[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 119 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E989]
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,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                    Washington, DC, June 30, 2017.
     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. 2810, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. 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 Judiciary Committee 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 your committee 
     report on this bill and in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of H.R. 2810 on the House Floor. Thank you for 
     your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     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 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 agree that by forgoing 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 Natural Resources,

                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 2017.
     Hon. Mac Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 2810, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. 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, and matters regarding 
     the Freely Associated States and insular areas of the United 
     States.
       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 that 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. 
     2810 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.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, 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 Natural Resources has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to celtain 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 Natural 
     Resources is not waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this 
     exchange of letters will be included in the committee reports 
     on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform in matters being considered in H.R. 2810, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.
       Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 2810 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 Oversight and Government 
     Reform, 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 Oversight and Government Reform also asks 
     that you support our request to be conferees on the 
     provisions over which we have jurisdiction during any House-
     Senate conference.
       Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Trey Gowdy,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Trey Gowdy,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 Oversight and Government 
     Reform 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 Oversight 
     and Government Reform 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.

                          ____________________