[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 390-392]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

  Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the following statements are submitted regarding the 
specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the 
accompanying bill or joint resolution.

             [Correction to the Record of January 5, 2011]

           By Mr. CONYERS:
       H.R. 108.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the United States 
     Constitution. This provision permits Congress make or alter 
     the regulations pertaining to Federal elections.
           By Mr. CONYERS:
       H.R. 109.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clauses 14 and 18, among others.

             [Omitted from the Record of January 12, 2011]

           By Mr. AL GREEN of Texas:
       H.R. 283.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Constitutional authority to enact this legislation can 
     be found in: Commerce Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 3), Necessary 
     and Proper Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 18).
       Constitutional analysis is a rigorous discipline which goes 
     far beyond the text of the Constitution, and requires 
     knowledge of case law, history, and the tools of 
     constitutional interpretation. While the scope of Congress' 
     powers is an appropriate matter for House debate, the listing 
     of specific textual authorities for routine Congressional 
     legislation about which there is no legitimate constitutional 
     concern is a diminishment of the majesty of our Founding 
     Fathers' vision for our national legislature.
            By Mr. AL GREEN of Texas.
       H.R. 284.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Constitutional authority to enact this legislation can 
     be found in: General Welfare Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 1), 
     Commerce Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 3), Necessary and Proper 
     Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 18).
       Constitutional analysis is a rigorous discipline which goes 
     far beyond the text of the Constitution, and requires 
     knowledge of case law, history, and the tools of 
     constitutional interpretation. While the scope of Congress' 
     powers is an appropriate matter for House debate, the listing 
     of specific textual authorities for routine Congressional 
     legislation about which there is no legitimate constitutional 
     concern is a diminishment of the majesty of our Founding 
     Fathers' vision for our national legislature.
           By Mr. AL GREEN of Texas.
       H.R. 285.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Constitutional authority to enact this legislation can 
     be found in: Naturalization Clause (Art 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 4).

[[Page 391]]

       Constitutional analysis is a rigorous discipline which goes 
     far beyond the text of the Constitution, and requires 
     knowledge of case law, history, and the tools of 
     constitutional interpretation. While the scope of Congress' 
     powers is an appropriate matter for House debate, the listing 
     of specific textual authorities for routine Congressional 
     legislation about which there is no legitimate constitutional 
     concern is a diminishment of the majesty of our Founding 
     Fathers' vision for our national legislature.
           By Mr. AL GREEN of Texas:
       H.R. 286.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Constitutional authority to enact this legislation can 
     be found in: General Welfare Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 1), 
     Commerce Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 3), Necessary and Proper 
     Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 18), Property Clause (Art. IV Sec. 
     3 Cl. 2).
       Constitutional analysis is a rigorous discipline which goes 
     far beyond the text of the Constitution, and requires 
     knowledge of case law, history, and the tools of 
     constitutional interpretation. While the scope of Congress' 
     powers is an appropriate matter for House debate, the listing 
     of specific textual authorities for routine Congressional 
     legislation about which there is no legitimate constitutional 
     concern is a diminishment of the majesty of our Founding 
     Fathers' vision for our national legislature.
           By Mr. AL GREEN of Texas:
       H.R. 287.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Constitutional authority to enact this legislation can 
     be found in: General Welfare Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 1), 
     Commerce Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 3), Necessary and Proper 
     Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 18).
       Constitutional analysis is a rigorous discipline which goes 
     far beyond the text of the Constitution, and requires 
     knowledge of case law, history, and the tools of 
     constitutional interpretation. While the scope of Congress' 
     powers is an appropriate matter for House debate, the listing 
     of specific textual authorities for routine Congressional 
     legislation about which there is no legitimate constitutional 
     concern is a diminishment of the majesty of our Founding 
     Fathers' vision for our national legislature.

                    [Submitted on January 18, 2011]

           By Mr. CAMP:
       H.R. 297.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 7 of section 9 of Article 1 of the Constitution.
           By Mr. CARTER:
       H.R. 298.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitutional authority on which this bill rests is 
     the power of Congress to establish Post Offices and post 
     roads, as enumerated in Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the 
     United States Constitution.
           By Mr. BROUN of Georgia:
       H.R. 299.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article VI, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution declares that 
     Members of Congress are bound by oath or affirmation to 
     support the U.S. Constitution. This Article places an 
     obligation on Members of Congress to observe the limits of 
     their authority and repeal unconstitutional acts of Congress.
       The taxing and spending power found in Article I, Section 
     8, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power 
     ``to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to 
     pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general 
     welfare of the United States.'' Repealing the deduction 
     threshold for medical expenses and strengthening high risks 
     pools are permissible under this enumerated power.
       The interstate Commerce power found in Article I, Section 
     8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution explains that Congress 
     shall have power to regulate commerce among the several 
     states. Eliminating state barriers to interstate purchase of 
     health insurance and allowing association health plans to 
     exist are permissible under this enumerated power.
           By Mr. CARSON of Indiana:
       H.R. 300.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to Article I, Section 8, 
     Clause 3 of the United States Constitution.
           By Mr. FORBES:
       H.R. 301.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clauses I, III.
            By Ms. FOXX:
        H.R. 302.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United 
     States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
            By Mr. BILIRAKIS:
        H.R. 303.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitutional authority of Congress to enact this 
     legislation is provided by Article I, Section 8 of the United 
     States Constitution (Clauses 12, 13, 14, and 16), which 
     grants Congress the power to raise and support an Army; to 
     provide and maintain a Navy; to make rules for the government 
     and regulation of the land and naval forces; and to provide 
     for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia.
            By Mr. GALLEGLY:
        H.R. 304.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 4, Section 8, Article I and Clause 18, Section 8, 
     Article I of the Constitution.
            By Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas:
       H.R. 305.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitutional authority of Congress to enact this 
     legislation is provided by Article I, Section 8 of the United 
     States Constitution (Clauses 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18), which 
     grants Congress the power to raise and support an Army; to 
     provide and maintain a Navy; to make rules for the government 
     and regulation of the land and naval forces; to provide for 
     organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia; and to make 
     all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the foregoing 
     powers.
            By Mr. JONES:
        H.R. 306.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, and Article IV, Section 3, of the 
     Constitution of the United States.
            By Ms. KAPTUR:
       H.R. 307.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to the power granted to 
     Congress under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 and Clause 3 of 
     the United States Constitution.
            By Mrs. McCARTHY of New York:
        H.R. 308.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to the powers granted to the 
     Congress by Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United 
     States Constitution.
            By Mr. MICA:
       H.R. 309.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1. The Congress shall have 
     Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, 
     to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and 
     general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts 
     and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.
            By Mrs. MYRICK:
       H.R. 310.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 4 of Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution.
           By Mrs. MYRICK:
       H.R. 311.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 18 of Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution.
            By Mrs. MYRICK:
        H.R. 312.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 18 of Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution.
            By Mr. SMITH of Texas:
       H.R. 313.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The authority to enact this bill is derived from, but may 
     not be limited to, Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the 
     United States Constitution.
           By Mr. THORNBERRY:
       H.R. 314.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to the power granted to 
     Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the United States 
     Constitution.
           By Mr. THORNBERRY:
       H.R. 315.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to the power granted to 
     Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the United States 
     Constitution.
           By Mr. MARKEY:
       H.R. 316.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 3 of Section 8 of Article 1 of the Constitution and 
     Clause 4 of Article 1 of Section 8 of the Constitution.
           By Mr. PLATTS:
       H.J. Res. 20.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       ``Article V: The Congress, whenever two thirds of both 
     Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to 
     this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures 
     of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention 
     for proposing Amendments, which in either Case, shall be 
     valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this 
     Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three 
     fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three 
     fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification 
     may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment 
     which

[[Page 392]]

     may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and 
     eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses 
     in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, 
     without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage 
     in the Senate.''

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