[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16998]
[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.

           By Mr. HASTINGS of Washington:
       H.R. 3397.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article IV, section 3, clause 2
           By Mr. THOMPSON of California:
       H.R. 3398.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is constitutionally authorized by clause 3 of 
     section 8 of article I, which gives Congress the power to 
     regulate Commerce among States and with the Indian Tribes. 
     Authorization also lies in the ``general welfare'' language 
     found in clause 1 of section 8 of article I, commonly 
     referred to as the Spending Clause.
           By Mr. ROSKAM:
       H.R. 3399.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 states The Congress shall 
     have Power To provide . . . for the . . . general Welfare of 
     the United States.
           By Mr. GARRETT:
       H.R. 3400.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Title I of this legislation will reduce the tax burden of 
     American families and businesses. Congress is granted this 
     power by Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution. 
     The Spending Clause states that Congress ``shall have the 
     Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises, 
     to pay the debts and provide for the general Welfare of the 
     United States . . .''
       Title II and Title III of this legislation will reduce the 
     federal regulatory burden that has hampered the ability to 
     create jobs and produce energy in the United States. Congress 
     is granted this power by Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of 
     the Constitution. The Commerce Clause states that Congress 
     ``shall have power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, 
     and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.''
       This legislation, by the authority granted in the 
     aforementioned clauses in the United States Constitution, 
     would foster economic growth and job creation by alleviating 
     the stifling tax and regulatory burdens currently imposed by 
     the federal government on individuals, families, and 
     business, and thus take a significant step toward restoring 
     the proper balance of power between the federal government 
     and private citizens that the Founding Fathers envisioned.
           By Mr. MACK:
       H.R. 3401.
       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 1, Section 8 of the United States 
     Constitution.
           By Ms. SCHWARTZ:
       H.R. 3402.
       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 Mr. WALSH of Illinois:
       H.R. 3403.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I Section 8 of the United States Constitution. 
     ``The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, 
     duties, imposts and excises . . .''
           By Mr. SCALISE:
       H.J. Res. 85.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 5, clause 2

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