[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7252-7254]
[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. LARSEN of Washington:
       H.R. 1858.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Under Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, ``the House 
     of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every 
     second Year by the People of the several States.'' As 
     described in Article 1, Section 1 ``all legislative powers 
     herein granted shall be vested in a Congress.'' I was elected 
     in 2010 to serve in the 112th Congress as certified by the 
     Secretary of State of Washington state.
       Article III, Section 2 states that the Supreme Court has 
     ``the judicial power'' that ``shall extend to all cases, in 
     law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of 
     the United States.'' Article II, Section 1 of the 
     Constitution provides that the Supreme Court is the supreme 
     law of the land when stating ``The judicial power of the 
     United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court.''
       The power of judicial review of the Supreme Court was 
     upheld in Marbury v Madison in 1803, giving the Supreme Court 
     the authority to strike down any law it deems 
     unconstitutional. Members of Congress, having been elected 
     and taken the oath of office, are given the authority to 
     introduce legislation and only the Supreme Court, as 
     established by the Constitution and precedent, can determine 
     the Constitutionality of this authority.
           By Mr. CAMPBELL:
       H.R. 1859.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 3 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution of 
     the United States.
           By Mr. SMITH of Texas:
       H.R. 1860.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Commerce Clause; section 5 of the 14th Amendment
           By Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania:
       H.R. 1861.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to the power granted to the 
     Congress under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United 
     States Constitution, and Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of 
     the United States Constitution.
           By Mr. BILBRAY:
       H.R. 1862.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States 
     Constitution and Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the 
     United States Constitution.
           By Mr. GUINTA:
       H.R. 1863.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, the 
     bill is authorized by Congress' power to ``provide for the 
     common Defense and general Welfare of the United States.''
            By Mr. COBLE:
       H.R. 1864.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:

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       The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3)
            By Mr. GIBBS:
       H.R. 1865.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution and 
     the Second Amendment which states: A well regulated Militia, 
     being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of 
     the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
           By Mr. CHAFFETZ:
       H.R. 1866.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1
           By Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California:
       H.R. 1867.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Art. 1 sec. 8, clause 1 and 3
           By Mrs. CAPITO:
       H.R. 1868.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Interstate Commerce Clause: Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3.
           By Mr. LARSON of Connecticut:
       H.R. 1869.
       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. CONNOLLY of Virginia:
       H.R. 1870.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Artice 1
           By Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas:
       H.R. 1871.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1
           By Mrs. CAPITO:
       H.R. 1872.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (Interstate Commerce Clause) 
     in conjunction with Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 
     (Necessary and Proper Clause).
       Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 (Spending Clause).
       Article III, Section 2 (Judicial Power).
           By Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia:
       H.R. 1873.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Sec. 8, Cl. 3
            By Mr. BISHOP of Utah:
       H.R. 1874.
       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 which grants Congress the power to 
     provide for the general welfare of the United States; to make 
     rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval 
     forces; to provide for organizing the militia, and to make 
     Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval 
     Forces, and to make all laws necessary and proper for 
     carrying out the foregoing powers.''
           By Mr. CICILLINE:
       H.R. 1875.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8
            By Ms. DeLAURO:
       H.R. 1876.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States 
     Constitution.
           By Mr. HUNTER:
       H.R. 1877.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 states that ``Congress shall 
     have the power to . . . provide for the common defense and 
     general welfare of the United States; . . .'' In addition 
     Article I, Section 8, Clause 10 states that Congress shall 
     have the power ``to define and punish piracies and felonies 
     committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of 
     nations;'' Also, Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 grants 
     Congress the power ``to . . . make rules concerning captures 
     on land and water;''.
           By Mr. KISSELL:
       H.R. 1878.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Enforcement--14th Amendment Section 5
       Regulation--Article 1, Section 8 Clause 3
           By Mr. LARSEN of Washington:
       H.R. 1879.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Under Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, ``the House 
     of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every 
     second Year by the People of the several States.'' As 
     described in Article 1, Section 1 ``all legislative powers 
     herein granted shall be vested in a Congress.'' I was elected 
     in 2010 to serve in the 112th Congress as certified by the 
     Secretary of State of Washington state.
       Article III, Section 2 states that the Supreme Court has 
     ``the judicial power'' that ``shall extend to all cases, in 
     law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of 
     the United States.'' Article II, Section 1 of the 
     Constitution provides that the Supreme Court is the supreme 
     law of the land when stating ``The judicial power of the 
     United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court.''
       The power of judicial review of the Supreme Court was 
     upheld in Marbury v Madison in 1803, giving the Supreme Court 
     the authority to strike down any law it deems 
     unconstitutional. Members of Congress, having been elected 
     and taken the oath of office, are given the authority to 
     introduce legislation and only the Supreme Court, as 
     established by the Constitution and precedent, can determine 
     the Constitutionality of this authority.
           By Ms. LEE of California:
       H.R. 1880.
       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 of the United States Constitution 
     and its subsequent amendments, and further clarified and 
     interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States.
           By Mr. LUJAN:
       H.R. 1881.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1 Section 1
           By Mr. OWENS:
       H.R. 1882.
       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. PIERLUISI:
       H.R. 1883.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitutional authority on which this bill rests is 
     the power of the Congress to: (1) provide for the general 
     welfare of the United States, as enumerated in Article I, 
     Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution; (2) to 
     make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for 
     carrying into execution such power, as enumerated in Article 
     I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution; and (3) to make 
     all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territories 
     of the United States, as provided for under Article IV, 
     Section 3, Clause 2 of the Constitution.
           By Mr. PITTS:
       H.R. 1884.
       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 and Article IV, Section 3 
     of the United States Constitution.
           By Mr. POE of Texas:
       H.R. 1885.
       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 Defense and general Welfare of the United States; 
     but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform 
     throughout the United States.
           By Mr. RANGEL:
       H.R. 1886.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       From the U.S. Constitution:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
       The Congress shall have power . . . to regulate Commerce 
     with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with 
     the Indian Tribes.
       From the Universal Declaration on Human Rights:
       Article 13
       (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and 
     residence within the borders of each state.
       (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including 
     his own, and return to his country.
           By Mr. RANGEL:
       H.R. 1887.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
       The Congress shall have Power . . . to regulate Commerce 
     with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with 
     the Indian Tribes.
           By Mr. RANGEL:
       H.R. 1888.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
       The Congress shall have Power . . . to regulate Commerce 
     with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with 
     the Indian Tribes.
           By Mr. SHULER:
       H.R. 1889.
       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,

[[Page 7254]]

     to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and 
     general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts 
     and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.''
           By Ms. TSONGAS:
       H.R. 1890.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution
           By Mr. BISHOP of Utah:
       H.J. Res. 62.
       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 V of the United States 
     Constitution.

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