[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 139 (Friday, September 25, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H6260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. CUELLAR:
       H.R. 3612.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The principal constititional authority for this legislation 
     is clause 7 of section 9 of article I of the Constitution of 
     the United States (the appropriation power), which states: 
     ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in 
     Consequence of Appropriations made by Law. . .'' In addition, 
     clause 1 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution (the 
     spending power) provides: ``The Congress shall have the Power 
     . . . to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and 
     general Welfare of the United States. . .'' Together, these 
     specific constitutional provisions establish the 
     congressional power of the purse, granting Congress the 
     authority to appropriate funds, to determine their purpose, 
     amount, and period of availability, and to set forth terms 
     and conditions governing their use.