Foreign Affairs conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       Finally, I respectfully request that you include this 
     letter and your response in your committee report on the bill 
     and in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 
     1735 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2016. I agree that the Committee on Foreign 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 Foreign Affairs is not 
     waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters 
     will be included in the committee report on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform in matters being considered in H.R. 1735, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
       Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 1735 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 Oversight and Government 
     Reform, 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 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 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,
                                                   Jason Chaffetz,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2016. 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,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on 
           Intelligence,
                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Mac Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: In recognition of the importance of 
     expediting the passage of H.R. 1735, the ``Fiscal Year 2016 
     National Defense Authorization Bill'', the House Permanent 
     Select Committee on Intelligence hereby waives further 
     consideration of the bill. The Committee has jurisdictional 
     interests in H.R. 1735, including intelligence and 
     intelligence-related authorizations and provisions in the 
     amendment.
       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 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 in 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. 1735. I appreciate the 
     constructive work between our committees on this matter and 
     thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Devin Nunes,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Devin Nunes,
     Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2016. 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,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________