[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5852-H5853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CLARIFICATION OF SOURCES OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REGULATIONS REGARDING 
  CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
           EMPLOYEES UNDER WOUNDED WARRIORS FEDERAL LEAVE ACT

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on House Administration and the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 6160) 
to amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify the sources of the 
authority to issue regulations regarding certifications and other 
criteria applicable to legislative branch employees under Wounded 
Warriors Federal Leave Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gianforte). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6160

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION OF SOURCES OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE 
                   REGULATIONS REGARDING CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER 
                   CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
                   EMPLOYEES UNDER WOUNDED WARRIORS FEDERAL LEAVE 
                   ACT.

       (a) In General.--Section 6329(c) of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``In order'' and inserting ``(1) In 
     order''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) In the case of an employee of an office of the 
     legislative branch, the certification described in paragraph 
     (1) shall be prescribed--
       ``(A) in the case of an employee of the House of 
     Representatives, by the Committee on House Administration of 
     the House of Representatives;
       ``(B) in the case of an employee of the Senate, by the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; or
       ``(C) in the case of an employee of any other office of the 
     legislative branch, by the head of the office.''.
       (b) Regulations.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Committee on House 
     Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee 
     on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and the head of 
     each other office of the legislative branch shall prescribe 
     regulations governing the application of section 6329 of 
     title 5, United States Code, including the certification 
     requirement under subsection (c) of such section, to 
     employees of the House of Representatives, employees of the 
     Senate, and employees of such office, respectively.

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
exchange of letters between the Chair of the Committee on House 
Administration and the Chair of the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform.


[[Page H5853]]


                                         House of Representatives,


                            Committee on House Administration,

                                    Washington, DC, June 27, 2018.
     Hon. Trey Gowdy,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Gowdy: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     6160, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act Amendments bill. 
     There are certain provisions in the bill that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the House Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform.
       In the interest of permitting the Committee on House 
     Administration to proceed expeditiously for floor 
     consideration of this important bill, I am writing to request 
     a waiver of your committee's right to a referral. I request 
     with the understanding that by waiving consideration of this 
     bill, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform does 
     not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject 
     matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X 
     jurisdiction.
       I will place this letter into the committee report and into 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure 
     on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Gregg Harper,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                    Washington, DC, June 28, 2018.
     Hon. Gregg Harper,
     Chairman, Committee on House Administration, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     6160, a bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify 
     the sources of the authority to issue regulations regarding 
     certifications and other criteria applicable to legislative 
     branch employees under Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act. As 
     you know, certain provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
       So that H.R. 6160 may proceed expeditiously to the House 
     Floor, I agree to discharging the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform from further consideration thereof. I agree 
     that forgoing formal consideration of the bill will not 
     prejudice the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
     with respect to any future jurisdictional claim, and I 
     appreciate your agreement to support appointment of members 
     of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as 
     conferees in any House-Senate conference on this or related 
     legislation. In addition, I request the Committee be 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so we may address any remaining issues within 
     our jurisdiction.
       Finally, I request you include your letter and this 
     response in the bill report filed by your Committee, as well 
     as in the Congressional Record during consideration of the 
     bill on the floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Trey Gowdy.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________