[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 75 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E720]
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 Veterans' Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 30, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding several provisions contained in the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. This 
     legislation contains subject matter within the jurisdiction 
     of House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. However, in order to 
     expedite floor consideration of this important legislation, 
     the committee waives consideration of the bill on the 
     following provisions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Title                           Section #--Name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.........................................  Section 562--Availability of
                                             Additional Training
                                             Opportunities under
                                             Transition Assistance
                                             Program
5.........................................  Section 565--Recognition of
                                             Additional Involuntary
                                             Mobilization Duty
                                             Authorities Exempt from
                                             Five-Year Limit on
                                             Reemployment Rights of
                                             Persons who Serve in the
                                             Uniformed Services
5.........................................  Section 566--Job Training
                                             and Post-Service Placement
                                             Executive Committee
5.........................................  Section 592--Honoring
                                             Certain Members of the
                                             Reserve Components as
                                             Veterans
7.........................................  Section 701--Joint Uniform
                                             Formulary for Transition of
                                             Care
7.........................................  Section 721--Extension of
                                             Authority for DOD-VA Health
                                             Care Sharing Incentive Fund
7.........................................  Section 722--Extension of
                                             Authority for Joint
                                             Department of Defense-
                                             Department of Veterans
                                             Affairs Medical Facility
                                             Demonstration Fund
12........................................  Section 1251--Sense of
                                             Congress Recognizing the
                                             70th Anniversary of the End
                                             of Allied Military
                                             Engagement in the Pacific
                                             Theater
14........................................  Section 1431--Authority for
                                             Transfer of Funds to Joint
                                             Department of Defense-
                                             Department of Veterans
                                             Affairs Medical Facility
                                             Demonstration Fund for
                                             Captain James A. Lovell
                                             Health Care Center,
                                             Illinois
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       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. 1735 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Jeff Miller,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Cannon House Office 
         Building, 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 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,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                   Washington, DC, April 30, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry, I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 1735, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on the Judiciary. However, in order to expedite 
     floor consideration of this important legislation, the 
     committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on the Judiciary 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. 1735 on 
     the House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these 
     matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, 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 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,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________