[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
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:

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2016.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, 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. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on the Judiciary. However, in order to expedite 
     floor consideration of this important legislation, the 
     Committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on the Judiciary takes this action only with 
     the understanding that the Commission'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 placing this letter in the 
     committee report on H.R. 4909 and in the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of H.R. 4909 on the House Floor. Thank 
     you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, 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 agreed that the Committee on the Judiciary 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 agreed that by foregoing a 
     sequential referral, the Committee on the Judiciary 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 Homeland Security,

                                  Washingtion, 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 
     the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Homeland 
     Security in matters being considered by H.R. 4909, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
       I recognize the importance of H.R. 4909 and the need for 
     the legislation to move expeditiously. Therefore, while we 
     have a valid claim to jurisdiction over the bill, I do not 
     intend to request a sequential referral. This, of course, is 
     conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this 
     legislation or my decision to forego a sequential referral 
     waives, reduces, or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Homeland Security, and that a copy of this 
     letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional 
     interest will be included in the Committee Report and as part 
     of the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill 
     by the House.
       The Committee on Homeland Security also asks that you 
     support our requests to be conferees on the provisions over 
     which we have jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference 
     on this or any related bill.
       Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman.
                                  ____



                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, 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 Homeland Security 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 Homeland 
     Security 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 Education and the Workforce, 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. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 4909, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. Thank you for 
     consulting with the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
     with regard to H.R. 4909 on those matters within the 
     Committee's jurisduction.
       In the interest of expediting the House's consideration of 
     H.R. 4909, the Committee on Education and the Workforce will 
     forgo further consideration of this bill. However, I do so 
     only with the understanding this procedural route will not be 
     construed to prejudice my Committee's jurisictional interest 
     and prerogatives on this bill or any other similar 
     legislation and will not be considered as precedent for 
     consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to my 
     Committee in the future.
       I respectfully request your support for the appointment of 
     outside conferees from the Committee on Education and the 
     Workforce should this bill or a similar bill be considered in 
     a conference with the Senate. I also request you include our 
     exchange of letters on this matter in the Committee Report on 
     H.R. 4909 and in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill on the House Floor. Thank you for 
     your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                       John Kline,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 3, 2016.
     Hon. John Kline,
     Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 Education and the 
     Workforce 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 
     Education and the Workforce 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.

                          ____________________