[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E753-E754]
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 Natural Resources,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 1735, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. That 
     bill, as ordered reported, contains provisions within the 
     Rule X jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Committee, 
     including those noted in addendum A.
       In the interest of permitting you to proceed expeditiously 
     to floor consideration of this very important bill, I am 
     willing to waive this committee's right to a sequential 
     referral. I do so with the understanding that the Natural 
     Resources Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional 
     claim over the subject matter contained in the bill which 
     fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I also request that you 
     urge the Speaker to name members of the Natural Resources 
     committee to any conference committee to consider such 
     provisions.
       Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 
     1735 and into the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the 
     cooperative spirit in which you and your staff have worked 
     regarding this matter and others between our respective 
     committees, and congratulations on this significant 
     achievement.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Rob Bishop,
                                                         Chairman.
     Addendum A:

[[Page E754]]


                               PROVISIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            TITLE                           SECTION #--NAME
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6............................  Section 601--Extension of Authority to
                                Provide Temporary Increase in Rates of
                                Basic Allowance for Housing Under
                                Certain Circumstances
6............................  Section 611--One-Year Extension of
                                Certain Bonus and Special Pay
                                Authorities for Reserve Forces
6............................  Section 612--One-Year Extension of
                                Certain Bonus and Special Pay
                                Authorities for Health Care
                                Professionals
6............................  Section 614--One-Year Extension of
                                Authorities Relating to Title 37
                                Consolidated Special Pay, Incentive Pay,
                                and Bonus Authorities
6............................  Section 615--One-Year Extension of
                                Authorities Relating to Payment of Other
                                Title 37 Bonuses and Special Pays
6............................  Section 631--Full Participation for
                                Members of the Uniformed Services in
                                Thrift Savings Plan
6............................  Section 632--Modernized Retirement System
                                for Members of the Uniformed Services
6............................  Section 633--Continuation Pay for Full
                                TSP Members with 12 Years of Service
6............................  Section 634--Effective Date and
                                lmplementation
10...........................  Section 1083--Navy Support of Ocean
                                Research Advisory Panel
28...........................  Section 2841--Withdrawal and Reservation
                                of Public Land, Naval Air Weapons
                                Station China Lake, California
28...........................  Section 2851--Renaming Site of the Dayton
                                Aviation Heritage National Historical
                                Park, Ohio
28...........................  Section 2852--Extension of Authority for
                                General Francis Marion establishment of
                                Commemorative Work in Honor of Brigadier
28...........................  Section 2862--Protection and Recovery of
                                Greater Sage Grouse
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                   AMENDMENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Mark                       Log                Sponsor                     Description
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RDY....................................          089  Bishop....................  Provision would permanently
                                                                                   extend the land withdrawals
                                                                                   for certain military
                                                                                   reservations.
RDY....................................          092  Wilson....................  Amend existing law to allow an
                                                                                   agency to object to the
                                                                                   inclusion of certain property
                                                                                   on the National Register or
                                                                                   its designation as a National
                                                                                   Historic Landmark for reasons
                                                                                   of national security.
ROY....................................          324  Knight....................  The provision would add a new
                                                                                   section to title 10, United
                                                                                   States code to provide for
                                                                                   the conservation needs of the
                                                                                   Southern Sea Otter while
                                                                                   continuing the protections
                                                                                   for military readiness
                                                                                   activities at important
                                                                                   offshore islands in the
                                                                                   Southern California Bight.
MLP....................................        181r2  Takai.....................  This amendment would prohibit
                                                                                   per diem allowance reductions
                                                                                   for civilian employees on
                                                                                   TDY.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of 
         Representatives, Longworth 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 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,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Small Business,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I am writing to you concerning 
     the bill H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2016. 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. 
     1735 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,
                                                     Steve Chabot,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Steve Chabot,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business, House of 
         Representatives, 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 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,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
                                                         Chairman.