[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1109-E1110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               H.R. 2810

                                 ______
                                 

                          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 Education and the 
           Workforce,
                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to confirm our mutual 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 2810, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. Thank you for 
     consulting with the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
     with regard to H.R. 2810 on those matters within the 
     Committee's jurisdiction.
       In the interest of expediting the House's consideration of 
     H.R. 2810, 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 jurisdictional 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. 2810 and in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill on the House Floor. Thank you for 
     your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Virginia Foxx,
     Chairwoman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Virginia Foxx,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam Chairwoman: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2018. 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.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, 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.'' While the 
     legislation does contain provisions within the jurisdiction 
     of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee will 
     not request a sequential referral so that it can proceed 
     expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
       The Committee takes this action with the understanding that 
     its jurisdictional interests over this and similar 
     legislation are in no way diminished or altered, and that the 
     Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as 
     such legislation moves forward. The Committee also reserves 
     the right to seek appointment to any House-Senate conference 
     on such legislation and requests your support when such a 
     request is made.
       Finally, I would appreciate a response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding and ask that a copy of our 
     exchange of letters be included in the Congressional Record

[[Page E1110]]

     during consideration of H.R. 2810 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Greg Walden,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Greg Walden,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 Energy and Commerce has 
     valid jurisdictional claims to ce1iain 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 Energy and 
     Commerce 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 Financial Services,

                                    Washington, DC, June 30, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I am writing to you regarding 
     H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2018. There are certain provisions in the legislation 
     which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Financial Services.
       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 Financial Services 
     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 worked regarding this 
     matter and others between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, 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 Financial Services 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 Financial 
     Services 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 Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, June 30, 2017.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 2810, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, which contains 
     substantial matter that falls within the Rule X legislative 
     jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I appreciate 
     the cooperation that allowed us to work out mutually 
     agreeable text on numerous matters prior to your markup.
       Based on that cooperation and our associated 
     understandings, the Foreign Affairs Committee will not seek a 
     sequential referral or object to floor consideration of the 
     bill text approved at your Committee markup. This decision in 
     no way diminishes or alters the jurisdictional interests of 
     the Foreign Affairs Committee in this bill, any subsequent 
     amendments, or similar legislation. I request your support 
     for the appointment of House Foreign Affairs conferees during 
     any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       Finally, I respectfully request that you include this 
     letter and your response in your committee report on the bill 
     and in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 
     2810 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                     Washington, DC, July 5, 2017.
     Hon. Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 Foreign Affairs 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 Foreign Affairs 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.