[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E729-E730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4909) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 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 on H.R. 4909:

                                   Committee on Natural Resources,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, 29 April 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 4909, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. That 
     bill, as ordered reported, contains provisions within the 
     Rule X jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Committee, 
     including those affecting public lands, the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration Corps, the Endangered Species 
     Act, and historic preservation.
       In the interest of permitting you to proceed expeditiously 
     to floor consideration of this very important bill, I 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. 
     4909 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.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2017. 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,

[[Page E730]]

     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.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         Committee on Agriculture,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I am writing concerning H.R. 4909, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
       This legislation contains provisions within the Committee 
     on Agriculture's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your 
     having consulted with the Committee and in order to expedite 
     this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on 
     Agriculture will forego action on the bill. This is being 
     done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so 
     will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Agriculture with respect to the appointment of 
     conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming 
     this understanding, and would request that you include a copy 
     of this letter and your response in the Committee Report and 
     in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of 
     this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                               K. Michael Conaway,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Michael Conaway,
     Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2017. I agree that the Committee on Agriculture 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 Agriculture 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.
                                  ____
                                  
                                       Committee on Ways and Means


                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I am writing to you concerning 
     H.R. 4909, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2017.'' This legislation contains provisions that 
     fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways 
     and Means.
       In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive my committee's right to sequential 
     referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving 
     formal consideration of the bill, the Committee on Ways and 
     Means does not waive any fiiture jurisdictional claim over 
     the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within 
     its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker 
     to name members of my committee to any conference committee 
     that is convened to consider such provisions.
       Please include this letter and your response confirming our 
     understanding in the committee report on H.R. 4909, and in 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure 
     on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Kevin Brady,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Kevin Brady,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2017. I agree that the Committee on Ways and Means 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 Ways and Means 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.
                                  ____
                                  
         Committee on Energy and Commerce House of 
           Representatives,
                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4909, the ``National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.'' While the 
     legislation does contain provisions within the jurisdiction 
     of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee will 
     not request a sequential referral so that it can proceed 
     expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
       The Committee takes this action with the understanding that 
     its jurisdictional interests over this and similar 
     legislation are in no way diminished or altered, and that the 
     Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as 
     such legislation moves forward. The Committee also reserves 
     the right to seek appointment to any House-Senate conference 
     on such legislation and requests your support when such a 
     request is made.
       Finally, I would appreciate a response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding and ask that a copy of our 
     exchange of letters be included in the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of H.R. 4909 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Fred Upton,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Fred Upton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2017. I agree that the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 Energy and 
     Commerce 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.

                          ____________________