[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 80 (Thursday, May 19, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E745-E746]
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 Veterans' Affairs,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 2, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4909, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the House 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs. However, in order to expedite 
     floor consideration of this important legislation, the 
     committee waives consideration of the bill.
       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. 4909 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 3, 2016.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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 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 Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 4909, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which contains 
     substantial matter that falls within the Rule X legislative 
     jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I appreciate 
     the cooperation that allowed us to work out mutually 
     agreeable text on numerous matters prior to your markup.
       Based on that cooperation and our associated 
     understandings, the Foreign Affairs

[[Page E746]]

     Committee will not seek a sequential referral or object to 
     floor consideration of the bill text approved at your 
     Committee markup. This decision in no way diminishes or 
     alters the jurisdictional interests of the Foreign Affairs 
     Committee in this bill, any subsequent amendments, or similar 
     legislation. I request your support for the appointment of 
     House Foreign Affairs conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       Finally, I respectfully request that you include this 
     letter and your response in your committee report on the bill 
     and in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 
     4909 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Edward R. Royce
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 Foreign 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 Foreign 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.
                                  ____

             Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House of 
                                                  Representatives,
                                                      May 2, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I write to you concerning H.R. 
     4909, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2017, which contains provisions within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence (``the Committee''). The Committee recognizes 
     the need for proceeding expeditiously to floor consideration 
     of this important bill. Therefore, I do not intend to request 
     a sequential referral.
       This waiver is conditional on our mutual understanding that 
     my decision to forego Committee consideration of this 
     legislation does not diminish or otherwise affect any future 
     claim over the matters in the bill which fall within the 
     Committee's jurisdiction, and that a copy of this letter and 
     your response acknowledging the Committee's jurisdictional 
     interest will be placed into the committee report on H.R. 
     4909 and into the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of this measure on the House floor.
       I also intend to seek appointment of Committee members to 
     any House-Senate conference on this legislation and request 
     your support if such a request is made. Thank you for the 
     cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this 
     and other matters between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Devin Nunes,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Devin Nunes,
     Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House 
         of Representatives, U.S. Capitol Building, 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 Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence 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 Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence 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.

                          ____________________