[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ON S. 2845

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2016

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters 
with the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary regarding S. 2845, 
the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Extension Act 
of 2016.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 2016.
     Hon. Ed Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing with respect to S. 2845, 
     the ``Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society 
     Extension Act of 2016,'' which was referred to the Committee 
     on Foreign Affairs and in addition to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary. As a result of your having consulted with us on 
     provisions in S. 2845 that fall within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I agree to 
     discharge our committee from further consideration of this 
     bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor 
     for consideration.
       The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing consideration of S. 2845 at 
     this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject 
     matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our 
     committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as 
     this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may 
     address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our 
     committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks 
     that you support any such request.
       I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming 
     this understanding with respect to S. 2845, and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record during Floor 
     consideration of S. 2845.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 2016.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs on S. 2845, the Venezuela 
     Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Extension Act of 
     2016, and for agreeing to be discharged from further 
     consideration of that bill.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on the Judiciary, or prejudice its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the 
     future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on S. 2845 into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work with your Committee as 
     this measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________