[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 118 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E978-E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2017

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2810) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 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 included in the Record on H.R. 2810:

         House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on 
           Intelligence,
                                     Washington, DC, July 3, 2017.
     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. 
     2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2018, 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 included in the committee report 
     accompanying H.R. 2810 and submitted into the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of this bill on the House Floor.
       I also intend to seek the 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.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Devin Nunes,
     Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2018. 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.
                                  ____

  

         House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, 
           and Technology,
                                     Washington, DC, July 6, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 2810, the 
     ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018,'' 
     which your Committee ordered reported on June 28, 2017.
       H.R. 2810 contains provisions within the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology'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 Science, Space, and Technology 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 Science, Space, 
     and Technology 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 Congressional Record 
     during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in 
     advance for your cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                    Washington, DC, July 11, 2017.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2018. I agree that the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology 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 
     Science, Space, and Technology is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters will be 
     included in the Congressional Record.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

  

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Small Business,

                                    Washington, DC, June 27, 2017.
     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 regarding H.R. 2810,

[[Page E979]]

     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. 
     This legislation contains subject matter within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Small Business. However, in 
     order to expedite floor consideration of this important 
     legislation, the committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Small Business 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. 2810 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Steve Chabot,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Steve Chabot,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2018. I agree that the Committee on Small Business 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 Small Business 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.

                          ____________________