[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1108-E1109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 1, 2017

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the following exchange of 
letters be included in the Record on H.R. 2810:

                                         House of Representatives,


                            Committee on House Administration,

                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I am writing to you concerning the 
     bill H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2016. There are certain provisions in the 
     legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on House Administration.
       In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential 
     referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving 
     consideration of the bill the Committee on House 
     Administration does not waive any future jurisdictional claim 
     over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall 
     within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the 
     Speaker to name members of this committee to any conference 
     committee which is named 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 have

[[Page E1109]]

     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     respective committees.
           Sincerely,

                                                 Gregg Harper,

                                      Chairman, Committee on House
     Administration.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Gregg Harper,
     Chairman, Committee on House Administration, 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 House Administration 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 House 
     Administration 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 Agriculture,

     Washington, DC, June 30, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I am writing concerning H.R. 2810, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.
       This legislation contains provisions within the Committee 
     on Agriculture'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 
     Agriculture 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 Agriculture 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 Committee Report and 
     in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of 
     this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                               K. Michael Conaway,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. K. Michael Conaway,
     Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
     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 Agriculture 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 Agriculture 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 the Budget,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Mac Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I am writing regarding H.R. 2810, 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, 
     which the Committee on Armed Services ordered reported on 
     June 28, 2017.
       The bill contains provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Budget. In order to 
     expedite House consideration of H.R. 2810, the Committee on 
     the Budget will forgo action on the bill. This is being done 
     with the understanding that it does not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in H.R. 2810 
     or similar legislation and that the Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar 
     legislation moves forward so that the Committee may address 
     any remaining issues that fall within its jurisdiction. The 
     Committee on the Budget also reserves the right to seek 
     appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any 
     House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation 
     and requests your support of any such request.
       I also request that you include this letter and your 
     response as part of your committee's report on H.R. 2810 and 
     in the Congressional Record during its consideration on the 
     House floor.
       Thank you for your attention to these matters. I look 
     forward to working with you as this bill moves through the 
     Congress.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Diane Black,
     Chairman, Committee on the Budget.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Diane Black,
     Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam 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 Budget 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 the Budget 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.

                          ____________________