[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

            By Mr. DENT:
       H.R. 4974.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Pursuant to clause 7(c) of rule XII of the Rules of the 
     House of Representatives, the following statement is 
     submitted regarding the specific powers granted to Congress 
     in the Constitution to enact the accompanying bill or joint 
     resolution.
       The principal constitutional 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 Defence 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.